My Koh Phi Phi Travel Guide
Koh Phi Phi is the limestone-island archipelago between Phuket and Krabi that everyone knows from The Beach (the 1999 film, shot at Maya Bay). The scenery is the most photogenic in Thailand, full stop. The downside is the day-tripper volume – thousands of speedboats descend at lunch every day. The trick is staying overnight on Phi Phi Don, which gives you the islands at sunrise and after dinner when everyone else has left.
We’ve done one and two-night stays on Phi Phi as part of longer Krabi or Phuket trips. The right cadence is: day boat there, lunch, swim, hotel, sunset on the beach, dinner, sunrise the next morning, leave. One night is enough for most travelers.
My 2026 Koh Phi Phi Travel Guide
- Skip to our Koh Phi Phi FAQ
Koh Phi Phi Basics
- Where to stay on Phi Phi Don (coming soon)
- Best time to visit Koh Phi Phi (coming soon)
- Getting to Koh Phi Phi from Phuket or Krabi (coming soon)
Koh Phi Phi Hotels
- Best Hotels on Koh Phi Phi (coming soon)
- Best Phi Phi Pool Villas (coming soon)
- Best Boutique Phi Phi Stays (coming soon)
Koh Phi Phi Activities and Attractions
- Maya Bay – how to visit responsibly (coming soon)
- Best Phi Phi snorkel spots (coming soon)
- Sunrise speedboat tours (coming soon)
- Best Phi Phi viewpoint hikes (coming soon)
Koh Phi Phi Travel Planning
Frequently asked questions
Is Koh Phi Phi worth visiting?
Yes, for one or two nights. The scenery (Maya Bay, the karsts, the green water) is genuinely world-class. The day-tripper crush is real – stay overnight and you get the place at sunrise and after sunset when it's empty.
Phi Phi Don or Phi Phi Leh?
Phi Phi Don is the bigger island where the hotels and the main port are. Phi Phi Leh is the famous uninhabited one with Maya Bay. You'll visit both if you do a day trip; you can only stay on Don.
When is Maya Bay open?
It reopened in 2022 after a multi-year closure for reef recovery. There are visitor caps and time limits. Book an organized tour with a permit included; don't try to wing it.
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About Bangkok John
Bangkok John was started in 2020 when I posted my first hotel review. The site now publishes regularly updated guides to Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Krabi, Hua Hin, and all of Thailand.
I'm a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite member and an Emirates Skywards Gold member, so I lean toward Marriott properties when the choice is close. I pay for my own rooms.
Questions? Email me at hello@bangkokjohn.com.