National park · Thailand
Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Parkอุทยานแห่งชาติหาดนพรัตน์ธารา-หมู่เกาะพีพี
Treat Ko Phi Phi as a national park you pay to enter, not a free island: budget ฿400 per foreign adult at the Phi Phi Don pier, climb the 186 m viewpoint before 08:00, and see Maya Bay on a licensed boat between 08:00 and 10:00 before the day-trip fleet lands.Treat Ko Phi Phi as a national park you pay to enter, not a free island: budget ฿400 per foreign adult at the Phi Phi Don pier, climb the 186 m viewpoint before 8:00 AM, and see Maya Bay on a licensed boat between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM before the day-trip fleet lands.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
390 km² (151 sq mi)151 sq mi (390 km²)
approximate
Established
1983
Best months
Dec–Mar
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Thailand ↗Check entry rules and any arrival card on the official Thai government sites for your passport; visa-exempt stays and pre-arrival forms change.
- Thailand ↗Do not criticise or mock the monarchy: insulting the royal family is a criminal offence.
- Thailand ↗Temples and palaces: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before entering halls.
- Thailand ↗E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to import or use; do not pack them.
At a glance
- Country
- Thailand
- Area
- 390 km² (151 sq mi)151 sq mi (390 km²)
- Park area is usually given as about 390 km² (242,437 rai), mostly sea; figures vary by source (check).
- Established
- 1983
- Best months
- Dec–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
Ko Phi Phi is not a free island you ferry to: the group sits inside Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, and foreign adults pay a park fee at the Phi Phi Don pier on landing. Phi Phi Don is the only populated island — a sand isthmus between two limestone ridges, walkable end to end in about ten minutes, with the 186 m viewpoint above Ton Sai as the one real climb. Phi Phi Leh, including Maya Bay, is uninhabited park land: day visits by licensed boat only, no beds and no bars. The park covers roughly 390 km², mostly sea, and the northern islets of Bamboo Island and Ko Yung hold the shallow reef snorkelling. December to March is the dry, calm window with the full ferry schedule; May to October is the southwest monsoon, with September the wettest and windiest month, when crossings are often disrupted. Use the Krabi Province page for the mainland side — Ao Nang, Railay and the piers — since that is where you arrive from and where you sleep if you would rather day-trip than stay on the island.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1983.
Size and age
390 km² (151 sq mi)151 sq mi (390 km²) · national park since 1983
Park area is usually given as about 390 km² (242,437 rai), mostly sea; figures vary by source (check).
Why go
- The only populated island in the group, Phi Phi Don, is a sand isthmus between two limestone ridges — you can walk the whole village in ten minutes.
- The viewpoint above Ton Sai is a 10–25 minute climb and shows how thin that isthmus really is.
- Phi Phi Leh, including Maya Bay, is uninhabited park land: no beds, no bars, day visits only.
- Reef snorkelling at Bamboo Island and Ko Yung sits inside the same protected area.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepAvoid
- OctCaution
- NovGo
- DecBest
- JanDry, calm sea, full ferry and boat schedule
- FebDry and hot; busiest weeks around half-term
- MarHottest dry month; start walks at dawn
- AprHot; Songkran crowds mid-month
- MayRainy season starts; short heavy showers
- JunWet; some boat trips cancelled
- JulWet and choppy; cheaper rooms
- AugWettest stretch; rough crossings
- SepPeak rain and wind; ferries often disrupted
- OctRain easing late in the month
- NovDrying out; good value
- DecDry and busy; book ferries and rooms ahead
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reef fish and hard coral on snorkel sitesNov–Apr · Clearest water in the dry season. | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Blacktip reef sharks in shallow baysAll year · Common around Phi Phi Leh; harmless if left alone. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Macaques at Monkey BeachAll year · Can be aggressive; bites carry a rabies risk. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Jellyfish in warm shallow waterMar–May · Stings are usually minor; ask locally before swimming. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Krabi (Klong Jilard pier)
Passenger ferry, roughly two sailings a day; songthaew transfer from Krabi town is normally included in the ticket.
1.5–2 h
From Ao Nang
Ferry with hotel transfer to Noppharat Thara pier, morning and mid-afternoon departures.
1.5–2 h
From Phuket (Rassada pier)
Ferry, several sailings a day in high season; meter taxi from Phuket airport to the pier.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Bangkok
Fly to Krabi or Phuket, then ferry; or an overnight bus to Krabi and a transfer to the pier.
5–13 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Ton Sai isthmus (Phi Phi Don) | Village, pier, most beds, restaurants and bars on the narrow sand strip. | Open; park entry paid at the pier. |
| Phi Phi Don viewpoints and beaches | Viewpoint trail, Loh Dalum, Long Beach, Yao and Lanti beaches, Laem Thong in the north. | Open on foot; longtails link the far beaches. |
| Phi Phi Leh and Maya Bay | Uninhabited island with Maya Bay, Loh Samah Bay and cliff walls. | Day visits by licensed boat only; no overnight stays. |
| Bamboo Island and Ko Yung | Small islets north of Phi Phi Don with beaches and reef. | Day visits by licensed boat; Ko Yung tourism was closed in 2016 (check). |
Sketch map
- 1Ton Sai pier · Gate≈7.740, 98.775Park fee booth and ferry landing.Map ↗
- 2Ton Sai village · Town≈7.737, 98.772Map ↗
- 3Viewpoint · Viewpoint≈7.734, 98.769About 186 m above sea level.Map ↗
- 4Long Beach · Beach≈7.728, 98.766Map ↗
- 5Maya Bay, Phi Phi Leh · Beach≈7.677, 98.766Map ↗
- 6Bamboo Island · Beach≈7.790, 98.762Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions across the Phi Phi group, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| National park entry, foreign adult | THB 400 (≈ US$13) | person | Collected at the Phi Phi Don pier on arrival; 2026 estimate (check). |
| National park entry, foreign child | THB 200 (≈ US$7) | person | 2026 estimate (check). |
| Thai nationals | THB 40 (≈ US$2) | person | Lower resident rate; 2026 estimate (check). |
| Pier cleanliness fee | THB 20 (≈ under US$1) | person | Charged separately at the pier (check). |
| Ferry from Krabi or Phuket | THB 300–600 (≈ US$10–19) | person one way | Krabi town cheaper than Phuket; 2026 estimate. |
| Longtail charter, half day | THB 1,200–2,500 (≈ US$40–80) | boat | Negotiated by destination and hours; 2026 estimate. |
| Speedboat day tour with snorkelling | THB 1,400–2,000 (≈ US$45–65) | person | Group size drives the price; 2026 estimate. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
National park entry permit or guide
Maya Bay landing permit or guide
Diving and snorkelling in park waters no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- ฿400≈ US$13
- ฿200≈ US$7
- ฿40≈ US$2
- ฿20≈ under US$1
- ฿300–600≈ US$10–19
- ฿1,200–2,500≈ US$40–80
- ฿1,400–2,000≈ US$45–65
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation — Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park before you go.
Park rules
- Park entry
- Foreign adults pay the park fee at the Phi Phi Don pier; keep the ticket for boat trips inside the park.
- Maya Bay
- Land only from licensed boats; swimming is restricted in parts of the bay and boats must not anchor on coral.
- Wildlife
- Do not feed monkeys or fish; keep food sealed at Monkey Beach.
- Dress in the village
- Cover up away from the beach; most residents are Muslim and swimwear in the village is taken as disrespect.
- Drones
- Permission is needed for drone flights over park land and Maya Bay (check).check
- Litter
- Take rubbish back to your room or the village bins; beach bins overflow in high season.
Where to stay
In the park
Ton Sai village
Guesthouses, hostels and mid-range hotels within a ten-minute walk of the pier.
In the park
Long Beach and Laem Thong
Quieter resorts on the island's edges, reached on foot or by longtail.
Near the park
Krabi or Ao Nang
Mainland base if you would rather day-trip than sleep on the island.
Safety
Longtail and speedboat crossings in rough season medium
Coral cuts and sea urchins while snorkelling medium
Monkey bites medium
Heat on the viewpoint climb low
Strong currents between the islands medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Ton Sai isthmus is flat and walkable, but paths are sand, boardwalk and uneven concrete.
- The viewpoint trail and the island's hill paths are steep steps; not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
- Boarding ferries and longtails at the pier needs a step down and, at low tide, a walk along a floating walkway.
Visiting lightly
- Pay the park fee and keep the ticket — the money funds the marine park, not the village.
- Choose a boat that does not anchor on coral and that limits passengers; large speedboats crowd Maya Bay.
- Refuse single-use plastic on the island; tap water is not drinkable, so bring a refillable bottle and use refill stations.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Ko Phi Phi?
Foreign adults pay a national park fee of about ฿400 at the Phi Phi Don pier, children about ฿200, plus a ฿20 pier cleanliness fee. Thai nationals pay a lower resident rate. These are 2026 estimates — confirm the current amount at the booth.
What are the best hikes in Ko Phi Phi?
The viewpoint trail above Ton Sai is the main hike: steep steps to about 186 m, 10–25 minutes up depending on fitness. Beyond that, walking the isthmus to Long Beach, Loh Dalum and Yao Beach is flat and easy, and the far beaches are reached on foot or by longtail.
When is the best time to visit Ko Phi Phi?
December to March is the dry, calm window with the full ferry and boat schedule. May to October is the rainy season, with September the wettest and windiest month, when crossings are often disrupted. April is hot and busy around Songkran.
Can I stay on Phi Phi Leh or Maya Bay?
No. Phi Phi Leh is uninhabited national park land with no accommodation; Maya Bay is a day visit from licensed boats only.
Do I need a tour to see Maya Bay?
You need a boat, but not necessarily a group tour. Licensed speedboat tours and longtail charters both run there; landing is only from boats holding the park permits.
Is there motorised transport on the island?
Almost none. Phi Phi Don is walked, with a few sidecar motorcycles used for goods; luggage is usually moved by wheelbarrow from the pier.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go