Phi Phi Islands: limestone bays between Krabi and Phuket
Published on 09/08/2026 at 09:45 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
The Phi Phi Islands in Krabi Province form a compact limestone archipelago in the Andaman Sea between mainland Krabi and the larger island of Phuket. Rising directly from clear water, their cliffs enclose small bays, beaches and inlets that have made this group one of the most recognisable island landscapes in southern Thailand.
Limestone towers and a tight-knit archipelago
The Phi Phi Islands consist of six named islands, dominated by Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh, with smaller outliers such as Bamboo Island and Mosquito Island completing the group.Officially, the archipelago consists of six islands The islands belong administratively to Krabi Province and sit in the Andaman Sea between Phuket to the west and the Krabi mainland to the east.These islands belong to Krabi province Limestone dominates the landscape, forming steep faces, pinnacles and indented headlands where the rock meets the sea.
The total land area of the group is a little over 12 square kilometres (about 4.6 square miles), so the islands sit close together rather than spread over a vast distance.In total, the islands occupy 12.06 square kilometres Around the rock, shallow water carries coral reefs and sandy seabeds, while narrow valleys and slopes on the larger islands support vegetation, paths and built-up areas. Seen from a boat, sheer cliffs rise directly from the sea, occasionally broken by small beaches where the rock gives way to sand.
Names, origins and protected status
The name Phi Phi traces back to Malay, linked to a term for a mangrove tree once widespread on the islands, and it has passed into Thai usage as Ko Phi Phi for the island group.The name Phi Phi has Malay roots Archaeological evidence from the wider Krabi area indicates settlement dating back to the prehistoric period, placing these islands within one of Thailand’s oldest coastal regions.Evidence dates back to the prehistoric period More recently, Phi Phi Don was settled by Muslim fishermen in the late 1940s and later used as a coconut plantation before tourism grew into its dominant activity.Phi Phi Don was initially settled by Muslim fishermen during the late-1940s
All six islands lie within Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, a protected marine and coastal area that covers tens of thousands of hectares of sea and land.They are part of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park National park status links the limestone cliffs, coral reefs, caves and beaches into one officially recognised landscape, with management focused on conservation and regulated access rather than unrestricted development.
Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh and their bays and caves
Phi Phi Don is the largest island in the group and the only one with permanent settlement, its outline often described as hourglass-shaped because two wider ends are joined by a narrower central isthmus.The archipelago centres around the hourglass-shaped Koh Phi Phi Don On its shores, beaches face different directions, some backed by low slopes and others by more rugged ground, while paths climb to viewpoints above the settlements.
Phi Phi Leh, south of Phi Phi Don, is smaller and uninhabited, with cliffs enclosing bays such as Maya Bay and Pi Leh Lagoon, and with features like Viking Cave cutting into the limestone on the seaward side.Main attractions include Maya Bay, Pi Leh Lagoon and Viking Cave Elsewhere in the archipelago, Bamboo Island offers low-lying sand and vegetation rather than towering rock, and Mosquito Island forms a smaller outcrop of limestone rising from the sea.Bamboo Island and Mosquito Island complete the group
Visiting Phi Phi Islands: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Phi Phi Islands lie in the Andaman Sea between Phuket and the Krabi mainland, reached by boat services from ports on both sides.
- On Phi Phi Don, paths and tracks run over uneven limestone ground and sandy beaches, with sections involving steps or short climbs between sea level and viewpoints.
- The islands belong to Thailand, where the official language is Thai and the currency is the baht.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Phi Phi Islands
Where are the Phi Phi Islands located?
The Phi Phi Islands lie in the Andaman Sea between Phuket and the Krabi mainland in southern Thailand, forming part of Krabi Province and Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park.
What should visitors expect on a visit?
Visitors encounter steep limestone cliffs, beaches and small bays on Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh, with boat travel between islands and paths over uneven ground linking settlements and viewpoints.
What makes the Phi Phi Islands distinctive?
The compact group of six limestone islands, the contrast between inhabited Phi Phi Don and uninhabited Phi Phi Leh, and the combination of cliffs, coral reefs and sheltered bays give the archipelago its distinctive character.
