# Phi Phi Islands — a trip from Phuket > The Phi Phi Islands are a group in Krabi province, about 45 km from Phuket: inhabited Phi Phi Don and rocky Phi Phi Leh with Maya Bay from the film The Beach. A speedboat takes about an hour, a ferry about two. The national park fee is about 400 baht, 200 for children (unofficial). Swimming in Maya Bay is banned, and it closes in August–September. Allow a full day. Web page: https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/phi-phi-islands - City: [Phuket](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket), Thailand - YesGo score: 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 4 h - Entry: park fee ≈ 400 baht, children ≈ 200 - Opening hours: A day trip; Maya Bay closed in August–September - With kids: Fine with kids - National park fee: About 400 baht for foreign adults, 200 for children; paid on landing - Maya Bay: No swimming; boats can't enter the bay; closed 1 August – 30 September - From Phuket: Speedboat ≈ 1 hour, ferry ≈ 2 hours — from Rassada or Chalong pier - Islands: Phi Phi Don — inhabited, with a village; Phi Phi Leh — cliffs, lagoons and Maya Bay - Best time: November–April: calm sea - Where: Krabi province, ≈ 45 km east-south-east of Phuket - Coordinates: 7.74000, 98.77000 - Facts checked: 08.11.2026 ## Key facts - **Krabi** — the islands belong to Krabi province, not Phuket (source: English Wikipedia) - **2 main islands** — Phi Phi Don (the largest and inhabited) and Phi Phi Leh (source: English Wikipedia) - **2000** — The Beach was filmed on Phi Phi Leh, making Maya Bay famous (source: English Wikipedia) - **2,000–3,000** — people live on Phi Phi Don permanently (source: English Wikipedia) - **1940s** — fishermen first settled Phi Phi Don; it later became a coconut plantation (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 400 baht** — the national park fee per foreign adult on landing (source: 2026 travel guides) - **August–September** — Maya Bay closes for nature recovery; in 2026, 1 August to 30 September (source: 2026 guides and local press) - **Bamboo Island** — is also in the park — the fee applies when landing there too (source: travel guides) > **Maya Bay rules** Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh is protected by the national park: swimming is banned, and boats don't enter the bay — they drop visitors on the far side of the island, from where a boardwalk leads to the beach. Visitor numbers are capped. The bay closes every August–September; in 2026 from 1 August to 30 September, when tours show it only from the water. ## What are the Phi Phi Islands? **Phi Phi** is a group of islands in **Krabi province**, between Phuket and the mainland, about 45 km from Phuket. The largest and only inhabited one is **Phi Phi Don**, with a village, hotels and cafés. The second is **Phi Phi Leh**: limestone cliffs, turquoise lagoons and the famous **Maya Bay**. The rest are small rocky islets. The islands became world-famous in **2000**, when The Beach was filmed on Phi Phi Leh. Crowds followed, and the national park brought in rules: a landing fee, visitor caps and an annual closure of Maya Bay. ## Fees, season and choosing a trip The islands are part of a national park, so a **fee** is charged **on landing** at Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh or Bamboo Island — according to 2026 guides, **about 400 baht** per foreign adult and **200** per child. Tours often don't include it, so check in advance. The best time is **November to April**, when the sea is calm. From May to October it can be choppy and some trips are cancelled for weather. A **speedboat** takes about an hour and fits in more stops; a **ferry** takes about two hours, costs less and is gentler if you get seasick. ## What to see on Phi Phi - **Maya Bay** on Phi Phi Leh — white sand between cliffs (look, don't swim). - **Pileh Lagoon** — turquoise water ringed by cliffs, where boats can enter. - **Viking Cave** on Phi Phi Leh — seen from the water. - **Tonsai village** on Phi Phi Don — the pier, cafés and a viewpoint over two bays. - **Snorkelling** on the reefs around the islands. - **Bamboo Island** — a white-sand beach on many tour routes. ## How to get to Phi Phi from Phuket 1. **On a speedboat tour** — hotel pick-up, departure from Chalong or Rassada pier, about an hour each way, several islands in a day. 2. **By ferry** from Rassada pier (about 10 minutes from Phuket Old Town) to Tonsai on Phi Phi Don — about two hours. 3. **By longtail** from Phi Phi Don to Phi Phi Leh — if you're staying overnight on the island. 4. Pay the national park fee on landing, in cash. 5. Return ferries leave in the afternoon — check the time of the last one. ## How long do you need? A Phi Phi trip from Phuket takes **a full day**: hotel pick-up around 7:00–8:00, back by 17:00–18:00. To see the islands without the crowds, stay overnight on Phi Phi Don and head to Phi Phi Leh early in the morning. Bring sunscreen, a change of clothes, a waterproof phone pouch and seasickness tablets. ## Are the Phi Phi Islands worth it? Yes: they're among Thailand's most beautiful islands — cliffs, lagoons and water of an incredible colour. It's worth doing at least once. The YesGo take: in high season it's very crowded, you can't swim in Maya Bay, and the speedboat ride can be bumpy. Pick an early departure, or the ferry if you get seasick. From May to October, check the forecast — tours may be cancelled. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Cash for the park fee — about 400 baht - [ ] Checked whether the fee is in the tour price - [ ] Checked that Maya Bay is open - [ ] Seasickness tablets and sunscreen - [ ] A waterproof phone pouch - [ ] A change of clothes and a towel ## Phuket's sea and islands: compare and choose Beaches, islands and bays rated by YesGo. - [Phi Phi Islands](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/phi-phi-islands) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · park fee ≈ 400 baht, children ≈ 200 - [Karon Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/karon-beach) — YesGo score 25/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · free - [Bang Tao Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/bang-tao-beach) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · free - [Kamala Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/kamala-beach) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · free - [James Bond Island](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/james-bond-island) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · park fee ≈ 300 baht ## Islands from Phuket in two days Day one: the Phi Phi Islands. Day two: James Bond Island in Phang Nga Bay, then Phuket Old Town in the evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Phi Phi Islands](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/phi-phi-islands) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · park fee ≈ 400 baht, children ≈ 200 2. [James Bond Island](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/james-bond-island) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · park fee ≈ 300 baht 3. [Phuket Old Town](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/phuket-old-town) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free ## Good to know The Phi Phi Islands are in Krabi province; trips run from both Phuket and Krabi (Ao Nang). Maya Bay is on Phi Phi Leh, not on Phi Phi Don, where people live and the hotels are. ## Tips - The calmest hours are before 10:00. - Sit towards the back of the speedboat — it's less bumpy. - Swim in Pileh Lagoon — Maya Bay is off-limits for swimming. - You'll need cash for the fee even on a prepaid tour. - A second sea day: [James Bond Island](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/james-bond-island). ## Questions ### How much is the Phi Phi national park fee? About 400 baht for foreign adults and 200 for children (according to 2026 guides). ### Can you swim in Maya Bay? No, swimming is banned; you can walk on the beach. ### When is Maya Bay closed? Every August–September; in 2026, from 1 August to 30 September. ### How long does it take to get to Phi Phi from Phuket? About an hour by speedboat, about two hours by ferry. ### Is Phi Phi in Phuket or Krabi? The islands belong to Krabi province. ### Ferry or speedboat? The speedboat is faster and covers more islands; the ferry is cheaper and smoother. ### When is the best time to visit Phi Phi? November to April. ### How long do you need? A full day — or better, an overnight stay on Phi Phi Don. ## How we checked Island facts are from English Wikipedia. The 400/200 baht fee comes from 2026 guides and press reports of unchanged rates; we couldn't find the park's official order, so it's marked unconfirmed. The 1 August – 30 September 2026 Maya Bay closure and swimming ban come from guides and press; sources give different visitor caps, so we don't state a number. Journey times (speedboat ≈ 1 hour, ferry ≈ 2 hours) are from guides. The Wikidata coordinates are a rounded point for the island group. In line with YesGo policy we don't mention the events of 2004. ## Sources - English Wikipedia — Phi Phi Islands: province, islands, population, history, The Beach - 2026 travel guides (Thai Holiday Guide, T-Island) — national park fee, Maya Bay closure 1 August – 30 September 2026, rules (unofficial) - Thai local press — Maya Bay visitor caps - Wikidata Q511957 — coordinates --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.