Bamboo Island Krabi: How to Get There and Why It's Worth It
Bamboo Island Krabi (Koh Mai Phai) is a tiny island in Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. It's only about 0.5 square kilometers. But it has the whitest, finest sand and the clearest water near Phi Phi. Families love it. The water stays shallow far from shore, so kids can play safe. And shallow coral rings the whole island, so snorkeling is easy and fun. This guide covers how to get there, entry fees, what to do, and why bamboo island phi phi keeps making "must-visit" lists.
Where Is Bamboo Island, and Why Do So Few Travelers Know It?
Bamboo Island sits 4 kilometers northeast of Phi Phi Don. By longtail boat, it takes 15 to 20 minutes. By speedboat, 10 minutes. On park maps, it's called Koh Mai Phai. But foreign travelers call it Bamboo Island.
Nobody lives here. No hotels. No real restaurants. That's why fewer people know it. The island closes on rough sea days and during park-led coral recovery periods. Most months of the year, it's open. Just skip late September when storms hit hardest.
Want the wider picture first? Read our Phi Phi Don vs Phi Phi Le guide. Bamboo Island sits in the same protected area and uses the same boat routes.
How to Get to Bamboo Island
You have 3 main ways to reach Bamboo Island. The right one depends on your start point and budget.
Option 1: A Day Tour From Phi Phi
This is the easiest if you're staying in Krabi or Ao Nang. Most Phi Phi day tours stop at Bamboo Island in the afternoon. You get 45 to 60 minutes on the island.
Tours cost 1,200 to 1,800 baht per person. That covers the speedboat, a guide, lunch on the boat or on Phi Phi Don, the national park fee, snorkel gear, and water.
Boats leave Ao Nam Mao Pier or Krabi Pier between 8:00 and 8:30. You're back at the pier by 16:30 to 17:00.
Option 2: A Private Boat From Phi Phi Don
If you're already on Phi Phi Don, hire a longtail from Tonsai Bay. The trip takes 20 minutes. A half-day private boat costs 1,500 to 2,500 baht. It fits 6 to 8 people.
The upside? You pick the time. Go early at 7:00 to beat the tour groups arriving at 10:00. Or go late at 15:00 after the tours leave. The island gets quiet, and the water is much clearer.
Option 3: A Half-Day Tour From Phi Phi Don
A half-day afternoon tour from Phi Phi Don includes Bamboo Island. It costs 800 to 1,200 baht per person. Runs from 13:00 to 17:00. The route covers Bamboo Island, Pileh Lagoon, and the outside of Maya Bay.
This works well if you're staying 2 nights on Phi Phi Don. Day one: explore nearby. Day two: pick a single activity to dive deeper into.
Entry Fees and Other Costs
Bamboo Island sits inside Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. Everyone pays the park entry fee.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Park entry (Thai) | 40 THB/person |
| Park entry (foreigner) | 400 THB/person |
| Thai kids under 14 | Free |
| Foreign kids under 14 | 200 THB |
| Boat hire (if going alone) | 1,500-2,500 THB/boat |
| Snorkel gear rental | 150-250 THB/day |
The day's park fee covers all park spots, including Phi Phi Le, Maya Bay, and Bamboo Island. You only pay once per day.
Good tours include the park fee in the listed price. Beware of tours that quote a low price then charge the fee on top. Always read what's included before booking.
What to Do on Bamboo Island
Bamboo Island isn't packed with activities. But here are 4 or 5 things you can fit into a 1- to 2-hour visit.
Snorkel Around the Island
This is the top koh mai phai feature. Shallow coral rings the island, 30 to 50 meters out from shore. You'll see schools of fish like clownfish, butterflyfish, sergeant majors, plus table corals and branching corals.
On clear days, visibility runs 10 to 15 meters. You can clearly see the sand and coral below. Just put on a mask and snorkel and walk in from the beach. No long swim needed.
Walk Around the Island
A walking path circles the island. It takes 30 to 40 minutes. The ground is sand and smooth rock. The beach changes color and texture around every corner. The east side has large oddly shaped boulders that make great photo spots.
You'll pass bamboo plants, which gave the island its name. There's less bamboo now than in the past. Tourists used to take pieces as souvenirs, which was banned.
Take Photos and Relax
Bamboo Island has the finest, whitest sand near Phi Phi. It's whiter than Phi Phi Don's beaches and finer than Poda. Best photo times are golden hour: 6:30 to 8:00 in the morning and 16:30 to 18:00 in the evening.
There's no big shade tree on the island. Pack a small sun umbrella. Or use the shadow of the big rocks on the east side.
Scuba Dive
Experienced divers know the north side of Bamboo Island has a dive site at 12 to 15 meters. You'll see soft coral, moray eels, and lobsters. You need a dive guide. You can't just walk in.
Bamboo Island With Kids and Family
A bamboo island tour is one of the most family-friendly trips in Krabi. Four reasons.
Shallow Water Far Out
Water is only 0.3 to 1 meter deep for 30 to 50 meters from shore. Kids can play with a parent standing next to them. No strong swimming skills needed.
Clean White Sand
No sharp rocks. No broken shells. No slippery seaweed rocks. Kids can run barefoot safely.
No Strong Waves
The main bay faces east. It blocks the southwest monsoon in the rainy season. In high season, the northeast wind isn't strong either. Read more in our Krabi season guide to pick the best month.
Shallow Coral
Kids can snorkel by floating with a pool noodle. Just put on a mask and they'll see fish. No need to go deep enough to scare them.
Bamboo Island vs Nearby Islands
| Compare | Bamboo Island | Koh Poda | Phi Phi Le |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Small 0.5 km² | Medium 1.5 km² | Large 6.6 km² |
| White sand | Whitest | Very white | Medium white |
| Shallow water | 30-50 m | 50-100 m | 5-10 m |
| Shallow coral | Lots | Some | Little |
| Crowds | Few | Medium | Many |
| Family-friendly | Yes | Yes | Medium |
Rules to Follow on Bamboo Island
Don't pick coral or shells. It's illegal under park law. Fines run 10,000 to 50,000 baht. Take only photos and memories.
Don't use sunscreen with oxybenzone. It kills coral. Only use reef-safe or mineral-based sunscreen.
Don't feed the fish. It ruins the ecosystem. Fish start expecting food from people instead of finding it themselves.
Don't leave trash. Bring your own plastic bag and take your trash back to the boat or shore. The park has a big litter problem from tourists.
Wear a life jacket on every boat ride. Good operators hand them out before you board. Don't accept a boat without life jackets.
Family Trips Where Kids Have Fun and Parents Relax
At Railay Eco Tour, our Phi Phi day tours include Bamboo Island. We have special routes for families with young kids and seniors.
Our full-day Phi Phi Islands tour uses a Luxury Speedboat. It's big and steady. Kids don't get seasick like they would in a regular boat. Our guides carry snorkel gear in all sizes, including kid sizes (ages 6 to 12). We have pool noodles for the smallest kids.
We schedule Bamboo Island for the late afternoon when other tour groups have left. The island gets quiet and your family photos turn out great. Our guides know the best photo angles and will take pictures for you.
Families wanting a chill, private trip can reach out for a private speedboat plan. Pick your own route. Starts at 12,000 to 18,000 baht per boat. Fits 6 to 8 people.
Read our Phi Phi activities guide to see other things you can add to the same day as Bamboo Island.
At Bamboo Island — Don't Miss These Experiences
Bamboo Island Krabi is a small island with the whitest sand and clearest water near Phi Phi. It's just 0.5 square kilometers, but shallow coral wraps it for great snorkeling all day. Nobody lives there. No hotels. Only open during daylight.
It's great for families with young kids. The water stays shallow far out. The sand has no sharp things. There are no strong waves. Easiest way to get there: book a Phi Phi day tour from Krabi (1,200 to 1,800 baht per person). Or hire a longtail from Phi Phi Don (1,500 to 2,500 baht per boat).
When you visit, follow the park rules. Don't pick coral. Don't leave trash. Use reef-safe sunscreen. That way Bamboo Island stays beautiful for the next generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Bamboo Island and Koh Mai Phai the same place?
Yes, same island. Bamboo Island is the English name foreign tourists use. Koh Mai Phai is the official Thai park name. Locals use both.
Can you stay overnight on Bamboo Island?
No. The island is inside a national park. Overnight stays are banned on the island and at anchor in nearby bays. The nearest place to stay is Phi Phi Don, 4 kilometers away, 15 to 20 minutes by boat.
Can you scuba dive at Bamboo Island?
Yes, but only with a guide who has a PADI or SSI cert. The dive site is on the north side of the island at 12 to 15 meters. A dive trip from Phi Phi Don costs 2,800 to 3,500 baht per person for 1 dive.
Is Bamboo Island open during the rainy season in Krabi?
Yes, on days when waves are calm. The bay faces east, so it blocks the southwest monsoon well. Tours run 70 to 80 percent of days from May to October. Skip September when tropical storms hit most often.
How long do you need at Bamboo Island?
1 to 2 hours is enough. Most tours give you 45 to 60 minutes, which covers swimming, snorkeling, and photos. If you hire your own boat, you can stay longer. But there's no shade, no restaurant, and no proper toilet. 1 to 2 hours is the sweet spot.
References
Krabi walking street runs in the old-town quarter of Krabi town, on weekend evenings only — not every night. Visitors staying in Ao Nang who drive in without checking the day regularly find an empty street. The draw is freshly cooked food at local prices that Krabi people actually eat: grilled seafood, regional sweets, fresh-pressed juices, plus handicraft stalls from people in the area.
Railay EcoPoda Island is a small island in Krabi province, south of Ao Nang — roughly 20 to 30 minutes by longtail boat or about 15 minutes by speedboat. What stands out is the fine white sand and the water, which stays shallow on a long gentle slope.
Railay EcoPileh Lagoon sits on Phi Phi Leh in Krabi province — a bay almost completely ringed by tall limestone cliffs, with one narrow gap for boats to pass through. No swell reaches inside, so the water sits still, and the white sand floor below reflects the light back as emerald. Every trip to Phi Phi Leh stops here, because it is only minutes from Maya Bay.
Railay EcoKrabi Airport sits roughly 15 kilometres from Krabi town and 30 to 40 minutes by road from Ao Nang. To reach Ao Nang you can take the airport bus, a shared minivan, a taxi, or a private transfer booked in advance. Railay is a different matter: it is a peninsula no road reaches, so you take a vehicle to a pier and then a boat. The mistake people make most often is landing late and finding the last boats into Railay already finished for the day. This guide covers each transport option, journey times, rough costs, and how to handle a late arrival.
Railay EcoNopparat Thara Beach is in Krabi town district, immediately west of Ao Nang — five to ten minutes away on foot or by car. It runs for several kilometres, holds far fewer people than Ao Nang, and has the national park headquarters sitting right on the sand. The detail most visitors miss: at the lowest tides a sandbar emerges and you can walk out to the small island offshore without a boat. It also serves as a departure point for some island routes, so it works both as a place to rest and as a way out to sea. This guide covers how it differs from Ao Nang, how to get there, and when to go.
Railay EcoHong Island belongs to Krabi province and sits inside Than Bok Khorani National Park, north of Ao Nang — roughly 30 to 40 minutes by speedboat, or about an hour by longtail. What makes it different from the other Krabi islands is the lagoon in its middle: a pool of water almost entirely enclosed by tall limestone cliffs, with one narrow opening that small boats can slip through when the tide is high enough.
Railay Eco