Koh Phi Phi:
The popular backpacker party island of Koh Phi Phi is just a short boat ride from Phuket. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because this is where they filmed The Beach starring Leonardo de Crap-io. To be exact, it was actually filmed at Maya Beach just off the main island, and tourists still flock there by the thousands for day trips.
Back in the day, a boat trip to Maya Beach was a journey to a magical, literal paradise on earth. To be fair, Maya Beach is still admittedly beautiful—if you can catch it at the crack of dawn before the endless flood of boats starts pouring in. But to put it simply: the boatloads of day-trippers have completely spoiled the magic. A complete shame.
The Tsunami and the Greed that Followed
Twenty-five years ago, Koh Phi Phi’s main port of arrival, Ton Sai Village, was an absolute tropical paradise. Today? It has turned into a colossal clusterfck overrun by hard-partying, vomiting backpackers and rampant overdevelopment.
For some reason, plenty of travelers still swear by the beauty of this island, but I honestly see no reason to back up their claims. I cannot fathom why anyone would consider this paradise when there are dozens of far more appealing, unspoiled islands all over Thailand. If you’re looking for a pristine tropical getaway, Koh Phi Phi is absolutely not the place for you.
The Hard Truth: Mother Nature sent a crystal-clear message to Thailand when the tsunami struck in 2004. Post-tsunami, Koh Phi Phi was basically leveled, and more than 2,000 people tragically lost their lives here.
The locals had a golden opportunity to rebuild Ton Sai Village on the main island of Phi Phi Don in an environmentally friendly, sustainable way. And what did they do? The greedy local developers—likely operating with zero oversight—overbuilt the island to the point where it’s now bursting at the seams. It’s packed with incredibly ugly buildings that do not fit the natural landscape. It’s obvious nothing was learned from that tragedy. It’s a real disgrace, because Phi Phi could have been a magical place, but they rebuilt it way too fast without any true planning or regard for the environment.
What is Phi Phi Actually Good For?
Let’s be real: Koh Phi Phi is good for one thing and one thing only—partying.
It’s the nightlife scene that keeps this island on life support. If you are here to rage with college-aged backpackers, then Phi Phi is your absolute haven. The alcohol buckets and bass music flow continuously, day and night.
However, for those of us who have aged out of that bracket, I’m sorry to say that the Phi Phi islands have been ruined. Sure, the landscape still looks gorgeous from a distance when your boat is pulling up. But upon closer inspection, the cracks in paradise become glaringly evident.
Is There Any Saving Grace?
If you do find yourself here, your best bet is to escape the party-central area of Ton Sai Bay, which is totally saturated with the ultra-young backpacker crowd. If you venture out to the quieter northern and eastern ends of the island, you can still experience some of the past serenity and natural beauty that made people fall in love with Phi Phi in the first place.
The following video visually highlights the beauty of Ko Phi Phi back in 1990. This video is before the rapid development to accommodate the ugly tourist invasion which has effectively spoiled these once pristine islands.
Big Doug & Barbie Drop Out of Society 