5 Best Islands Around Phi Phi

Bamboo Island is the favourite destination for people in search of a change of scene after a few days on Phi Phi. This small circular island is only 5 km off the northeastern coast of Phi Phi Don and is a picturesque patch of white sand with a lush vegetation centre – the many bamboo trees gave it its name (‘Koh Mai Phai’ in Thai). 

Reputed for its excellent snorkelling opportunities, Bamboo Island houses a small National Park Rangers’ camp with a small bar/restaurant. You can stay overnight here, sleeping in tents.

Koh Bida Nok and Nai are 2 islets that may only be limestone cliffs jutting out from the sea at the southern side of Phi Phi group (Koh Bida Nok being the southernmost island in Phi Phi). Even so, they are widely recognised among the diving community for their beautiful underwater scenes, making them among the favourite dive spots around Phi Phi. 

Offering great wall diving down to 35 metres on the northern side of Bida Nok, and slightly shallower dives at Bida Nai, you can discover a multitude of tropical fish species, corals, small sharks, and anemone during your dive.

Mosquito Island, located not far from Bamboo Island, is the northernmost island of the Phi Phi archipelago. While it has 2 usable beaches, it's rarely visited for the reason that gave it its name – swarms of mosquitoes infest the island, often at dusk.  

The waters around Mosquito Island offer great diving and snorkelling spots, with mooring buoys installed off the southern coast of the island for long-tail boats coming from Phi Phi Don to tie up while their passengers snorkel above soft coral reefs. Divers can explore the northeastern side of the island, which hosts 3-headed pinnacles often visited by schools of juvenile fish and blacktip sharks.