The Beauty Of Phi Phi Islands
If you are thinking of going to Thailand for a holiday, then a visit to the island of Phuket is probably high on your list of places to visit. And that is not hard to understand, for Phuket is an island of beautiful scenery, wonderful white beaches, great people, food, and a fervent nightlife to round off any day of snorkeling, swimming, and diving.
However, for those who want to go exploring, a trip to the Phi Phi Islands in the Andaman Sea is well worth undertaking to sample the full range, and beauty of Thailand’s domain.
Ko Phi Phi Don is the largest of the islands in the group, and the most populated by hotels, apartments, and other accommodations, which is amazing considering the island was virtually demolished by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that devastated the area. But within one year, and thanks to an army of volunteers from far and wide, as well as local, the island was put back together, and is now a thriving community once more.
Although the main island of Ko Phi Phi Don is becoming increasingly busy with tourists, it is still a great island to visit…especially if you like diving! There are 18 dive shops on the island, accompanied by the suitably exotic and exciting nightlife. For the very fit holidaymaker, a trek up to Viewpoint is recommended, and although an arduous climb, it will bring a breathtaking view of the entire island.
Ko Phi Phi Don also has Monkey Beach accessible by foot or canoe, or long-tail boat charter, from where monkeys can be viewed (though watch out, as they can be a bit feisty!) But for those who are enthralled by coral, the beaches of Yao, Lanti, Hin Khao, Ton Sai Bay, and Laem Tong will bring endless delights day after day.
The tropical vistas, white beaches, friendly people, great food, and local entertainment are first-class, making the Phi Phi Islands a popular destination for many holidaymakers.
Another reason people visit the Phi Phi islands is to see Maya Beach on Ko Phi Phi Leh, which was the setting for the Hollywood blockbuster ‘The Beach’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio. This is the second largest of the islands, and the most pristine, and beautiful, but because it is within the Ko Phi Phi National Park area so anyone looking to reenact scenes from The Beach movie is limited to an overnight stay with the official Maya Bay Camping facility.
And for the die-hard movie fans among you, there is also the island known as James Bond Island to visit. The real name is Ko Tapu (or Nail Island) and featured in the 1974 Bond flick ‘The Man With The Golden Gun. The stunning beauty of the island and its exotic location made it a favorite among Bond fans, and it is now a heavily-visited tourist attraction.
Included in the tours to Ko Tapu are stop-offs at the Monkey Caves (Wat Suwankuha) to see the Golden Buddha, and swarms of monkeys, followed by lunch at the ‘floating’ fishing village of Ko Pannyi.
The other islands in the group are Ko Phai (‘Bamboo Island’), Ko Yung, Bida Nok, and Bida Nai. Ko Phai has several good beaches, while Ko Yung is known for its abundance of coral reefs. Bida Nok and Bida Nai are two near-vertical karsts that make for a dramatic backdrop.
