Things to Do in Phi Phi: 8 Best Activities & Tips

Featured image: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Things to Do in Phi Phi at a Glance

Phi Phi Don has no cars, so most stops are a walk, a kayak paddle or a boat ride away. We group the island into four zones: Tonsai Village and Tonsai Pier, Loh Dalum Bay, Long Beach (Hat Yao), and boat-trip stops such as Maya Bay and Monkey Beach. Phi Phi Leh sits about 7.4 km from Phi Phi Don, roughly 30 minutes by boat. Our pick for a first morning is the viewpoint. For a full day, we'd book a boat to Phi Phi Leh. Fees and schedules change, so confirm them locally before paying.

8 Best Things to Do in Phi Phi

Items run from the shortest walk to the longest boat day. Costs below come from recent traveler reports, so treat them as planning figures and verify them.

• 1. Hike to the Phi Phi Viewpoint
  • The climb starts in Tonsai Village and rises 186 m. Allow 20–30 minutes up, or about 30 minutes if you push on to the last viewpoint.
  • Reports put the entrance fee at ฿50, so bring cash and water. Go at first light for cooler air or near sunset for color, and expect company at both.
  • Pair the late slot with our sunset spots guide.
• 2. Boat to Phi Phi Leh, Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave
  • Phi Phi Leh lies about 7.4 km away, around 30 minutes by boat. Pileh Lagoon is a bay almost enclosed by limestone cliffs, entered through a narrow channel.
  • Boats pause at Viking Cave for a look from the water rather than a landing.
  • A private long-tail gives you control over stops and timing, while group speedboats cost less and follow a fixed schedule. Our long-tail charter guide covers the trade-offs.
• 3. Maya Bay, with realistic expectations
  • Maya Bay was closed from 2018 until 2022 so the coral could recover. Reports now describe a one-hour visit limit, no swimming beyond knee depth, boats anchored on the far side, and no drones.
  • The park fee is reported at ฿400 for adults and ฿200 for children. Arrive before 7:00 AM to beat the crowds.
  • Reports list a closure from 1 August to 1 October in 2025, so confirm the 2026 dates before you book.
• 4. Monkey Beach
  • This small strip of sand sits under jungle and cliffs, and monkeys live there. Boat tours often schedule it first, when fewer boats are anchored.
  • Never feed the monkeys or carry food onto the sand. Watch from a distance, and keep bags closed.
• 5. Snorkel at Long Beach, Shark Point, Nui Beach and Bamboo Island
  • Long Beach and Shark Point are the easier reef stops. Nui Beach and Bamboo Island need a boat.
  • Shark sightings are never guaranteed, and some visitors see none. Do not touch coral or marine life, and wear a life jacket on any kayak.
  • Bamboo Island is reported to carry the same ฿400 and ฿200 park rates, so ask your operator whether they are included.
• 6. Sunset at Loh Dalum Bay
  • Arrive around 4:30 PM to claim a spot. Colors start from about 5:30 PM, though sunset time shifts with the season.
  • Stay on after dark, because bars along the same bay light up for the evening.
• 7. Walk to Long Beach and the Love and Viking beaches
  • Long Beach is a 25–30 minute jungle walk from the center, or a short water taxi ride. Love Beach and Viking Beach are about a 25-minute walk.
  • Water at the Love and Viking beaches gets very shallow at low tide, so check tide timing before you go.
  • Compare more options in our island beach guide.
• 8. Nightlife around Tonsai Village and Loh Dalum Bay
  • Beach bars, fire shows and buckets fill the evenings. Drink slowly, and know what goes into a bucket.
  • Party hostels run loud until morning, so pack earplugs if you want sleep.
  • Tourist Muay Thai nights come and go, so confirm current rules via our Muay Thai page. More venues are in our after-dark options guide.

Plan Your Time: 1, 2 or 3 Days in Phi Phi

With one day, we'd do the viewpoint at first light, a Phi Phi Leh boat circuit, then sunset at Loh Dalum Bay. A day trip from Phuket or Krabi squeezes this further, because the last return boat sets your deadline. Check that departure time before booking anything. Staying one night buys the sunset and an early start before the boats fill up. Our day-trip options show what fits in a few hours. With 2 days, add snorkeling and the Long Beach walk. Three nights is a comfortable pace: settle in on day 1, take the Phi Phi Leh boat on day 2, then beach-hop and catch sunsets on day 3. Still undecided? Read our take on whether the island is worth the trip.

• Budget: walk to the viewpoint and Loh Dalum Bay, and join a group boat instead of chartering.
• Families: pick calm shore stops, and keep food off Monkey Beach.
• Divers: dive shops in Tonsai Village offer introductory dives and PADI courses.
• Nightlife: stay in Tonsai Village and bring earplugs.
• Photographers: shoot the viewpoint at first light or near sunset, and reach Maya Bay before 7:00 AM.

Costs, Tickets and Money

Few Phi Phi costs are fixed, so verify each one. The viewpoint fee is reported at ฿50, so carry small notes. Maya Bay's park fee is reported at ฿400 for adults and ฿200 for children, and tours often include it. Bamboo Island carries the same reported rates. Ask your operator whether the fee is already in the tour price, because one guide reportedly collected ฿400 in cash at the dock. ATMs on the island can be limited and charge high fees, and many places take only cash. Boat tours and taxis are often negotiable. Confirm current park rates with the operator or the park office before you pay.

Getting There, Getting Around and Where to Stay

Phi Phi Don is car-free, so you walk or take a water taxi. Start with the route options to the island. Boats run ferry crossings to Tonsai Pier. Specific origins have their own pages: read the guides for travel from Phuket and from Krabi. Coming from the capital, see the notes from Bangkok. If you connect by air, check Airports of Thailand for Phuket airport details. Once there, our moving around the island page covers taxis and paths. Tonsai Village puts restaurants and nightlife close by. Long Beach sits 25–30 minutes away on foot, and secluded resorts depend on water taxis. Compare places to stay before booking.

When to Go

Travelers report clearer water from November to April. Shoulder months such as May or October bring lower hotel rates and fewer crowds. Maya Bay closed from 1 August to 1 October in 2025, so a late-summer trip may lose that stop. Check sea and monsoon forecasts with the Thai Meteorological Department. Our best time to go guide adds more detail.

Mistakes to Avoid

Most regrets come from timing. A start after 7:00 AM at Maya Bay means crowds, and a day trip booked without the last return time risks a missed boat. Skip the buffer and you may lose the 4:30 PM sunset spot.

• Booking a day trip without checking the last return boat.
• Skipping the early start for Maya Bay and the viewpoint.
• Swimming at Love Beach or Viking Beach at low tide, when the water is very shallow.
• Touching reef or marine life, or feeding monkeys.
• Booking a party hostel and expecting quiet nights.
• Arriving with little cash when many places take only cash.