Phi Phi viewpoint is the name most visitors give to the lookouts on the hill above Tonsai Village, the best-known free-standing view on Phi Phi Don. A steep staircase leads up from the village to three viewpoints, and the classic photo shows Tonsai Bay on one side and Loh Dalum Bay on the other. The hike takes about 30 minutes to the top, and it costs only a few dozen baht.
This guide explains how the three viewpoints differ, how to walk there from Ton Sai, what the tickets cost, the best time for sunrise or sunset and what to bring. It draws on Backpackers Wanderlust, Nothing Familiar, Thailand Magazine, Thai Holiday Guide, Getting Stamped, Phuket 101 and a GetYourGuide listing that we checked on 30 October 2026. Guides disagree on some prices and times, and we say so where they do.
- Starts at
- Back of Tonsai Village
- Steps
- About 320 to 343, then a path
- Time to the top
- About 30 minutes
- Tickets
- ฿50 for 1 and 2, ฿20 for 3
- Best light
- Before 8 am, or sunset
- Highest point
- About 186 m
Is the Phi Phi viewpoint worth the climb?
Yes. It is cheap, takes about an hour with breaks, and gives the best view of both bays on the island. Go early or late to avoid the heat, wear proper shoes and take a torch if you plan to walk down after sunset.
Phi Phi Viewpoint at a Glance: Which of the Three Lookouts to Choose
Backpackers Wanderlust and Nothing Familiar agree on the layout. Viewpoint 1 is at the top of the first staircase, viewpoint 2 is the classic panorama and viewpoint 3 is the highest and quietest. Most people stop at viewpoint 2, so if you have the energy, continue to the third.
| Viewpoint | What you find | Extra time |
|---|---|---|
| Viewpoint 1 | The ticket kiosk, a colorful sign, benches and a small shop | At the top of the stairs |
| Viewpoint 2 | The classic view of both bays, boulders, a wooden platform, a bar and two cafes | 10 to 15 minutes more |
| Viewpoint 3 | The highest deck, quieter, with views of Phi Phi Don, Monkey Beach and Phi Phi Leh | About 15 minutes more, on a rougher path |
Viewpoint 1 is the least interesting. Nothing Familiar says it is pretty but not worth lingering at, and Backpackers Wanderlust found it less appealing than the other two. Viewpoint 2 is where the postcard shot is taken and where the crowds gather. Backpackers Wanderlust rates viewpoint 3 best for sunset, though it expects crowds there too. From the deck, Nothing Familiar says you can see Phi Phi Don, Monkey Beach, Phi Phi Leh and Maya Bay in the distance.
The hill is also the island's tsunami evacuation point, marked by blue signs, says Thai Holiday Guide. Our guide to Phi Phi tsunami safety explains what to do. For other things to do around Ton Sai, see our things to do in Phi Phi.
How to Hike to the Phi Phi Viewpoint From Ton Sai: Route and Steps
There is no road to the top, so walking is the main way up. Nothing Familiar says the start is in Tonsai Village, about a five-minute walk from the ferry port, and Getting Stamped measures the route at 1.4 km, with 20 to 25 minutes each way.
Walk to the east side of Tonsai Village
Head away from the pier toward Harmony House and follow the signs for Viewpoint 1 and the Tsunami Evacuation Route, as Backpackers Wanderlust describes.
Climb the concrete staircase
The first stretch is a long, steep flight. Thai Holiday Guide counts about 320 steps to the ticket counter and Thailand Magazine counts 343, so expect over 300 either way. Take breaks.
Pay at the ticket kiosk
You pay at viewpoint 1, near the top of the stairs. Carry cash.
Continue to viewpoint 2
The path is easier from here, a gentle climb of 10 to 15 minutes that you feel mostly in your calves.
Finish at viewpoint 3
The last stretch is unpaved and rougher. It takes about 15 minutes from viewpoint 2, and it has a separate fee.
Time yourself honestly. Backpackers Wanderlust allows one to two hours for all three viewpoints with breaks, while Nothing Familiar's group needed about 30 minutes to reach the top without stopping. The difficulty is easy to moderate, according to the sources, and the hardest part is the first staircase. There is little shade, and one author recorded temperatures above 38°C in March.
If you sleep in the village, you are within minutes of the stairs. Our guide to hostels in Phi Phi compares cheap beds in Ton Sai.
Phi Phi Viewpoint Entrance Fees and Opening Hours
The tickets are cheap, but guides quote different prices. The most recent ones agree on ฿50 for viewpoints 1 and 2, and older ones quote ฿30. Viewpoint 3 charges separately.
| Ticket | Price quoted | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Viewpoints 1 and 2 | ฿50 | Backpackers Wanderlust (2026) and Thai Holiday Guide |
| Viewpoints 1 and 2 | ฿30 | Nothing Familiar and Getting Stamped (older guides) |
| Viewpoint 3 | ฿20 extra | Backpackers Wanderlust, which says it includes a bottle of water |
| Viewpoint 3 | ฿20, paid at the restaurant | Thailand Magazine, which says the first ticket is not valid there |
| All three | About ฿70 | Backpackers Wanderlust |
Thailand Magazine says you must take off your shoes at viewpoint 3, and Nothing Familiar says a donation box at the top asks for another ฿20, so its total may be ฿40 for the last viewpoint. Thai Holiday Guide gives opening hours of roughly 06:00 to 19:30, but no source gives an official schedule, so check the signs at the kiosk.
Best Time for the Phi Phi Viewpoint: Sunrise, Midday or Sunset
Sources disagree on the best hour, because the answer depends on what you want. Cooler weather and fewer people favor the early morning, while the water color is best in the middle of the day and sunset brings the crowds.
| Time | What to expect | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Before 8 am | Smaller crowds and softer light | Thai Holiday Guide |
| 9 to 11 am | Sun behind you and the best photos, and cooler than midday | Backpackers Wanderlust |
| 10 am to 2 pm | The best water colors, but the hottest hours | Getting Stamped |
| Sunset | Dramatic light, but viewpoint 2 is very crowded | Thailand Magazine |
| Sunrise | Quieter, but bring a torch and check the weather | Backpackers Wanderlust |
For sunset, Thailand Magazine saw only a handful of visitors at viewpoint 3 while viewpoint 2 was packed, so go to the third viewpoint if you want space. Arrive well before the sun goes down, because you must walk back in the dark otherwise. The dry season from November to April is the more reliable time for clear weather, and our guide to the best time to visit Phi Phi explains the seasons.
What to Bring and Safety Rules at the Phi Phi Viewpoint
- Water: Getting Stamped advises about a litre per person, and says only two small stalls sell drinks at the top.
- Cash: Tickets and drinks are paid in baht, usually in small notes.
- Shoes with grip: Thai Holiday Guide says handrails cover the steepest sections but the rock gets slippery after rain, and Backpackers Wanderlust found flip-flops difficult.
- A torch or phone light: You need it to walk down after dark, especially from viewpoint 3.
- Insect repellent: Thailand Magazine and Phuket 101 both mention mosquitoes in the shade.
- Sun protection: There is little shade on the stairs.
Rules at the Phi Phi viewpoint
Alcohol is banned at the viewpoints. Backpackers Wanderlust reports fines of up to ฿1,000, and Phuket 101 and Thailand Magazine also say it is not allowed. Macaques live in the area, so do not feed them and keep food and bottles in your bag. Thailand Magazine also notes litter along the path to viewpoint 3, so take your rubbish back down.
Wet steps are the main danger. Backpackers Wanderlust advises avoiding the alternative trails in the dark or heavy rain, because the main path can get slippery when wet. For monkeys, see our guide to Monkey Beach, which you can spot from viewpoint 3.
Phi Phi Viewpoint Alternatives: Road Route, Beach Trail and Sunset by Boat
The road route
A road route around the back of the island avoids most of the stairs but takes about an hour, says Backpackers Wanderlust.
Continue beyond viewpoint 3
Getting Stamped says the trail continues past viewpoint 3 to the beaches of Ao Tohko, Paknam, Rantee and Lo Bakao, adding 30 minutes to an hour on an unmarked path. Thailand Magazine adds that a fourth viewpoint at the PP Mountain Beach Resort can be reached on foot from viewpoint 3. Do not attempt either in the dark.
See the sunset from the sea
If the stairs are too much, you can watch the light fade from a boat instead. This speedboat day tour visits the usual stops and ends after dark with a plankton snorkel, and our guide to plankton in Phi Phi explains how that works.
Phi Phi Don: Sunset and Plankton Snorkeling by Speedboat
A nine-hour speedboat tour from Ton Sai with Monkey Bay, Viking Cave, Pileh Lagoon, Maya Bay and Bamboo Island, plus a snorkeling stop, then a bioluminescent plankton swim before you return to Ton Sai pier at about 19:30.
Check on the listing before you book
- Meets near Ton Sai Pier, at McDonald's PP Island
- Lunch box, water, fruit and snorkel gear included
- National park entry fee included
Powered by GetYourGuide. Price, duration and availability depend on your date.
The listing is rated 4.4 out of 5, but from only three reviews, so treat the score with caution. It showed a price from about €57 on the page we checked. One reviewer found the beaches crowded and the plankton stop disappointing, while another praised the guide and the quieter snorkeling spots. The speedboat holds up to 38 people, and the listing excludes pregnant women, people with heart or back problems, children under 3, people over 70 and people over 95 kg. Its details about hotel pickup contradict each other, so confirm the meeting point before you pay.
Maya Bay closes every August and September for conservation. Our guide to Maya Bay explains the current rules, and our best beaches in Phi Phi list covers sunset spots at sea level, including Long Beach.
Phi Phi Viewpoint FAQ
How long does it take to climb the Phi Phi viewpoint?
About 30 minutes from Tonsai Village to the top without stopping, and one to two hours for all three viewpoints with breaks.
How many steps are there to the Phi Phi viewpoint?
Thai Holiday Guide counts about 320 steps to the ticket counter, and Thailand Magazine counts 343. After that the path is less steep.
How much does the Phi Phi viewpoint cost?
Recent guides quote ฿50 for viewpoints 1 and 2 and ฿20 more for viewpoint 3. Older guides quote ฿30. Carry small notes in case prices have changed.
Which Phi Phi viewpoint is best?
Viewpoint 2 has the classic view of both bays, but viewpoint 3 is the highest and quietest, and Backpackers Wanderlust rates it best for sunset.
Can you do the Phi Phi viewpoint at sunset?
Yes, and it is popular. Viewpoint 2 gets very crowded, so choose viewpoint 3, arrive early and take a torch for the walk down.
Is the Phi Phi viewpoint hard?
It is easy to moderate. The first staircase is the hardest part, and the heat and lack of shade add to the effort.
Can you take alcohol up the Phi Phi viewpoint?
No. Alcohol is banned at the viewpoints, and Backpackers Wanderlust reports fines of up to ฿1,000.
Is there a road to the Phi Phi viewpoint?
There is a longer road route around the back of the island that avoids most of the stairs but takes about an hour, according to Backpackers Wanderlust.
Prefer to see the sunset from the water?
Check dates, start times and the price for a speedboat tour that ends with the sunset and a plankton snorkel.
Photo credits: Ko Phi Phi Don at sunset by Christophe95 (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Koh Phi Phi viewpoint by Caitriana Nicholson (CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons); Koh Phi Phi viewpoint by Caitriana Nicholson (CC BY-SA 2.0, 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 26 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.
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