This island group is one of the loveliest to be found anywhere, and makes a fine day-trip destination out of Phuket.
The
beauty of the two Phi Phi Islands has made them world
famous. But fame and easy access (Phi Phi is only a 45-minute jaunt from
Phuket) has its price: hundreds of visitors land on Phi Phi's shores every
day, crowding this tiny island oasis. The upside of this is that the bulk
of these visitors come at 10 a.m. and leave by 3 p.m.
Staying the evening at one of the island's many bungalows is recommended,
if you want to enjoy the tranquility of the island in the early morning
and evening. The less-visited northern end is quiet and beautiful, with
a few small resorts.
Snorkeling around the archipelago's coral reefs or climbing to one of the many karst limestone lookouts is an unforgettable experience. Sheer cliffs stained with earth colours soar from calm, clear seas. Phi Phi Don, the larger island, has idyllic tropical beaches lining its southern and eastern shores. Phi Phi Le, to the south, is host to scores of day trippers snorkeling and visiting the Viking Cave during the day, but offers no accommodation.
