Bamboo Island Phi Phi, also called Koh Mai Phai, is a small, flat island in the Phi Phi group with a white-sand beach, shallow turquoise water and reef patches close to shore. You can only reach it by boat, usually as a stop on a longtail or speedboat tour, and despite the name it has almost no bamboo.
This guide explains where the island is, how to get there from Phi Phi, Phuket or Krabi, what the national park fee is, what snorkeling is really like, how nearby Mosquito Island fits in and when to go. It draws on Phuket 101, Nomado, Nomadays, Krabi Nature, Southeast Asia Pilot and a GetYourGuide listing that we checked on 30 October 2026. Guides disagree on several details, so we flag the differences and suggest you confirm prices and times before you book.
- Where
- About 5 km north of Phi Phi Don
- Boat from Ton Sai
- 20 to 45 minutes, sources differ
- Park fee
- ฿400 adult, ฿200 child
- Private longtail
- ฿1,500 to ฿2,500
- Typical stop
- 30 to 45 minutes on tours
- Best time
- Before 10 am, November to April
Is Bamboo Island in Phi Phi worth visiting?
Yes, as a beach and shallow-water stop on a longer trip. The sand is white and the water is calm and shallow, but the snorkeling is described as okay rather than special and the shore gets crowded with boats around midday. Go in the morning and bring water, because facilities are minimal.
Bamboo Island Phi Phi at a Glance: Location, Beach and Facilities
Phuket 101 and Krabi Nature both place the island about 5 km north of Phi Phi Don, inside Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi Province. Krabi Nature measures it at 718 m long and 530 m wide, and Phuket 101 says you can walk around it in about 20 minutes. The trees on Bamboo Island Phi Phi are mostly casuarinas, not bamboo.
The beach at Bamboo Island Phi Phi is white and fairly clean, and the water stays shallow for a long way out. Nomado describes firm sand and a gradual entry, and Krabi Nature says the water reaches only 1 m deep 3 to 20 m from shore, which suits children and weak swimmers. Lifeguards are rarely present and there are no sunbeds or umbrellas, Krabi Nature adds.
Facilities are the part sources disagree on. Phuket 101 says there is nothing beyond a national park ranger station, while Krabi Nature lists one food area with snacks, fruit and smoothies at about ฿150 and rice dishes at ฿100 to ฿200, plus a basic toilet and shower. Plan as if there is nothing, and bring water, cash and a bag for your rubbish.
Good
- Shallow, easy water right off the beach
- Reef patches within a short swim
- Included as a stop on many Phi Phi tours
- A change from the busier bays
Not so good
- Fifteen to twenty speedboats at once around midday, says Phuket 101
- Snorkeling described as okay, not special
- Little shade and almost no facilities
- Entrance fee is extra on some cheaper tours
How to Get to Bamboo Island Phi Phi by Longtail, Speedboat or Tour
You cannot walk or drive to Bamboo Island Phi Phi. Boats go from Phi Phi, Phuket, Krabi and Ao Nang, and Krabi Nature adds that there are no taxis out there: the boat that brings you is the boat that takes you back.
From Phi Phi Don by private longtail
Phuket 101 says a private longtail or speedboat from Phi Phi Don costs about ฿1,500 to ฿2,500, depending on bargaining. Crossing times to Bamboo Island Phi Phi differ by source. Nomado gives 20 to 30 minutes by longtail or speedboat, while Nomadays says about 45 minutes by longtail from Ton Sai. Plan on 30 to 45 minutes each way, agree the waiting time before you leave and ask whether the park fee is in the price. Many captains combine the island with Monkey Beach and Pileh Lagoon, as our Phi Phi island hopping guide and our Phi Phi island tour comparison explain.
From Phuket or Krabi
Phuket 101 says most Phi Phi day tours from Phuket or Krabi include Bamboo Island Phi Phi as a stop. Krabi Nature gives about 30 to 45 minutes by speedboat and 1 to 2 hours by longtail from Ao Nang, Noppharat Thara or Phi Phi. The Phuket tour listed below shows 70 minutes by speedboat between the island and Phuket.
By your own boat
Southeast Asia Pilot says there are small moorings close to the reef edge for the speedboats and longtails that run daily snorkeling trips from Phi Phi, and recommends anchoring on sand in 7 to 10 m off the southeast corner, never on coral. The park's ranger boats collect the fee there, it adds.
| Option | Cost | Time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private longtail from Ton Sai | ฿1,500 to ฿2,500 a boat | 20 to 45 min each way | You set the stops, but you must bargain and agree the waiting time |
| Phi Phi day tour | Varies by tour | Stops of 30 to 45 min are typical | Cheapest per person, fixed timetable |
| Phuket full-day speedboat tour | From about €98 in the listing below | 70 min on the island, 70 min back | Park fee and lunch included |
| Krabi side by longtail or speedboat | Not quoted | 1 to 2 h by longtail, 30 to 45 min by speedboat | Depends on the pier and the sea |
Bamboo Island Phi Phi Park Fee, Costs and What Is Included
Bamboo Island Phi Phi is inside the national park, so visitors pay an entrance fee. Phuket 101 and Nomado both quote ฿400 for a foreign adult and ฿200 for a child, and Nomado lists Thai nationals at ฿40 and ฿20, verified as of February 2025. The park's own page on Thai National Parks lists ฿200 for adults and ฿100 for children park-wide, so ask your operator which rate applies to your trip.
Most tours include the fee, but Phuket 101 warns that some cheaper tours add it on top, so check the price. The tour below says park entry is included. If you hire a private longtail and the fee is not in the price, you pay the ranger in cash.
- Park fee at Bamboo Island Phi Phi: ฿400 adult and ฿200 child in most guides.
- Private longtail from Ton Sai: about ฿1,500 to ฿2,500, according to Phuket 101.
- Food on the island: Krabi Nature quotes smoothies at about ฿150 and rice dishes at ฿100 to ฿200, but Phuket 101 says there is no restaurant, so do not count on it.
- Snorkel gear: Krabi Nature tells you to bring your own, while the tour below includes snorkel gear and fins.
Snorkeling at Bamboo Island Phi Phi: Reef, Fish and Honest Expectations
Snorkeling is the main activity at Bamboo Island Phi Phi, but guides rate it differently. Phuket 101 calls it okay but not special, with some coral around the edges and visibility that depends on boat traffic: reasonable on calm mornings and poor on busy afternoons. Nomado lists reef on the northern and eastern edges with parrotfish, sergeant majors and the occasional pufferfish, and warns that bleaching and visitor pressure have affected the coral. Krabi Nature says snorkeling is good on all sides, with coral close to the surface.
Nomadays mentions leopard sharks and hawksbill turtles, but the other guides do not, so treat any sighting as luck and not a promise. Reefs also change. The Star reported that the park closed 10 snorkeling and diving sites in May 2024 to let bleached coral recover and reopened them in April 2025. Bamboo Island Phi Phi is not among those ten sites, but the closure shows that reef rules can change quickly.
If snorkeling is your main goal, Phuket 101 suggests stops such as Pileh Lagoon or the area near Maya Bay instead. Our guide to snorkeling in Phi Phi compares the spots, and our Phi Phi diving page covers certified dives.
Reef rules and safety
Do not touch or stand on coral, do not feed fish and take your rubbish with you, rules the park repeated when it reopened the sites, according to The Star. Thailand also bans sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor and butylparaben in marine national parks, with fines of up to ฿100,000, says Khaosod English. Krabi Nature warns about currents and advises against surfing or bodyboarding over the shallow coral.
Mosquito Island Phi Phi: The Quieter Neighbour of Bamboo Island Phi Phi
Koh Yung, known as Mosquito Island, lies about 2 km from Bamboo Island Phi Phi, according to Krabi Nature. Hotels.com describes an uninhabited island about 1 km long with two quiet beaches on the east side, named for the mosquitoes that come out at dusk. Mooring buoys let longtails stop without anchoring on the reef.
Snorkeling Report describes snorkeling on the east side, where a rocky cliff about 700 m long is fringed by coral, down to roughly 6 m. It says the coral is badly damaged, though some patches are healthy, and lists copperband butterflyfish, Moorish idols, giant clams and moray eels. Hotels.com adds a dive pinnacle near the northeastern tip, about 15 m deep, known for blacktip reef sharks.
Access has changed over the years. Nation Thailand reported the waters off Koh Yung closed in 2016 for reef recovery, and Snorkeling Report notes a temporary closure to tourist boats on a page last updated in September 2022. Ask your captain whether Mosquito Island is open before you pay for a trip that promises a stop there.
Best Time to Visit Bamboo Island Phi Phi: Season and Time of Day
Seas around Bamboo Island Phi Phi are calmest in the dry season. Nomado recommends December to March, with February usually the most stable, while Krabi Nature says November to April is the sunniest and busiest and May to October is quieter and often better for a peaceful visit. Nomado adds that monsoon seas can be rough and tours may be cancelled or rerouted.
| Time | What to expect | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Leave the pier by 8:30 | Beats the later boats | Nomado |
| 9 to 10:30 am | Quietest, with better visibility | Phuket 101 and Nomado |
| Late morning to midday | Speedboats crowd the shore, sometimes 15 to 20 at once | Phuket 101 |
| Afternoon | Sources differ: busiest in peak season, or emptier as tours return | Phuket 101 and Nomado |
For month-by-month weather around the islands, see our guide to the best time to visit Phi Phi. Check the sea state with your operator on the day, because rough water can also change which stops a tour makes.
Bamboo Island Phi Phi Tour: Full-Day Speedboat From Phuket
If you are staying in Phuket and not on Phi Phi, a full-day speedboat tour is the easy way to see Bamboo Island Phi Phi. The listing below, run by Amazing Canoeing, starts at Royal Phuket Marina and lasts about 10 hours. The itinerary shows Maya Bay for 40 minutes, Pileh Lagoon for 40, Viking Cave for 40, Monkey Beach for 20, lunch on Phi Phi Don for an hour and the island for 70 minutes, then 70 minutes by speedboat back to Phuket.
Phi Phi and Bamboo Islands: Speedboat Snorkeling Tour From Phuket
A 10-hour speedboat tour from Royal Phuket Marina with stops at Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave and Monkey Beach, a buffet lunch on Phi Phi Don and 70 minutes on Bamboo Island.
Check on the listing before you book
- Pickup from Phuket hotels and park entry fee included
- Buffet lunch, snorkel gear and fins, life jackets
- Two snorkeling sessions and paddleboards
Powered by GetYourGuide. Price, duration and availability depend on your date.
The listing is rated 5.0 out of 5, but from only three reviews, so treat the score with caution. It showed a price from about €98 on the page we checked. Children under 2, pregnant women, people with heart problems, wheelchair users and people who recently had surgery cannot join, and the listing says times and the route can change with the tide and the weather.
If you are already on Phi Phi, skip a Phuket departure. A private longtail from Ton Sai lets you set your own stops and can work out cheaper for a group, as long as you agree the price and the waiting time first.
Bamboo Island Phi Phi FAQ
How long do you stay at Bamboo Island Phi Phi?
Tours typically stop for 30 to 45 minutes, says Phuket 101, while Nomado says 1.5 to 3 hours is common on longer trips. The Phuket tour above lists 70 minutes.
How much is the Bamboo Island entrance fee?
Most guides quote ฿400 for a foreign adult and ฿200 for a child. The park's own page lists ฿200 and ฿100, so confirm with your operator. Many tours include the fee.
Can you stay overnight on Bamboo Island?
There is no hotel or resort. Nomado says overnight camping needs a permit, so do not plan it without asking the park office.
Is Bamboo Island the same as Mosquito Island?
No. Mosquito Island, or Koh Yung, is a separate island about 2 km away, and access to it has been restricted at times.
Can you swim at Bamboo Island?
Yes. The water is shallow with a gradual entry, according to Nomado, but lifeguards are rarely present and Krabi Nature warns about currents.
Are there sharks at Bamboo Island?
Most guides do not mention sharks there. Nomadays lists leopard sharks, so a sighting is possible but not something to expect.
What should you bring to Bamboo Island?
Water, cash, a hat, a dry bag and sunscreen without the banned filters. Krabi Nature advises bringing your own snorkel gear unless your tour supplies it.
Want to see Bamboo Island on a boat tour?
Check dates, start times and the price for a full-day speedboat tour from Phuket with snorkeling and lunch.
Photo credits: Bamboo Beach, Ko Mai Phai by Maksym Kozlenko (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Bamboo Island by Deror Avi (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons); Bamboo Island by Yuriy Surov (CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons); Ko Mai Phai and Koh Yung by Christophe95 (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.