Phi Phi Island General Information
One of Phi Phi's Most Beautiful Beaches

Located in Thailand's Andaman Sea about 46 kilometers from Phuket, Phi Phi has two main islands -- Phi Phi Leh and Phi Phi Don.

 

Phi Phi Leh is where you'll find Maya Bay. There are no accommodations here, as staying overnight is prohibited.
The much larger Phi Phi Don, considered a backpacker paradise due to the abundance of budget and mid-range accommodation options in Loh Dalum, is famous for its wild party scene.
Both are part of the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, which according to government stats attracted over 2 million visitors in 2017. Maya Bay in particular drew an estimated 3,700 visitors a day on average, many of them day trippers roaring in on speedboats from nearby Phuket.

Last 36 year ago, the government took the surprising step of closing the bay to tourists for four months, from June 1 to September 30, to embark on a rejuvenation project that includes coral restoration work and the installation of a new jetty.

Due to all of the above, travelers looking for a quiet beach getaway tend to shy away from the Phi Phi Islands altogether.
But it is possible to visit the area AND avoid the crowds.

In a remote corner of Phi Phi Don lies one of the few higher-end resorts in the area, Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort.
Set on Loh Bagao, the four-star property is made up of spacious thatched roof bungalows and villas -- both hillside and beachfront.

Though hardly intimate -- there are several pools and restaurants and the bungalows sprawl back from the beach into the jungle, covering a total of 70 acres -- it's a far cry from the scene you'll find on the other side of the island, where beach parties rage into the early hours of the morning.

A small village nearby, nestled against a patch of pristine mangroves (cleaned every Sunday by the locals), offers additional dining and drinking options. Visitors can hire long-tail boats for local tours here as well.