Islands
Pileh Lagoon
Many visitors find Pileh Lagoon even more beautiful than Maya Bay. The boat glides through a narrow gap in the cliffs into a still pool of jade-green water, surrounded by sheer walls draped with jungle.
What to expect
Pileh is a long inlet almost completely enclosed by limestone cliffs, on the east side of Phi Phi Leh. Boats anchor inside and you jump straight into warm, calm water. The colour changes from deep green in the shade to bright turquoise over the sandy shallows at the far end. There is no beach, so you swim from the boat.
Tips
- Arrive early; by late morning the lagoon fills with speedboats.
- Some tours offer kayaks or paddleboards in the lagoon, a great way to explore the edges.
- Weak swimmers should wear a life jacket; the middle of the lagoon is deep.
- Bring a mask: the water is clear, though there is little coral inside the lagoon.
How to get there
Pileh is a stop on almost every Phi Phi Leh boat tour, together with Maya Bay and the Viking Cave. See Boat tours.