The Alarms rang, it was 7:30 am. Fully energized we packed few things and we got ready for the Phi Phi Island full day tour. But first, a good and rich breakfast at the hotel was a must. Around 8:00am we received a call from Jeed reminding us to be ready at the reception for pick up, few minutes later we took off to one of Phuket’s main ports.
This Post is part of a 7-day trip to some of Thailand’s best island destinations. Use the links at the end of the post for more insights about the day-to-day activities and destinations.
Although we had read about the disadvantages of taking a speed boat tour, we thought about giving it a try. We thought that taking a speed boat would allow us more time to spend exploring the islands. In groups of 15 to 20 people we hopped into the back of the speed boat and just before we knew it, we were launched like a rocket in the water. It was only then we realized that it would had been better if we had traveled on a regular cruise boat. Sitting in the back of the speed boat with only a backward view while three 250cc Honda engine are shoveling the water and turning it into white soapy waves, screaming their guts out leaving no room for anyone to speak or hear anything.
On a brighter note our trip was shortened by third the time, which brought us to our first snorkeling stop in less than half an hour. We put our mask and jumped into the waters. And what a hidden underworld we discovered when we opened our eyes. We found ourselves swimming in between hundreds of fish of varied sizes and colors. Half an hour went so quickly while we were captivated by the underwater beauty. Back on the boat, and wisssspp… like an arrow we zipped to our next and one of the best island destinations Maya Island which was made famous by the movie The Beach filmed there in 1999 starring Leonardo De Caprio. After the boat had docked few feet away from the beach we were given the green light to jump into the shimmering water. It was hardly fair to describe in words this stunningly beautiful beach sheltered by u-shaped high cliffs. One of the downsides of visiting such famous spots during the day and especially during the week-end is the unforgiving number of people you find there. Since it started to gain popularity, thousands of tourists visit the island each day therefore if you wish to enjoy the serenity of nature it is best to visit it very early in the morning or after 17:00 to avoid the crowd.
After almost an hour of snorkeling, swimming and a couple of cold beers, it was time for our next joyride. Within minutes, the boat reduced speed and got closer to some limestone cliffs formation where we observed marvelous wild monkeys playing around. A bit further, we reached to what is called the Viking Cave. Located at the bottom of a tall limestone, the Viking Cave is one of the most notable sites on Phi Phi Islands which owes its name to the paintings found on its walls: they represent various types of boats, while most of these paintings are quite recent, probably they were painted by sailors taking shelter in the cave during storms. On the mouth of the cave scaffolds were built with bamboo. When we asked the boat crew about these man-made scaffolds, they explained to us that they are used for harvesting a type of bird’s nests with high nutritional value and exquisite flavor especially bought and consumed by the Chinese.
At noon we headed to Phi Phi Don for an international buffet lunch which wasn’t the greatest, but the scenery was fantastic. Sitting on the white sandy beach, encircled by islands dispersed in the surrounding emerald water had given us a surreal sensation, it felt as if we were in some kind of a fairy land. After lunch we took a walk around and spent some time sun bathing.
Followed by another relaxing stop at the white-sand beach of Khai Nai Island we ended our speedboat excursion and headed back to Phuket pier.
We arrived to the hotel around 18:00. By 20:00 we were ready for our second exquisite seafood dinner at Ann Seafood Restaurant. Chantal pampered herself with a Curry Seafood in a Pineapple and I indulged in two extra jumbo shrimps. Later that night we took a short walk to Karon night market where we shopped for fresh fruits, some souvenirs and accessories.
Read more about our 7-day trip to 3 of the best island destinations in Thailand (Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Tao)
- Exploring Phuket
- Phuket Speedy Island Hopping
- Phuket Island Cruise
- Kho Samui: Simply Unforgettable
- Koh Samui and the “Treasure Island Map”
- A day Well Spent at Mu Koh Ang Thong National Park islands
- Koh Samui little sister island Kho Tao
- The True Essence of Kho Tao
- The “Risky” Journey Back Home
Checkout LawaynNext Facebook Page and Instagram for more photos. Use the Hashtag #LawaynNext for related travel posts.
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