Phi Phi is made up of a number of islands, which in turn make up the National Marine Park. However, only one of them is inhabited while the rest bask in untamed beauty. Phi Phi Don is the most famous of the six islands, and it is here that you can stay and take advantage of the tourist infrastructure. Its sister island across the water, Phi Phi Ley, is popular with day trips and despite not being able to stay here, it does have beautiful white sandy beaches which are ideal for relaxing on. Phi Phi Don was devastated by the 2004 tsunami and almost the entire island has been rebuilt. Today it is back to its former glory.

All of the islands are suitable for day trips from Phuket and offer impressive dive sites as well as a glimpse into real island life.

Phi Phi Don
This is the largest of Phi Phi’s entire archipelago and is known for its distinctive butterfly shape. The most developed area (before and after the Tsunami) is the flat land in the middle of the two bays. Before the Tsunami however, this area of the island was verging on being too commercialised and lost a lot of its character through over-development. Today, there are enough guest houses, hotels, shops, restaurants and bars to keep everyone happy, but the natural beauty is also the focus. Overlooking the beaches, the imposing hills offer an alternative from beach bungalows with some very unique accommodation options.

When it comes to beaches, Phi Phi Don boasts some stunning choices. The most popular beach is Loh Dalum which is located close to Tonsai Village (the heart of the island). This beach boasts white sand, an abundance of facilities and beautiful clear water. Other beaches worth visiting include Long Beach and Laem Tong.

Phi Phi Ley
The second-largest and the most beautiful of all of Phi Phi’s islands, Phi Phi Ley is uninhabited and perhaps even more famous than its larger sister island. It was the setting for the 2000 blockbuster The Beach and oozes natural beauty. Maya Bay is often the scene used in many guide books, famous for the single Longtail boat in the foreground. The beauty of this perfect bay is even more impressive up close and with so many nature trails to follow and pristine beaches to enjoy; it makes for the perfect day trip. There are no accommodation choices, restaurants or bars on the island with people staying just a few hours. These will however be some of the best few hours of your entire holiday.

Yung and Bamboo Island
These two islands are mainly visited by people on guided tours. They are prime examples of the classic deserted island and boast stunning white beaches and clear blue sea.  There is not much else to explore on either island as they are both made up of sheer rock.  They are an excellent escape from the sometimes frenetic nature of Phuket and if you do not want to join a guided tour, it is possible to hire your own private long-tail boat (and driver) and travel to the islands yourself.

Bida Nok and Nai
These are little more than rocks jutting out of the ocean but are famed for providing some of the best diving opportunities in the entire area. They are often visited by dive schools arriving from Phuket and are suitable for divers of all levels due to water clarity of over 20 metres.

What to do

Relax on the beach
Most people who visit Phi Phi want to spend some time soaking up the beauty of the beach. If you are only on a day trip, this might not be as long as you would like, but with so much to see, spending the last hour of your day on the beach will allow you to chill out and take it easy before heading back to Phuket.

Water sports
Water sports are not as common as on Phuket as the water close to the shore is very shallow. However, it is possible to hire a kayak and explore the bay and once back on dry land, there is often an afternoon game of beach volleyball to enjoy. Snorkel equipment can be rented from shops along Phi Phi Don’s coast and there is nothing more rewarding than viewing some of the most stunning underwater scenes in the Andaman.

Diving
Many people arrive at Bida Nok and Nai to take advantage of the year-round perfect diving opportunities. Day trips can be arranged from travel agents on Phuket. It is also possible to gain your PADI open-water certificate here, although it is a three day course.

Climbing
Anyone who has experience with rock climbing will be impressed by the opportunities on Phi Phi. There are companies on the island offering trips to different kast formations around the island. It is also possible to organise rock climbing from a travel agents in Phuket who will contact a rock climbing school here. However, it is important to remember that you will not have much time to enjoy the other sights on offer as many of the climbs take up the entire day.

Hiking
There is a long nature trail up to Phi Phi Don’s highest peak and view point. It is quite a climb, so you should be prepared to get a good workout. There are many nature trails on Phi Phi Ley, which will take you through pristine forests. Always remember to take water if you are going on a long hike.

How to get there

There are three public ferries every day from Phuket’s ferry terminal at Koh Siray. The times are as follows: 08:30, 13:30 and 16:30. Boats returning to Phuket leave at: 09:00, 14:00 and 15:00, the journey is just under two hours. If you buy a day-return ticket, you will have to book a time slot when you book the tickets. It is possible to stay overnight on Phi Phi Don and come back the next day. Everything can be arranged for you from Phuket. There are also a number of private charters and tour boats which travel from Phuket.