Tonsai Village is the bustling heart of Phi Phi. Here, there are
no cars or roads, only footpaths. It's located on the isthmus, for
which Phi Phi is famous, with Tonsai Bay on the south side and Loh
Dalum on the north.
Before 2.30pm, when the last ferry leaves, the streets are busy
with daytrippers and people arriving/departing. After that the island
is more relaxed and the difference is tangible.
In the evening the streets fill again with diners looking for a
place to eat, additionally as most business is done at night, the
tour shops, dive shops and every other kind of shop come to life.
Later on some isolated nightlife areas heat up.
Phi Phi is a very bohemian place; after all, bicycle and longtail
are the only modes of transport apart from by foot.
Tonsai has bags of budget and midrange accommodation but not many
top end places.
Phi
Phi Cabana is one of the best hotels in Phi Phi, it's right
on the beach with excellent facilities including direct beach access
to both Tonsai and Loh Dalum beaches.
Phi Phi Casita is a smart modern resort a little back from the
Loh Dalum Beach towards the east end. Phi
Phi Viewpoint Resort sits right at the east and of Loh Dalum
bay with spectacular views across the bay, this resort is very popular.
Loh Dalum Bay is breathtakingly beautiful - almost totally enclosed,
it has very shallow water that get gets warmed by the sun to almost
the temperature of a warm bath!
Loh Dalum has silky soft white sand and turquoise water with a
chorus of birdsong. All year round there are no waves. You can walk
out hundreds of meters and still only be waist deep in water. This
beach was made for basking in the sun. At low tide you have to walk
a little further to the water's edge as the tide recedes quite a
way out. (Read more...)
The culinary mainstay is seafood, it's everywhere. Many restaurants
have an impressive iced display of various kinds of fish and seafood
outside. You select your own dinner, choose how you want it cooked
or let the staff tell you how it will taste best. Seafood is priced
by the weight so make sure you know how much your dinner will cost
before it's cooked.
Aside from seafood there are many excellent restaurants serving
great steaks, pizza and pasta, French restaurants, barbeque restaurants,
Phi Phi has a surprisingly wide choice, even at 4am you'll find
tasty barbequed chicken available. (Read
more...)
Phi Phi's nightlife is laid back but also lively at the same time,
it's one of the few places in Thailand that is deviod of girly bars
which is nice.
Nightlife is centred in two main locations and includes muay Thai
(Thai boxing) and fire dancing along with bars and pubs. 2am is
the official closing time but in reality that's when the music is
turned off, and bars stay open as long as they have customers. (Read
more...)
With so much scenery and so many different things to see and do
you'll never be bored in Phi, as long as you like beautiful beaches
and aren't afraid of water.
The list of things to so is as long as your arm and includes; rock
climbing, sea kayaking, snorkelling, shopping; dining, exploring
the nightlife, visiting the viewpoint and chilling out on the beach
amongst other things. Nobody leaves Phi Phi without seeing stunning Maya Bay. (Read
more...)
Tonsai Pier
The pier is Phi Phi's lifeline to the outside world and acts as
a hub. The atmosphere changes throughout the day with the focus
on the ferry boat schedule. At certain times the area around the
pier is as busy as any city railway station in rush hour, with passengers
milling around whilst waiting for their boat.
New arrivals and daytrippers hover and look bemused at the hustle
and bustle of this island paradise and all this while touts trying
to sell them accommodation. In general, time in Phi Phi is measured
in boats; ferry boats. After 2.30pm, when the last boat leaves,
the atmosphere becomes much calmer, and the streets uncrowded.
Tonsai Bay
Stunning Tonsai Bay has turquoise water and is a hive of boating
activity. Ferries come and go, yachts anchor, dive and tour boats
pick-up their customers and longtails whiz back and forth carrying
passengers or goods.
The bay is nearly two km long from the outer points with tall cliffs
giving way to small beaches inhabited by monkeys and coral reefs
fringing the west side. The east side of the bay is shallower with
large areas of coral and a series of beaches and hotels occupying
the shore. At the mouth of the bay on the east side is Long Beach
and Shark Point which face Phi Phi Ley.
Tonsai Beach
Although the area close to the pier is taken up by boats, the far
west end of the beach is very isolated. Silky soft sand, clear water
and coral awaits. It's strange that it's not more popular. From
afar it looks like there's nothing there but the ten-minute walk
along the beach is well worth it.
You can rent deck chairs for 40 baht per day from one of the small
bungalow resorts or a kayak for 300 baht for two hours. Lunch, drinks
and snacks are provided, and there are toilets. Snorkeling is good
all along the edge of the bay and close-by cliffs are used by climbers
to test their skills.
If you're looking for somewhere close to Tonsai Village that's
secluded to relax this is your spot.
Getting Around Tonsai Village
In Phi Phi there are really only three modes of transport; by foot,
by longtail to places that require a boat journey and by bicycle
around Tonsai Village.
You can walk to most places in Tonsai Village within 10 minutes, Long Beach can be reached in about
30 minutes.
Longtails ferry passengers to and from Long Beach for 80/100 baht
(day/night), and can be rented for 1000/2000 baht for half/full
day for trips to Maya Bay, snorkelling etc.
Bicycles can be rented in Tonsai Village for around 200 baht a
day, a little expensive maybe but if you want to get around quickly
it's your only option.
Phi Phi is 40km from Phuket and 30km from Krabi and Koh Lanta as
the crow flies. To get to Phi Phi there are basically three options;
ferry, speedboat or seaplane.
Seaplanes started running regular services to Phi Phi from Phuket
in 2007 and as word spreads they're becoming increasingly popular.
(Read more...) |
