Phi Phi Island in Thailand

The Phi Phi Islands (Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh) are located in the turquoise Andaman Sea, 50 kilometers southeast of Phuket, in the administrative province of Krabi, Thailand. They are part of the Ko Phi Phi Leh National Marine Park.

By boat from the ports of Phuket (about 90 minutes), Krabi, Koh Lanta and Ao Nang. Those in a hurry can take the "luxury" (and more expensive) option of a speed boat or even a float plane.

Koh Phi Phi's peak season is from December to March: the dry season. The sun shines almost non-stop, the water is turquoise, but the bungalows and hotels are overcrowded and the prices skyrocket.

Between April and November, it rains more frequently in southern Thailand, but the Thai rainy season is not like the Indian monsoon. Some days are perfectly sunny, occasionally interrupted by a few showers that usually don't last long.

But beware: in Thailand there are really gray, rainy, sad days. And vacationers who leave after two weeks on the water will be shaking their heads. So it's good to know. It's a bit of a gamble! But if you're right, you'll enjoy deserted beaches, low prices, availability and the smiles of Thai people, much more relaxed than in high season.

Phi Phi has some of the most beautiful marine scenery in the world. In particular, the uninhabited and protected island of Phi Phi Lee (or Phi Phi Ley), nestled in the hollow of a rocky cirque, surrounds the beach of Maya Bay, immortalized in Dany Boyle's movie "The Beach" starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tilda Swinton.

Phi Phi is one of the most popular dive sites in the world. Its seabed, surrounded by a protected marine reserve, is exceptional. The majestic whale shark haunts the waters and can be seen on popular night div

Other paradise islands (Mosquito Island, Bamboo Island, etc.) await explorers off Phi Phi.

Phi Phi's nightlife is intense. It's concentrated around the bars, restaurants and boutiques of Ton Sai Village and the beach bars around Loh Dalam Bay.

The Phi Phi archipelago actually consists of six islands, most of which are uninhabited. Only the largest island, Phi Phi Don, is inhabited. This is where you'll dock at Ton Sai Bay.

Seen from the air (or viewpoint), Phi Phi Don is unlike any other island. This little piece of paradise consists of two rocky outcrops connected by a thin strip of sand. Two bays, Loh Dalam Bay and Ton Sai Bay, form two arcs of turquoise and emerald waters.

The western part of the island is uninhabited and covered by dense jungle. A few isolated bays can be explored by kayak, notably Monkey Bay and its wild macaques... though they are very used to humans, or rather the bananas they bring in daily.

Phi Phi Lee, to the southwest of Phi Phi Don, looks like a pebble with high rocky cliffs, cold, sad and inhospitable. But hidden in the depths of its gray rocks is one of Thailand's most popular bays: Maya Bay, a heavenly beach with turquoise waters surrounded by tall boulders that make it almost invisible from the open sea.

Other dreamy coves lurk around the bend in the rocks of Phi Phi Lee. If you're worried about too many tourists, avoid Maya after 9 a.m. and ask your long-tail driver to take you to another small beach on the island, such as Loh Samah Bay. You can also spend the night on a boat in Maya Bay!

Don't miss Viking Cave, with its spindly bamboo scaffolding, where daredevil tightrope walkers search for the precious swallow's nests so prized by the Chinese.

Phi Phi Leh Nature Reserve can only be reached by boat from Ton Sai Bay. The Phi Phi Leh spot is Maya Bay, the beach popularized by Dany Boyle's movie "The Beach". A surprising bay as it's completely surrounded by rocks.

A big, big favorite for this small deserted island, which can only be reached by a long tail from Phi Phi Don. Be sure to allow 3 hours, as it takes almost an hour to get to Bamboo Island.

The landscape here is in stark contrast to the rocks of Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Lee. There is no relief, just a long white sandy beach bordered by crazy water, a small snack bar, a few places to pitch a tent and that's it. Pure, untouched paradise.

It's a far cry from the hustle and bustle of Maya Bay, which is closer to Phi Phi Don and more popular. But beware: in high season there are many visitors at lunchtime, so it's best to leave early in the morning or at the end of the day.

Since cars are not allowed on Phi Phi Island, long tails are the only way to get around. They get their name from the long handle topped by a propeller, which the drivers plunge into the water to steer their craft. At the end of the slender bow, flowers and colorful cloth protect the crew from the vagaries of the sea.

As the sun rises, the long tails sway in the surf on the golden, fiery water, while their drivers work away. Then board one of these curious vessels, powered by a noisy, polluting gasoline engine that their owners have tinkered with and maintained over the years. Destination: the rocky, turquoise coves of Phi Phi Don and the secret shores of smaller Phi Phi Ley.

Vikings Cave, Maya Bay, and a host of other treasures hidden by vertiginous cliffs known only to long-tailers. Admire the clarity of the water and the striking contrast of the rocks that plunge your feet into it.

On December 26, 2004, at 9:45 a.m. local time, a 10 meter wave hit the coast of Koh Phi Phi. The consequences were dramatic. Nearly 800 people disappeared, but it is likely that more than 5,000 perished in the deadly waves that engulfed the island. Almost all of the island's infrastructure was destroyed. This tsunami was the result of a major earthquake that had occurred 3 hours earlier in Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia.

It took over a year to rebuild the infrastructure, nearly 70% of which was destroyed by the tsunami. Today, Phi Phi is once again welcoming tourists in droves. A tsunami memorial park can be seen in the heart of Ton Sai village.

Experts have learned the lessons of the December 26, 2004 tsunami. A warning system has been installed on the island's busiest beaches and villagers have been trained to respond in the event of another disaster. Signs all over the island indicate the evacuation route in the event of another tsunami. They all lead to the highest point on the island, Phi Phi Viewpoint.