The Phi Phi Island lie approximately 18 miles south of Krabi. The largest and most developed being Phi Phi Don. If you plan to spend several days here, Ton Sai Bay is the most convinent for shopping or transport back to Phuket, Krabi on neighbouring islands.

Now well established as southern Thailand's most popular destination, the island are encircled by water so clear you ca almost see the seabed from the surface. The main island of Phi Phi Don is geologically two islands joined together by a sand spit just above sea level, with a large expanse of fringing reef in the northern bay.

Despite the roughly north-south orientation of the islands, the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami wave wrapped around the west cliff-faces to flood both the north and south bay of the low isthmus, causing incredible damage and great numbers of fatalities.

Although the village has very quickly been rebuilt, the Thai government appears to be taking the opportunity to zone the redevelopment in such a way as to minimize the furture impact of tourism on the environment. What was previously the main hotel in centre of the isthmus has yet to reopen for this reason.

The honeycombed cliff-faces rising frome crytal clear waters, together with the laid-back ambiance, will always attract manay visitors from the neighbouring tourist hubs of Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga provinces.

Maya Bay - the location for the 1999 blockbuster cult film "The Beach" - is a spectacularly scenic lagoon. Surrounded by soaring limestone cliffs, it harbours three sandy beaches.

Frome a yachting point of view, however, it is only worth being there in late afternoon or early morning, due to the many tourist boats. It is advisable to return to the more secure anchorage in Ton sai Bay for the night. Still, if you wish to spend the night there in the northeast season, anchor in the mouth of the bay in 15 - 20 metres.

Do not anchor on the conral bank, which has suffered considerable damage in recent years. A large part of the bay is shallow coral, and hundreds of visitors come on day trips to snorkel and see the sights. The reef fish will arrive in shoals when you drop anchor.

The Viking Cave is worth a look, but anchoring here is difficult due to the depth. Yachts wishing to drop people off to explore the cave should, in either season, hold off, delivering visitors by dinghy to the small jetty at the entrance. A better bet still is to hire a longtail boat frome Ton Sai Bay. This is also the preferred means of getting to the spectacular Hong Pileh on the east side, which is inaccessible by yacht.

Day moorings can also be found in Loh Samah Bay with a rock island nestling in the middle of a coral garden on the southern tip of the island.