Info: 2020 FRESHLY POST-PANDEMIC INFORMATION BELLOW (the island is back to it’s previous pre-pandemic state)
Phi Phi Island is open and ready to welcome domestic tourists from all over Thailand. If you haven’t been to Koh Phi Phi and want to visit, now it’s the best time possible.
You can enjoy empty beaches and a relaxing atmosphere without crowds, together with first-class scuba diving and snorkeling.
The island has been affected greatly by the lack of international tourism, and that means that some of the hotels and hostels are still closed. Also, many restaurants, travel agencies, dive shops, and tour operators were forced to shut their doors.
However, there are still many great hotels to choose from. At the moment, many resorts offer fantastic prices, and most of the restaurants offer up to 50% discounts on meals and drinks. I prepared for you a list of the best places to stay and hotels offering low season discounts.
Also, I have for you updated ferry and speedboat timetable and list of activities you can enjoy on the island right now.
There has never been a better time to come and visit Koh Phi Phi!!!
How to get to Koh Phi Phi?
If you are coming to Phi Phi from Bangkok, then the easiest way is to fly to Krabi or Phuket airport. Both airports are open and operating all domestic flights. AirAsia, Nok Air, and VietJet Air are all flying to both Krabi and Phuket Airport.
👉 Before you book your flight, check the ferry or speedboat timetable bellow, so you can arrive in Phi Phi on the same day. If your flight arrives later in the afternoon, you might need to spend a night in Krabi or Phuket.
- From Krabi airport, take a taxi or minivan to Klong Jilad Pier if you are taking a ferry. If you booked a speedboat, then head down to Chao Far Pier in Krabi Town. The way from the airport to either of the ports is less than 30 minutes.
- From Phuket airport, you will need to make your way to Rassada Pier, which takes around one hour.
👉 At the moment, there is only one ferry transfer from Phuket, so it will be probably easier to plan your way from Krabi, which has more departure options.
BOAT SCHEDULE September 2020
WHAT HOTELS ARE OPEN RIGHT NOW AND OFFER GOOD DEALS?
Be careful when booking your accommodation online as some websites are still offering deals on hotels that are not opened. Here is an updated list of the best deals for hotels that are open and running as usual.
BUDGET OPTIONS UNDER 800THB:
- P2 Wood Loft from 723THB per night
- Phi Phi Don Chukit Resort from 621THB per night
- Safe House Phi Phi from 720THB per night
MID-RANGE HOTELS 1,000THB- 2,200THB:
- Phi Phi Villa Resort from 1,575THB per night
- Chao Koh Phi Phi Hotel & Resort from 2,240THB per night
- Blu Monkey Phi Phi Island from 1,026THB per night
4* & 5* RESORTS 2,200THB- 4,000THB :
- Phi Phi Princess Resort from 3,600THB per night
- Phi Phi Cliff Beach Resort from 3,150THB per night
- Phi Phi Harbor View Resort from 2,250THB per night
- Phi Phi The Beach Resort (Long Beach) from 2,240THB per night
WHERE TO EAT IN KOH PHI PHI?
Many of the restaurants had to unfortunately close after the quarantine, as there are not enough tourists to be able to run the business. However, there are still plenty of places open, including restaurants with Thai and western food. You can also buy fresh fruit and quick Thai meals in the local market.
Bakery Hut by Pa Jay, bakery style restaurant with fresh sandwiches and Thai food
Dow Restaurant, Thai restaurant with vegetarian options and special price offers
Charlie’s Kitchen and Bar, breakfast and western options, now 50% off
Effe Mediterranean Restaurant, Mediterranean, European and Turkish menu, now 30% off
The Pirate House Restaurant, curries and Thai food, 20% off and live music
Capulatte, best for breakfast, brunch and & coffee
Basil Bistro, Thai restaurant with good local dishes
Patcharee French Bakery, breakfast, bakery and also basic Thai menu
Tonsai Seafood, Thai food restaurant with seafront sitting, now 20% off
Rhantiew By Chukit, small local noodle shop, sea view sitting
Papaya Restaurant, best for curries and pizzas, now 30% off
Clover House, classic small Thai food restaurant, now special prices
Garlic 1992, Thai & western dishes, special prices, cozy sitting
WHAT BARS ARE OPEN IN KOH PHI PHI?
The nightlife on the island is very low key compared to its pre-COVID days. No beach party and fire show are happening at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a few drinks on the beach or in the town.
You can head down to the beach in Loh Dalum Bay and enjoy drinks with beautiful sunset views in Cottage Bar or Freedom Bar. Later, you can have a few drinks and a round of pool in the town.
Dojo Bar and Rolling Stone Bar are both open and offer super cheap deals on local beers and mixers. Tree House Bar is also open and welcomes anyone who wants to chill and have a few drinks in their rooftop bar.
What to do in Koh Phi Phi ?
Koh Phi Phi is absolutely stunning right now and the weather has been amazing throughout the whole low season. Take advantage of the empty beaches, and explore the underwater. The sea around Koh Phi Phi is brimming with colorful marine life, and you can experience some amazing snorkeling and scuba diving.
Without the crowded day trips and island visitors, you can enjoy the calmness and the tranquility of the unspoiled nature. Low seasons discounts are being offered on all the activities, and believe me, it’s worth every penny…I mean every Baht.
TRY SCUBA DIVING
Whether you are an experienced diver or never done scuba diving before, you will enjoy diving in Koh Phi Phi. Diver shops now offer amazing 20% off discounts on all courses and dives. You can enjoy some one-on-one diving experience and empty dive sites full of reef-sharks and turtles. Recently we’ve quite a few sightings of whale sharks, so you might even get lucky.
You can message me if you want to check the availability and times of the dive trips. We have both Thai and English speaking scuba instructors available. Find out more about diving trips in Koh Phi Phi HERE.
ENJOY SNORKELING
Snorkeling is one of the main activities on Phi Phi Island. Koh Phi Phi is well-knows for its stunning underwater life, and you must try snorkeling or diving when coming to the island. You can enjoy some good quality off beach snorkeling at Long Beach and Tonsai Bay, or rent out a boat.
Lazy to walk too far from the town? No problem! You can try snorkeling for free in the confined area, which is literary a few meters from the port and has beautiful azure water.
BOAT TRIP TO KOH PHI PHI LAY
Now is the perfect time to rent a private long-tail boat and head out to explore the bays, lagoons, and hidden beaches around Phi Phi Lay and Phi Phi Don. The national park is open, and you can enjoy swimming in turquoise waters and relax on deserted beaches. You will get a peek of what Koh Phi Phi looked like in the early ’90s before the mass tourism taken over Southeast Asia.
We now offer a 10% discount on all private long tail boat trips and rentals. You can message me, to reserve, or book online with the discount coupon “10percentOFF”. Find out more about boat rentals and places you can visit HERE.
RENT OUT A KAYAK OR SUP
You can rent a stand-up paddle or a kayak in Loh Dalum Bay and paddle up to Monkey Beach or Nui Bay. It takes less than 30 minutes to get to Monkey Beach, and it’s not difficult to get there. The water around the Monkey Bay is crystal clear, and the beach has white powdery sand.
Don’t forget to also bring a mask and snorkel. There is some awesome snorkeling around both sides of the Monkey Bay.
If you have enough power, you can also kayak to the other side of Loh Dalum Bay to Nui Bay. Nui Bay is one of the most stunning beaches in Koh Phi Phi.
The kayak rental starts from 200THB for an hour, and you can do so directly on the beach.
WALK TO PHI PHI VIEWPOINT
Phi Phi Viewpoint offers one of the best views in south Thailand and is one of the most photographed places in Koh Phi Phi. You can admire the breath-taking views from the Viewpoint 1 and 2, and see all the smaller islands in the distance.
If you want to take some great pictures, then head up to the viewpoint during the day. There are never more than a few people at the viewpoint during the morning and midday time. Most people come up here later in the evening time for some stunning views of the sunset.
The entry fee is 30THB per person. If you want to see more beautiful photos and maps of the viewpoint, please check out my other post here: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PHI PHI VIEWPOINT.
EXPLORE THE JUNGLE TRAILS
Apart from hiking to the viewpoint, you can also plan a jungle adventure to the other side of Phi Phi Don. There are some stunning beaches on the north part of the island, such as Loh Ba Kao and Leam Tong. The trek leads over Hin Poo Bay or the Viewpoint, and takes around one to two hours, depending on how far you go.
Check out my post about the PHI PHI WALKING TRAILS, where you can find maps, photos, and directions to the very north part of the island.
LONG BEACH & LOH MODEE BEACH
If you fancy a day on the beach, then head out to Long Beach. It’s a pleasant 30-minute walk following the east coast trail. There are also some other smaller beaches, where you can swim and take a break. Viking Beach is one of them and is just behind the corner before Long Beach. If you don’t fancy walking, you can also take a water taxi from the pier. The price of a taxi boat to Long Beach is 100-200THB per person, depending on how many people are on the boat.
If you want to explore further, you can keep walking thought Phi Phi The Beach Resort and walk down the hill. There you will find Loh Modee Beach, another tranquil beach with shallow waters and calm waves.
If you are planning to come to Phi Phi and you need any help or advice, please contact me, and I’ll be more then happy to help. I’ve lived on the island for over eight-years and can help you plan your little break or mini holidays.
JOIN US FOR A BEACH CLEAN UP
Also, if you are staying on Phi Phi over the weekend, why not join us for the Sunday afternoon beach clean up with Trash Hero Koh Phi Phi. You can meet the locals, find out more about Phi Phi, and join us for a cold beer afterward. Send me a message if you fancy joining us or check out the Trash Hero FB page for meeting time and place.
Unlike some of the bigger islands, Koh Phi Phi is solely dependent on tourism. All locals are doing their best to stay positive during this time. However, the reality of the situation is very difficult for the vast majority of people on the island. Especially for locals who permanently live here and have to support their families.
We very much welcome and look forward to all visitors and appreciate any help to keep our little paradise going during these difficult times.
Stay safe, everyone, and see you in Koh Phi Phi! xxx
