The Phi Phi Island or Koh Phi Phi Don is as fun and exciting as it sounds. A popular island located to the south of Thailand, this little haven attracts several tourists all around the year from around the world. Whilst most people might prefer to make the Phi Phi island a day trip, we spent three fantastic days fully exploring the island and getting the most out of it. With a spectacular number of things to keep you occupied on the island, we’ve broken down the top ten picks that you should not miss. 

Top 10 Activities To Do At Phi Phi Island

1. Watch The Fire Show

A couple of bars in Loh Dalum Bay, Freedom Bar, and Slinkee Bar serve as the perfect spot to watch the fire show. An everyday event that starts at 7.30 in the evening and goes on till midnight. The first two hours mesmerize you with various stunts that artists perform, followed by fire rope swinging activities. You get a free shot if you successfully complete this. With loud music and disco lights, there is always a party raging on waiting for you to join. You can see people vibing to the atmosphere up until 2 a.m.

Related: Fire show at Phi Phi Island: A Photo Blog

2. Try Muay Thai Kickboxing At Reggae Stadium

Drum rolls and action, it is now time to watch the Muay Thai kickboxing at Reggae Stadium. Grab a mandatory beer, because the entry is free. And if you have a secret hobby of wrestling, then you would be pleased to know that you can volunteer to participate in the fight. Raise your hand and you might be picked to display your skills. There are no stakes here- medals would be handed over to both parties after announcing the winner.

Keeping in line with safety, protective gear would be handed out to the participants. You also get a free bucket of alcohol if you are a volunteer fighter. The match starts at 9 p.m. and goes on till after midnight. Interestingly, this is a family-run business, that has been going on since 1989. 

Get ready for some Muay Thai, fights with dripping blood, friendly quarrels, or just downright hilarious ones. It is an amazing experience to watch these matches with the crowd screaming!

3. Walk Into The Sea

Yes, you read that right. You can walk right into the sea for about a kilometer during the low tides at Loh Dalum Bay. The water reaches to your waist and it is an absolutely startling and unforgettable experience. Fair warning though, watch out for the black urchins and coral stones. The water is pretty clear. You could even rent a kayak, which would cost you around 200 THB, for about an hour. 

We stayed at Koh Phi Phi for three days and noticed the tide being low a couple of times, once during the noon and in the late hours of the night. As a bonus tip, stock up on sunscreen and mosquito repellants.

4. Go On An Island Trip

The Phi Phi is a cluster of five islands, and Koh Phi Phi Don is the largest among them. You can take a boat tour to the other islands. There are several timelines on these tours, full-day, half-day, sunrise, sunset, and plankton trips. We visited Koh Phi Phi Leh where the Maya Bay resides and have a separate blog about the Phi Phi island for you to check out. Be sure to check that out to know the cost, timings, and other important details. 

5. Hike Up To The Phi Phi Viewpoint

The hike is sour a kilometer along the 320 steps, and the paid pathways would lead you right up to the Phi Phi viewpoints 1 and 2. You can see the aerial view from Dalum Bay and Ton Sai Bay. Further details, including the cost, timings, and things to keep in mind have been listed in a separate blog, addressing everything from the Phi Phi viewpoint. 

6. Take A Stroll Along The Streets

If spending a day meandering about the town or city you chose to vacation in is something on your itinerary, then this island is perfect for you. Littered with tattoo parlors, Thai massage centers, beauty parlors, supermarkets, restaurants, bars, art and craft shops, and souvenir and gift shops the streets of Phi Phi Island are vibrant and colorful. Two-wheelers are restricted to just the medical and police staff, allowing the streets to play host to visitors around the clock. Also, check out the pedestrian way at Ton Sai Bay for an altogether different ambiance.

7. Drink Alcohol From Bucket

The title alone should sell this activity to you. A very brilliant and potentially new concept in Phi Phi Island is drinking alcohol from buckets. You can choose a couple of tin mixers for a fixed price along with a bottle of beer, vodka, whiskey, or any alcohol of your choice. The best part is that you can carry the bucket along with you. The pubs and bars there sell these buckets, but not the street vendors. Be sure to dispose of these buckets responsibly. 

The Ibiza pool bar is a specialty pool party, while the vibe in the Backpacker Bar is one to behold with the DJ starting the music at 9 p.m. which lasts up till 2 a.m. every night. The parties at the Freedom Bar and Slinkee Bar also last until 2 a.m. every night.

Cannabis is common and legal in Thailand. You can find them on Phi Phi Island too. Several cannabis shops sell magic mushrooms and cannabis in other forms.

8. Scuba Dive & Snorkel

There are several SSI and PADI dive centers offering dive tours on the island. With a rich look into life underwater, you will witness corals, marine creatures, shipwrecks, and sharks on this adventure. Phi Phi Island is one of the best places in the country to go diving. The multilingual guides will guide you, and being untrained in swimming will not be a hindrance. You can even do courses and get your certification done here, making it a souvenir to remember for a lifetime!

• Daily trip timings: 7:30 AM – 12:30 PM and 13:30 – 17:30
• Cost: 2500 THB for two fun dives, 3400 THB for two discover scuba dives, and 3100 THB for the Kled Kaew Wreck that was sunk in 2014 to create an artificial reef.

The prices and timings mentioned here are strictly for reference. They might change according to the weather, demand, and the company you opt for.

9. Try Thai Food & Other Cuisines

You can find the trusty Burger Kinf and McDonald’s close to the pier. There are several 7-Eleven stores located on the island. This place also offers restaurants featuring a multitude of cuisines, including Indian, Japanese, Asian, Continental, Italian, and of course, Thai to name a few. You can also satisfy your seafood, fresh fruits, juices, shakes, smoothies, bakery items, and ice cream cravings. The price range in the restaurants varies largely from budget to expensive.

10. Refill Your Water Bottles

Thousands of tourists visit Phi Phi Island every day and the waste collected is so huge that they charge 20 THB for the waste management and conservation of the island. Let’s do our bit by refilling our bottles from the machines for just 1 THB for a liter instead of buying bottled water bottles from the supermarkets that cost 20 THB. You can easily find a couple of these machines by searching “Water refill stations” on Google Maps. They are generally placed next to the laundry shops. These blue-colored machines are easy to operate. You just have to insert a coin and press the green button for the water to start and stop automatically.

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