Plan your Phi Phi trip

Your planning checklist

1. Pick your monthThe dry season (December to April) has the calmest sea. Avoid August and September if Maya Bay is a must. See Best time to visit.
2. Choose a gatewayFly into Phuket or Krabi, then take a ferry or speedboat. Compare the routes in How to get there.
3. Decide how long to stayA day trip is possible, but two to four nights are far better. Our Itineraries help you plan each day.
4. Pick your areaParty and convenience in Tonsai, peace on Long Beach or in the north. Read Where to stay before you book.
5. Sort the paperworkCheck the current visa rules, fill in the free arrival card and buy travel insurance that covers diving and boat trips.
6. Bring cashMany boats, bars and small guesthouses take cash only and ATM fees are high. Plan with Costs & budget.

Phi Phi in one paragraph

Phi Phi Don, the main island, has no roads and no cars. Tonsai village on the central isthmus is the hub with the pier, shops, restaurants, dive centres and bars. The quieter beaches are reached on foot through the jungle or by longtail boat. Most visitors spend at least one day on a boat trip to Phi Phi Leh, Maya Bay and the snorkelling spots, and one morning or evening climbing to the Viewpoint.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Booking the cheapest room in Tonsai without checking the noise. Bars on Loh Dalum play music until late; light sleepers should look elsewhere.
• Bringing a big hard-shell suitcase. Paths are sandy, stepped and narrow. A backpack or soft bag is much easier.
• Arriving on the last ferry without a booked room in high season, especially around Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year.
• Visiting Maya Bay at midday. Go at opening time or late afternoon. See Maya Bay.
• Forgetting the monsoon. From May to October boats are cancelled more often, so leave a buffer day before an international flight.