These six Thai islands are some of the most picture-perfect in all of Southeast Asia. Beloved for their laid-back attitude, the most popular are the roadless Phi Phi Don (shaped like a butterfly) and the uninhabited Phi Phi Leh, made famous for its starring role in ‘The Beach’ (starring Leonardo DiCaprio).
Just a 45-minute speedboat or a 90-minute ferry trip from the popular island destinations of Phuket or Krabi, these islands rise like a fortress from the Andaman Sea, with towering cliffs and beach-fronted jungle. They were once home to a small fishing and farming community, then a backpackers’ paradise in the 1980s. Now they’re a hub for international resorts, complete with dive schools, five-star hotels and a lively bar and restaurant scene.
Despite this commercialisation, they’re still a great place to interact with friendly locals and take in some of the most beautiful natural landscapes on earth. For a taste of local life, visit the market at Tonsai Village on Phi Phi Don. It’s the place to pick up local fruits, vegetables and seafood, and you can also take a cooking class to learn the tricks to Thai cuisine.
Phi Phi Don, meanwhile, is renowned for its nightlife: fire shows and Thai boxing matches are a regular occurrence at the beach bars, as are “booze cruises” and massive moonlit beach parties.
For a quieter experience, rent a kayak and explore the limestone cliffs that rise from the ocean (these are also climbable), or dive and snorkel the islands’ vibrant coral reefs. One of the best diving spots is the King Cruiser Wreck – this passenger ship sank in 1997 when it crashed into the Anemone Reef.
Hin Muang is another popular dive site, with Thailand’s highest vertical wall. Its depths host leopard sharks, whale sharks, barracudas and manta rays, but most come to see its purple rock.
Finally, to get away from the crowds, take a boat to Bamboo Island – it’s less crowded than Maya Bay or Monkey Beach, with a stunning coral garden at Hin Klang.
Active Travellers; Backpackers/Budget Travel; Beach Bums; Couples/Honeymooners; Nature Lovers
