Bamboo Island

Bamboo Island, known as Koh Pai in Thai, is the most north-easterly island of Phi Phi Archipelago in the southern Thai province of Krabi. Lying approximately five kilometres off the northern tip of Koh Phi Phi Don, Bamboo Island is a stunning tropical hotspot that offers the perfect getaway from the crowds as, despite the fact a few tours from Phuket make a stop here after lunch, the island is most of the time never too crowded. Measuring roughly 600m wide by 700m long, the island is almost shaped like a heart and is entirely surrounded by a strip of white sand. Its central part is covered with lush vegetation including Casuarinas trees and the Bamboo trees that gave its name to the island. On the north-eastern side of the island, under the shade of the trees, a small bar serves drinks and snacks.

The perfect spot for a day trip, Bamboo Island hosts great snorkelling opportunities. Between Phi Phi Don and Bamboo islands stands a notable coral reef known as Hin Klang which provides its masked and finned visitors with the feeling of swimming in an aquarium. Closer to the beach, the island is almost entirely surrounded by a reef that spreads up to 500m from the shore.

To get there, hire a long-tail boat in Tonsai Village or at the Sea Gypsies Village on Laem Thong Beach; the ride will roughly take 40mins from the former, and 15mins from the latter. Day and overnight trips (sleeping in tents) are available from Koh Phi Phi Don, or you could visit the island on a Phi Phi day trip by speedboat from Krabi or Phuket. Due to the fact Bamboo Island belongs to a national park; please note that you’ll to pay a 400/200 baht (adult/child) entrance fee to get there.