DAY TRIP to the PHI PHI ISLANDS [what to know before you go]

8/10/2023

I want to begin by saying that the Phi Phi Islands should be on everyone's bucketlist. After multiple years of travel, including all 50 states and 20+ countries, this trip just happened to have some of the most beautiful beaches and bluest water I've ever seen. Granted, it also happened to be one of the busiest beach destinations I've ever visited. Now although a multi-day trip to the Phi Phi Islands is encouraged, sometimes you just don't have enough time, or you've already booked a stay on the island of Phuket. If you're looking to make the most of your trip to the Phi Phi Islands, then I highly encourage you to at least visit the Phi Phi Islands for one day, and to read the rest of our post while paying special attention to the parts we've highlighted in bold for our best tips! ;)

Make sure to purchase your eSim ahead of time so you don't lose data when traveling internationally!

Our Essential Travel Resources :
There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are our favorite websites and resources to help you plan an incredible trip.

For flights, we recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to your destination.

Car rentals comparisons are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to bring your international driver's permit with you if you're heading somewhere international!

We always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates.

To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, we always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, we always recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick, especially for tours in Asia.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my packing list for your international or domestic travels.

We were lucky to book our Phi Phi Island tour through our hotel stay, Serenity Rawai Resort by Selina, which turned out to be the easiest option. If you're looking for an epic place to stay that's away from the crowds of Phuket and perfect for relaxing (or working from "home") then we highly encourage you to check out the Selina Resort. Booking a room is easy through their website or app, and you can find our full review here!

Before You Visit the Islands

"Pee Pee" Islands
The Phi Phi Islands (pronounced "pee pee" islands) can be reached by speedboat or ferry from either Phuket or Krabi, both routes taking about an hour. The tour I took was through ALP (Andaman Leisure Phuket), and left from Phuket. (See our exact itinerary at the bottom!) Because the Phi Phi Islands are located inside the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, with most tours you'll have to pay an additional 400 Baht in cash to cover your national park entrance fee. Trust me though, it'll all be worth it.

Splurge (but only a little)
Whether you decide to pay for a luxurious private tour or not, chances are your adventures won't actually be "private." With MANY (seriously, so many) tours visiting the exact same spots all day long chances are you won't truly have any "private" experiences unless you spend multiple days staying on the island. We also noticed that many of the older and more run down boats were managed by people who may or may not be higher than the beautiful cliffs beside you. Another thing to keep in mind before booking is what kind of boat the tour company you're looking to book with uses, long tail boats are beautiful and very aesthestic, however, they are ultimately slower making the long journey even longer. We recommend booking through a company that uses a speedboat, this way you have the maximum amount of time to enjoy the scenery, snorkeling, and swimming.

Pack Carefully
Once you're on the boat there won't be many (or any) chances to go back for something you "forgot." Some thing's you'll need with you include :

Copy of Your Passport - needed at check in when you pay your National Park Fee
400 Baht for the National Park Fee - we were told to pay in cash
Sunscreen - the sun here is very hot, don't forget to reapply!
Swimsuits - you'll be in the water at least half the day
Towels - there were no towels provided, so you'll want at least one to dry off and to get the salt/sand off of you
Water Shoes - these aren't really necessary, but made getting on/off the boat much easier when you had to get in on the beach
Dramamine - it is a one hour boat ride to the Phi Phi Islands with not many outdoor seats on the boat, if you happen to get seasick easily or just want to play it safe, we highly recommend taking some before your trip begins and bringing some with you for the ride back

Some other things you might not need, but want, include : sunglasses, a hat, and something to cover up in case you burn easily. If you're a snorkeling pro you might even want to bring your own gear, but to be quite honest the gear I was given was some of the best gear I've had on snorkeling tours and I didn't seem to have any issues with leaking or fogging up! If you're not keen on having what they served at lunch (rice, veggies, tempura, chicken, spaghetti, and some pad thai all buffet style) then you might also want to bring some snacks and a lunch. If you're not familiar with the local food in Thailand, then you're in for an awesome surprise! Lastly, if you want to capture the beautiful Phi Phi Islands, then make sure to bring a camera. These are truly some of the most beautiful islands I've ever seen, and remember you'll be in or near the water all day!

You're There, Now What?

You've finally made it to the stunning Phi Phi Islands, now what? This will be a LONG day trip, and although we're typically always on the go, even I got tired and did nothing but lay around on the beach on our last stop. My main pieces of advice when you're there is to stay hydrated, reapply sunscreen, and stay aware of wildlife. The Phi Phi Islands are said to have some small sharks, monkeys, and crocodiles, so just be aware and you should be fine. Lastly, it is so important to be on time for each location, your guide will direct you before you get off the boat which time you need to be back on, and if you make them wait...let's just say they will no longer be the happy guide on your boat. :) Other than that, ENJOY. Take it in, relax, and plan your next trip to the islands. Curious about our exact itinerary and where we stopped? Look below!

Itinerary
In case you're the type of person that likes to know exactly what your day might look like, here's an exact copy of what our itinerary looked like through our tour with Andaman Leisure Phuket!

7:15 - Hotel Pick Up (Time Varies)
8:15 - Arrive at Meeting Spot/Harbor
9:00 - Begin Boarding
10:15 - Maya Bay Sightseeing (boats can't dock here but they stop for a quick picture)
10:40 - Blue Lagoon Swimming (a very busy spot, but stunning)
11:15 - Viking Cave Snorkeling (the waves were a bit rough, but we saw a few fish and were told you can sometimes see sharks here too!
12:30 - Monkey Bay @ Phi Phi Don (unfortunately we didn't see any monkeys here, but this is also a quick sightseeing stop)
12:45 - Phi Phi Don (lunch consisted of a buffet of many different cuisines, including pad thai, spaghetti, tempura, chicken, veggies, rice, juices, and muffins)
2:30 - Bamboo Island & Beach (a beautiful white sand beach for swimming and snorkeling - or laying on the beach for a nap)
3:45 - Head Back to Phuket
6:00 - Hotel Drop Off