11 Best Hikes on Koh Phi Phi Don, Thailand – Detailed Guide (2024)

If you are visiting Thailand and want to experience some memorable jungle hikes, Koh Phi Phi is the perfect place to find them.

After staying a week on Koh Phi Phi, I explored many hiking trails and was pleasantly surprised by how accessible yet diverse the trekking options are. You don’t need to hike very far to be rewarded with breathtaking views and quiet beaches.

If you’re looking for more authentic, close-to-nature experiences on Koh Phi Phi, hiking is not only affordable but also offers the chance to see some of the island’s hidden gems.

Read on for my detailed guide and tips for exploring 11 Epic Hikes on Koh Phi Phi, to make your adventure smooth and enjoyable!

Guide to 11 Best hikes on Koh Phi Phi Don

Koh Phi Phi Don is a relatively small island, and if you stay near Tonsai Pier, it is very walkable. However, if you want to explore beyond the central area, you’ll find yourself in some secluded spots that are only accessible by a long jungle hike, boat, or kayak.

Huge cliffs and dense jungle cover much of Koh Phi Phi’s landscape. While the hills and mountains on the island are not particularly tall, they can be quite steep.

Combined with the hot weather, hiking on Koh Phi Phi can become very exhausting. However, if you enjoy nature activities, discovering jungle trails on Koh Phi Phi is a truly rewarding experience. 

1. Coastal Hike from Tonsai Pier to Long Beach (Haad Yao)

Start anywhere in Tonsai Village and head first to the Hippie Bar at Laem Hin Beach beach. Then head south along the beach and later along the coastal path.

This trail offers stunning views of the turquoise sea and passes by three secluded beaches—Love Beach, Viking Beach, and Hin Khnom Beach. Those hidden destinations usually don’t get crowded and are perfect for a break or even a short swim.

As you continue on the trail, you’ll eventually reach Long Beach. It’s a popular destination with resorts, a diving center, and a great snorkeling spot—Black Tip Shark Point – to add to your itinerary.

The hike is relatively easy and suitable for most fitness levels, making it accessible for anyone who wants to experience Koh Phi Phi’s quieter side.

2. Hike via Jungle from Tonsai Pier to Long Beach (Haad Yao)

An alternative way to reach Long Beach from Tonsai Village is to hike through the rainforest and a small local village along the way.

This path starts the same as the coastal trail—you need to reach the Hippies Bar first. After that, walk along the beach. 

After passing a local primary school, keep walking until you find a path on the left, next to the Bayview Resort, leading away from the beach.

Although this path isn’t shown on Google Maps, you can easily follow it using the Maps.me app. It’s a wide concrete path leading uphill and out of Tonsai Village.

Soon, you will enter the jungle. This part isn’t very eventful; you will pass by a small local village and a water reservoir. 

After that, the jungle road will lead downhill to Long Beach. You will reach a large resort and a PADI diving center on the north side of Long Beach.

The coastal trek is definitely more picturesque, but for me, discovering a different side of Koh Phi Phi was an interesting and adventurous experience. 

I walked back this way from Long Beach after doing the coastal trail, so I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything.

3. Walk from Long Beach to Loh Moo Dee Beach

When you follow the jungle trail from Tonsai Pier to Long Beach, you can also easily reach Loh Moo Dee Beach, located on the east coast, on the opposite side of Koh Phi Phi Don.

After going downhill, at the last part of your walk, you will reach the crossroads just 5 minutes before reaching Long Beach. 

You will need to turn left onto a smaller, unpaved path instead of following the wide road. 

There should be a small signpost to guide you. It’s a short trail through the jungle, and after 10 minutes, you should reach Loh Moo Dee Beach.

4. Hike to the Viewpoints for the Panoramic View

Once on Koh Phi Phi Don, you must at least once hike to the famous viewpoints with the panoramic view of the bay.

First, you need to reach the stairway to the viewpoint, a 10-minute walk from Tonsai Pier through town. The entrance is well marked and hard to miss as it’s visited by many people.

The hardest part is climbing up the stairs, as it’s a long and steep climb with around 320 steps to conquer. 

Some parts are concrete, and some are wooden, with really high steps. You will also pass many people going in both directions.

At some point, you will reach a ticket office and the first viewpoint. As a foreign tourist, you need to pay 50 baht for access to all three viewpoints.

After the long climb to the first viewpoint, you will walk along a bit easier path through a stunning garden to viewpoints 2 and 3. 

Apart from the lush plants, you can see some interesting sculptures and a few cats roaming around the garden.

At the peak, you will find a deck right on the edge of the hill, built on top of huge rocks. This spot is usually occupied by people taking pictures with the panoramic view of Koh Phi Phi Don Bay.

There are toilets, a restaurant, and a small bar to buy a cold drink (alcohol is not allowed at the top view). 

The viewpoints offer panoramic views over Tonsai Village and Loh Dalum Bay. While the view of the bay is indeed stunning, the place is usually crowded with tourists, especially during sunset. 

Head out early in the morning to avoid the crowds.

5. Jungle Hikes to Pak Nam, Ran Tee and Toh Koh Beach (from the Viewpoint)

After reaching the viewpoints, you are actually halfway to discovering a much lesser-known part of Koh Phi Phi.

From the top of the hill, instead of heading back the same way to the town, you can head east, deeper into the jungle. There are a few paths going in different directions, which will take you to small and secluded beaches.

To the east, you can discover Pak Nam, Ran Tee, and Toh Koh Beach. These beaches are quite remote, and not many tourists venture there via jungle trails.

It’s more popular to take a boat to get there, but if you like adventure, you should definitely try hiking. The paths through the jungle are steep and rather challenging, leading through dense forest.

On the trail to Pak Nam Beach, it’s quite common to see monkeys, so don’t pack too much food, as they might want to steal it from you.

Moreover, if you come to see the sunset at the viewpoints, you shouldn’t go deeper into the jungle to explore these paths. Hiking there is not safe after dark, so plan your itinerary accordingly.

6. Jungle hike to Ba Kao Bay from the Viewpoints

The fourth path you can take from the top view is to go southeast to Loh Ba Kao Bay. 

It’s the longest path, leading through the jungle, passing a mangrove forest, a local village, and finishing at Loh Ba Kao Bay Beach.

At some points, the forest path is not well marked, but if you follow the map, you won’t get lost. You will find a few signposts and people trying to reach the viewpoints from the other side of the island.

Loh Ba Kao Bay, although not very busy, has a large resort, restaurants, a grocery shop, and even a diving center. 

You can easily catch a boat back to Tonsai Pier if you feel tired after the hike.

7. Coastal and Jungle Hike to Loh Ba Kao Bay

An alternative and also picturesque way to reach Loh Ba Kao Bay from Tonsai Pier is to go on a jungle hike that also leads by the rocky coasltine.

This is one of my favorite hikes on Koh Phi Phi Don as it’s secluded, with diverse views, and quite challenging.

The path goes along the west coastline, leading you out of Tonsai Village and past large black rocks to a jungle path. 

The most challenging part is when you need to tread water while walking by the sea and finding the entrance to the jungle, as this part of the trail is not well marked.

It’s worth following a trail map (Google Maps won’t be helpful) and eventually, you will see the entrance to the steep trail assisted with ropes. 

After climbing the hill in the jungle, you will have to follow an equally steep path down to Loh Ba Kao Bay.

When the dense rainforest fades and gives way to a wide road, you will find yourself at the crossroads, where your trail meets the path from the viewpoints. 

After that, both trails follow the same road past the mangrove forest and village down to Loh Ba Kao Bay.

8. Hike to Loh Lana Bay from Loh Ba Kao Bay 

If you reach Loh Ba Kao Bay, you will be able to explore more trails in this area. The two shortest paths lead to secluded beaches located on the west coast—Loh Lana Bay and Nui Beach.

Loh Lana Bay is the closest, and it takes only 15 minutes from Loh Ba Kao Bay to get there. 

You will need to cross the Mangrove Suspension Bridge and follow the road. The path is clear and easy to follow.

9. Hike to Nui Beach from Loh Ba Kao Bay

After reaching Loh Lana Bay, you can also discover the path to even more remote Nui Beach. This destination is quite hidden and definitely harder to reach by walking than Loh Lana Bay.

You can find a signpost showing the way to follow from Loh Lana Bay and Nui Beach. Trail map will also be useful with the navigation.

Although the walk isn’t long, it will require some climbing between the rocks and treading water.

During monsoon season and high tide, this path might not be accessible. Although not very long, this trail is definitely very adventurous.

10. Hike North to Laem Tong Beach

One of the longest hikes on Koh Phi Phi will lead you to Laem Tong Beach. While this beach is a popular destination, it is usually visited by boat rather than hiking from Tonsai Pier.

After reaching Loh Ba Kao Bay, similar to the routes to Nui and Loh Lana beaches, you will have to cross the Mangrove Suspension Bridge. But instead of heading west, you will have to turn right and head east.

This is more of a road than a trail, as you will follow a concrete path often used by people on mopeds. The path is located on cliffs along the east coast. It’s straight and easy to follow.

11. Hike to the Northernmost Point of Koh Phi Phi

If you reach Laem Tong Beach, you should definitely explore the northernmost point on Koh Phi Phi Don too.

Head north from Laem Tong Beach, where you will find a small path through the jungle to follow.

When you see the flag marking the northernmost tip of the island, you will know that you’ve reached your destination.

This trail is not very hard and takes around 30 minutes one way, without much elevation. The main difficulty is walking through the dense rainforest.

Safety when hiking on Koh Phi Phi

You don’t need a guide for hiking on Koh Phi Phi Don. The island has a significant amount of jungle, but most of the trails are not technically difficult.

The dense forest might be overwhelming to some people, as you might not always be sure if the path you are following is correct. Always have a charged phone with a trail map downloaded, so you can use it offline.

Bring some cash in case you get tired and need to take a boat or to buy food and water along the way. 

To the larger beaches like Laem Tong, Loh Ba Kao, or Long Beach, you can get a taxi boat, but they operate on a schedule—keep in mind that the last one might leave around 5 pm. 

Getting a private boat will almost always be an option, but it will also cost significantly more than a regular taxi boat.

Always have plenty of water with you, even if you don’t plan a long hike. When you start walking in an unknown direction, you might not find a shop or restaurant, and tap water is not safe for drinking in Thailand.

Try to avoid hiking in the middle of the day when the sun is the strongest. It is hard enough to go on a short walk or even stay too long on the beach; hiking and gaining elevation will be even harder.

Dress appropriately for the weather. Opt for light, breathable clothes that will dry quickly. However, avoid hiking in beachwear (such as a bikini), as you will be more prone to mosquito bites and sunburn.

Remember to wear a hat and covered shoes. Although flip-flops might seem lighter, closed shoes will protect your feet from rocks and make it easier to traverse steep hills, especially those with ropes.

Other Adventurous Experiences on Koh Phi Phi

Apart from hiking, Koh Phi Phi offers plenty of other activities to fill your vacation itinerary with adventure.

• Exploring the Mangrove Forest: If you visit Loh Ba Kao Bay, you can easily rent a kayak and explore the mangrove forest. Even walking near the river, you might spot interesting wildlife like monitor lizards.
• Kayaking in the Andaman Sea: Renting a kayak is possible on almost every major beach on Koh Phi Phi. It’s a great way to explore the waters surrounding the island and a great alternative to hiking if you want to reach secluded beaches.
• Snorkeling Off the Beach: You don’t have to travel far or book an expensive tour to discover coral reefs. Many beaches on Koh Phi Phi Don are suitable for snorkeling right off the beach. The most popular destination is Long Beach with Black Tip Shark Point.
• Diving: You’ll find many diving centers on Koh Phi Phi, offering various experiences like getting your PADI license, going on a discovery dive, or providing a safe diving experience for non-swimmers.

Final Thoughts

Hiking and exploring secluded destinations was one of my favorite activities on Koh Phi Phi.

This island offers so much more than just crowded beaches and loud nightlife. Its hidden trails, secluded beaches, and stunning viewpoints make it an ideal destination for adventure seekers and nature lovers.

Whether you’re exploring by foot or by kayak, you’ll find unique opportunities to connect with the island’s natural beauty. 

Remember to stay safe, respect the environment, and embrace the spirit of adventure. Happy hiking!

Read My Other Posts about Koh Phi Phi:

• How to Do Coastal Hike to Long Beach (Haad Yao) on  Koh Phi Phi – Detailed Guide (2024)
• How to Do Jungle Hike to Loh Ba Kao Bay on Koh Phi Phi – Detailed Guide (2024)
• How to Visit Famous Maya Bay in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand? – Detailed Guide and Review (2024)
• 17 Best Beaches on Koh Phi Phi, Thailand – Ultimate Guide (2024)
• 23 Pros and Cons of Visiting Koh Phi Phi, Thailand – 2024 Guide
• How to Travel to Koh Phi Phi from Bangkok and Other Places – 2024 Guide