A day out to Phi Phi island

A very popular day trip from Phuket is a day excursion to the Phi Phi islands, Using a well equipped vessel the day is packed with activities, and provides a short view of the islands and the attractions. The trip is really for people who want to see the fantastic scenery and beaches of Phi Phi but want to return to their base in Phuket rather than stay longer, despite the obvious beauty of the place.

The day begins quite early at 7.30am at the Rassadra Pier. Organisers will collect customers from their hotels, or you can make your own way to the pier. More often than not, coffee is available from the start of the journey. On board there are DVD’s to watch, and some complimentary snacks. The trip over to Phi Phi takes about an hour and a half. Some tours differ from others, with a visit to Maya Bay before heading to the main village of Ton Sai.

Whichever way round it is done, the bay where The Beach was filmed is the location for some snorkeling and a view of the underwater marine life, The company will provide orange inflatable buoyancy jackets, fins and diving mask so you do not need to be a good swimmer to enjoy the experience. The fish have, to some extent, become used to humans appearing in strange outfits to stare at life underwater. The yellow striped ones do have a habit of nipping at the flesh, but it’s a good experience for anyone who has never seen such colourful tropical sea life. It is not intended as a diving experience, but simply a short excursion into this world of tropical fish and sea life.

Snokeling on Phi Phi Island

Following your snorkeling experience the boat heads to Ton Sai, the mani village of Phi Phi. Lunch is provided as part of the package, and time is allowed for visitors to wander around the small traffic free village and buy souvenirs. There are plenty of shops to browse through as well as well as maybe a visit to the Tsunami Memorial.

After lunch, or according to the organizers schedule the boat will travel up to the Viking Cave, with its Buddhist relics. After this the boat may go to some of the smaller islands in the area, and visit places such as Monkey Beach. The trip varies with different companies, but this is a great day out with plenty of activities to enjoy.

The average cost of the excursion is around 1500 to 2000 Baht for an adult and 800 to 1500 for a child. The trip includes transfers from hotels in Phuket, drinks and snacks on board, use of the snorkeling equipment and lunch. Insurance is also included in the package.