Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Koh Phi Phi?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Koh Phi Phi?

Most people spend two to three days in Koh Phi Phi during their visit. The remote island offers amazing highlights such as scuba diving and snorkeling, the beaches, the gorgeous scenery, and the hiking.

Koh Phi Phi is actually made up of six islands, but Koh Phi Phi Don is the largest and only inhabited island. This island is popular with day trippers, but it's also a fun and beautiful island to visit independently. The snorkeling and diving is world class. There's a popular backpacker area around Tonsai, but there's also a quieter, resort-filled area to the north. In addition to stunning natural beauty, visitors enjoy snorkeling and dive trips, rock climbing, and hiking.

Do you have one or two days to visit Koh Phi Phi? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Koh Phi Phi?

The very popular island of Koh Phi Phi has many activities and attractions for visitors. Given only one day, you will likely find yourself rushing through the island's activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling, the beaches, and the gorgeous scenery. To really see what this island boasts, you'll more likely need two to three days. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit, including Koh Phi Phi Leh and Maya Bay.

How to spend a day in Koh Phi Phi

When visiting Koh Phi Phi, you can't miss Koh Phi Phi Leh and Maya Bay as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you give yourself enough time to enjoy it.

Koh Phi Phi is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. While most people visit this island as a day trip, those who do spend a few days here will enjoy dramatic beauty, stunning landscapes, and excellent beaches. The island feels a bit more rustic and remote than some of the more developed islands, but the north side of the island offers a truly tropical paradise. During the day, crowds can be high as tourists flock to the area from nearby islands.

A few tour suggestions include:

Snorkeling Phi Phi Islands Tour From Phi Phi by Speedboat ($57)
Maya Bay Sleepaboard Spend the night on our purpose built boat in Maya Bay ($98)
Koh Phi Phi to Phuket by Express Boat ($14)

Public transit in Koh Phi Phi is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the island quite easily. There are water taxis and private boats that you can hire.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Koh Phi Phi?

With only a weekend, you'll probably feel rushed to explore the island. After all, Koh Phi Phi is home to a multitude of sights and attractions, making it an extremely popular destination for tourists. To fully embrace Koh Phi Phi, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to schedule about two to three days to experience scuba diving and snorkeling, the beaches, the gorgeous scenery, and the hiking. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.

Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi, Thailand

How to spend 2 days in Koh Phi Phi

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Koh Phi Phi will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the island.

Scuba diving and snorkeling around Koh Phi Phi is world-class, and is one of the main reasons why so many visitors come here. Spend a day exploring the beauty of the surrounding underwater world. The dramatic limestone cliffs and colorful coral make this a top scuba diving and snorkeling destination in Thailand. There are countless vendors who offer scuba diving or snorkeling trips from the island. You might even see sharks, sea turtles, or seahorses during your trip. Head to the reef at dusk for the best chance of seeing black tip reef sharks.

A few tour suggestions include:

Snorkeling Phi Phi Islands Tour From Phi Phi by Speedboat ($57)
Snorkeling Phi Phi Islands Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat ($20)
Longtail Boat Snorkeling in Phi Phi Island ($34)

This island is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. Despite its smaller size, there is still a party vibe and tons of nightlife on the island. Backpackers have long flocked to this island, building on the reputation it earned from movies like "The Beach." Booze cruises and all night beach parties are the norm here, so it won't be hard to find a party that lasts until sunrise.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Koh Phi Phi, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.