Phi Phi sightseeing: plan your beaches, bays and boat trips
The Phi Phi sights split by island and by boat. Maya Bay on uninhabited Phi Phi Leh pulls the biggest crowds and shuts each year for conservation, reported as 1 August to 30 September, while Loh Moo Dee Beach sits on Phi Phi Don's east coast and costs nothing to reach on foot.
Getting the timing right matters more than the route. Loh Moo Dee goes quiet in the morning, but day-trip boats from Phuket and Krabi fill the sand from midday until about 3:30pm. Monkey Beach is a short stop of 60 to 90 minutes rather than a beach day, and Nui Bay has no bars, loungers or bathrooms — just a cove that crowds by midday.
Some places ask you to book. Laem Tong Beach rewards 2-4 quiet nights at the north end, where prices run higher and no road connects to Tonsai. Boat trips to Maya Bay, Monkey Beach, Nui Bay and Pileh Lagoon are best arranged ahead, and Pileh Lagoon's park fee of 400 baht for non-Thai visitors is collected separately in cash.
| Place | Time to allow | Cost | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maya Bay, Phi Phi | 1-2 hours | 400 THB adults, 200 THB children | Koh Phi Phi Leh, Krabi Province |
| Loh Moo Dee Beach, Phi Phi | half a day | Free | East coast of Koh Phi Phi Don |
| Monkey Beach Phi Phi | 60-90 minutes | Free and paid parts | Southwestern coast of Phi Phi Don, near Tonsai Bay |
| Pileh Lagoon, Phi Phi Leh | 20-90 minutes | park fee 400 baht for non-Thai visitors, cash | Phi Phi Leh, south of Viking Cave |
| Laem Tong Beach, Phi Phi | 2-4 nights | Paid entry | Northern tip of Phi Phi Don |
| Nui Bay, Phi Phi | half a day | Free and paid parts | Northwest coast of Ko Phi Phi Don |
Phi Phi attraction guides
Maya Bay, Phi Phi: How to Visit, Rules and Entry Fee
A cliff-ringed cove of pale sand on an island with no residents, reached by boat and a short boardwalk. Swimming is banned and entry is capped, so early boats beat the crowds and the one-hour on-site limit.
1-2 hours · 400 THB adults, 200 THB children · Book ahead · Best for early risers, photographers, day trippers
Loh Moo Dee Beach, Phi Phi: How to Get There and What to Expect
A wide east-coast bay reached by a roughly 1-kilometer path from Tonsai East or a 15-minute longtail hop. Go early; day-trip boats from Phuket and Krabi fill the sand from midday until about 3:30pm.
half a day · Free · Best for morning beachgoers avoiding crowds
Monkey Beach Phi Phi: How to Get There and What to Expect
A small white-sand cove on Phi Phi Don reachable only by boat, kayak or tour. Wild long-tailed macaques patrol the sand and snatch bags, so arrive early, keep your distance, and treat it as a short stop rather than a beach day.
60-90 minutes · Free and paid parts · Book ahead · Best for early risers, short beach stops
Pileh Lagoon, Phi Phi Leh: How to Visit the Emerald Cove
A cliff-walled inlet on uninhabited Phi Phi Leh that you reach by boat and cannot walk into. Group tours usually allow only 20 to 40 minutes in the water, and the national park fee is collected separately in cash.
20-90 minutes · park fee 400 baht for non-Thai visitors, cash · Book ahead · Best for calm swims and snorkeling by boat
Laem Tong Beach, Phi Phi: The Quiet North End, How to Get There
Boat-only beach on Phi Phi Don's northern tip where the trade-off is clear: near-empty sand and a sea gypsy village, but fewer restaurants, higher prices and no road to Tonsai.
2-4 nights · Paid entry · Book ahead · Best for couples seeking quiet beach stays
Nui Bay, Phi Phi: How to Get There, Boat Costs & Timing
A cliff-framed cove on Phi Phi Don's northwest coast with no bars, loungers or bathrooms, reached only by longtail charter, kayak or a steep jungle trail. The catch: boats crowd the water by midday, so arrive early.
half a day · Free and paid parts · Book ahead · Best for early risers wanting a quiet cove
Boat trips to arrange before you arrive
Maya Bay caps entry and enforces a one-hour limit on site, so booking a boat early gives you the best odds of a calm visit — swimming there is banned. Monkey Beach and Nui Bay are reached only by boat, kayak or tour, and charter rates vary, so fix your longtail before the day starts.
For Pileh Lagoon on Phi Phi Leh, remember the separate park fee: 400 baht for non-Thai visitors, paid in cash. Group tours often allow just 20 to 40 minutes in the water, so ask about time in the lagoon before you commit.
Maya Bay's annual closure and what to do instead
Maya Bay closes for conservation, reported as 1 August to 30 September; outside those months it opens 7:00am-6:00pm. When the cove shuts, shift your focus to Phi Phi Don. Loh Moo Dee is free and best in the morning, and early boats to Monkey Beach or Nui Bay still get you on the water.
Laem Tong Beach makes a calm alternative base for a few nights, though it comes with fewer restaurants and higher prices.