Visit Koh Phi Phi, Thailand

Koh Phi Phi is the island group most people picture when they think of southern Thailand: sheer limestone cliffs, turquoise lagoons and long-tail boats pulled up on white sand. It’s also very popular, so how and when you go makes more difference here than almost anywhere in the Andaman. Visit early, stay a night, and Phi Phi is still beautiful.

What to see

Phi Phi Don. The main island, with the village, hotels and the only places to stay. There are no cars; you walk or take a boat. The climb to the viewpoint above the village gives the classic view of the twin bays.

Maya Bay. On Phi Phi Leh, the uninhabited island to the south, inside Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. Maya Bay was closed for several years to let the reef recover and now reopens with strict rules: boats don’t land on the beach, visitor numbers are controlled, and swimming in the bay is banned. The park closes it every year during the monsoon; in 2026 it was closed from 1 August to 30 September. The recovery has worked: in September 2026, rangers counted up to 278 blacktip reef sharks in the shallows near the beach.

Pileh Lagoon and the snorkeling spots. A boat trip around Phi Phi Leh stops at Pileh Lagoon, enclosed by cliffs, and at snorkeling sites around the islands and nearby Bamboo Island.

Getting there and how long to stay

Ferries and speedboats run from Phuket and Krabi. A day trip is possible but rushed. Spending a night on Phi Phi Don lets you reach Maya Bay and the lagoons early, before the day boats arrive. National park fees are charged to foreign visitors. For more ideas nearby, see things to do in Krabi.

When to go

November to April is the calm, dry season on the Andaman coast. From about May to October, the southwest monsoon brings rain and rougher seas, and Maya Bay closes for part of that time. See Thailand’s weather by month.

Planning it with My Way Travel

We plan private Andaman trips with early-morning private boats, island hotels and transfers booked for you. Have a look at our Thailand tours or tell us your dates.

Sources (read in Thai): Thai Post and Daily News on Maya Bay’s 2026 closure, shark survey and swimming ban. Last checked October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is Maya Bay open?

Yes, outside its annual monsoon closure. In 2026 it was closed from 1 August to 30 September. Check the national park’s notices before you go.

Can you swim at Maya Bay?

No. Swimming in the bay is banned to protect the reef and the young sharks, and visitors have been fined for it.

Should you stay overnight on Koh Phi Phi?

If you can, yes. A night on Phi Phi Don lets you see Maya Bay and the lagoons early, before the day trips arrive.

Photo: Luxure, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 au.