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The Phi Phi islands are located about 45 Km southeast from Phuket, 42 km south
of Krabi Town and 40 km from Ao Nang Beach. They can be reached in between 1
to 3 hours depending on the type of boat you choose. Boats leave from Phuket,
Ao Nang and the Chao Fa Pier in Krabi Town on a daily basis.
The name "Phi Phi" is derived from Malay, and the original
was Pulao Pi ah Pi, where in pulao is the Malay word for island , and Pi, pronounced
with a soft "p" sound, was very close in pronunciation to the English
word "bee"; the ah was dropped, so the name was said something like
Bee Bee.
Later the p was pronounced with a stronger aspiration and the name became the
Phi Phi (Pee Pee) we know today. The name originally referred to the mangrove
wood found there.
There are 6 islands in the Phi Phi group; Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Ley, Bida
Nok, Bida Nai, Koh Yung, and Koh Phai; total land area is 42 square kilometers.
The islands were declared a National Park in 1983, and development is limited
to Koh Phi Phi Don only. All other islands are uninhabited.
Yung Island lies to the north of Phi Phi Don. there is a rocky beach
on the east side, and a smaller strand of sand in a fold of the hill. Many beautiful
and various corals are found there. Good for shallow snorkeling.
Phai Island lies also to the north of Phi Phi Don, not far from Koh Yung .
Sandy beaches are on the north and east sides of the island. Broad coral reefs
stretch away into the south.
 Phi
Phi Don Island covers a total area of 28 square kilometers: 8 km in length
and 3.5 km at its broadest point. At the north end is Cape Laem Tohng, where there
is a Chao Ley, or sea gipsy village. These sea gipsies emigrated from Koh Lipeh
in Tarutao National Park, near the border with Malaysia and lived on the islands
long before tourism arrived. There are two long beaches next to the main town
- the two curving bays of Ton Sai and Loh Dalam. The town was hit hard by the
tsunami on December 26th 2004, and rebuilding is still in progress in many areas.
Phi Phi Ley Island is 6.6 square kilometers in total area: 3 km in length
and 1 km at its broadest point. The island is entirely limestone and steep cliffs
rising from the sea very nearly ring it. surrounding waters average about 20
meters in depth, reaching 34 meters at the deepest point off the island's southern
tip. Phi Phi Ley has several beautiful bays: Piley, Maya, and Loh Samah. Maya
Bay is one of Phi Phi's number one tourist attractions, being that is was the
setting for the film "The Beach" starring Leo DiCaprio.
On Phi Phi Ley's northeast is the famous Viking Cave. It is a place much revered
by the local people who still come there to collect the swift's nests used to
make Bird' nest Soup, a Chinese delicacy.
On the eastern and southern walls of the cave are coloured drawings dating
from historic times. There are pictures of elephants and also of various boats
: European, Arab, and Chinese sailing ships; barques, motorboats and steamships.
It is theorized that these were drawn by pirates who paused in their travels
from west to east, sheltering in the cave to escape the monsoon winds, transfer
cargo, or make repairs.
Climate in Phi Phi
The weather in Phi Phi is typically warm and tropical, very similar to that
of Phuket. The high season from November - early May has the best weather. The
summer months can be great, but you can expect some rain and windy days. Temperatures
are typically 30C, but can be in the high 30's in March and April.
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