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 The
Phi Phi islands are located about 48 Km southeast from Phuket, 42
km south from Krabi Town and 40 km from Ao Nang Beach. They can
be reached in between 1 1/2 to 3 hours depending on the type of
boat you choose. Boats leave from Phuket, Ao Nang and the Chao Far
Pier in Krabi Town on a daily basis.
Phi Phi Islands The name is derived from Malay, and the original
was Pulao Pi ah Pi, where in pulao is the Malay word for island
, and pi,pronounced with only a haft p sound, was very close in
pronunciation to the English word "be"; the ah was eventually
dropped,so the name was said something like Bi Bi.
Later the p was pronounced with a stronger aspiration and the name
became the Pi Pi we know today. The name refers to the mangrove
wood found there.
Six islands are in the group; Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Ley, Biddah
Nok, Biddah Nai, Yung , and Pai; total area is 42 square kilometers,They
were incorporated into the National Park in 1983. Some of the interesting
places to visit include:
Yung Island lies to the north of Phi Phi Don. there is a rocky
beach on the east side, and a smaller strand of sand in a fold of
the hill. Many beautiful and various corals are found there.
Pai Island lies also to the north of Phi Phi Don, not far from
Koh yung . Sandy beaches are on the north and east sides of the
island. Broad coral reefs stretch away into the south.
Phi Phi Don Island covers a total area of 28 square kilometers:
8 kilometers in length and 3.5 at its broadest point. At the north
end is Cape Laem Tohng, where there is a Chao Ley, or sea gipsy
village. these sea gipsies emigrated from Koh Lipeh in tarutao National
Park, near the border eith Malaysia. Diving at Laem Tohng is excellent,
as it is also at Hua Rah Ket to the extreme south.
There are long beaches with rock scattered about. Two curving bays
are especially beautiful: Ton Sai and Loh Dalam.
Phi Phi Ley Island is 6.6 square kilometers in total area: 3 Kilometers
in length and 1 at its broadest point. The island is entirely limestone
and steep cliffs rising from the sea very nearly ring it. surrounding
waters average about 20 meters in depth, reaching 34 meters at the
deepest point off the island's southern tip.Phi Phi Ley has several
beautiful bays: Piley, Maya, and Loh samah; Ao Piley is very nearly
enclosed by the limstone walls of the island's cliffs , so that
the water appears almost to be an inland sea.
On Phi Phi Ley's northeast is the famous Viking Cave; this was
renamed by H.M. Rama IX when he visited it in 1972, Tahm Pya Nak,
from the shape of a particular boulder, which resembles in shape
the head of the great serpent of Buddist legend, the Naga. it is
a place much revered by the local people who come there to collect
the swift's nests used to make Bird' nest Soup, a Chinese delicacy.
On the eastern and southern walls of the cave are coloured drawings
dating from historic times.
There are pictures of elephants and also of various boats : European,Arab,
and Chinese sailing ships; barques, motorboats , and steamships,
It is theorized that these were done by pirates who paused in their
travels from west to east, sheltering in the cave to escape the
monsoon winds, transfer cargo,or make repairs.
For travel to the Phi Phi Islands, Tour operators provide transport
and tour packages to this popular destination. Regular boat service
is available from Jao Fah pier in Krabi. For more information please
Click Here
From Phuket
Tour agencies can arrange transport including transfer
from your accommodation to the jetty, and the boat to Phi Phi. If
you simply want to get there and back for an overnight stay, expect
to pay around 400 Baht return. Tickets can be used for any return
trip and are not tied to a specific date, so you can be flexible
with your plans. Normally it is not necessary to book in advance,
although during holidays, especially Christmas and January, it is
advisable to be at the pier 20 minutes before departure.
Day tours cost between 500-1,200 Baht, depending on the boat, the
time taken to get there, the quality and quantity of the lunch,
and the options available e.g.., snorkelling side trips, or glass
bottomed boat.
From Krabi Province
Boats depart from Krabi town and Ao Nang beach around
4 times daily (subject to change) The journey takes about 90 minutes
depending on weather conditions. During the low season (May - October)
departures may be delayed.
From International Destinations
The last boat from Phuket to Phi Phi leaves at 13.30 so
you must allow time to get a taxi from the airport to the boat dock.
Tickets should be booked in advance through travel agencies as it
is not always possible to buy tickets on arrival. Allow around 1
hour from the airport to the ferry. As connections can be subject
to delay it is advisable to stay overnight in Phuket before continuing
your journey to Phi Phi. (Schedule)
Day Trips from Phuket
If you're staying in Phuket but would like to visit Phi
Phi Island for the day, there are a number of tours available. Prices
vary between 500-1,200 Baht including lunch and depend on the type
of boat, quality of lunch, and options offered e.g., snorkeling
and glass bottomed boat. Tours normally start in the early morning
around 7.00 am and usually return by about 6.00pm.
It rains the most in May and October (an average of 22 out of 30
days), as it experiences both monsoons. The temperature varies little
all year round, staying between 30? c from October to February and
rising up to 35?c from March onwards.
Beaches and featuresThe dump bell-shaped island of Phi Phi Don
is endowed with green rolling hills, spectacular cliffs, long powdery
white beaches and emerald water. An attractive beach on the southern
side curves around Ton Sai Bay providing the dock for boats from
Phuket and Krabi. On the northern side of the 'handle' just a few
hundred meters away is the fine beach of Loh Dalum Bay. About 2
kilometers southeast from Ton Sai Bay, you will find Hat Yao (long
beach), home to Phi Phi Don's finest coral reefs, further north,
passing the beautiful Hat Lanti whish is famous for surfing, Hat
Laem Thong stands against an impressive range of cheer time stone
cliffs and breathtaking scenery.
October - March - Generally good weather, low
rainfall and average temperatures 30-32C(90F)
April - May - Very hot and humid. Temperatures
reaching 38C(95F+)
June - September - Variable. Temperatures average
30C (90F) About an 80% chance of rain in June and September, but
remember, it doesn't rain all the time! Also the rain is warm and
there are some excellent value hotel rooms in this season.
is the Thai Baht (see currency converter) Denominations are 1,000,
500, 100, 50 and 20 Baht notes. Master card and Visa are well known
but American Express is only accepted in the more expensive hotels
and stores. There is a bank with a currency exchange in Tonsai Bay,
Phi Phi, but no ATM machine. However there are plenty of ATM's on
Phuket island.
The same as the rest of Thailand - 2 pin plug with 220 volts. Adapter
are available at most hardware stores and some hotel shops in Phuket.
Buy one before you go to Phi Phi.
You can use the local post office for postcards and inbound mail,
but if it is something important, it's better to use the main post
offices at Phuket or Krabi.
ASA100-ASA400 is available. In Tonsai Bay, a Kodak shop near the
pier does standard developing. Phones There are public phones on
the island. One is located at the pier. Most tour agencies will
allow you to make both local and international calls for a small
charge.
Satellite TV, CNN and BBC are available around the island. Some
of the bars generally show important sporting events.
Internet cafes are the most reliable source to check e-mail as
many of the hotels do not have available phone lines for their customers.
The area around the ferry in Tonsai has a number of Internet cafes.
Health and Medical Facilities
There are no hospitals on Phi Phi so any serious illness should
be treated in Phuket where there are first class international facilities.
There is a local health centre on Phi Phi island in Tonsai Bay.
Please be insured before travelling to Thailand. Check with your
insurance company which hospitals they work with. Sunburn and Sunstroke
are the most common health problems so take the usual precautions
- strong sunblock, wear a hat and drink plenty of fluids.
On Phuket. Open 08.30 and close 17.00. Dress well.
If you overstay your visa or need an extension, you should contact
the Immigration office on Phuket.
Tourist Police
Located near the pier in Tonsai. The tourist police generally have
a person who speaks English.
Phuket International Airport departure tax 500 Baht. Check if your
ticket includes airport tax.
Domestic - 30 Baht (Phuket and Krabi Airports) Usually included
in the price of your ticket
Good ideas and Bad ideas
Thai's are very tolerant people, but if you want to make the most
of your visit, you should be aware of some Thai customs and sensitive
areas.
Good ideas
Always be polite and try not to lose your temper in frustrating
situations. Remember the pace of life is much slower, so adjust
accordingly. Losing your temper is considered a great loss of control.
Be patient and you will be rewarded. Dress appropriately. On the
islands, especially Phi Phi, the dress is very informal, but smart-casual
is appreciated in the better quality hotel restaurants. When travelling,
especially on boats, remember, you can get sunburnt very quickly!
The Wai.
Thais do not shake hands, they wai. The hands are placed together
with the palms together in a prayer like way. Although they will
often greet you in this manner, you don't need to wai a waiter,
bell boy or child, but if you're meeting Thais socially, a wai will
be appreciated. Shaking hands in the western way is also acceptable.
Tipping
It is not necessary to tip a flat 10-15% on everything, and in the
local restaurants for snacks and drinks, it's not expected, although
appreciated if you do.
It's not a good idea to....
Buddhists believe
that the head is sacred and the feet are the lowest part. Try not
to point at objects with your feet, or touch Thai people's heads.
The Thai Royal family
is treated with great respect, so do not make any untoward or rude
remarks.
Although you won't be imprisoned for sunbathing nude, Thais find
this offensive to their culture. While topless bathing is accepted
in the tourist areas like Phi Phi, it can attract unwanted attention.
It's tolerated but not welcomed. Some hotels have notices requesting
no G stings or topless bathing.
Where to Stay
Most of the tourist accommodation and services on Phi Phi Don are
located around Tonsai Bay, the main ferry destination with the more
exclusive and upmarket hotels around the eastern and northern side.
There is nowhere to stay on Phi Phi Ley.
Accommodation varies from simple bungalows to upmarket international
resorts. During the high season (October to March) it is not possible
to pre-book budget and standard accommodation. Prices are subject
to demand and can be changed depending on how many guests arrive
at any particular time. If you want to book in advance, you can
check availability on this site.
Thai Holidays & Festivals
Many Thais travel during festivals and holidays, so boats can be
crowded and flights, especially from Bangkok, fully booked. Below
are some of the more important festival dates to check with before
making your travel plans.
January - New Year - Busy until around 6th January when it calms
down!
February - Chinese New Year - varies with the calendar - around
the 2nd full moon. Ferries are busy.
April 13/14/15 - Songkran Festival or Thai New Year. This is the
water festival when many Thais return to their home. Don't expect
to travel easily around this time as buses, flights and ferries
are very busy. This is a major holiday in Thailand.
November Loy Kratong around the 12th. A beautiful festival where
floating kratongs (literally "leaf cup" with lighted candles
are placed on water to take away bad luck. Not too many people travelling
at this time of year.
December - Christmas - High season. Expect full flights, buses
and busy boats.
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Dining out
& Entertainment :
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Resorts in Phi Phi have their won restaurants. However, there are
a wide variety of restaurants and caf? to suit western palates in
Ton Sai Bay area. There's a pub and restaurant with wood table and
chairs where snakes served with fruit shake and cocktail can be
enjoyed in the sea breeze.The most popular nigh spots are round
Phi Phi Center on Ton Sai Bay. Some of them are beach front bars
providing tables and chairs on the beach, live music and fun holiday
atmosphere.
Most local shops and minimarts are run by local families so they
often stay open around 08.30 and close anytime between 21.00 -23.00.
Most gift shops open 10.00-22.00 and dive shops usually close at
21.00. Bargain with good humour and you could get some better prices!
Banks/Money
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