Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi.

What can you say, Maya Bay touches the heart and imagination of so many with it's beauty and sheer drama. Voted in the Top 10 world beaches, Maya Bay leaves lasting memories on all who visit. For those who have never been, just one image puts it straight on the bucket list.

Maya Bay Video

There are so many videos of Maya Bay as it is the place to capture on movie format. This one I have chosen just starts sensationally with drone shots to die for. Thank you Koh Phi Phi Islands, Thailand in 4K Drone, Music Video Remixed. Enjoy..

When to go to Maya Bay.

Because of its geology and geography you can get to Maya Bay on most days of the year... Even in the monsoon months, if the waves are coming in too large at the entrance, there is a walk through from Loh Samah, an inlet on the other side of the cliffs. This, in itself is a classic walk through virgin jungle for 180 metres and well worth doing, even if you arrive at the main beach.

Weather in Maya Bay

Koh Phi Phi weather can be found here and the real time rain radar can be useful. This will tell you all the best times to visit during the year.

The Beach.

Maya Bay was put in the world's attention when Leonardo Di Caprio shot his Movie "The Beach" here in 2000. The movie, about a wayward backpacker, in search of the ultimate travel experience. It wasn't a huge success but the garden of Eden imagery immediately shot Koh Phi Phi into the headlines. Some Leonardo groupies turn up to see where the movie was shot, but most people are just drawn by its sheer beauty.

View point at Maya Bay

How to get to Maya Bay?

Phi Phi Ley is a remote island about 2km from Phi Phi Don. No formal accommodation can be found on the island. The only people who stay there are Marine Park wardens and seasonal farmers who scale the cliffs in search of the Bird's Nest for the Chinese Bird's Soup.

The 2 main ways to get to Maya Bay are from Phuket on a day tour or from Koh Phi Phi by staying overnight. The tours from Phuket offer PhuketPhiPhi big ferry- cruiser snorkel tours and Maya Bay speedboat tours.

Tours from Phi Phi Don can be very varied. Longtail boat trips can be organised by travel businesses on the island or private hire down by the pier. The classic Maya Bay -Phi Phi full day tour  is highly memorable.

Nearest Accommodation.

The nearest accommodation is on Phi Phi Don at budget guesthouses like Coco's in the main village all the way up to the 5 star Zeavola Resort on Laem Tong Beach.

One of the cute hideaway beaches at Maya Bay.

This little beach is just as you arrive at Maya Bay from the ocean entrance and is on the right hand side. As with all Maya Bay, access is best at high tide. The sand at the high tide point is insanely pretty and light, the views and atmosphere truly wonderful.

Snorkeling in Maya Bay

The shallow snorkel reef is about 180 meters from the main Maya Bay beach. Mostly boats anchor off the small National Park buoys which are an easy 40 meter swim to the reef edge. You don't need to go up to the reef as the the whole bay is a coral field where you can  view a wonderful array of species of Andaman Sea reef life.

Some of the best snorkeling can be done along the great walls on the northern edge of the entrance but these coral walls plunge deeply down to 20 meters depth and can be inaccessible especially in low season, May to October end.

Maya Bay Snorkeling

Maya Bay snorkel tours

The main types of boats used for snorkeling on this reef are the longtail, speedboat and big boat. The traditional longtail boat is a small wooden craft with a long prop-shaft and is a great way to tour the reefs on Phi Phi Ley. Small groups of snorkelers can get into places that the bigger boats cannot. They can be difficult to get into and out of but are a lot of fun.

Speedboat tours of Phi Phi nearly always stop at Maya Bay reef for a time to snorkel. Often these boats do time on "The Beach" and out on the reef so you get a decent amount of time in the bay. Tours as referred to above with full day trips like the  Maya Bay speedboat tours from Phuket or the more local  Maya Bay -Phi Phi full day tour.

The big boat tours are another unique way of enjoying the magnificent Maya Bay. These are old fishing boats converted into day trip boats. Around 30 people hang out together and visit the bay as a group. This can be great fun but large groups can scare away the larger marine life.

Further useful series of links for snorkeling around Maya Bay can be found here:

Snorkeling off the beach of Phi Phi

Phi Phi Water Sports

Snorkeling off the beach of Phi Phi

One day snorkeling tour from Phi Phi Island

Diving in Maya Bay

Maya Bay Diving is iconic and one of my favourite dive locations on Koh Phi Phi. From the dramatic scenery above the waterline you plunge below to a world of huge cliff walls, boulders the size of trucks and small houses. Huge fan corals can grow between the more protected rocks but a yearly monsoonal surge ensures that any that grow in exposed areas get swept away.

Maya Bay Diving

As you pass through ravines and hidden corners it is common to surprise larger marine life such as turtles and grouper. As you head further west out to the entrance of Maya Bay the water is deeper at around 15-20 meters.

Maya Bay reef

The wall diving is extensive on both sides of the entrance to Maya Bay with every indentation and promontory a place for shoals of juvenile to hide.

Maya Bay is also popular with dive boats as a lunch stop. The National Park marine buoys are an easy pick up and make grand setting for a fried rice in-between dives.

Shoals of trevally hunting the walls outside Maya Bay

Dive boat getting out to Maya Bay

Good tip: Stay on Phi Phi if you wish to dive the islands. 
There are many dive companies on Koh Phi Phi Don at Tonsai Village and at Long beach and Laem Tong beaches. They have every facility, PADI and SSSI, Open Water to Instructor courses and many type of dive boat from longtail, through to converted fishing boat to bespoke dive boat.

The advantage of staying on Koh Phi Phi is that diving starts just 15 minutes from the island where as the Phuket or Krabi dive tours need 45 min bus transfers and 2 hour dive boat transfers to the same site.

More useful links.

Article list Koh Phi Phi Diving - Scuba diving and dive sites

Phi Phi Dive Sites Maya Bay

Learn to Dive on Phi Phi

Tips for Diving in Phi Phi

tags:  maya bay, mayabay, phiphi, #phiphi, #mayabay, Ferry, Speedboat, Tours, Koh Phi Phi Sea,The Beach, #thebeach, Leonardo Di Caprio, #LeonardoDiCaprio, Maya Bay Video, #MayaBayVideo, PhuketPhiPhi, #PhuketPhiPhi 

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Koh Phi Phi Ferry; Speedboats Tours. On the Sea News 2016.

Get to Koh Phi Phi. Feel the pulse on the paradise ‪#‎goodtimes‬ adventure party island 
of Koh ‪#‎PhiPhi‬, Thailand. 

If the feeling is about kicking off your shoes and feeling the sand between your toes, then why not head out to glorious Koh Phi Phi by ferry or speedboat and enjoy the best of the best. Organise that here: http://phi-phi.com. See this quick fab video to wet your appetite!

Further cool videos of Koh Phi Phi follow the link on Coco's guesthouse page.

Tour of Koh Phi Phi

If you don't have time for a stay on #KohPhiPhi then maybe hook up with an organised tour from Phuket. Check out PhuketPhiPhi or Phuket Phi Phi Tour. These are a wonderful full day out where you get a cruise out to Maya Bay on the glorious Andaman Sea,  a chance to see some flying fish or dolphin or just take in the myriad islands in the Phang Nga Bay.

not far now to Maya Bay

If on the other hand you are staying on Koh Phi Phi you can hook up with one of the cool tours from the island itself. 

On the way to Maya Bay.. speedboat tour from Phi Phi

Ferry Speedboats Tours on the Koh Phi Phi

Tour Maya Bay Phi Phi Ley 

On Phi Phi Ley Island you will have a chance to explore the stunning Maya Bay, the location where Leonardo Di Caprio shot the movie, "The Beach".

Maya Bay, The real deal

See the Top 10 things to do on PhiPhi  and many more links to what to do on the islands and articles on the beaches, maps, weather and a lot more all on the same on the website.




tags: Ferry, Speedboat, Tours. Koh Phi Phi Sea, maya bay, mayabay, phiphi, #phiphi, #mayabay,

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Return here or bookmark this page to follow further updates and posts about ferry, speedboat and Koh Phi Phi tours.

Backpacking in Thailand

Maya Bay Koh Phi Phi

Backpacking is Thailand is a subject very dear to my heart as backpacking was very much how I gained my foothold within the travel industry. Before I came to Thailand I was a trekking guide in Nepal. My first backpacking trip to the land of the smiles was in 1992 and was offered as part payment for the group I had lead by my, not too flush for money, trekking company.

Bed and Breakfast Tibet style 1987.. er halcyon days?

On top of bus in Nepal

News from July 2018- Maya Bay & Loh Samah Pier

Maya Bay

Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi has been closed for a month now and will stay closed until October 2018. In this article from the Nation Newspaper, they talk about planting some coral on the reef to help rejuvenation.

It also talks about building a pier in Loh Samah to land tourists so they can walk into #MayaBay. They also want to limit tourist to Maya Bay to 2,000 people per day. Anything that helps the nature survive the influx of tourist will be a good thing as long as it is done in a way sympathetic to the surroundings. ie no cement!

Tragic Boat Accident

In the New York Times article there is news of the awful events leading up to the tragic capsize of the boat carrying Chinese nationals out to Coral Island. The authorities advised the captain of the vessel not to set out but the advise seems to have been ignored. 33 people are dead. The article goes into great detail so I won't duplicate it.

Co Phi Phi

Co Phi Phi is magic. According to a WIN-Gallup International center survey, the happiest people live in Co Phi Phi (85%). It certainly has won many accolades for it's beauty and as each year roles by and the ferries round the headlands of Co Phi Phi Don, a new wave of visitors gap with pure delight as they catch their first glimpse of Tonsai Bay.

Co Phi Phi is not a resort town, or resort bay experience but an eclectic mix of simple and luxury hotels nestles around a bustling village where you are just as likely to enjoy some serious diving or snorkeling as you are to take on some serious nightlife partying. And if this seems all too much there are plenty of places to just sit and soak up paradise and while a way a few perfect days in the sun.

Kicking Back on Co Phi Phi Thailand.

One thing all visitors have in common is their love of the way the sand feels between their toes... sheer pleasure. The seas are a gorgeous 29 degrees all year round so you can swim as long as you wish, either to take the heat of the day off your back or play at night in the moonlight and experience that special romantic moment.

Maya Bay Co Phi Phi Thailand

Co Phi Phi is about romance for many who visit it's shores. The elegant settings, the lack of the serious world makes this an ideal place to unwind and let the moment and the rhythm of nature take you where you need to be. Phi Phi Island Village Resort And Spa, Holiday Inn Phi Phi Island, Zeavola Phi Phi Resort are the high end romantic getaways in the north of the island. Mama Beach Residence and Phi Phi Island Cabana Hotel are the main ones for Phi Phi Don Village.

Holiday Inn Phi Phi Thailand

One of my biggest loves of this special place is that there are no cars. Walk. Yes you must walk everywhere and this means take it slow or you will get too hot. So everybody including the market traders are taking it slow as this is the best way to move around. This adds to the laid back atmosphere of Phi Phi. Air conditioning is an important part of your decision making process when you book accommodation on Co Phi Phi. Those who don't need air con and can cope with the heat but for many the air con and swimming pool are essential.

Co Phi Phi revolves around the sea as nearly every piece of land turns into hill as soon as you get more than 150 meters inland. The beaches and boating trips seem to dominate the main activities and there is plenty to see.

The traditional boat of the islands is the Longtail boat which is basically a tractor engine with an extra long prop shaft that acts as a rudder as well. These used to be very noisy affairs but in the last few years mufflers and petrol engines are being used which makes for a much more pleasurable ride. The longtail is the main taxi, tour and excursion boat that gets you from bay to bay or out to Phi Phi Ley. Out in the fresh air, with the wind blowing past your face and out on the sea... there's nothing better.


For those who need a bit more that the 5-8 passenger longtail boats, the wooden converted fishing boats are a great way to tour. These boats often have a toilet and are more sea worthy but on the down side will have tours with 20 or more people on them.


Bamboo island sits to the north and has a commanding view of Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Ley in the distance, is surrounded by a huge coral garden and has a sandy beach that need a sunglasses warning on it as the sand is that bright!


Phi Phi Ley is about 97% cliff which seems impossible until you get their. The sheer faces drop straight into the deep blue sea. Wall diving is a key draw on this island. The Viking Cave is where the Bird's Nest Soup ingredients are farmed and this is Co Phi Phi 's primary industry outside tourism. The 2 beaches are a joy to be seen. Loh Samah has a tiny beach and a lovely coral reef. Maya Bay beach is where the shot the movie for Leonardo Di Caprio's classic 'The Beach'. This island has many tour boats so it is best to visit out of hours.


Co Phi Phi Don has the accommodation and here you can find everything from dormitories to 4 and 5 star resorts. The island can only sleep about 6400 tourists but there is such a diverse group of people that party nights can be quite brilliant.

Kayaking on Co Phi Phi Thailand

Co Phi Phi Hotels and Resorts are predominantly on the beach and 50% of them will have a swimming pool. Guesthouses, dormitories camping (camping not in place every year) will be inland but JJ Bungalow is in the middle of the island and it is only 180 meters and 220m from Loh Dalum beach or Tonsai Bay. Best Budget Hotels and Resorts, Best Mid Range Hotels , Best Beach Front Resorts on Phi Phi are useful links for good accommodation.

Fruit seller on on the main pier

Co Phi Phi is a collection of 6 islands, the two many Phi Phi's Bamboo island Moskito Island and the 2 rocky diving outcrops of the Bida's. The geography of the island is stunning with near vertical cliffs dominating the landscape where ever you look. The only real flat land is at the main Co Phi Phi Village by the main pier and at Loh Bagoa where the famous Phi Phi island Village Resort holds court. Co Phi Phi is reached by ferries from Phuket Krabi and Lanta Island some 45km away and for more details in getting there see the main transfer to Co Phi Phi help page.

phi-phi.com is the predominate website for detail and good research on Co Phi Phi Weather, Phi Phi Photo Galleries, Phi Phi Interactive Map.

Cliff jumping off Phi Phi Don

Co Phi Phi is also known by Koh Phi Phi or Phi Phi island or Phi Phi Thailand.
See more Aerial shots of Phi Phi here.

Where should I stay on Koh Phi Phi and how long is needed?

I'm travelling to Thailand in December for three weeks with my partner.

I'm looking for advice on how long to stay in Phi Phi for and what the best area to stay in would be as Google is giving me some very conflicting information.

Time wise, we can spend anywhere from 1-5 nights here but I'd rather not stay longer than needed as I'd rather dedicate more time to Phuket.

We would like to be near the bars and nightlife if possible.

Any recommendations would be great on time/areas!

Answer to; Where should I stay on Koh Phi Phi

If you want the nightlife I would recommend 2 locations. Tonsai village has most of the islands accommodations and the best nightlife (nightlife around Reggae Bar / Dojo in the main village early evening and the moves over  to Loh Dalum Beach 200m away, still in the main village)

The other location is Long beach which is 10 minutes longtail boat away or a 40 minute walk along the shore. Longtails run all night but at a premium after 12pm.

I work for PP Cocos in the main vilalge just under the mountains , 4 minutes from the nightlife beach so obviously big that guesthouse up.. LOL.

Useful links

Phi Phi Island cheap accommodation

Phi Phi Hotel 3*

Koh Phi Phi luxury

Phi Phi party hotels

Dramatic scenery at Tonsai Village the main village of Koh Phi Phi

Viewpoint picture of Tonsai Village the main village of Koh Phi Phi

Long Beach 10 min from the main pier

Answer to: how long is needed on Koh Phi Phi?

How long is a piece of string? If you like water sports and nightlife you can get into a fun mix of party and then do an afternoon sunset adventure. Many people find the fact that they can walk every where is charming and addictive. The number of times I have heard, ' I just came for a few days and I am still coming hear after all these years'. I did the same 24 years ago!

I think you have got to stay 4 days to do the island justice. I would do a dive, snorkel with the sharks, a booze cruise, and kayak. I would want to visit Maya Bay, Bamboo Island and Viewpoint. The list goes on.

Check out these useful links.

Top 10 things to do on Phi Phi Island

Best of Phi Phi Island

Best diving on Phi Phi

Koh Phi Phi sharks 

Shark watch snorkeling on Long Beach, Koh Phi Phi

Longtail with Phi Phi Ley in the background

Bamboo island

Cliff jumping

Maya Bay

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Koh Phi Phi Don or Koh Phi Phi Ley? ...where to stay

A common question runs along the lines: Should I stay on Phi Phi Don or Phi Phi Ley for a night stay. and whats the difference in both places?

Phi Phi Ley

Answer; to Koh Phi Phi Don v Koh Phi Phi Ley
Basically, there is NO accommodation on Phi Phi Ley. To be clear, Phi Phi Ley is a National Park with no accommodation whatsoever. The only people who stay on the island are the National Park wardens and the local people who guard and farm the caves where the birds for the Phi Phi birds nest soup  are found.

Phi Phi Don Village from Viewpoint

Phi Phi Accommodation

There are an incredible variety of places to stay on Phi Phi Don from elegant 5 star resorts to Phi Phi guesthouses , & dorm rooms, so the choice is very eclectic.

All the action is in the main village which is great if you want a choice of restaurants/ nightlife and the buzz of the village. If you want quiet, look at Long Beach or the remote Laem Tong beach and these locations cater to those who want more exclusivity.

Phi Phi Ley one day tours

To get out to Maya Bay on Phi Phi Ley, try phi-phi.com/tours/ or hook up with travel agents like Siam UK travel and Tours down by the pier. They provide longtail boat, speedboat and converted large fishing boat options for getting out to Phi Phi Ley.

Speedboat Tour from Phi Phi Don

Phuket Phi Phi Ley one day tours.

The PhuketPhiPhi tours get you to the island with the primary task of getting you on Maya Bay. These are wonderful sightseeing trips with some snorkeling.

The tour from Phuket to Phi Phi Ley starts at 6.30-7.00 am from your Phuket Hotel and starts with a transfer to Rassada Pier by 08.30. The ferry takes 1 hour 20 each way.  This is is a great way to see Phuket island and cross the jungle covered Phuket Highlands. It is a long day. Try phi-phi.com/tours/ if you want that option.

One day tour to Phi Phi Ley on the large cruise boat

Phi Phi September weather

Phi Phi September weather at Pi Ley

Phi Phi September weather is full of wind rain and humidity. Why on earth, would your conclude, would you want to visit Phi Phi island? For sure you wont get the best of Phi Phi Island, or the best diving on Phi Phi but you will get an interesting experience unlike anything you might imagine in high season.

Some of the key highlights of travelling in September would be a quieter Phi Phi, a more expectant Phi Phi, a happy island. Surprisingly you would get some interesting diving and a chance to see Dolphin.

Phi Phi September weather

On top of all these interesting aspects the room prices at the hostels or luxury resorts are 40-50% cheaper than in high season. When you add on to the Phi Phi Hotel Specials like the Free Night Specials, Fixed Night Promotions, Special Discounts, you can see that there is something of a reason to go and check one of Thailand's most popular travel destinations out.


The Phi Phi September weather includes detail on how to get to Maya Bay in spite of the waves at the mouth of the Bay, what ferry is best to take to get to the islands and detail on the exact nature of the  temperature, rain and storms.

Phi Phi September weather

Best Place to stay on Koh Phi Phi, Thailand

Staying on #KohPhiPhi all depends on your style of travelling and your wish list.

The main Phi Phi Phi Phi Village

If you want to be near the #PPdiving boating, snorkeling and tour operations to see the rest of the islands, the main village by the pier has it all. (There are no cars on Koh Phi Phi so you reach 80% of the island by boats or trekking around through the jungle. It also has a great selection of budget accommodation and a great variety of eateries and the market.)

The main Phi Phi Village from viewpoint

The main village arriving on the ferry.

Most people end up here in the main village, as, although the party scene can dominate on the north beach (Loh Dalum), the place has everything, a great day time beach  (Loh Dalum), a great variation of restaurants, easy access to the boats to Maya Bay, travel agencies to get things done, banks etc. The main, all tide swimming beach in the village is in front of PP Cabana Hotel. This is where, with deep water, the open water divers train for their PADI, SSSI etc.

Loh Dalum beach of the main Phi Phi Village

Loh Dalum Beach at Phi Phi Village

If you want to party and at the same time have access to Phi Phi Don Village, this is the place for you. Phi Phi Don Village is also called  Tonsai on some websites. Some of the main hotels on Phi Phi Don Village are PP Cabana Hotel 4*, PP Hotel 3* , PP Princess 4*, PP Palmtree 3*.

The Quieter end of the village

If you want quieter than the main village but easy access to it, you should stay 5-10 minutes walk along the beach on the south side of the Phi Phi Don island but to the east of Phi Phi Don Village near Phi Phi Andaman Legacy Resort 3*,- Phi Phi Villa 3*,  PP Andaman Resort 3*, Arayaburi Resort 3*. This is the quietest area away from the beach party scene.

PP Andaman Resort 3*

Phi Phi Long Beach

If you want to be away from the village but be able to take a 10 minute boat ride in, stay on Phi Phi Long Beach. There is a Coral reef just off the beach here and you get great views of Phi Phi Ley and Tonsai Cliffs. Phi Phi The Beach 4*, Phi Phi Paradise Pearl 2-3 *, Phi Phi The Hill 2*. You can organize diving and boat trips here. The choice of eating is alot more confined than the main village but it is a simple 100THB + 10 minute longtail boat taxi ride away.

Snorkeling at Long Beach

View from Long beach with Phi Phi Ley in the background

Remote Ao Phak Nam

For remote, try Phi Phi Relax 2* + on Ao Phak Nam Beach. Here you can really get away from it with views of the Krabi shoreline in the distance. This resort has an amazing moon rise location.

Stylish Loh Bagao

For smart and luxury accommodation, try the quiet Phi Phi Village resort 4* which is popular with honey moon couples on Loh Bagao. This resort covers a wide area and the bungalows are nicely spaced to give a good deal of privacy.

Laem Tong Beach

Laem Tong Beach has the 5 star Zeavola Villas which are all you would expect of a well run resort. The PP Holiday Inn 4* offers great accommodation for those who want to know what they are getting.

Laem Tong Beach on Koh Phi Phi Don

Budget Accommodation

Most of the budget Accommodation is in the main Phi Phi village. I work for PP Coco's  so obviously I think you should take a look at this 1 star guesthouse if you are interested in the old and traditional accommodation for travelers. Although Coco's has comfortable budget ensuite aircon rooms and a half a dozen superior rooms, the guesthouse tips it's hat to the basic fan rooms that were so dominant in the 80's and 90's.

PP Cocos, Koh Phi Phi.

Traditional fan rooms at PP Coco's

Coco's is under the mountains at the start of the Viewpoint walk close enough to the beach to make it a pleasant stroll but far enough away to not hear the beach bars.

        

Coco's Ensuite Fan Room

Superior AC room with hot water and TV

Standard AC room with hot water shower

Standard AC room corridor

Guests and staff

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Useful links:

Best Luxury Bungalows on Phi Phi  

Koh Phi Phi accommodation  

 Koh Phi Phi Beach Resort 

 Phi Phi Island Guesthouses

 Where to stay on Koh Phi Phi 

Hotels on Long Beach Phi Phi  

 Backpackers on Phi Phi Island

1 star Guesthouse on Koh Phi Phi

Enjoying Songkran

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