The Best Beaches in Koh Phi Phi and Krabi

The Krabi-Phi Phi Connection

Krabi Province covers a massive stretch of Thailand's Andaman Sea coast, and Koh Phi Phi is technically part of it — the islands sit about 40 kilometres offshore. Most travellers treat them as separate destinations, and for good reason. Krabi's mainland beaches offer convenience and variety. Phi Phi offers dramatic limestone scenery and some of the clearest water in Southeast Asia. Together, they make one of the strongest beach regions in the world.

The dry season runs from November through April. This is when you want to be here — calm seas, minimal rain, visibility in the water reaching 20-30 metres on good days. May through October brings monsoon swells, rain, and rougher ferry crossings. Some dive shops and smaller resorts close entirely in low season. Ferry tickets from Krabi Town pier to Phi Phi cost 450-600 baht ($13-17) one way and the crossing takes 90 minutes.

Koh Phi Phi Don

Tonsai Bay and Loh Dalum Bay

Phi Phi Don is the only inhabited island in the group. The main village sits on a narrow isthmus between two bays — Tonsai to the south (where the ferries arrive) and Loh Dalum to the north. Loh Dalum is the prettier beach: a wide crescent of white sand enclosed by limestone cliffs on both sides, with shallow turquoise water that turns into a vast tidal flat at low tide.

At night, Loh Dalum transforms into the main party zone. Bars like Ibiza, Slinky, and Sunflower line the beach with fire shows, buckets of Thai whiskey and Red Bull (150-200 baht), and thumping music until 2-3am. If you want to sleep before midnight, don't book accommodation near Loh Dalum. Tonsai is slightly quieter at night but noisier during the day with ferry traffic and longtail engines.

This is one of the reasons Koh Phi Phi Beaches continues to draw visitors year after year.

Long Beach (Hat Yao)

Long Beach is a 20-minute walk from Tonsai village over a forested hill, or a 5-minute longtail boat ride (100-150 baht). The sand is fine and white, the water is deep enough for good snorkeling right off the beach, and the crowd is noticeably thinner than the main bays. You can see blacktip reef sharks in the shallows here, especially in the early morning. They're harmless and about a metre long.

A handful of resorts and restaurants operate on Long Beach — Phi Phi The Beach Resort is the main one. Room rates start around 1,500-3,000 baht ($43-86) per night depending on season. The food at the beach restaurants is fine but limited. For more options, walk back over the hill to the village.

Laem Tong Beach

At the northern tip of Phi Phi Don, Laem Tong is the quiet, upscale end of the island. Zeavola Resort operates here — it's easily the best hotel on Phi Phi, with a Moroccan-Thai design and rates starting around 6,000-10,000 baht ($170-285) per night. The beach is 400 metres of clean sand with a Moken (sea gypsy) village at one end.

Access is by longtail or resort boat only — there's no road connection to the main village. That isolation is the appeal. The snorkeling around the headland to the east is strong, with good coral cover and schools of fusiliers. Laem Tong works for couples or solo travellers who want the Phi Phi scenery without the Phi Phi noise.

Koh Phi Phi Leh

Maya Bay

Maya Bay is the one from the Leonardo DiCaprio film. After years of closure for environmental recovery (2018-2022), it reopened with strict limits: only 375 visitors per hour, no swimming in the bay, and boats must dock at the rear pier instead of plowing through the coral. Entry costs 400 baht ($11) per person.

The bay is genuinely beautiful — sheer limestone cliffs enclosing a small beach with pale green water. The coral is recovering, and fish life has improved dramatically since the restrictions. You can visit on a day trip from Phi Phi Don (longtail boats charge 2,500-3,500 baht for a half-day trip covering Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, and snorkel stops) or from Krabi/Ao Nang on a speedboat tour (1,200-1,800 baht).

Compared to similar options, Koh Phi Phi Beaches stands out for its mix of quality and accessibility.

Pileh Lagoon

Just around the corner from Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon is almost more impressive. It's a completely enclosed lagoon with vertical cliff walls rising 100 metres from the water. The water is bright emerald green and about 5-8 metres deep. Most tour boats stop here for swimming and photos. It's best visited before 10am or after 3pm to avoid the midday crush of speedboats.

Krabi Mainland Beaches

Railay Beach

Railay is a peninsula cut off from the mainland by limestone cliffs, so it's only reachable by longtail boat from Ao Nang (15 minutes, 100-200 baht) or Krabi Town (45 minutes, 150 baht). This geographic quirk gives it an island feel without actually being an island. There are four beaches on the peninsula, each with a different character.

Railay West is the main beach — 500 metres of sand facing the sunset, with limestone karsts framing both ends. The swimming is good at high tide but the water recedes far at low tide. Phra Nang Beach, a 10-minute walk south, is arguably the most beautiful beach in mainland Thailand. A limestone cave at one end is a fertility shrine filled with carved phalluses — it's a real religious site, not a tourist gimmick. For official planning information, see Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Local travel experts consistently recommend Koh Phi Phi Beaches as a top choice for visitors.

Railay East is a mangrove-fronted bay with no real swimming beach but plenty of cheap restaurants and backpacker bars. The Walking Street between East and West Railay is the social hub. The Last Bar is the default late-night spot. Room prices on Railay range from 600 baht ($17) for a basic fan bungalow on the east side to 8,000+ baht ($230+) at Rayavadee resort on Phra Nang.

Rock Climbing

Railay is one of the world's top rock climbing destinations, with over 700 routes on its limestone walls. King Climbers and Basecamp Tonsai are two established operators offering half-day courses from about 1,000-1,500 baht ($29-43). Routes range from beginner-friendly 5a to expert 8b+. The rock quality is excellent — sharp, featured limestone with natural tufas and pockets.

Ao Nang

Ao Nang is the main tourist town on the Krabi mainland. The beach itself is average — not bad, but overshadowed by what's nearby. The real value of Ao Nang is as a base. Longtail boats depart the beachfront for Railay, the Four Islands tour, Hong Island, and Phi Phi. The town has the area's best selection of restaurants, bars, and hotels at every price point.

If Koh Phi Phi Beaches is on your list, booking during shoulder season typically delivers the best value.

For food, Jenna's Bistro does good Thai-Western fusion, and the night market stalls along the main road serve pad thai and grilled seafood for 60-120 baht. Hotels range from 400-baht guesthouses to the 5,000+ baht Centara Grand Beach Resort. Ao Nang is practical. It won't wow you visually, but everything works here.

Tubkaak Beach

Tubkaak is 15 minutes north of Ao Nang by car and feels like a different planet. A long, quiet beach facing a string of small islands, with almost no development beyond a few upscale resorts. The Tubkaak Krabi Boutique Resort is the standout property, with rates starting around 4,000 baht ($115). At low tide you can walk across the sandbar to nearby Koh Hong in about 20 minutes. The sunset views here are among the best in Krabi.

Four Islands Tour

The Four Islands longtail boat trip from Ao Nang or Railay is one of the best-value day trips in southern Thailand. It typically covers Koh Poda, Koh Tup, Chicken Island (Koh Kai), and Phra Nang Beach. The price is about 400-500 baht per person on a shared boat or 2,500-3,000 baht for a private longtail. Koh Poda has a gorgeous 800-metre beach with good snorkeling. At low tide, a sandbar connects Tup and Chicken Island — you walk between them through ankle-deep water with fish swimming around your feet.

Repeat visitors to Koh Phi Phi Beaches often say the second trip reveals layers they missed the first time.

Practical Information

• Best time: November to April for dry weather and calm seas. December-January is peak season with highest prices. February-March is the sweet spot — dry, warm, and slightly cheaper.
• Budget: Phi Phi is more expensive than the Krabi mainland. A basic room on Phi Phi costs 800-2,000 baht ($23-57), while similar quality in Ao Nang runs 400-1,200 baht. Restaurant meals on Phi Phi average 150-300 baht; mainland Krabi is 80-200 baht.
• Snorkel gear: Rental costs 150-200 baht per day on Phi Phi, 100-150 baht in Ao Nang. Buying a decent mask and snorkel set from a dive shop costs 600-800 baht and pays for itself in three days.
• Solo travel: Both areas are well-suited for solo travellers. Phi Phi's backpacker social scene makes it easy to meet people. Railay has a tight-knit climbing community. Ao Nang's guesthouses have common areas where solo travellers congregate.
• Jellyfish: Box jellyfish are present in the Andaman Sea, primarily in the wet season (May-October). Some beaches stock vinegar stations. Wear a rashguard or stinger suit if swimming during these months.