Day 8 Ko Phi Phi
- Heike Panagoulias
- Dec 1, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 14, 2024
I had a leisurely breakfast and then got a cab to take me to the pier. I had already bought the ticket for the ferry online. It's all very easy in Thailand. You arrive at the pier and there is a kind of check-in counter. There you usually get a sticker on your T-shirt and extra adhesive strips for your luggage so that everyone can really get to where they want to go. Everything is very well organized, even if it sometimes looks like wild chaos, they have the tourists pretty well under control!
I had a ticket for a normal ferry. When our gate opened, we had to climb over another boat to get to ours... it won't be the last time!
The luggage was dropped off at the stairs to the belly of the ship and staff tidied it away. The crossing was very pleasant, well air-conditioned and there was internet reception until we arrived on the island of Ko Phi Phi! And that in Thailand, in the middle of the sea. There are more than enough dead spots in Germany... Not here! And I don't mean that you have E reception here. You have 5G here, at sea, surrounded by nothing! You have to let that melt in your mouth.
Shortly before arrival, everyone went downstairs to find their luggage so that we were all ready for arrival.
Anyone who hasn't seen how this is done will be surprised.
You arrive at a pier and walk the jetty ashore. There are staff here with signs with the hotel name on them. So a good tip is to check the name of your hotel just before you arrive... it will make your arrival easier!
You are welcomed by the friendly staff, your luggage is placed in a trolley and they wait until everyone has disembarked.
This is the “relaxed” version of arriving, where most tourists have already been taken care of...
Then you will be taken to your hotel. You should know that there are no cars on Ko Phi Phi. Everything here is done on foot or by boat cab. These employees not only bring the tourists' luggage to the hotel, but also the food and everything else that needs to be transported.
I only had a few minutes to walk until we arrived at the hotel. I was shown to my room. It was quite basic, but bathroom, air conditioning and fridge is the most important thing and it was all there.
The hotel was right on the beach and very secluded. It was the last one on the beach on this side of the island. Very idyllic.
I unpacked a bit and changed my clothes. As I was only here for 3 days, I didn't want to waste any time.
On the way to the hotel we passed some nice stores and a small supermarket. So I walked back the way I came (it was the only way, by the way, a one-way street) and strolled past these little stores to the harbor.
There were a few nice restaurants here. I chose one and ordered a delicious rice dish with peanuts and pineapple. It all tasted so fresh and delicious. Afterwards, I set off again to at least explore this part of the island. There were very nice alleyways that led to the other side of the island, but I didn't want to go there until the evening. So I turned around and went back. You could book excursions everywhere here. I opted for a full-day snorkeling trip to the nearby islands. On the traditional longtail boats, of course. Nothing else was an option for me. If anything, then the classic way. After all, that's why you travel to another country. You can find a normal motorboat anywhere in the world. But these longtail boats are only available here.
These excursions are always all-inclusive. The only thing you need to bring is extra water, sun protection and a towel. Food on the way and snorkeling equipment are provided. The excursion from late morning to late evening, which included a sunset and night snorkeling with plankton, cost me less than €20! I booked this excursion for the next day and received my ticket and all the information I needed for tomorrow. Incidentally, this was the only excursion where I had to walk to the meeting point myself (5 minutes from the hotel). The ticket was handwritten again, of course, as we already know!
So, that was my most important point for today, booking the excursion. Then I passed a nice café... It was time to treat myself to a super delicious iced coffee, or two! Right under the palm trees, on the beach with a great view of the sea... just too beautiful! I noticed how I was slowly getting into relaxation and enjoyment mode. Seeing beautiful moments and places, lingering and enjoying!
On the way back to the hotel, we stroll around the nice stores, buy some water and snacks at the supermarket and then take a refreshing shower.
Ko Phi Phi is a group of islands, the largest of which is Ko Phi Phi Don. Around 2000 people live here, mostly Muslims. This is not noticeable at first, but when you enter a supermarket, café or restaurant, you realize that things are different.
Shoes are taken off, even in front of the supermarket.
There's something about shopping barefoot, hahaaaa!
In the evening, I wanted to explore the other side of the island. Ko Phi Phi is known as a party island with a special vibe. Even non-party fans report that it is so beautiful here. I was excited! It was very busy, lots of tourists but totally relaxed... Even the cats are really relaxed here!
They just lie on the steps at the entrance to the bar or restaurant and don't care at all who steps over them or walks past them.
I walked towards the “center” of the island. There were lots of little alleyways, countless tattoo studios, restaurants, cafés, bars... There was a lot going on here! I came to a passage full of cookshops. Exactly my taste! I sat down at a small food stall with a kind of bar counter and ordered something delicious and an ice-cold beer to go with it. I felt comfortable, very comfortable in fact!
It reminded me of Korea, those seats that are just right when you're traveling alone. I let myself drift on and strolled through the alleyways. It was wonderful! I had never seen so many tattoo studios in my life as here. There was actually one every few meters, alternating with restaurants or cafés. You could feel the special vibe that everyone was talking about.
It was originally an island that was very popular with backpackers. Now, however, there are also many “suitcase tourists” and, above all, day tourists. They arrive by boat in the morning and leave later. From solo travelers to couples and families, everything is represented.
I let myself drift through the alleyways for a while and then made my way back to the other, quieter side. There was a lovely bar right on the beach with nice beanbags. I sat down here and enjoyed the great music and the very relaxed atmosphere.
It was getting late and I had a long day ahead of me. I made my way to the hotel to pack my things for the excursion. I was really looking forward to the snorkeling trip and the boat trip to the surrounding islands. You'll see some beautiful pictures and an unexpected underwater encounter!
Conclusion of the day:
Thailand is fascinating! Buddhists, Christians and Muslims live together peacefully, with the utmost respect. It gives you the feeling of freedom and you sense an incredible tolerance. This friendly smile, this helpfulness, the warmth that emanates from the Thais here, makes your heart soar. Dreamlike quiet beaches, exciting nightlife, simple huts and luxurious hotels, speedboats and traditional longtail boats... you could go on and on. It shows the versatility of this country... I fell in love!
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