Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ko Lanta
From Ko Lanta (350B, 1½ hours), boats leave at 1pm, 3.30pm and 4.30pm, and
return from Ko Phi-Phi at 11.30am, 2pm and 3pm.
Railay
For Railay (350B, 1¼ hours), take the Ao Nang-bound ferry.
Getting Around
There are no roads on Phi-Phi Don so transport on the island is mostly by foot, although
long-tails can be chartered at Ao Ton Sai for short hops around Ko Phi-Phi Don and Ko
Phi-Phi Leh.
Long-tails leave from the Ao Ton Sai pier to Hat Yao (100-150B), Laem Thong (800B),
Hat Rantee (500B) and Viking Cave (on Ko Phi-Phi Leh; 500B). Chartering speedboats
for six hours costs around 6500B, while chartering a long-tail boat costs 1500B for three
hours or 3000B for the whole day.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Ko Phi-Phi Leh
Rugged Phi-Phi Leh is the smaller of the two islands and is protected on all sides by soar-
ing cliffs. Coral reefs crawling with marine life lie beneath the crystal-clear waters and are
hugely popular with day-tripping snorkellers. Two gorgeous lagoons await in the island's
interior -
Pilah
on the eastern coast and
Ao Maya
on the western coast. In 1999 Ao Maya was
controversially used as the setting for the filming of
The Beach,
based on the popular nov-
el by Alex Garland. Visitor numbers soared in its wake.
At the northeastern tip of the island,
Viking Cave
(Tham Phaya Naak) is a big collection
point for swifts' nests. Nimble collectors scamper up bamboo scaffolding to gather the
nests. Before ascending, they pray and make offerings of tobacco, incense and liquor to
the cavern spirits. This cave gets its misleading moniker from 400-year-old graffiti left by
Chinese fishermen.
There are no places to stay on Phi-Phi Leh and most people come here on one of the
ludicrously popular day trips out of Phi-Phi Don. Tours last about half a day and include
snorkelling stops at various points around the island, with detours to Viking Cave and Ao
Maya. Long-tail trips cost 800B; by speedboat you'll pay around 2400B. Expect to pay a
national park day-use fee (adult/child 400/200B) upon landing.
