Phi Phi Islands
famed as among the most beautiful tropical islands of the world
and has become one of the most popular tourist
attractions of Thailand. Phi Phi The name is derived from Malay,
and the original was Paulo Pi ah Pi, where in Paulo is the Malay
word for island, and pi pronounced with only a half p sound, was
very close in pronunciation to the English word be; the ah was
eventually dropped, so the name was said something like Bi Bi.
Later the p was pronounced with a stronger aspiration and the name
became the Phi Phi or Pee Pee we know today. ( Map Of Phi Phi
Island Click here
)
The name refers to the mangrove wood found there. Six
islands are in the group: Koh Phi Phi Don, Koh Phi Phi Ley, Koh
Biddah Nok, Koh Biddah Nai, Koh Yoong, and Koh Pair total area is
42 square kilometers. They were incorporated into the national
park in 1983.
As most visitors to Phi Phi Islands come from Phuket some 40
kilometers away, many of them think that the islands are part of
Phuket. In fact, Phi Phi belong to Krabi province, although the
distance from Krabi to Phi Phi is about the same as that between
Phuket and Phi Phi.
The islands and the coastal hills are mostly composed of
limestone and are an extension of the limestone mountain range in
Phang-Nga province. Some of the characteristics of such mountains
and islands are their steep cliffs, large caves and dwarf trees
growing out of the crevices in the rocks.
What are of much greater interest to ordinary tourists are
the colorful coral and exotic fishes of many different colures and
shapes. Large fishes such as blue marlin are occasionally caught.
But they usually come and go with the southwest monsoon and so are
not easily encountered in the area.
The island group is composed of two rocky, tree-covered
islets-Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le. The former, the larger of the
two which lies in the north, is well known for its fine beaches
and coral formations around the island and is provided with an
assortment of accommodation facilities along Ton Sai Bay, Lodalam
Bay and Loh Bagao Bay at the northern of the island.
About 2 kilometers to the south is Phi Phi Le.Contrary to
Phi Phi Don, this islet is uninhabited not only because this is
banned, but also because there is no beach around it. The island
descends abruptly into the sea on all sides. Its main point of
interest is a large cave about 3.2 square kilometers in size known
as Viking Cave. It is so called because one of the numerous
drawings on the walls resembles a Viking shin. The cave has a
ceiling about 10 to 15 meters high which contains many ledges
inhabited by thousands of Swallows. A demonstration of bird's nest
collection is a regular feature of a guided tour of the islands.
The sea around the island is deep and the southern part is full of
coral formations and so is a favorite diving spot.
With its emerald crystal sea, secluded beaches, wooded cliff
mountains, colorful coral reefs and undersea life, Phi Phi is a
paradise in the Andaman. Koh Phi Phi Don covers a total area of 28
square kilometers: 8 kilometers in length and 3.5 at its broadest
point. At the north end is Laem Thong Cape, where there is a Chao
Ley, or sea gipsy village. These sea gypsies emigrated from Koh
Lipao in Tarutao National Park, near the border with Malaysia.
There are long beaches with rocks scattered about. Two curving
bays are especially beautiful: Ton Sai and Loh Dalam. Furthermore
the other beautiful bay such as Lohbagao, long beach. This is also
where accommodations and tourist services are found.
Koh Phi Phi is 6.6 square kilometers in total area: 3
kilometers in length and 1 at its broadest point. The island is
entirely limestone and steep cliffs rising from the sea very
nearly ring it. Surrounding waters average about 20 meters in
depth, reaching 34 meters at the deepest point off the island's
southern trip. Phi Phi Ley has several beautiful bays: Billeh,
Mahya, and Loh Samah.
Climate: Phuket and Phi Phi have two major seasons,
the Rain Season from May through October, and the Hot Season from
November through April. There are many sunny days throughout the
Rain Season: showers customarily last little more than 2 or 3
hours. September is the wettest month. The best months are
November through February. Average temperatures range between 22
and 34 degrees Celsius.
Getting There. By Boat charter Only