Phi Phi Don vs Phi Phi Le: Which Island Should You Visit?
railay teamMany people think Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le are the same island. They are not. They are two different islands about 4 kilometers apart. Phi Phi Don is the big island where people live, with hotels, restaurants, and beaches. Phi Phi Le is a small island with no residents. It is a national park, and it holds the famous Maya Bay and Viking Cave. Want to stay overnight and relax? Go to Phi Phi Don. Want to see the cliffs and lagoons in one day? Go to Phi Phi Le.
Are Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le Really Two Islands?
Yes, they are two islands. Both sit in the Phi Phi group in Krabi province, but they are the two main islands of that group. In the local language, "Don" means big and "Le" means sea or small.
Phi Phi Don is about 28 square kilometers and is where travelers stay overnight. Phi Phi Le is smaller, about 6.6 square kilometers. It is part of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, so no overnight stays, no camping, and there is a park entry fee.
Want the big picture of the whole group first? Read a quick guide to the Phi Phi Islands.
Who Should Pick Phi Phi Don?
Phi Phi Don is the island where you can sleep over. Rooms range from guesthouses at 600–1,200 THB a night to 5-star beachfront resorts at 8,000–15,000 THB a night. It suits people who want 2 to 3 nights on the island to walk around, eat seafood, watch the sunset, and enjoy the nightlife.
What Can You Do on Phi Phi Don?
Tonsai Bay is the center of the island, with restaurants, shops, and dive gear rentals. Next to it is Loh Dalum Bay, which has smaller waves where kids can swim. At night it turns into a strip of beach bars and restaurants.
The top photo spot is the Phi Phi Viewpoint. The climb takes 30 to 45 minutes, and from the top you see Tonsai Bay and Loh Dalum Bay join in a butterfly shape. Entry is 30 THB per person.
A quieter beach is Long Beach in the south. The water is clear and good for snorkeling. It is a 25 to 30 minute walk from Tonsai, or a 100–150 THB longtail boat ride.
Activities You Can Try
- Scuba diving at Bida Bay, 1,800–2,500 THB per trip
- Kayak rental, 200–300 THB per hour
- Thai cooking class, 1,200–1,800 THB per course
- A half-day or full-day boat tour to Phi Phi Le, 1,200–1,800 THB per person
Who Should Pick Phi Phi Le?
Phi Phi Le suits people who want a day trip from Phi Phi Don, Ao Nang, or Krabi. It has 3 to 4 standout spots you can see by boat in a single day.
Maya Bay
Maya Bay is the most famous spot on Phi Phi Le. It was a film location for a well-known movie. It closed for nature recovery in 2018 and reopened in 2022. Today you visit under new rules: you land at the walkway on the back side, you cannot swim in the bay, and the number of people is capped at 375 per round. The park fee is 400 THB for foreign visitors and 200 THB for Thai visitors.
Pileh Lagoon
Pileh Lagoon is a small bay ringed by tall cliffs, with clear emerald water about 15 meters deep. It is great for swimming and photos. Most tour boats park at the mouth because anchoring inside the lagoon is not allowed.
Loh Samah Bay and Viking Cave
Viking Cave is where locals have long collected swallow nests. It has wall paintings of boats that people call Viking ships. You cannot land there, only view it from the boat. Loh Samah Bay sits opposite Maya Bay and is now the drop-off point for people walking into Maya Bay.
Comparing the Two Islands
| Topic | Phi Phi Don | Phi Phi Le |
|---|---|---|
| Island size | 28 sq km, big island | 6.6 sq km, small island |
| Where to stay | 200+ hotels | No overnight stays |
| Entry fee | None | 200–400 THB park fee |
| Main activities | Relax, dive, nightlife | Photos, swim in lagoon |
| Trip cost per person | 1,800–3,500 THB per night | 1,200–1,800 THB per day |
| Crowds | Busy at Tonsai Bay | Busy with tour boats |
| Best for | People staying 2 to 3 nights | People on a day trip |
How to Get to Each Island
To reach Phi Phi Don, take a ferry or speedboat from Ao Nam Mao Pier or a Krabi pier. The ferry takes 1.5 to 2 hours and costs 350–450 THB one way. The speedboat is faster at 45 to 60 minutes and costs 700–900 THB one way.
To reach Phi Phi Le, you have two ways. First, buy a one day tour from Krabi or Phuket for 1,200–1,800 THB per person, which includes the boat, guide, lunch, and park fee. Second, stay on Phi Phi Don and rent a longtail boat for a half day, 1,500–2,500 THB per boat for 4 to 6 people.
Want the full pier list and boat times? Read how to get to Phi Phi.
What's the Best Time to Go?
November to April is the best season for both islands. The sky is clear, the sea is calm, and the water is clear enough to see fish and coral. Room prices in this season run 30–50 percent higher, and you should book 1 to 2 months ahead.
May to October is the rainy season. On rough days, tour boats to Phi Phi Le stop running. Phi Phi Don is still reachable but the water is cloudier. Rooms cost much less, so it suits travelers on a budget.
Visit Phi Phi With a Local Krabi Guide
Don't want to plan it all yourself? Railay Eco Tour runs a Phi Phi one day trip that covers Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, and Tonsai Bay in one day.
Our guides are Krabi locals who went to Phi Phi long before it got popular. They know the dive spots where the coral is still healthy, the photo spots with fewer people, and the right time to visit each spot to avoid the big crowds. Families who want a private 2 to 3 night plan on Phi Phi Don can contact Railay Eco Tour for a trip built around your dates and budget.
Which Island to Pick Before You Go
Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le are two clearly different islands. Phi Phi Don is the big island where you can sleep over, with hotels, restaurants, and nightlife, great for 2 to 3 relaxed nights. Phi Phi Le is the small, empty island, great for seeing Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, and Viking Cave in a single day.
The best choice for first-timers is to stay on Phi Phi Don for 2 nights, then take a half-day boat or tour to Phi Phi Le on the second day. You see both islands, you are not rushed, and you get plenty of swim time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you stay overnight on Phi Phi Le?
No. Phi Phi Le is part of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. You cannot stay overnight on the island or sleep on a boat inside Maya Bay. The closest place to stay is Phi Phi Don, just 4 kilometers away.
How far apart are Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le?
About 4 kilometers. A longtail boat from Tonsai Bay on Phi Phi Don to Maya Bay on Phi Phi Le takes 25 to 30 minutes. A speedboat takes about 15 minutes.
Where do you pay the Phi Phi Le entry fee?
You pay at the landing point on Phi Phi Le, usually Loh Samah Bay. Park staff charge 400 THB for foreign visitors and 200 THB for Thai visitors. Children under 14 enter at no charge. The fee covers every spot in the park that day.
Does Phi Phi Don have white sand beaches like Phi Phi Le?
Yes. Long Beach and the northern beaches of Phi Phi Don have fine white sand and clear water, just as nice as Phi Phi Le. The vibe is different, though. Phi Phi Don has restaurants and people, while Phi Phi Le is cliffs and small bays ringed by mountains.
If you only have one day, which island should you visit?
If you only have one day and stay in Krabi, buy a one day tour that covers both islands. You see the Phi Phi Le highlights in the morning and stop at Tonsai Bay on Phi Phi Don at midday. That is the best value when time is short.
References
- Wikipedia: Phi Phi Islands
- Wikipedia: Maya Bay
- Tourism Authority of Thailand: Phi Phi Islands
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