Things to do in Ko Phi Phi Don
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Adventure Club
Our favourite diving operation on the island runs an excellent assortment of educational, ecofocused diving, hiking and snorkelling tours. You won't mind getting up at 6am for the much-loved shark-watching snorkel trips on which you're guaranteed to cavort with at least one reef shark.
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Blue View Divers
Focuses on community involvement and beach clean-ups (its latest effort cleared up 700 tonnes of rubbish) and is the only shop to offer dives from a long-tail.
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Phi Phi Scuba
One of the largest operators on the island, churning out dive certifications by the boatload. There’s a sociable and professional atmosphere, although nervous newbies might feel as though they aren’t getting enough handholding.
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Cosmic
The wood-fired pizza here is so good that the French owner had to open up a second location. The inland restaurant has a slightly nicer ambience, with exposed brick walls and wooden tables.
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Ton Sai Tower
There are good limestone cliffs to climb on Ko Phi-Phi, and the views from the top are spectacular. The main climbing areas are Ton Sai Tower, at the western edge of Ao Ton Sai, and Hin Taak, a short long-tail boat ride around the bay.
There are at least six good climbing shops on the island and most places charge around ฿800 to ฿1000 for a half day of climbing or ฿1500 for a full day, including instruction and gear. Spider Monkey is a tiny new climbing shop run by Soley, one of the most impressive climbers on Phi Phi. One of the bigger outfits around is Cat's Climbing Shop in the Tourist Village. Cat's gets good reports for safety and service.
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Ciao Bella
Italian-run Ciao Bella is a long-time expat and traveller fave serving excellent pizzas and seafood in a romantic location by the sea. Try the chef’s mystery pastas if you’re looking for a little adventure. At night, twinkling candles and stars provide the atmosphere for alfresco dining, while lapping waves provide the soundtrack. Ciao Bella is on the sand in Ao Lo Dalam and has a couple of charming bungalows in the back if you’re looking for accommodation.
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Island Divers
Island Divers is one of the two biggest operators. It churns out dive certifications by the boatload, and some folks complain about the less-than-personalised service. On the plus side, it pushes eco-friendly scuba - the company encourages wreck dives and doesn't allow clients to touch the coral. It has access to a hyperbaric chamber.
You can also dive out at Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, 60km off Ko Phi-Phi.
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Phi Phi Viewpoint
The strenuous climb to the Phi Phi Viewpoint is a rewarding short hike. Follow the signs from the road heading east towards Ao Lo Dalam from the tourist village. The viewpoint is reached via a 300m vertical climb that includes hundreds of steep steps and narrow twisting paths. The views from the top are amazing - the marine park vistas stretch on forever in colours of aqua, emerald and jade.
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Pee Pee Bakery
It's best at breakfast, when you'll be lucky to find an open table. Also on tap are pizza, steak and Thai food. The atmosphere is modern and movies are shown on the tube. The bakery has two branches; one is on the main walkway east of the piers, while the other is further inland near 007 Restaurant & Bar.
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007 Restaurant & Bar
Owned by a talkative Scot named James, 007 features ultramodern chrome tables, red cushion booths and, of course, all the Bond paraphernalia you could want. There’s a big selection of beer (including British favourites) on tap, and food from the motherland is cooked in a sparkling kitchen.
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Apache Bar
With a strange Native American theme (think the Village People) lit by fluorescent lights, this long-time favourite is definitely campy. It fills up early and blasts loud music to all hours (to the annoyance of people sleeping nearby). Look for a new instalment of Apache in Tonsai Village.
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Carpe Diem
Sit on pillows in the upstairs lounge and watch the sun go down (locals say this is the best spot for sundowners). Carpe Diem rocks well into the night with fire shows, dance parties and live music on the beach. It’s very popular, and an easy spot for mingling if you’re travelling alone.
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Pum Restaurant & Cooking School
Thai-food fans can take cooking courses at the newly renovated Pum Restaurant & Cooking School in Tonsai Village. Students learn to make some of the excellent dishes that are served in its restaurant, and the take-home recipe book is a nice keepsake.
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Carlitos
This fairy-light-lit beachside bar, which puts on impressive fire shows, attracts fa·ràng seeking beers and a chair in the sand. It gets rowdy and packs in major crowds on dance-party nights. We like how Carlitos does its bit for the environment by recycling.
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Hin Taak Climbing Area
Hin Taak Climbing Area is a short long-tail boat ride around the bay. There are good limestone cliffs to climb on Ko Phi-Phi, and the views from the tops are spectacular. There are at least six good climbing shops on the island.
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Chao Koh
Right on the beach, this is an open-air seafood place that displays its freshly caught critters on ice. It's popular and offers well-priced and tasty food. A self-service salad bar is included with most mains.
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D’s Books
In the beating heart of Tonsai Village, this classy cafe has amazing coffee drinks and stacks of cheap reading. Good luck finding a seat – the free wi-fi attracts email-aholics from all over the island.
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Reggae Bar
You haven't experienced Phi-Phi's nightlife until you've watched tourists beat the crap out of each other in this rowdy bar's Thai-boxing ring. Both contestants get a free bucket to ease the pain.
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JJ's Pub
This English pub is renowned among Brits for its all-day breakfasts. If you're up for it, go the 'Full Monty' with eggs, sausages, bacon, chips, tomatoes, beans, toast and tea or coffee.
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HC Anderson
A very reliable Scandinavian restaurant serving delicious imported New Zealand steaks, among other creative dishes. It's on the most easterly path from Ao Ton Sai to Ao Lo Dalam.
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Carlito's Bar
A fairy-lit beachside bar that used to be famous for fire shows and dancing, Carlito's is beginning its new life serving a more chilled mix of clean-up volunteers and tourists.
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Ton Sai Tower Climbing Area
There are good limestone cliffs to climb on Ko Phi-Phi, and the views from the tops are spectacular. There are at least six good climbing shops on the island.
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Phi-Phi Leh Dive Site
A depth of 5m to 18m. The whole island rim is covered in coral and oysters where you can see moray eels and seahorses, and do lots of swim-throughs.
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Thai Cuisine
A simple and casual place with natural décor and good ambience. The kitchen grills up passable Thai food, seafood and breakfasts.
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King Cruiser
The shipwrecked ferry King Cruiser lies only 12m below the surface and is visited by dive outfits from both Ko Phi-Phi and Phuket.
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