Phi Phi Island Guide

Just across Phangnga Bay, in the shadow of Phuket Island, lies another southern Thai jewel, the peacful and relatively unspoilt paradise of Krabi. Known as the "Emerald of the Andaman," for its brilliant white beaches, myriad small islands dotted along its coast, and the fabled Phi Phi island group. A mecca for sun worshippers and divers.

This beach, also known as Long Beach, is one of the most famous on the island. Not only does it offer a broad, sweeping beach and unbelievable scenery, it also is home to some of the best coral reefs in the area.

Snorkeling and Scuba diving top the long list of things to do here, and accommodation is plentiful. The only complaint might be a little too much development. Hat Yao can be reached on foot or by longtail boat from the pier at Ton Sai.

This beach is in close proximity to Hat Yao, and is equal to it in nearly all respects. Once underdeveloped, Hat Lanti has only recently given way to commercialism, and remains quite beautiful. Offshore coral reefs provide for some great snorkeling, and accommodation is cheap and decent.

Hat Lanti is accessible on foot via the viewpoint trail. Boats to Hat Lanti are difficult to find, because bungalow owners refuse to pay commissions, but boats can be arranged from Hat Lanti quite easily.

This beach is one of the more unremarkable on Phi Phi Don, and has recently fallen prey to over-development and lack of maintenance.

This is one of the more isolated beaches on Phi Phi Don, accessible only on foot. This beach offers good views, and peace and quiet.

This is the oldest developed beach area on Phi Phi Don, and the most congested. Still, Ton Sai offers some rather good views of the surrounding territory, and although lacking beauty, it is the most accessible and convenient place on the island.

As for sandy beaches, East Hat Railay has relatively little to offer, but is within walking distance of both West Hat Railay, and Hat Tham Phranang, which offer some of the best beaches anywhere. Both East and West Hat Railay can be reached by boat from Krabi's Chao Fah Bridge. These boats cost 50 baht per person, and typically take about 45 minutes.

However, outside of the months between November and April, these boats usually do not go all the way around to West Hat Railay, because of unfavorable sea conditions. During this period, you must get off the boat at East Hat Railay, and then walk to your final destination.

This is the southernmost beach on Lanta, and although rather average by most standards, the proximity to completely deserted Mai Phai beach, and the national park make this a good place to stay. Also, there is a small waterfall and a lagoon nearby.

Hat Pranang is a long, beautiful stretch of beach, located just south of Hat Noppharat Thara. This stretch of beach is rapidly developing, however, it still remains quite stunning. In addition to the broad, white-sand beach, Hat Pranang has clean, clear water and a backdrop of striking limestone islands and cliffs. There are a total of 83 small islands in the bay, and they can be explored by boat trips arranged by many of the guesthouses. Unlike Hat Noppharat Thara, Hat Pranang is a full service beach offering a wide variety of recreational water sports. This entire area offers excellent Scuba diving, with both reefs and a wide variety of marine wildlife.

This is one of the nicest beaches on Phi Phi Don, offering spectacular views and a nice stretch of marvelous beach. Hat Laem Tong has its own pier, and therefore is accessible. However, it is targeted at the high-budget tourist.

This beach is the most populous of those offered on Lanta, with several bungalows at very reasonable prices. Located 2 km from the Saladan pier, this beach offers visitors clean, sparkling sand, tepid, translucent waters, and excellent views of the surrounding areas.

Recreational activities are limited, but there is plenty of sand and sun to go around, making this a wonderfully relaxing and stress-free vacation spot.

At the northern end of Lanta, this beach is known for its fine sand and quickly shelving coastline.
Where to stay: Accommodation at Phra Ae are extremely affordable, and the food is sumptious. Like most of the beaches on Lanta Island, recreational activities are few and far between.

This secluded beach is one of the most popular destinations for travelers in Thailand. Accessible only by boat, this sweeping beach offers fine-grained white sand and crystalline waters, as well as magnificent jagged karsts. Although visitors flock to this beach year-round, it is still extremely pristine, and considered to be the most attractive in the area.

The Inner and Outer Pranang Caves, and Pranang Lagoon are close by, and offer some truly spectacular views. Accommodation is available over a wide price range, and the food is excellent. Despite the fact that it is reachable only by boat, this area offers plenty of recreational activities.

Like nearly all the beaches on Lanta, Klong Nin is isolated and quiet. Fine, sandy beaches are essentially all one will encounter here, and the accommodations are adequate.

Again, this is not the place to go if you want to go jet-skiing or para-sailing, but perfect if you want to read a book on a beautiful beach.

Towards the southern tip of the island, Kantiang beach is one of the most beautiful on Koh Lanta.
Although accommodations are only average, the sparkling sands and iridescent aquamarine waters more than compensate.
There is also excellent snorkeling available in the surrounding area.

This beach, 2 km south of Phra Ae, is extremely peaceful, and has excellent accommodation at bargain prices.
Although the food is not quite as good as at Phra Ae, the beaches are isolated, tranquil and serene

Krabi offers the adventurous traveller not just beautiful beaches and clear green seas, but numerous islands, large and small, for exploring or even living like Robinson Crusoe for a while.

The Phi Phi Islands are by far the main attraction to Krabi, and are widely considered to be amongst the most beautiful places in the world.

There are six islands altogether: Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Ley, Bida Nok, Bida Nai, Yung, and Phai; each of which offers some of the most unique topography on this planet. Of these six islands, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Ley are the largest, and most well known.

This is the largest of the Phi Phi islands, and offers some of the most arresting scenery available anywhere in the world. Phi Phi Don is comprised of two main sections, peculiarly connected by a narrow strip of glittering white sand. It was here, in the center, where the first settlement of Ton Sai was established.

Since that time, Phi Phi Don has earned a reputation as one of the most alluring sights in the region, offering spectacular beaches, gleaming, turquoise seas, and remarkable landscapes. This reputation, however, has not come without a cost.

In recent years Phi Phi Don has experienced a tremendous amount of growth, and is no longer the pristine island that it was just ten years ago. This is not to say, however, that there is no longer anything to see on Phi Phi Don. Regardless of the commercial expansion, Phi Phi Don still remains one of the most magnificent places in the region.
The upside to the recent development of Phi Phi Don is that it is now able to offer a more complete range of services. A virtually unlimited number of recreational activities are now offered for the tourist and the traveler. Phi Phi Don also offers some very good game-fishing, and sea kayaks are obtainable for a reasonable fee. Phi Phi Don can be reached by boat from the Chao Fah Bridge in Krabi, for about 150 baht. The trip typically takes about 2 hours.
Beaches - Phi Phi Don: Hat Yao, Hat Lanti , Hat Hin Khom, Hat Hin Khao, Ton Sai, Hat Laem Tong

The second largest of the Phi Phi Island chain, Phi Phi Ley is extremely beautiful, and pristine. Day trips to Phi Phi Ley are available, and one of the biggest attractions is Phaya Naak Cave, or Viking Cave, which has some bonafide prehistoric carvings.

Another attraction to Phi Phi Ley are the nests of the edible-nest swiftlet, which fetch up to US $2000 per kilogram. Armed guards stand watch over these nests, to protect them against poachers. Overnight stays on Phi Phi Ley are forbidden.

Another attraction to Phi Phi Ley is the abundance of coral reefs, which make for some extraordinary Scuba diving and snorkeling. Recently, the motion picture The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, was filmed on Phi Phi Ley, giving viewers a mere glimpse of the truly breathtaking scenery this island has to offer.

This small island in the Phi Phi chain is a few km north of Phi Phi Don, and has two small beach areas. Much like Phi Phi Don, and Phi Phi Ley, Yung Island offers visitors some fabulous scenery, both underwater and above.
Day trips are available to Yung Island from Phi Phi Don, and feature brilliant views of pristine coral fields.

This is another small, deserted island in the Phi Phi chain that can be visited during the day by boat. Phai Island offers some tremendously attractive scenery, and also has exceptional coral specimens.
However, like Yung Island, this pristine island is uninhabited, and has no accommodation.

Although less scenic than some other areas in the province, Koh Lanta is perhaps the most idyllic area available in Krabi. While lacking the towering karsts, Lanta offers travelers something that is growing increasingly difficult to find on Phi Phi or Pranang: peace and quiet. With over 19 pristine, tree-lined beaches, remarkably friendly residents, and inexpensive accommodations, Lanta Island is the perfect place to go for a serene, relaxing vacation.

A section of the southern portion of the island was recently made into a national marine park, and further south is a large community of sea gypsies.

How to get there: Passenger boats to Lanta cost 150 baht and can be taken from the Chao Fah pier, Krabi. Lanta can also be reached by a combination of minibus/ferry. Minibuses to Bo Muang leave from in front of the TAT sub-office in Krabi, and cost 40 baht. Ferries from Bo Muang to Lanta Island leave at 12.30 and 2.00 pm, for another 40 baht. Ferries can also be taken to the new port at Saladan, which is more developed, for 50 baht. This ferry leaves Bo Muang at 1.30 pm. Beaches, Lanta Island: Klong Dao, Phra Ae, Klong Koang, Klong Nin, Kantiang,

This island is located at the edge of the Than Bokkhorani National Park, and is accessible via boat from Ao Pranang. The trip takes about an hour, but is well worth it, as Hong Island is home to a beautiful sandy beach, and some wonderful deep and shallow water coral deposits.
In addition, Koh Hong has several caves that are home to the edible-nest swiftlet, whose nests are valued at over US$2000 per kg.

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