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The Phi Phi islands are some of the loveliest in Southeast Asia. Just a 45-minute speedboat trip or a 90-minute ferryboat ride from either Phuket or Krabi, these picture postcard islands offer the ultimate tropical getaway. Featuring classic tropical beaches, stunning rock formations, and vivid turquoise waters teeming with colourful marine life, it is paradise perfected.
Picture
your dream tropical getaway – white sand beaches, turquoise waters lapping the
shore, verdant palms swaying gently in the breeze as the sun beats down. Am I
close?
If that is
your idea of heaven, then you’ve just found it. The twin islands of Phi Phi Don
and Phi Phi Leh form one of the most dramatic resort getaways in the world. Phi
Phi Don lies to the southwest of Thailand in Krabi province south of Bankok and
Phi Phi Leh is to the south of the larger island.
The islands
were badly hit by the 2004 tsunami. However the resort has been quick to mend
itself but this time it has been developed in a slightly lower key manner. One
difference you will find is that prices are somewhat higher here now. You will
find that accommodation here is more expensive than in Phuket – however, it is
very difficult to put a price limit on paradise.
All the
hotels are on Phi Phi Don as Phi Phi Leh is an uninhabited national park.
However it is usually teeming with tourists as its best beach, Maya Bay, was
used as the setting for the Hollywood movie “The Beach” in 1999.
The main
resort area on Phi Phi Don is Tonsai Village. There are no cars or
roads, only footpaths. It's located on Phi Phi’s famous isthmus with Tonsai Bay
on the south side and Loh Dalum on the north.
With its tropical climate, Phi Phi’s average daily temperature is fairly consistent
throughout the year at around 30°C. The rainy season is from November to
January when the nights are comfortably cool. The hottest times of year are
between April and May and then September to October with temperatures reaching
34°C.
The average
monthly temperatures are:
|
°C |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Day |
31 |
33 |
33 |
33 |
32 |
31 |
31 |
31 |
31 |
31 |
30 |
31 |
|
Night |
22 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
Although Phi Phi isn’t
exactly a shopper’s paradise it does have a number of shops and stalls for you
to browse through. In Ton Sai, you can pick up beachwear and clothing,
souvenirs, handicrafts, handmade jewelry, sports equipment, snorkels, flippers, etc. There are also a couple of mini-marts and a supermarket.
Some believe that the
nightlife on Phi Phi hasn’t quite reached the level it was at before the
tsunami, but nonetheless, it can still provide you with a hangover in the
morning. Most of the bars and clubs are situated in Tonsai. The beach is often
the venue for cabaret and fire dancing displays.
Below are a few names you
might like to look out for:
By far the most popular
trip is to Phi Phi Leh. It is an idyllic national park where you are even
prohibited to camp. Your only choice is whether you go on an organized tour or
just hire a long-tailed boat.
There are no hospitals on
Phi Phi so any serious illness should be treated in Phuket. However, there is a local health center on Phi Phi Island in Tonsai Bay.
You are strongly advised
to make sure you have full medical insurance in place before traveling.
Sunburn and sunstroke are the
most common health problems so take the usual precautions - strong sunblock,
wear a hat and drink plenty of fluids. The tap water is unsafe so always stick
to bottled water.
Crime levels are low but
you should still exercise the usual precautions with your valuables and never
leave your belongings unattended on the beach.