Ko Phi Phi Is Very Beautiful And May Kill You
Koh Phi Phi, an island off Thailand’s Andaman Coast, is most famous for being the setting of the Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach. Most people come to Koh Phi Phi expecting a pristine island paradise.
Don’t get me wrong – the island is beautiful. Exquisitely beautiful. But it’s so bloody overrun with tourists that it’s extremely difficult to truly enjoy. Sadly, overdevelopment has ruined this island.
Go to Maya Bay, the beach from The Beach, and this is what it looks like now:
Not exactly untouched.
Beyond that, Koh Phi Phi is quite a dangerous place:
Dangerous for your wallet. Of all the places I’ve visited in Thailand, Phi Phi was the most expensive by far. The cheapest lodging is about 500 baht ($17) for a 16-bed dorm. And I had to pay 10 baht to use a SQUAT TOILET. (THEY SHOULD HAVE PAID ME!)
Dangerous for your feet. While visiting Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Leh, where The Beach was filmed, we climbed on some rocks – and my shoeless friends nearly killed their feet on their needle-like surfaces. What shocked me was that there were tours leading tourists, many of them older and ill-prepared, across these slippery, sharp rocks while holding onto ropes for support.
Dangerous for your nose. The sewage treatment isn’t the greatest, due in part to the overwhelming volume of visitors. Expect quite a few odd smells.
Dangerous for your liver. The party scene here is insane and it seems like everywhere offers 2-for-1 buckets. I thought I partied hard in Ao Nang – Ao Nang has NOTHING on Phi Phi. I’ll leave it at that. Dangerous.
Dangerous for your body. If you don’t burn yourself while jump-roping with fire, like a friend of mine did, you’ll get punched in the face until you bleed from the eyeball in an amateur Muay Thai fight. I did that, and it was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. More on that later.
Should you visit Phi Phi? By all means. I’m glad I got a chance to see it. Just make sure you go in knowing exactly what it is: an overpriced, overdeveloped island that is good for partying but little else.
If you do go to Phi Phi, build in time on another island as well. I’m currently on Koh Lanta and I am absolutely in love with the place.
Koh Phi Phi is worth a brief visit, but it absolutely should not be the standard by which beaches in Thailand are measured.
That said, when you’re on your iPhone in an infinity pool overlooking the Andaman Sea and gorgeous limestone cliffs, it’s hard not to think that this is the greatest place you’ve ever been.
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At age 26, I quit my job to travel the world alone. I spent six fantastic months in Southeast Asia and turned my travel blog into a full-time business. Today, I travel full-time, going anywhere that sounds wacky or beautiful or interesting. My goal is to show YOU how you can travel the world on your own -- easily, safely, and adventurously. 
Sounds like a place worth visiting, but probably not one worth hanging around for very long. Glad YOU didn’t get burned playing fire jump rope! But sorry about the bloody eye… How’s that healing up, by the way?
The bloodiness is finally starting to reduce — but from the outside in, rather than the inside out, so it’s still pretty obvious. Should be fine within two weeks or so. Thanks!
Last picture=me EXTREMELY jealous. Live it up!
Hahaha, thanks!
Very sorry to hear about the eye, but it certainly makes for a good story! I never did make it down to Lanta, but hoping to on the next trip!
Thanks for the mention, and let’s catch up soon!
You better, Sean! You’d love it here!
Going in Thailand next May and I’m still not sure if I wanna go to Koh Phi Phi. Dilemma! Sure seems nice, but as you mentions, so overdeveloped…And your last picture doesn’t help! Infinity pool with view on the Andaman sea…Must be really great! I’ll take the advice and maybe do a quick stop, Koh Lanta sure seems awesome too!:) Keep enjoying Thailand!
Audrey, how much time do you have in Thailand? If you have at least a few weeks, definitely check it out. If not, spend your time on Lanta instead.
We’ll have a month…wanna see a bit of the north and a bit of the south…still have no real itinerary so any suggestion is welcome!
If it helps any I am paying 700baht on Ko Lanta for a place with a very similar pool and view!
Really? Yes, that could be really helpful!! Do you mind sharing the secret of this place? Always searching for nice places in less touristic areas! Will check out your blog too!:)
Lanta Garden Home on Khrao Dong beach (spelling – the one north of long beach anyways). Picture of the pool here http://independenttravel.posterous.com/how-much-for-a-room-with-ac-and-a-pool-in-koh – oh and the secret of cheap eating – stay off the beach front restaraunts and try the ones on the main road or in Saladin town
Thanks a lot for sharing the infos! The advices are always welcomed! I take good notes of what you said. Looks like a nice place to stay really! And not expensive!
I am puzzled. Reading about how dangerous Koh Phi Phi is in so many aspects and yet looking at the photos which are amazing though reflecting how much the place is not exactly the untouched world you would expectit to be, or shall I say the untouched world we would like such a place to be.
WHY DO YOU HAVE YOUR IPHONE IN THE POOL?!
I couldn’t resist.
“Bloody expensive” eh? I think you’ve been spending too much time with me!
Pffft. You’ve got me speaking Kiwi-Scottish. You better be fluent in Bostonian soon, ya retahd!
I totally agree with your point of view on Koh Phi Phi. Expensive for what you get compared to other islands. Although, we really enjoyed hiring a kayak for the day and set off by ourselves and found some other great little deserted nooks and crannies off and around the island which was a peaceful and pleasant way to spend a day with no one else around!
Hahaha, I thought that was a bear in your hand, it’s an iphone!?! My gosh, I know it may kill you, but I have to see that Paradise in person 1 day.
Awww I still want to picture it the way it was in the movie.
Love Koh Lanta- Phi Phi was overrun when we were there in ’02. Can only imagine now
It’s nice to see an honest, albeit slightly negative review. Sometimes places just aren’t as amazing as you hope. Tourist traps happen to the best of us!
Looks gorgeous! Even if there are tourists everywhere.
I’m so new to the idea of hostels – thanks for travel blogs. But, you have to pay to use the bathroom? Ugh… Just got a visual from the movie “Slumdog Millionaire.” And, I’m into adventures (just not fighting) so I can’t wait to read about how you got roped into the ring for a fight.