Ko Phi Phi Don is one of Thailand’s most stunning destinations, and for this reason is very much sought after and can be quite touristy.

In this post we will help you to make the most of this beautiful island and avoid many of the pitfalls that take some of the enjoyment out of your holiday!

1. How to get there

There are different ways to plan your way to Ko Phi Phi Don. Personally we found that booking a transfer ahead on the 12.go app was the best and most time efficient way. Simply select a pick-up location from Phuket and book your taxi and ferry all in one place. We selected PP cabana because it had the best reviews and most reasonable cost at £18 each way for taxi pick-up from the airport and speedboat from the harbour. Alternatively, you can make your own way by using the grab app. Select your pick up and set the destination to Rassada Pier. From there you can easily buy a ferry ticket, but check the times online ahead of time.

2. How to choose where to stay

Choosing where to stay at Ko Phi Phi Don (the main island) is largely depending on budget and what you plan to do during your visit.
There a few beaches on the island but some are only accessible by boat or a long walk through the jungle. There are no grabs (taxis) on the island so take that into consideration.
The main beaches are Ton Sai Beach (where all boats to and from the island arrive and depart) and Loh Dalum beach, the quieter side.
There are plenty of accommodation options between these two beaches, some quieter but more expensive to the left of Ton Sai Beach and some cheaper ones (often hostels) in the centre.

We found a real gem in between the two, a lovely resort 5 minutes’ walk from Loh Dalum beach called PP Casita.
Although some of the huts are nearer the high street and can be noisy at night, they are nestled into nature and very peaceful. Bring some earplugs if you’re not into the late nights! PP Casita has its own swimming pool and restaurant area where an American style breakfast is served in the morning, with a great selection of both Thai and western food.

3. Food

Prices are a little higher in Ko Phi Phi Don compared to mainland, but it’s still amazing if you’re coming from the west. There is an abundance of choice for both thai and western restaurants in the island, as well as some great street food options. We loved The Thai Duck, a street food restaurant in the market. The food is fresh and authentic and there’s a real buzz and great atmosphere.
Foods to try on the island are coconut ice cream, sticky mango rice and coconut water. Just a little tip, you can find these much cheaper in the lanes other than right on the beach.

4. Services

The island is well prepared for tourism, so you won’t struggle to find ATMs and services such a laundry stations where you can use washing machines and driers for as little as 20bhat per load. If you need medical assistance, you can find various clinics that are available 24/7 and accept international insurance as well as a local hospital.

5. Activities

• Boat trips

The best thing you can do in while here is to book a private longtail boat, first thing in the morning (6.30am) to visit the stunning Maya Bay at sunrise. We read in many blogs and reviews that this was the best way to visit this iconic beach from The Beach, as it tends to get overcrowded by boats coming from all over Phuket on their day tour.

You might prefer to pre-book your activities ahead of time on apps such as GetYourGuide but we found that booking directly through a booth on the island turned out to be much cheaper. We had one of these booths just outside PP casita. We booked a private long tail boat at 6.30am for four hours and it cost 2700bhat including the entry fee to Maya Bay. It’s cheaper if you join a group (900bhat) but we wanted the exclusive! It was the best thing we did, as we left the port at dawn and experienced a spectacular sunrise on our way.

It takes about 30 minutes to reach Maya Bay and it was everything we had hoped it would. The beach opens at 7am and you can only stay for one hour. Unfortunately, swimming is not allowed because the bay is still recovering from over tourism, but you can sit on the beach and enjoy the sun slowly rising. The water is so pristine and if you look closely, you can spot black reef sharks peacefully swimming around.

The second stop on our tour was Pilei Lagoon, probably the most beautiful place we had ever seen in our lives! The colour of the water changes with every ray of sun that slowly touches it. Here you can spend time swimming, snorkelling and taking in the scenery. The food thing about being on a private tour is that you can be more flexible with time. Going back, we would ask to stay at this bay longer.

There are multiple boat trips to different parts of Phi Phi Don available, but also other activities such as kayaking, scuba diving and snorkelling. Simply approach any tourist booth to book your slot, there is so much choice that availability shouldn’t be a problem even last minute.

• View Point hike

The island offers some amazing sunrise and sunset spots if you’re up for a little hike.
Stop at view point two if you want a drink and a busier atmosphere or climb up a few more minutes for a higher view but a quieter experience. There’s a small entry fee at both viewpoints.

The hike to view point 2 and 3 takes about one hour from PP casita and it’s fairly straightforward, mostly paved. It takes you high up through the beautiful island’s jungle, where you can enjoy the surrounding flourishing vegetation and the sounds of tropical birds. Remember to bring plenty of water!

If you’re going up to catch the sunset (at around 6pm), it will be dark on your way down. The road is lit, but if you want to feel extra safe, we recommend bringing a torch.

We hope this post has answered some of the questions you might have and help you to have the time of your life at Ko Phi Phi Don! For more travel tips and destination ideas, check out our other stories on onabreak.co.uk