5 Helpful things to know before Visiting Phi Phi Islands
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When booking a trip to the Phi Phi Islands, you have several options to make the trip fit your needs. This post reviews the private long boat that we booked, which made our trip memorable. I really enjoyed the private long boat, though many people say this is the long way to get to Phi Phi Island. I found that the privacy it provided and the ability to make my own schedule made it worth it.
Book a Private Long Boat to Phi Phi Islands
When you book a private long boat, you have control over the stops and the length of time you spend at each place. I really enjoyed this as it allowed us to focus on the destinations we were interested in. When we got to Maya Beach, we were able to see the different the other types of boats we could have taken. There were some luxury boats in addition to catamarans, where people were seated in rows with life jackets on.
Our tour costs $101 per person for 4 people on the private long boat, which you can see here. This tour includes round-trip transportation to the pier, lunch, and fruit. They also provide snorkel equipment if you are interested in heading into the water. They communicate very efficiently via WhatsApp.
What to Pack for Visiting Phi Phi Islands
Sunscreen: Make sure to bring sunscreen. You are out in the sun all day, and you want to avoid sunburn.
Snacks: While the tour I chose provided lunch and fresh fruit, we were out on the water for a few hours. It was helpful to also have food. There are places you can buy snacks, such as Maya Beach or at the concession stands. Once you arrive at the pier, you can also bring your own.
Arriving at the Dock for Phi Phi Islands
Our tour also included transportation, where they picked us up from our hotel and brought us to the Phuket Pier before taking off via water ferry to Phi Phi Don Pier, where we met our long boat.
At the Pier, there was a slight wait after we checked in. There were places where you could get cash in addition to stands where you could purchase breakfast and snacks. If you needed to go to the bathroom, there was one near the back. I bought some tea and popcorn as I waited for our ferry to be called.
Navigating Maya Beach
So the major stop for our boat day was Maya Beach. As you approach, you have to wait for them to clear your boat. They help you out of the boat, where you then head up the stairs to head towards the path to the beach. When we started to head up the path, there were so many people. It took us about 30 minutes to get from the entrance to the beach due to the lines.
You do have the opportunity to use the bathroom and/or buy snacks here.
Once you enter the beach area, there is a sign that says Welcome to Maya Beach with a bench that is a great photo opp. The water here is gorgeous and a great place to take photos. There will be a lot of people so you may have to wait a little while to get photos with no one in them.
Once we finished the photos, we headed back to the boat. This is the scary part. As you wait for your boat on the landing, the landing is moving. It is more of a huge float that people are standing on and/or sitting on because of how much it moves. You let the announcer know your boat name and wait for them to call it. The wait was so nerve-racking. At one point, I sat down because the moving made me a little nauseous.
Visiting Phi Phi Islands Review
I really enjoyed this trip. From lying out as we traveled through the water to jumping off the boat. I really enjoyed my visit to the different islands. I hope to one day do this again and stop at Monkey Beach!
If you want to know more about what to do in Phuket, check out this post.
As an affiliate, I earn a commission for links clicked in this post at no cost to you.
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Phi Phi Islands are on my bucket list. The water looks amazing and so inviting. Thanks for the great information. I can’t wait to visit.
It is a pity that Maya Beach gets so packed. They actually close it during the low season just to let it rehabilitate itself.
I did not know that! That is good to know!
Oooh this all sounds amazing! I agree with the previous commenters that it is a bit of a shame Maya beach is so busy. Could you ask to visit a more quiet beach? Or are they only allowed to visit certain places?
The water looks so inviting anyway!!