Handpicked experience · Krabi
Krabi, Thailand
An archipelago named after a mangrove, a famous bay no boat may enter since its reef collapsed, and a cave closed because men climb bamboo in it to gather edible nests.
Appreciate the fortress-like magnificence of the Phi Phi Island aboard a speedboat.
Swim and see the aquatic wonders underneath the crystal clear waters.
Explore Pileh Lagoon, a popular snorkeling site because of its blue waters and limestone hills.
Book now to discover a pristine and picturesque paradise via The Trip Club.
Several islands covered in one day, which only a fast boat allows
Snorkelling stops at shallow reefs
Anchorages under cliffs that have no beach at all
Time ashore as well as time on the boat
Crew who read the sea and reorder the day accordingly
A seven-hour day out of Krabi by speedboat to the Phi Phi islands: open water crossings, several stops for swimming and snorkelling, limestone cliffs rising straight out of the sea, and time ashore.
Fast boats, spray, and a fair amount of sun. The route covers several islands in a day, which is only possible at speed — expect movement between stops rather than long idling. Sea conditions decide the running order, and the crew will change it without ceremony if the swell says so.
The name has nothing to do with anything Thai. It comes from the Malay word for the mangrove tree that grows along these coasts, api-api, which was carried into Thai as Phi Phi. The tree is unremarkable to look at and gave its name to one of the most photographed archipelagos in Asia.
The most famous beach here was closed completely in 2018 because the reef in front of it had been destroyed by boat traffic and anchors — hundreds of vessels a day into a small bay. It reopened in 2022 under rules that changed the visit entirely: boats moor on the far side of the island and visitors walk through, the bay itself is not entered by boat, and swimming there is restricted. The reef has recovered enough that blacktip reef sharks now pup in the shallows, which is the reason the restrictions are staying.
One cave on the smaller island is closed to visitors because it is a working site. Swiftlets nest on its walls, and their nests — made of saliva, and the basis of bird's nest soup — are collected by climbers who go up bamboo scaffolding lashed to the cave roof, in the dark, several times a year. The concession is held under licence and guarded, because the nests are among the most valuable animal products in the world by weight.
The main island is two limestone masses joined by a low neck of sand, and the town sits on that neck with a bay on either side. From the viewpoint above it, you see both shores at once and understand the geography immediately — including why almost every building dates from after 2005.
Carry local currency — several things out here are settled in cash on the spot, and card machines are scarce. Reef-safe sunscreen matters here more than most places, and the sun on open water is much stronger than it feels. The famous bay closes annually for around two months of reef recovery, so if that is your reason for going, check the season before you book.
Open it to pick a date and work out the price.
What the fare covers, and what to budget for separately.
The practical detail, and the answers people actually ask for.
Because the reef in front of it was destroyed by hundreds of boats a day. The bay closed in 2018 and reopened in 2022 with boats mooring on the far side of the island and visitors walking through instead.
Swimming in that bay is restricted. Blacktip reef sharks now pup in the shallows following the closure, and the limits exist to keep that recovery going.
From the Malay api-api, the name of the mangrove tree growing along these coasts. It passed into Thai and ended up attached to one of the most photographed archipelagos in Asia.
A working site for swiftlet nests, which are made of saliva and used for bird's nest soup. Licensed collectors climb bamboo scaffolding lashed to the cave roof to gather them, several times a year.
Because the island is two limestone masses joined by a low sand neck, and the town sits on the neck. The viewpoint above shows both shores at once.
Yes. National park entry is collected at the islands and is not always included in the booking, so bring local currency.
Sea conditions decide the order of stops, and the crew will rearrange the day if the swell requires it. That is normal here rather than a disruption.