The Phi Phi Islands

[Braveheart]

The Phi Phi Islands (Thai: หมู่เกาะพีพี) are located in Thailand, between the larger island of Phuket and the mainland. They are politically part of Krabi province, most of which is on the mainland.

 

Ko Phi Phi Don ("ko" (Thai: เกาะ) meaning "island" in the Thai language) is the largest island of the group, and is the only island with permanent inhabitants, although the beaches of the second largest island, Ko Phi Phi Lee (or "Ko Phi Phi Leh"), are visited by many people as well. There are no accommodation facilities on this island, but it is just a short boat ride from Ko Phi Phi Don. The rest of the islands in the group, including Bida Nok, Bida Noi, and Bamboo Island, are not much more than large limestone rocks jutting out of the sea.

 

Phi Phi Don was initially populated by Muslim fishermen during the late 1940s, and later became a coconut plantation. The Thai population of Phi Phi Don remains more than 80% Muslim.

 

Ko Phi Phi Leh was the backdrop for the 2000 movie The Beach. Phi Phi Leh also houses the 'Viking Cave', from which there is a thriving bird's nest soup industry. There was criticism during filming of 'The Beach' that the permission granted to the film company to physically alter the environment inside Phi Phi Islands National Park was illegal.

 

Following the release of The Beach, tourism on Phi Phi Don increased dramatically, and with it the population of the island. Many buildings were constructed without planning permission.

 

Villages

• Ao Maya
  
• Viking Cave
  
• Ban Laem Tong
  
• Laem Tong
  
• Ban Ton Sai
  
• Hat Yao
  

 

2004 Tsunami

 

On 26 December 2004, much of the inhabited part of Phi Phi Don was devastated by the Indian Ocean Tsunami. The island's main village, Ton Sai (Banyan Tree, Thai: ต้นไทร), is mainly built on a sandy isthmus between the island's two long, tall limestone ridges. On both sides of Ton Sai are semicircular bays lined with beaches. The isthmus rises to less than two metres (six feet) above sea level.

 

Shortly after 10 am on the morning of 26 December, the water from both bays receded. When the tsunami hit, at 10.37 am, it did so from both bays, and met in the middle of the isthmus. The wave that came into Ton Sai Bay was 3 metres (10 feet) high. The wave that came into Loh Dalum Bay was 6.5 metres (18 feet) high. The force of the larger wave from Loh Dalum Bay pushed debris south-westwards into Ton Sai Bay.

 

The tsunami also breached low-lying areas in the limestone karsts, passing from Laa Naa Bay to Bakhao Bay, and at Laem Thong (Sea Gypsy Village), where 11 people died. Apart from these breaches, the eastern side of the island experienced only flooding and strong currents.

 

At the time of the tsunami, the island had an estimated 10,000 occupants, including tourists.

 

Post-Tsunami Reconstruction

 

After the tsunami, approximately 70% of the buildings on the island had been destroyed. By the end of July 2005, an estimated 850 bodies had been recovered, and an estimated 1,200 people were still missing. The total number of fatalities is unlikely to be known. Of Phi Phi Don residents, 104 surviving children had lost one or both parents.

 

In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, the island was evacuated. The Thai government declared the island temporarily closed while a new zoning policy was drawn up. Many transient Thai workers returned to their home towns, and former permanent residents were housed in a refugee camp at Nong Kok in Krabi province.

 

However, in late January 2005, a Dutch former resident of Phi Phi, Emile Kok, set up a voluntary organization, Help International Phi Phi. Hi Phi Phi recruited 68 Thai staff from the refugee camp, as well as transient backpacker volunteers (of whom more than 3,500 offered their assistance), and returned to the island to undertake clearing and rebuilding work. On February 18, 2005, a second organization, Phi Phi Dive Camp, was set up to remove the debris from the bays and coral reef, most of which was in Ton Sai Bay.

 

By the end of July 2005, 23,000 tonnes of debris had been removed from the island, of which 7,000 tonnes had been cleared by hand. "We try and do as much as possible by hand," said Kok, "that way we can search for passports and indentification." The majority of buildings that were deemed fit for repair by government surveyors had been repaired, and three hundred businesses had been restored. Hi Phi Phi was nominated for a Time Magazine Heroes of Asia award.

 

On October 31, 2005, Deputy Prime Minister Pinit Jarusombat proposed an upgrade to the hotels and restaurants on Phi Phi Don, and a limitation to the number of tourists visiting. "It'll help us preserve its environment," said Pinit. However, after consultation with residents and land-owners, many of whom opposed the plan, the Bangkok Post reported on February 17, 2006, that the proposals would not affect Phi Phi.

 

As of 6 December 2005, nearly 1,500 hotel rooms were open, and a tsunami early warning alarm system had been installed by the Thai government, with the help of volunteers.

 

Phi Phi Islands Imagery

 

Google Earth

 

The islands of Phi Phi were originally visible on the satellite imagery software Google Earth. Although the resolution was not a particularly high level, the beaches of Ton Sai Bay and Loh Dalum Bay were clearly visible. However, since the Google Earth update of 23rd March 2006, the imagery of the islands has disappeared from the engine leaving just their yellow outline when the borders function is turned on. The elevation of the terrain, however, can still be seen when the tilt function is used. Bida Nok, Bida Noi, and Bamboo Island have also been lost.

 

Extracted from Wikipedia: Phi Phi Islands

[poontang]

Does anybody know what the night life is like here? I can't imagine it would have much of a P4P scene (if any), but I've had reports it's quite different and great just to have some fun... without sex.

[bobbie]

Does anybody know what the night life is like here? I can't imagine it would have much of a P4P scene (if any), but I've had reports it's quite different and great just to have some fun... without sex.

 

it's the backpackers type of nightlife; buckets, happy hours, firedancers, ...

I didn't see any p4p but had brought a friend from Patong.

She was very happy to go to PP, so I recommend you find yourself a nice girl in Patong (or anywhere)

and take her there. You will enjoy, some great daytrips there too; islandhopping, snorkeling, diving, ...

[cheang]

No P4P, bring your own entertainment. The area is beautiful and the snorkeling was wonderful!

[quenton79]

No P4P, bring your own entertainment. The area is beautiful and the snorkeling was wonderful!

 

You are right about that Cheang...I took a tour of islands down in Phuket, it was pretty nice!

 

The P4P scene wasn't that popular down there. I don't know if it was the area I was in or what, but I saw a lot

 

of Thai Muslims. I will post some pictures soon of the islands I visited.

[Benny10]

Does anybody know what the night life is like here? I can't imagine it would have much of a P4P scene (if any), but I've had reports it's quite different and great just to have some fun... without sex.

Girlie-wise I recommend to bring your own supplies from Phuket. During high season you will find a few BG’s on Phi Phi, but the quality is mostly C-grade.

 

Another option is to collect upfront some phone numbers on Phuket and ship them in when necessary.

[P Man]

can anyone tell me the best way to get to PP, is the closest main city Phuket??? cheers, I would love to visit these Islands

[roaddog]

p4p? Haven't been there recently, but before the tsunami

 

there was a massage parlor with a fishbowl. I took a look,

 

there were about a dozen girls that were hot to trot!

[deadwood]

here's a schedule of ferries from krabi and Phuket. i went 2 years ago thinking i would stay a week or more. i left on the 3rd day. had i not paid their inflated prices for 2 days i would have left earlier. i had meant to go for years but had never got around to it. the tsunami wiped out much of the place and in true thai fashion they quickly erected prefab trash in it's place. there was still tons of construction going on so perhaps things are a bit better now. the crush of people and side by side by side little shack shops and restaurants drove me crazy. it's just not my thing. sure the water and lesser islands are beautiful but the world is full of outrageously beautiful spots without dealing with that scene. don't mean to rain on your parade, obviously many people love it. go check it out and see if it's your cup of tea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boats from Phuket Island to Phi Phi

Boat Air- Con Port Depart Arrive Return from Phi Phi Price One Way Price Return Category

Seatran Y Thai Sarco

(Ao Makham) 08.30 10.30 15.00 750 1500 *****

Jet Cruise Y Pla Mong

(Koh Si Rey) 08.30 09.20 10.00 660 1320 *****

Sea Breeze Y Rasada Pier 08.30 10.40 14.30 400 800 ****

Sea King Y Pla Mong

(Koh Si Rey) 13.30 15.00 09.00* 300 600 ***

Similan Princess Y Dilok Pier 08.30 10.45 14.30 300 600 ***

Paradise Cruiser Y Rasada Pier 13.30 15.00 09.00* 250 500 ***

* = next day All prices in Thai Baht

 

 

Boats from Krabi Province to Phi Phi

Boat Air-Con Port Depart Arrive Return from Phi Phi Price One Way Price Return Category

Ao Nang Princess Y Ao Nang Beach (Stop at Railey both ways) 08.30 10.00 15.30 300 600 ****

Sea Hawk

Songserm Y Krabi Town 16.00 18.00 09.00* 250 500 ***

Paradise Y Krabi Town 10.30 12.00 13.00 250 500 **

Paradise Y Krabi Town 14.30 16.00 09.00* 250 500 **

Koh Lanta Boat N Saladin

Koh Lanta 08.30 10.30 14.00 250 500 *

* = next day All prices in Thai Baht

 

 

Times and Prices are subject to change without prior notice. Please note departures may be delayed or cancelled by weather or other conditions.

[plahgat]

Hi!

I've been to Pee Pee island numerous of times in the past starting from 1987, but haven't been back again since before the Tsunami!

Here's a few slides that I have scanned to my computer, pictures taken between 1987-1989, before the tourists invaded the Islands!

 

Plahgat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a video from my third visit in 1989,

<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://en.sevenload.com/pl/OLaMDIm/500x408/swf" width="500" height="408"><param name="allowFullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://en.sevenload.com/pl/OLaMDIm/500x408/swf" /></object><p>Link: <a href="http://en.sevenload.com/videos/OLaMDIm-Koh-Phi-Phi-13-18-march-1989"><img src="http://static.sevenload.com/img/sevenload.png" width="66" height="10" alt="Koh Phi Phi 13-18 march 1989 ." /></a></p>

[az1za]

can anyone tell me the best way to get to PP, is the closest main city Phuket??? cheers, I would love to visit these Islands

 

 

IMHO, the best way to get there is by boat direct from Krabi or Phuket - about 1.5/2 hours from each. The boat ride is very scenic and there are lots of regular options. That said, when you get to "Phuket", you arrive at the port and it's still a good 30 minutes by taxi to the proper beaches of Phuket.

 

It is possible to drive overland to a port just off the coast, which involves driving a fair amount of the way and then getting a short boat to the island, but I wouldn't recommend this.

 

Take it easy, take the boat!

[roaddog]

Thanks for the scenic slides of a beautiful place

 

Standing knee deep in the very warm Lo Da Lam Bay at midnight,

 

as bolts of static energy lit up the sky, is an event still not forgotten.