Koh Phi Phi: A DIY Day Trip from Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta was a good place to slip into laziness. With two weeks on the island, I had no agenda, and quickly fell into a pattern of long beach walks, cat cuddles, reading in my hammock, and yoga at Oasis Yoga. I frequented the local market and was charmed by small interactions, like when I gave a vendor 50 baht for some fried shrimp and she handed change back to me, explaining that I had misheard and it was only 15. That extra 35 baht (about a dollar) was nothing to me and so much to her, and it would have been so easy to pocket the difference. The honesty and friendliness of the Koh Lanta locals made it very easy to while away the days.

Still, even though I was plenty happy with the beaches, they weren’t the classic, picturesque Thai beaches you see in ads, and it felt silly to come all this way and not see a karst or two. I decided to do a day trip to Koh Phi Phi, an island known for being stunningly beautiful but also packed with people. I contemplated doing a tour, but those all involved snorkeling and I had already had my fill, so I chose to DIY it. I was worried it wouldn’t be worth it and that I wouldn’t be able to get good pictures, but after some careful planning, I ended up having a fantastic day. So here is my guide to beating the crowds at Koh Phi Phi!

Ferry from Koh Lanta to Koh Phi Phi

About an hour and a half on a big boat and you’ll arrive at the pier, where you should have 20 baht on hand to pay a cleaning fee. Convince yourself that the money is actually going to help and not to line the pockets of some administrative official.

Eat a Donut

What? You wanted to hit the beach? Trust me, you need to go straight to Phi Phi Bakery and eat a duo donut. I have eaten way more than my fair share of donuts and I can tell you that this vanilla and chocolate number is a must. Plus, you need a little energy for what is next.

Hike to Phi Phi Viewpoint

There are two ways to access the three viewpoints on Phi Phi: a steep set of stone stairs, and a long, winding pathway. The stairs will get you there more quickly, but it is a much more crowded path; I didn’t run into any other tourists on my walk up the hillside and it was quite lovely. Make a left at the pier and follow the signs for the viewpoint. The second viewpoint has the best view, so don’t stop after the first!

Hire a Longtail Boat

The most beautiful views are around Koh Phi Phi Le (the ferry lands at Phi Phi Don), so you need to get a boat out to this smaller island, best known for Maya Bay of The Beach fame. Sure, it is much cheaper to hop on a group boat trip, but hiring your own longtail boat still only costs about $35 and you can go wherever you want! This was an indulgence for sure for me, but having my own boat was pretty dope. And because I timed the trip at lunchtime, all of the boat tours were having lunch, giving me incredible views all to myself.

I was so glad I took the time to see Phi Phi. Walking around the island, you can definitely tell it is a party place, and I don’t know that I would have enjoying staying on island. But the sheer magnitude of the limestone karsts and emerald bays had me leaning over the side of my longtail boat and grinning.