Koh Phi Phi Viewpoint with MAPS & PHOTOS

When you come to visit Koh Phi Phi, even just for a day, you must find the time to hike up to the Phi Phi Viewpoint. The views are just amazing, and it is an attraction on the island not to be missed.

Koh Phi Phi is such a stunning tropical paradise, and the views and scenery from the Phi Phi Viewpoint are breathtaking. The panorama views you can enjoy from here are definitely worth the short hike and are among the top attractions on Phi Phi Island.

BASIC INFORMATION

WHERE IS THE PHI PHI VIEWPOINT LOCATED? On the main island Phi Phi Don.
HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET THERE? Around 30 minutes hike to get to the Viewpoint 2 viewing platform.
HOW MUCH IS THE ENTRY? 50 THB for Viewpoint 1 and 2 and 20 THB for Viewpoint 3, total 70 THB.

KOH PHI PHI DON

50 THB ENTRY FEE

30 MIN WALKING

Phi Phi Viewpoint is located in the heart of Phi Phi Don Island a mere 186 meters above sea level. Even so, it doesn’t seem like a very high point, it gives you the perspective of how narrow the island really is. You can see both bays- Tonsai Bay and Loh Dalum Bay almost meeting in the middle of the town at the thinnest part of the island.
There are three main Viewpoints in Koh Phi Phi- 1, 2, and 3. And also, if you hike beyond the main Viewpoint area, there is the secret Viewpoint 4.
Viewpoints 1 and 2 are directly above each other. From there, you can walk another 15 minutes to Viewpoint 3, which is at a similar height from a slightly different angle. Viewpoint 2 is the main viewpoint for taking the iconic photo and viewpoint platform.

VIEWPOINT #1

This is the base of the viewpoint area and first pit stop on your way up. There is a well-kept garden, the “I love Phi Phi” sign and a small shop, where you can buy cold drinks. There are plenty of benches and places to sit down if you want to relax or have a rest.

In the garden, you will find some colorful statues which are truly Thai style, and I must say I do find them a bit bizarre. A banana shaped bench, open-shell armchairs, and giant chickens. What do you think?

VIEWPOINT #2

From the viewing platform, you will have the best view of the island from above. You can see the size of the town and Phi Phi Lay Island in the distance. There is plenty of space to sit down and relax while enjoying the view. You can buy drinks, ice cream, or a cake in the Viewpoint Cafe & Food.

VIEWPOINT #3

Viewpoint 3 is the least busiest of all the viewpoints, as most people finish their hikes at Viewpoint 2. And also, there is an extra entry fee 20 THB. However, if you want to enjoy the views with fewer people, then Viewpoint 3 might be worth hiking to.

How do you get to Phi Phi viewpoint?

Hiking to the viewpoint is the only way for tourists to get there. There are no cars or motorbikes to rent in Koh Phi Phi. There are a few different ways of getting to the Viewpoint, depending on where on the island you are situated.

If you are staying in the main part of the town, then the “stair route” from Harmony House is the fastest and easiest way to reach all viewpoints.

ROUTE #1 (pink color on the map) 20-30 minutes

The most straight forward and easiest way to hike to Phi Phi Viewpoint is taking the stair route. Walk through the town and turn left at the end of the building of Harmony House hostel. Harmony House is located less than 10 minutes from the main port, close to the Loh Dalum Bay and all the beach party scene.

Directly after the Harmony House, you will see signs for “viewpoint” and “Tsunami Evacuation Route” and steep stairs going up. Climb up the stairs, through Phi Phi Arboreal Resort, and you will reach Viewpoint 1. It takes only around 10 minutes of climbing.

When you reach Viewpoint 1, you will go through a cash office, where you have to pay the entry 50 THB.

Take a break or keep going through the Viewpoint area and follow the path upwards. There is nowhere to get lost. The way is clearly signed and there is only one narrow path you will follow all the way up to Viewpoint 2.

ROUTE #2 (yellow color on the map) 45-60 minutes

If you don’t like stairs for some reason or prefer a longer, more scenic route, or just fancy a longer walk, you can choose to reach Viewpoint 2 from the top.

Walk through the town and take a right turn after The Rock hostel and restaurant. You will recognize it, as it is shaped like a huge wooden ship. When you take the right turn, you will go pass Poo Gardens, Lighthouse, and Valentine Bungalows.

Right after the last Valentine Bungalow there is turning left (there are a small shop and an ice factory at the corner of the street). Take the left turn there and follow the concrete road, passed the reservoir.

You will hike up a few hills for about 20 minutes until you reach a V junction at the top. There, you will see a sign for Viewpoint 2. Take the left road heading into the jungle, and follow it around 15-20 minutes. It will lead you all the way to the Viewpoint 2. You will get there from the back, from behind the Viewpoint Cafe.

Also, this is the way you will reach the Viewpoint if you are staying in one of the hotels at Long Beach and walk from there around the main Phi Phi reservoir and a water park at Phi Phi Mountain Beach Resort.

ROUTE #3 (blue color on the map) 20-30minutes

If you are staying at the end corner of the Loh Dalum Bay in hotels and bungalows around The Only Bar, you don’t need to come back to the town to walk to the viewpoint.

From The Cobble Beach, Sea Sky Resort, Kitty Guest house, or Phi Phi Cozy Seafront Resort you can walk from the left side of the bay. Instead of going back to the town, take left and walk uphill, passed the Phi Phi Jungle Hill Bungalows, and keep hiking all the way to the top. You will end up by Bob’s Bar, right at the gate of Viewpoint 2.

I wouldn’t recommend this route on a rainy day. The way there is not maintained and can be muddy.

ROUTE #4 (red color on the map) 40-60 minutes

There are paths and jungle hikes which will lead you to the Viewpoint 2 from the north part of Phi Phi Don.

You can get to the Viewpoint from Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort (Loh Ba Kao Bay) and all the hotels in Leam Tong Bay. There are signs from the hotels you can follow through the jungle.

You can also hike up from Relax Beach and Runtee Bay.

If you do want to hike up Viewpoint from these locations, please make sure your timing is right and give yourself enough time to get back before it gets dark.

How much is the entry fee for Phi Phi Viewpoint?

The entry to the Viewpoint 1 and 2 is 50 THB per person. You will pay once you climb the stairs at Viewpoint 1.

It is worth it, as the Viewpoint area is well-taken care of by the landowners. There is never any garbage, the grass is cut regularly and all the flowers, plants and trees and watered daily. They take care and plant all sorts of tropical flowers and keep the area and path clean and tidy.

If you want to carry on hiking to Viewpoint 3, then there is added entry 20 THB per person. With this, you will be given a free bottle of water.

So in total, you will spend 70 THB on all three viewpoints. Totally worth it.

How long is the walk to Phi Phi Viewpoint?

It takes around 30-40 minutes to reach the top of the Phi Phi Viewpoint 2. If you walk from the main Phi Phi Tonsai port to Viewpoint 1 it takes around 20 minutes. Then it is another 15-20 minutes to hike to the Viewpoint 2 and more 15 minutes to Viewpoint 3.

If you are not staying on Phi Phi overnight and only visiting on a day trip, you can still hike up to the Viewpoint. You will need at least 90 minutes to get up and back to the port.

How to get to Viewpoint 3?

Once you reach the Viewpoint 2, you can carry on hiking to Viewpoint 3. It takes another 15 minutes to walk.

To get there, walk out from the back entrance gate of the Viewpoint 2 and take a left turn. Walk pass Phi Phi Bonita Resort, and you will see signs to Viewpoint 3 and Pak Nam Bay (Relax Beach). Follow the jungle path upwards. You can’t get lost there, just look out for signs on the way.

Once you reach Viewpoint 3, you have to pay 20 THB entry (the land belongs to different owners), and you get a free bottle of water. You can sit and relax at the Viewpoint 3 Restaurant and enjoy the stunning views.

Is there another secret viewpoint?

Yes, there is another Viewpoint up in the jungle, which is called the Secret Viewpoint or Viewpoint 4. It is a small opening on the top of the boulders, directly overlooking Pak Nam Bay.

You can get there if you trek from Viewpoint 2, through the jungle towards the Loh Ba Kao Bay. If you find it…after all, it is called a secret viewpoint… and walk thought the clearing, then you will come out of the jungle in Loh Ba Kao Bay, directly at the top of the Villa 360.

What’s the best way to see Koh Phi Phi Viewpoint?

Plan you to hike for when the tide is high or going up. You will see the beautiful turquoise colors of the ocean from above. You can check the tide tables and times online or downloads mobile applications such are Tides or Global Tide.
The best time is to take a hike to the Viewpoint in the morning when there are fewer people. Around 10 am is also usually a good light for some stunning photos.
The sunset views are amazing from the Viewpoint however, it is also the busiest time here. So expect many tourists and locals around the evening time.
If you are staying in Koh Phi Phi more than a couple of days, I would recommend walking up the Viewpoint at least twice at different times of the day. I’ve been up there hundreds of times, and it never disappoints.
Head out to the Viewpoint 2 for the best views and opportunity for some awesome pictures from your travels or holidays. There are many large boulders stuck up on the top of each other, and in the middle, there is the viewing wooded platform. The whole viewpoint is surrounded by a lovely and well-kept garden with many colorful flowers, bushes, and trees.

Sunset from Phi Phi Viewpoint

If you are heading up the Viewpoint for sunset, be ready to share the view with more people. Sunset time is the busiest time at the Viewpoint.

Even with many people around, the view from here is breathtaking. You can witness all shades of yellow, orange, and red, as well as purple and pink.

Sunset is around 18:30, +/- 15 minutes, depending on the time of the year. I would recommend climbing up to the Viewpoint for 18.00, so you can find a spot, and get the chance to take some awesome pictures.

Sunrise from Phi Phi Viewpoint

Sunrise in Koh Phi Phi is around 6:15 am, again depending on the time of the year. You can easily check the time online.

Sunrise is the quietest time of the day at the viewpoint, and the place won’t be crowded. If you don’t mind getting up, it is definitely worth it. Don’t expect as colorful sky as during the sunset time, as the sun rises behind the Viewpoint on the east side of the island.

My favorite time is around 7.00-7.30 am when the sun slowly comes up higher in the sky.

The best place to watch the sunrise is the east side of Phi Phi Don. If you want to see the best sunrise you can walk to Loh Mood Beach. You will see the sun rising from above the ocean.

Swimming pool at Viewpoint

If you made up here and fancy a dip in a cool swimming pool, you can head out to the Phi Phi Bonita Resort. It is only 5 minutes walk behind Viewpoint 2, and for 100 THB per person, you can use their pool.

You can spend a couple of hours here chilling, grab some drink or food, and head down later, while stopping to see the sunset on your way back.

There is no view from the pool, just a nice relaxing atmosphere. If you prefer a sunset dip with a view, you can head out to The Cobble Beach or Phuphaya Seaview Resort. The have both infinity pools overlooking Loh Dalum Bay and offer some of the best sunset views in Koh Phi Phi.

UPDATE: the resort and pool has been closed since 2020

Find out more about THE BEST SWIMMING POOLS IN KOH PHI PHI

What restaurants are near Koh Phi Phi Viewpoint?

You can enjoy some delicious drinks, ice cream, smoothies, and cakes at Viewpoint Cafe & Food at Viewpoint 2. There is also the Bob’s Bar, just outside the second gate of Viewpoint 2.

Viewpoint 3 Restaurant also offers drinks and some light snacks.

At the bottom of the Viewpoint is the Phi Phi Arboreal Resort restaurant, which has beautiful views from its terrace balcony and delicious Thai food.

NO ALCOHOLIC DRINKS ARE ALLOWED AT THE VIEWPOINT
Do not bother bringing any alcohol to the Viewpoint. You won’t be allowed to drink or even buy any alcoholic drinks here. The land is owned and taken care of by a local Muslim family, and they don’t allow the consumption or sale of alcohol here. You can buy a cold beer in Bob’s Bar, which is just outside the paid area at Viewpoint 2.

What hotels are near Koh Phi Phi Viewpoint?

Koh Phi Phi is very small, so as long as you book a hotel in the town, you will always be within walking distance from Phi Phi Viewpoint.

If you want to stay near the stairs heading up, there is the Phi Phi Arboreal Resort right at the bottom of the Viewpoint. Other mid-range hotels nearby are Blu Monkey Phi Phi Island or Phitharom PP Resort.

If you are traveling on a lower budget, then the earlier mentioned Harmony House is located at the base of the viewpoint stairs. Also, Uphill Cottage, Tropical Garden Bungalows, or Phi Phi Dream Guest House are all nearby.

Read more: TOP REVIEWED HOTELS IN KOH PHI PHI

Hiking beyond Phi Phi Viewpoint

If you are a keen walker and enjoy jungle trails and hikes like me, then you don’t have to stop at the Viewpoint, and you can keep going to the north part of the Phi Phi Don Island.

Walk out of the Phi Phi Viewpoint 2 through the small exit gate on the right side of the viewpoint area. You will walk past the Bob’s Bar and keep walking 2 minutes to find a way to the jungle. There is an opening before one of the houses (see the photo above), before coming up to the Bonita Resort.

Once you are in the jungle, follow the narrow forest path to the Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort and Loh Ba Kao Bay. It takes around 30-40 minutes.

From the village, you can keep going to the Leam Tong beach, which is the very north of the island. There are also restaurants and hotels Holiday Inn, Zeavola, Phi Phi Natural Resort, and Phi Phi Erewan Palms Resort.

Another option for hikes is to take a jungle trek to Pak Nam Bay or Runtee Bay. Those are two bays next to each other with nice beaches located in the middle of the east coast of Phi Phi Don. Walk out from the backside of the Viewpoint 2, past Viewpoint Cafe, and take a left turn. Walk past Phi Phi Bonita Resort and just follow the signs to Pak Nam Bay (Relax Beach Resort) or Runtee Bay (The Cove Resort). It takes about 30 minutes from here, and the path down to the beach is pretty steep. You will need proper trainers or hiking shoes.

Read my other post about WALKING TRAILS IN KOH PHI PHI

Are there any monkeys at the viewpoint?

Yes, you can spot some monkey all around Phi Phi Viewpoint area. Many wild monkeys are living in the jungle on Phi Phi Don and since the Viewpoint is sounded by forest you might see some monkeys hanging around.

These are not aggressive and will not attack you for no reason. Just remember not to feed them, and don’t let them see any of your food or drinks. If they see it, they will try to grab it.

Tsunami and Phi Phi Viewpoint

As the Phi Phi Viewpoint is the highest peak of the island, it is the official “tsunami evacuation route”. Koh Phi Phi was devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004, when nearly all of the island’s infrastructure was destroyed. During tsunami warning, people would run up to the viewpoint to seek shelter in case of danger.

What to bring with you to the viewpoint?

As long as you bring 30THB for the entry fee and water, you don’t need anything else. No need to stress too much, however, a few things might come handy:

Cash for ENTRY FEE 50 THB (+20 THB if you want to also visit Viewpoint 3).
Pocket money if you want to buy drinks/ snacks.
Comfortable shoes (However the hike is doable with flip-flops).
Mosquito spray.
Sunblock/ hat / sunglasses.
Bottle of water, if you don’t want to spend any money.
Camera/ Phone.
Flashlight (can use torch on your phone) if you are coming down after sunset.

I walk up to the viewpoint a few times a week, and usually, I like to take some pictures. Instead of harassing people to take photos of me, I use my trusted travel tripod and timer on my Olympus camera or phone. It’s so easy, and I have taken some amazing photos this way.

What else is there to do in Koh Phi Phi?

Apart from the Viewpoint hike there are many other fun activities, things to do and must see locations and beaches you should not miss in Phi Phi Island. Such as renting a long tail boat, kayaking to monkey beach, snorkeling, scuba diving or paddle boarding.

Read the post here: PHI PHI’S ULTIMATE BUCKET LIST

Viewpoint challenge

If you are staying in Phi Phi Island for a week or longer, why not keep yourself fit at the same time as enjoying the island?

Viewpoint challenge is a fitness challenge where you hike up to the Phi Phi Viewpoint each day for a week while taking different photos of yourself in the process of doing it #phiphiviewpointchallenge

Since I’ve lived on the island for over eight years, I have done this a few times, and it’s a great way of keeping fit while enjoying some of the best views in Thailand. Win-win.