Phi Phi Don is the largest island of the Phi Phi group and the only one where people live, which makes it the base for almost every trip to the area. It holds the ferry pier, the village of Tonsai, most hotels and bars, the viewpoint and a ring of quieter beaches, while the famous Maya Bay sits on the smaller island to the south.
This guide explains how the island is laid out, what each area is like, how to get there and where to stay. It draws on Wikipedia, Phuket 101 and its island maps page, Hotels.com area guides and Phuket Ferry. Sources differ on a few travel times and fees, and we say where.
- Size
- 10.27 km², about 8 km long
- Residents
- About 2,500 in 2018
- From Phuket
- About 40 km
- Main pier
- Tonsai Pier, ฿20 fee
- Cars
- No roads or vehicles
- Best time
- November to April
What is Phi Phi Don?
Phi Phi Don is the largest and only inhabited island of the Phi Phi group, in Krabi Province and about 40 km from Phuket. It has the main pier, the village of Tonsai on a narrow isthmus between two bays, the viewpoint and most hotels, and it has no roads or vehicles. Phi Phi Leh, with Maya Bay, is the smaller island to the south.
Phi Phi Don at a Glance: Size, Residents and Location
Wikipedia gives an area of 10.27 km², and says the island is about 8 km long and 3.5 km wide, although its infobox lists the two figures the other way round. The same page records about 2,500 residents in 2018 and calls it the only island in the group with permanent inhabitants, adding that most service workers are temporary. Phuket 101 puts it about 40 km south-east of Phuket.
Administratively it belongs to Krabi Province, in the Mueang Krabi district and the Ao Nang subdistrict. Wikipedia says most of the Phi Phi Islands lie inside Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, but parts of Phi Phi Don are outside it and are managed and funded by the Ao Nang subdistrict administration.
Names can confuse. Koh Phi Phi is often used for the whole group, and Ko Phi Phi Don and simply Phi Phi Don both mean this main island. Its smaller neighbour is covered in our guide to Phi Phi Leh, and the Koh Phi Phi guide explains how the two fit into one trip.
Phi Phi Don Layout: Two Hilly Halves and a Narrow Isthmus
The island is almost split in two, according to Wikipedia, with the halves joined by a narrow strip of flat land. That strip is where the largest settlement, Ban Ko Phi Phi, and most of the resorts stand. Phuket 101 says Tonsai village sits between Tonsai Bay on the south side and Loh Dalum Bay on the north side, so you can cross from one bay to the other on foot.
The same page says the island has no roads or vehicles, and that everything in Tonsai is on foot. For the rest of the island you walk coastal paths or take a longtail boat. Our Phi Phi island map shows the piers, bays and distances in one picture.
Phuket 101 describes Tonsai as loud, busy and commercial. It lists a McDonald's, a Burger King, several 7-Eleven stores, ATMs, a clinic and pharmacies, and notes that most shops do not open until after lunch. If you arrive on a morning boat, plan for cash and breakfast first.
Phi Phi Don Areas: Tonsai, Loh Dalum, Long Beach and Beyond
Where you sleep shapes the trip more than anything else. Hotels.com and Phuket 101 describe the same handful of areas, summarised below, with distances taken from those two pages. Our where to stay in Phi Phi guide compares them in more depth.
| Area | What it is like | From Tonsai | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonsai village and bay | Busiest part, with the pier, hotels, restaurants, dive shops and bars | On foot | First-timers, short stays |
| Loh Dalum Bay | Beachfront hotels in demand, but beach bars make it noisy at night | A short walk | Nightlife, convenience |
| Long Beach | Quieter, past a rocky cape, with a few bungalow resorts | 5 to 15 min by longtail | Quiet beach days |
| Laem Tong | Upscale and secluded, with a few resorts and a small village | 30 to 45 min by longtail | Resort stays |
| Loh Bagao | Large bay on the north-east coast with stylish hotels | 20 to 30 min by longtail | Calm and views |
| East coast | Remote, simple bungalows, boat access or a long trek | Boat only in practice | Seclusion, kayaking |
Long Beach is the easiest escape from the crowds. Hotels.com says a rocky cape separates it from the central area and a narrow jungle path crosses it, and puts the boat ride at 5 minutes, while Phuket 101's map page says about 15 minutes. Our Long Beach guide covers the beach itself, and our Laem Tong guide covers the resort end of the island.
Loh Bagao is on the north-east coast and Phuket 101 gives its width as about 800 m, with a 20 to 30 minute longtail ride from Tonsai Pier or more than an hour on foot. Hotels.com adds that the east coast is about 4 km long and reachable only by boat or around two hours of steep trekking.
Things to Do on Phi Phi Don: Viewpoint, Beaches and Boat Trips
The classic first stop is the viewpoint above Tonsai. Phuket 101 calls the climb a bit challenging and says you pay ฿30 at the ticket counter at Viewpoint 1, at the end of the first long flight of stairs. Newer guides quote ฿50, as our Phi Phi viewpoint guide explains, so carry small notes.
Beaches come next. Loh Dalum is a minute or two from Tonsai, and Phuket 101 says its colours look best around midday, so it suggests leaving around 10:30 to 11 am. It also calls Long Beach quieter than the village with good snorkeling. Our best beaches in Phi Phi ranks the options, and the snorkeling guide shows the reefs.
The island is also the launch point for boats. Phi Phi Leh lies about 2 km south, and Monkey Beach and Bamboo Island are common stops on the same trip. Hotels.com says Bamboo Island is just 5 km off Laem Tong. Our guides to Phi Phi island tours and island hopping compare the formats.
After dark, the focus moves to the beach bars on Loh Dalum. Phuket 101 names Slinky Bar as the biggest beach bar, with fire shows at around 8:30 to 10 pm, though other guides give different times. Our Phi Phi nightlife guide lists the bars, and Phi Phi restaurants covers where to eat. For everything else, see things to do in Phi Phi.
How to Get to Phi Phi Don: Ferries, Speedboats and the Pier Fee
Every ferry arrives at Tonsai Pier, the island's main pier. Phuket Ferry lists boats from Phuket, Krabi and Koh Lanta, and its timetable also includes Railay and Koh Mook. Phuket 101 gives these quoted times and prices for the two most common routes.
| Route | Boat | Time | Price quoted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phuket (Rassada Pier) | Ferry | About 2 hours | About ฿400 one way |
| Phuket (Rassada Pier) | Speedboat | About 50 minutes | About ฿900 one way, ฿1,800 return |
| Krabi | Ferry | About 1.5 hours | Not given |
Our guides explain each crossing: Phuket to Phi Phi, Krabi to Phi Phi and Koh Lanta to Phi Phi, and the Phi Phi ferry guide covers the pier and operators.
Expect an entry fee when you land. Wikipedia says visitors pay 20 baht at Ton Sai Pier to help keep the island clean, and Phuket Ferry says a 20 baht fee helps maintain the pier's facilities. Neither page says when the fee began, so treat it as the usual amount and check on arrival.
Where to Stay on Phi Phi Don: How Long and in Which Area
Phuket 101 recommends either a day trip or one to two nights. Staying overnight lets you climb to the viewpoint at sunrise and catch an early longtail boat before the day-trippers arrive, which is the main reason to sleep on the island rather than commute from Phuket.
For a first visit, Tonsai or Loh Dalum keeps you within walking distance of the pier, restaurants and boats. Phuket 101 notes that Loh Dalum beachfront hotels are the most in demand but can be noisy late at night. If you want sleep, choose Long Beach, and if you want a resort, Laem Tong or Loh Bagao.
Compare options in our guides to Phi Phi hotels and Phi Phi hostels. If you plan a short stay, our guide to the best time to visit Phi Phi helps you pick the right months.
Best Time to Visit Phi Phi Don
Wikipedia says peak season runs roughly from November to April, and Phuket 101 agrees that those months have the calmest seas and best weather, with December and January the busiest. From May to October it reports occasional rain and rougher seas but fewer crowds. Rougher seas can affect ferries and boat tours, so keep a spare day in your schedule.
Time of day matters too. Phuket 101 says the viewpoint works for sunrise if you sleep on the island, and that Loh Dalum looks best around midday. For month-by-month detail see when to visit Phi Phi.
Phi Phi Don Tips: Safety, Money and the Island's Limits
- Bring cash for the pier fee, viewpoint tickets and small shops, since Phuket 101 says most shops open only after lunch.
- Know the tsunami route. Our viewpoint guide notes that the hill is the island's evacuation point, marked by blue signs, and the island has a memorial on the beach facing Loh Dalum Bay.
- Carry a refillable water bottle, because freshwater is limited on a small island.
- Book the return ferry before you leave Tonsai, especially in December and January.
- In an emergency call the Tourist Police on 1155, medical rescue on 1669 or the police on 191, says Smartraveller.
The island is small and under pressure. Wikipedia says more than 1,000 people died on the island in the tsunami of 26 December 2004 and that Loh Dalum Bay was hit hardest. Our guide to Phi Phi tsunami safety explains the evacuation signs and what to do.
Wikipedia also reports that waste reached about 25 tonnes a day in 2014 and 40 tonnes in the high season, that visitor fees covered only about a third of waste-handling costs, and that two freshwater ponds were the only source of piped water. Researchers it cites recommended a cap of 12,000 to 27,000 visitors a day. These figures are dated, but they explain why small habits help.
Phi Phi Don FAQ
What is Phi Phi Don?
It is the largest island of the Phi Phi group and the only one with permanent residents. It has the main pier, the village of Tonsai, most hotels and the viewpoint.
Is Phi Phi Don the same as Koh Phi Phi?
Not exactly. Koh Phi Phi is often used for the whole group, while Don is the main inhabited island and Phi Phi Leh is the smaller island with Maya Bay.
How big is Phi Phi Don?
Wikipedia gives 10.27 km², about 8 km long and 3.5 km wide. It records about 2,500 residents in 2018.
Are there cars on Phi Phi Don?
No. Phuket 101 says the island has no roads or vehicles, so you walk or take a longtail boat.
How do you get to Phi Phi Don?
By boat to Tonsai Pier. Phuket 101 quotes about 2 hours by ferry or about 50 minutes by speedboat from Phuket, and about 1.5 hours by ferry from Krabi.
How much is the fee at Tonsai Pier?
Wikipedia and Phuket Ferry both say 20 baht. Neither says when it started, so check when you land.
How many days do you need on Phi Phi Don?
Phuket 101 suggests a day trip or one to two nights. An overnight stay lets you see the viewpoint at sunrise and avoid the day-trip crowds.
Which part of Phi Phi Don is best to stay in?
Tonsai and Loh Dalum suit first-timers who want restaurants and boats nearby, Long Beach suits quiet beach days, and Laem Tong and Loh Bagao suit resort stays.
Is Phi Phi Don the same as Phi Phi Leh?
No. Phi Phi Leh is the smaller, uninhabited island about 2 km to the south, with Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon. You visit it by boat from Phi Phi Don.
Ready to cross to the island?
Compare ferries, speedboats and travel times to Tonsai Pier from Phuket, Krabi and Koh Lanta.
Photo credits: Aerial view of Tonsai and Loh Dalum by Renek78 (CC0, Wikimedia Commons); Longtail boats moored along the shore by Renek78 (CC0, Wikimedia Commons); Lookout deck by Renek78 (CC0, Wikimedia Commons); Beach swing at sunset by Renek78 (CC0, Wikimedia Commons).
This guide is compiled from published travel guides, island maps and ferry information, checked on 30 October 2026. Distances, fees and boat times around Koh Phi Phi change often, so confirm them locally before you travel.