We left the mainland on the ferry to Koh Phi Phi and checked into the ChaoKoh Hotel. From Phuket the crossing takes around two hours.
The island felt different straight away. There are no cars, the bays are turquoise and clear, and everything moves at a slower pace. Phi Phi Don is the largest island in the group and the only one with people living on it. Its smaller neighbour, Phi Phi Leh, has no residents apart from park rangers, and both are part of a national park.
Good to know
- Arriving on Phi Phi: there’s a 20-baht fee when you land at Tonsai Pier.
- National park fee: the Phi Phi islands are a national park, and foreign adults pay 400 baht, which boat tours usually include.
We checked these details in October 2026. Times, prices and rules do change, so it’s worth a quick look at the official sites before you go.