Phi Phi Leh is the small, uninhabited island of the Phi Phi group, and it holds Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave. It has no hotels, shops or roads, so every visit is a boat trip, usually a half-day or full-day tour from Phi Phi Don, Phuket or Krabi.
This guide separates Phi Phi Leh from its bigger neighbour, explains each sight and sets out the rules, costs and boat options. It draws on Phuket 101, Wikipedia, showcaves.com, Time Out, Thai National Parks and a GetYourGuide listing. Sources disagree on a few numbers, such as the island's size and the park fee, and we say where.
- Location
- About 2 km south of Phi Phi Don
- Size
- About 1.3 km², sources differ
- Residents
- None, and no hotels
- Status
- Part of a national park
- Getting there
- Boat only, no pier
- Maya Bay rule
- No swimming, 375 visitors an hour
What is Phi Phi Leh?
Phi Phi Leh is the smaller, uninhabited island of the Phi Phi group, about 2 km south of Phi Phi Don. It holds Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave and Loh Samah Bay, has no hotels or roads, and sits inside a national park, so you visit it by boat on a day or half-day trip.
Phi Phi Leh at a Glance: Size, Location and Park Status
Phi Phi Leh lies about 2 km south of Phi Phi Don and about 42 km from Phuket, says Phuket 101. The island is part of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, which Phuket 101 says has been protected since 1983, and Wikipedia places it in Krabi Province, in the Ao Nang subdistrict. Nobody lives on it.
The size depends on the source. Phuket 101 gives roughly 1.3 km², which matches the island list on Wikipedia's page for the group, while the page for the island itself says 2 km². Either way it is small: a ring of steep limestone hills that encloses two shallow bays, Maya Bay and Loh Samah.
You will also see the name spelled several ways. Phuket 101 writes Leh, Wikipedia writes Ko Phi Phi Le, and photo archives often write Phi Phi Lay, while some listings use Phi Phi Ley or Koh Phi Leh. They all mean this island.
Phi Phi Leh vs Phi Phi Don: How the Two Islands Differ
The simplest rule is that you sleep on Phi Phi Don and take a day trip to Phi Phi Leh. Our guide to Phi Phi Don covers the main island, and our Phi Phi island map shows how the two sit together.
| Phi Phi Don | Phi Phi Leh | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 10.27 km² | About 1.3 km² (Phuket 101) or 2 km² (island page) |
| Residents | About 2,500 in 2018 | None |
| Hotels, shops, ATMs | Yes, around Tonsai Village | None |
| Ferry pier | Tonsai Pier | None, boats moor off the bays |
| Main sights | Viewpoint, Long Beach, Loh Dalum | Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, Loh Samah |
| Overnight stay | Yes | No |
Tours that visit the island usually add a stop at Monkey Beach or Bamboo Island, so one boat day can cover most of the group. Our guide to Phi Phi island tours compares the formats.
Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh: Rules, Reopening and the Film
Maya Bay is the best-known place on Phi Phi Leh. It faces south-west and is about 200 m long according to Phuket 101, while Wikipedia gives 250 m long and 15 m wide for 2016. Phuket 101 says the bay closed in June 2018 and reopened on 1 January 2022.
The closure followed years of heavy use. Wikipedia says about 5,000 visitors and 200 boats a day reached the bay by 2018, that boat traffic and pollution destroyed about 80% of the coral around it, and that blacktip reef sharks were seen near the beach in December 2018. It adds that more than 15,000 corals had been propagated by February 2019.
Today boats cannot enter the bay. They moor at Loh Samah Bay on the far side of the island, and visitors walk about five minutes along a boardwalk through the jungle. Phuket 101 lists a cap of 375 visitors per hour, no swimming (wading to knee depth is allowed) and a closure every August and September. Time Out reported that the bay reopened on 1 October 2026. Our Maya Bay guide covers tickets, timing and crowds.
The Beach and its legacy
The island's fame comes from the film The Beach, which Wikipedia says was shot in 1999 and released in February 2000. The production bulldozed and landscaped the beach, according to the same page, and a court case over the damage followed. Sources disagree on the dates and the outcome, and our guide to the Beach filming location sets out what each says.
Pileh Lagoon on Phi Phi Leh: The Swim Stop
Pileh Lagoon lies on the eastern side of Phi Phi Leh. Phuket 101 describes a narrow inlet about 600 m deep, with cliffs rising about 100 m, and says the best light for photos is between 11 am and 1 pm. Wikipedia, which writes the name Pi Ley, calls it a shallow, fjord-like inlet with a small coral reef at its entrance.
Unlike Maya Bay, you can swim and float here. Phuket 101 says the sandy bottom has no coral inside the lagoon, so the water is calm and clear but not a reef. It is also busy, because its Phi Phi islands page warns that longtails and speedboats come and go all day, so expect company. Our snorkeling guide shows where to find coral instead.
Viking Cave on Phi Phi Leh: Nests and Painted Ships
Viking Cave sits in the north-eastern cliffs of Phi Phi Leh. Visitors cannot go inside, and boats slow down so you can look from the water, says Phuket 101. Showcaves.com adds that swiftlets nest in the cave, that a bird's nest company holds the harvesting concession, that the harvest season runs from February to April and that the cave is guarded around the clock because of theft attempts.
The name comes from drawings on the walls. Showcaves.com describes coloured pictures of elephants and of European, Arab and Chinese sailing ships, barques, motorboats and steamships on the eastern and southern walls. A local legend says pirates sheltering from the monsoon made them, but the page says the origin is unknown and notes that the drawings cannot be seen from a boat.
The Thai name, Tham Phaya Nak, dates from a visit by King Rama IX in 1972, when he named the cave after a boulder that resembles the head of a naga, a serpent of Buddhist legend, according to the same page.
Loh Samah and Palong Bays on Phi Phi Leh: Sharks, Reefs and Dives
Loh Samah Bay is at the south-eastern tip of Phi Phi Leh, behind Maya Bay, and it is now where boats drop visitors for the Maya Bay walk. Phuket 101 says it is known for blacktip reef sharks and lists sergeant major fish among the sights. It also names snorkeling at the entrance to Pileh Lagoon, near Viking Cave, where it mentions boulder and fan coral, and along the western cliffs near Maya Bay.
Palong Bay, on the north-western coast just north of Maya Bay, is mainly a dive site. Phuket 101 lists dive sites at Palong Wall, Maya Corner, Loh Samah Bay, and Bida Nok and Bida Nai south of the island. It also lists the wreck of HTMS Kled Kaew about 1 km east of Pileh Lagoon: 47 m long, at 14 to 26 m, sunk in March 2014, and for divers with Advanced Open Water certification or equivalent. See our guide to diving around Phi Phi.
How to Get to Phi Phi Leh: Boats, Tours and Costs
There is no pier on Phi Phi Leh and no independent access, so every visit is on a boat. Phuket 101 gives the options below. If you are coming from the mainland, our guides to getting from Phuket and Krabi to Phi Phi explain the crossings, and our ferry guide covers the main pier.
| Option | Starting point | Time and cost quoted by Phuket 101 |
|---|---|---|
| Longtail boat | Tonsai Pier, Phi Phi Don | About 20 to 30 minutes; roughly ฿1,500 to ฿3,000 for a half-day |
| Speedboat | Phi Phi Don | About 10 to 15 minutes, per its FAQ |
| Day tour | Phuket | About 50 minutes by speedboat; ฿1,500 to ฿3,500 with transfers, park fees, lunch and snorkel gear |
| Private charter | Phuket or Phi Phi Don | More expensive, with control over timing |
If you are already on Phi Phi Don, a half-day tour is the simplest way to see the island's three main sights in one trip.
Phi Phi: Half-Day Speedboat Tour to Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon & Snorkeling
A guided speedboat trip to Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon with a snorkeling stop, in a choice of morning or afternoon departure. The afternoon option adds a sunset and a plankton swim.
Check on the listing before you book
- Price and start time for your date
- Whether the park fee is included
- Meeting point and morning or afternoon choice
Powered by GetYourGuide. Price, duration and availability depend on your date.
The listing was rated 4.7 out of 5 from 192 reviews and showed a price from about €39 per person when we checked on 30 October 2026. On the park fee, Phuket 101 says ฿400 per person, sometimes included in tours and sometimes collected on site, while Thai National Parks lists ฿200 for foreign adults. Check what your ticket covers.
Best Time to Visit Phi Phi Leh
Phuket 101 names November to April as the best period. Maya Bay closes every August and September for conservation, and bad weather can add closures, but the rest of the island stays on the route when the bay is shut. Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave and Loh Samah all remain part of the usual trip, so a visit is still worthwhile.
Light matters too. Phuket 101 says Pileh Lagoon photographs best between 11 am and 1 pm, which suits a half-day tour starting mid-morning. For month-by-month weather see our guide to the best time to visit Phi Phi, and if you want a night swim, our guide to plankton in Phi Phi explains the season.
Phi Phi Leh Tips: Fees, Sunscreen and Safety
- Check whether the national park fee is included in your ticket before you pay, since sources quote ฿200 and ฿400.
- Bring swimwear and a towel for Pileh Lagoon and the snorkeling stops, even though you cannot swim at Maya Bay.
- Buy a compliant sunscreen. Khaosod English reported in October 2025 that Thai marine parks ban four sunscreen ingredients, with fines up to ฿100,000.
- Plan for a same-day visit. Phuket 101 says the island has no accommodation, so you return to Phi Phi Don or Phuket.
- In an emergency call the Tourist Police on 1155, medical rescue on 1669 or the police on 191, says Smartraveller.
Our guide to things to do in Phi Phi shows what else to fit around a boat day, and the island hopping guide compares longer routes.
Phi Phi Leh FAQ
What is Phi Phi Leh?
It is the smaller, uninhabited island of the Phi Phi group, about 2 km south of Phi Phi Don. It holds Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave and is part of a national park.
Is Phi Phi Leh the same as Phi Phi Le or Phi Phi Lay?
Yes. Phuket 101 writes Leh, Wikipedia writes Ko Phi Phi Le and photo archives often write Lay. They all name the same island.
Can you stay overnight on the island?
No. Phuket 101 says there are no hotels, shops or roads and no one lives there, so visits are same-day trips back to Phi Phi Don or Phuket.
How do you get to Phi Phi Leh?
By boat only. Phuket 101 lists longtails from Phi Phi Don, speedboats and day tours from Phuket, which take about 50 minutes, and private charters.
Can you swim at Maya Bay?
No. Phuket 101 says swimming is not allowed at Maya Bay and you may only wade to knee depth. You can swim at Pileh Lagoon, on the other side of the island.
Can you go inside Viking Cave?
No. Phuket 101 says visitors cannot enter, and boats slow down so you can see the cave from the water.
How big is Phi Phi Leh?
Phuket 101 gives roughly 1.3 km², while Wikipedia's page for the island says 2 km². Phi Phi Don is much larger at 10.27 km².
When is the best time to visit Phi Phi Leh?
November to April, says Phuket 101. Maya Bay closes every August and September, and Time Out reported that it reopened on 1 October 2026.
How much does it cost to visit Phi Phi Leh?
Phuket 101 quotes roughly ฿1,500 to ฿3,000 for a longtail half-day and ฿1,500 to ฿3,500 for a Phuket day tour. The park fee is ฿200 to ฿400 depending on the source.
Want to see the island on a half-day trip?
Check dates, start times and the price for the speedboat tour to Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon, and read the recent reviews before you book.
Photo credits: Longtail boat below limestone cliffs by Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons); Longtail boats on Maya Beach by Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons); Pileh Lagoon by Puripant (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Viking Cave by Christophe95 (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Loh Samah Bay boulder by Алексей Коптелов (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons). Tour photos: GetYourGuide.
Disclosure: InsideSamui may earn a commission when you book through some of the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. This guide is compiled from published park, operator and traveler information, checked on 30 October 2026. We have not run these trips ourselves for this page. Prices, schedules, fees and rules around Koh Phi Phi change often, so confirm with your operator before you travel. Tour bookings are handled by GetYourGuide. Fees, rules and tour details change often, so check before you go.