Thailand has recently reopened it’s borders to international tourists with what is known as the “Phuket sandbox”. This allows tourists to visit Thailand without doing a quarantine as long as they stay in Phuket for at least 7 days under certain guidelines, more information and the requirements for the Phuket Sandbox can be found here.

The Phuket Sandbox also allows travelers to visit Koh Phi Phi during the Sandbox with the 7 + 7 (7 days in Phuket followed by 7 days elsewhere) plan or after the Sandbox is complete. So many people are now asking is Koh Phi Phi open and is Koh Phi Phi after Covid worth visiting? The answer to both of these questions is YES! In fact if you are lucky enough to be in Thailand or are planning on visiting soon then there has never been a better time than right now.

In my 8 years of living on the island, I haven’t seen the beautiful locations and dive spots so quiet, empty and peaceful. There may never be an opportunity to see the beautiful Phi Leh Lagoon or Maya Bay completely empty. So how can you get to Koh Phi Phi, where is good to stay and what can you do while you are here?

How To Get To Phi Phi Island

Well the first part, getting here, is simple enough but you do need to be prepared. If you have completed the Sandbox already then all you need is a Covid 19 rapid test dated within 7 days, your vaccine certificate and passport or ID card.

If you are doing the 7 + 7 Sandbox you will need all of the before mentioned items plus the additional documents for your hotel transfer, more information on the 7 + 7 transfer can be found Here. Currently there are two boat companies arranging travel to Koh Phi Phi Andaman Wavemaster and Sabai Marine, the two companies alternate days so you can come any day.

Quite often the entry requirements to Koh Phi Phi after Covid and boat timetables can change with little notice so always check with the company a day or two before travelling that you meet the requirements or feel free to contact us here on the website by email, phone, Whatsapp, Line or Facebook and we will be happy to share the most up to date information we have.

Accommodation Phi Phi Island – Where To Stay?

Once you are here you will need a place to stay and we always recommend staying in Tonsai, the main village on the island and where the speedboat will drop you off. This is especially important on Koh Phi Phi after Covid because pretty much the only businesses and restaurants that are open are located in Tonsai.

If you stay out of town you often have to pay for expensive transfers to Tonsai to be able to do activities or eat outside of your hotel. If you are unsure of where is best to stay, check out the Accommodation page on our website, here we have 4 hotels to suit any budget and are all places I have personally recommended to friends and family. Just be aware that P2 Wood Loft is currently not available to people still within the 7 + 7 sandbox.

Best Places To Eat On Phi Phi Island?

So once you are here and checked into your hotel you will notice the streets are very quiet on Koh Phi Phi after Covid, people are still wearing masks and at first glace it might look like nothing is open and there is nothing to do but this isn’t the case at all. While many businesses, restaurants and bars are still closed there is still enough open to get a wide variety of food and drink.

A personal favourite of mine is Pirate’s House, to find it simply take a right after walking off the pier and you will find it 20 meters down the street on the right. Great Indian and western food and amazing Pizzas.

However, if you are in the mood for some local Thai dishes check out Garlic restaurant, the lovely Thai lady who runs the place and does the cooking is super friendly and I really recommend trying her fried chicken and basil leaf dish, it’s to die for!

At Garlic Restaurant they also have some free simple cards that teach you a little bit of the Thai language and the staff always give you a warm smile if you try a little Thai with them, but don’t worry they speak English very well. Carlito’s Bar near the police station always has a lively atmosphere for a casual drink on an evening and often has a fantastic live band playing.

Want To Go Diving And Snorkeling On Phi Phi Island?

Right now trying diving and snorkeling couldn’t be better. Just yesterday we were diving on Bida Nok inside the national marine park and as there are so few tourists on the island right now it was like we had our own private dive at our own private dive sites with private guide and private boat!

We saw black tip reef sharks in the shallows, huge schools of yellow snappers, then we had a small break inside the empty Phi Leh Lagoon followed by a trip to our coral nursery. We had a quick tour of the nursery and artificial reef then moved onto the natural reef where we found one of our many resident hawksbill turtles. If you are interested in helping out with the coral nursery contact us to find out how to get involved.

What Other Activities Are Available On Phi Phi Island?

There are also plenty of free activities to do on Koh Phi Phi after Covid. A 30 minute walk to Long Beach will take you past some incredible hidden gems, small empty, peaceful beaches and bays, and some amazing photo opportunities to make all your friends on social media super jealous.

A walk to the Phi Phi View Point to watch the sunset is always a treat when there are few people around too. Of course there is always the more accessible beaches like Loh Dalum and Phi Phi Nice beach which are only a 5 to 10 minute walk from anywhere in town and still offer some amazing views and calm, safe swimming conditions.

So yes Koh Phi Phi after Covid is still open, yes there are still lots of things to enjoy and yes you should visit now and take the once in a lifetime opportunity to see some of the worlds most beautiful islands with very few people around. So what are you waiting for, get in touch and start planning your Koh Phi Phi after Covid adventure now!

For more information about our Dive and Snorkel trips, take a look at our packages.