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Phi Phi Island Thailand Travel Guide
 Koh Phi Phi is a tropical island almost cartoon like in its beauty. Pristine white sand beaches flanked by impressive rock formations emerge from luminous clear blue water. Discovered by backpackers in the '80s, it is actually two islands. Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh. Phi Phi Leh is uninhabited, although you can visit by boat. Phi Phi Don is really two rock formations jutting out of the Andaman Sea connected by an isthmus of land flanked by beaches on both sides. It is this part of the island, Ton Sai, that is the center. In the last twenty years it has seen rapid development that has sometimes caused controversy as the development progressed. In December 2004 Phi Phi Island took the full brunt of the Tsunami that hit the Andaman cost of Thailand. Thankfully it has now recovered and is thriving once again.
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Getting to Phi Phi is very easy. Phi Phi is about an hour and a half from Phuket or Krabi by ferry. They make return trips twice daily. There are also ferries to and from Koh Lanta. Tickets can be bought from travel agencies or at the piers. Speedboats take half the time but cost a lot more. Getting around once on Phi Phi means either walking or you can take one of the many longtail boats that cruise from one beach to another. The complete lack of cars and vehicles gives Phi Phi a specially peaceful quality despite the development.
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 Accommodation varies from budget bungalows to some very luxurious resorts. Ton Sai is the busiest part of the island sandwiched between the two beaches that flank what is effectively a sandbar raised from the sea. This is where you can find restaurants, nightlife and cheaper accommodation. Laem Thong, or Palm Beach, is far more remote situated on the tip of Phi Phi's northern end. It is thirty minutes from the pier by boat. It is a lot quieter than Ton Sai and also far more expensive.
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As with most international resorts in Thailand Phi Phi has a range of restaurants offering cuisine from all over the world. It is no surprise that fresh sea food on the island is delicious, but if you want a change it is perfectly possible to switch to pizza or steak.
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Phi Phi is not Phuket but never the less there is a lively mixture of bars, clubs and live music in the evening around Ton Sai. There also spectacular fire shows on the beach.
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 In addition to being a great place to relax it is also ideal for water sports. There are many operators on the island offering diving and snorkeling for all levels of experience and the whole area is dotted with excellent dive sites, coral and marine life. Snorkeling off Phi Phi Leh in the shallow calm water is a great focus for a boat excursion. The islands may be small but the interior is very rugged and ideal for those who like walking or even serious rock climbing.
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Phi Phi may not be the unspoiled paradise it was in the eighties, but it is still a small, accessible island which can accommodate most budgets.
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About The Author
Alex Smith maintains and manages the Cheap Thailand Travel website at http://www.cheapthaitravel.com - All of the materials on this site are the sole property and responsibility of Cheapthaitravel.com. This material may not be reproduced in any form without express written permission.
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