Bamboo Island near Phi Phi: A Quieter Beach Day

Bamboo Island, locally called Koh Phai, sits roughly 5 km north of Phi Phi Don in the Andaman Sea. From Phuket it's about 90-100 minutes by speedboat via the Phi Phi route, or 30 minutes from Phi Phi Don itself. The island is uninhabited, with no roads, hotels or restaurants - just a ranger station, a 700-metre crescent of white-sand beach and a fringing reef. It belongs to Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, which means a 400 THB foreign-adult entrance fee applies on arrival, paid at the ranger booth on the beach.

A dedicated 7-8 hour speedboat tour combining Bamboo Island with Phi Phi snorkel stops typically runs $80-130 per person from Phuket. The cheaper end usually means a larger speedboat with 30+ guests; premium operators like Andaman Cruiser or Two Sea Tour charge $100-130 for smaller groups, slower catamarans or photographer-friendly itineraries. The 400 THB park fee is almost always extra. If you only want a brief sub-stop on Bamboo, most standard Phi Phi day tours include 30-45 minutes there for $60-80, but you'll be sharing the beach with more boats.

The whole Phi Phi - Bamboo national park area is usually closed from around mid-May to mid-October each year for monsoon recovery and reef regeneration. Within the open season (November to April) Bamboo itself can also have shorter unannounced closures of a few days to a few weeks while rangers monitor coral health. The official Department of National Parks website lists current closures, but the most reliable check is with your tour operator 48-72 hours before your trip - they will swap Bamboo for Loh Samah Bay or Lana Bay if needed.

If you want the Maldives-style white sand and shallow turquoise water that Phi Phi is famous for - without 1500 other people sharing it - then yes, the extra $20-30 over a standard Phi Phi tour is worth it. If your priority is dramatic limestone scenery, Maya Bay viewpoints or Phi Phi Don nightlife, you can skip Bamboo. Photographers and families with young kids who want shallow snorkelling get the most value. Note that you do pay an extra 400 THB park fee on top, and the trip becomes a longer day overall, so factor that in.

No, overnight stays are not allowed. Bamboo is uninhabited, has no accommodation, no fresh water and no electricity, and the national park strictly enforces a same-day departure rule for all visitors. The last boats leave around 16:00-16:30. If you want to wake up close to Bamboo, your best option is to base yourself on Phi Phi Don for one or two nights and book a sunrise speedboat trip from there - operators in Tonsai Village run small-group Bamboo tours from 06:00, well before the Phuket day crowds arrive around 11:00.