Thailand's Discovered Island Paradise ...that is overrun by toursists.
After you get over the pronunciation of the name -- it's pee pee, not phee phee - giggles over toilet humor will be replaced by gasps of pure awe. The two limestone outcrops of the Phi Phi archipelago, located in the Andaman Sea off the coast of southern Thailand, are hands down some of the most beautiful islands in the world. With sweeping white-sand beaches, dramatic cliffs, crystalline turquoise water, and healthy reefs teeming with tropical fish, it's little wonder the Phi Phi islands -- practically undiscovered twenty years ago -- are now one of the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia. All of the accommodation and tourist facilities are located on Phi Phi Don, the larger of the two islands. The area around the ferry port is extremely busy, with restaurants, bars, guest houses, and street hawkers doing a brisk business. Fortunately, the rest of the island is still mostly undeveloped, and a longtail boat taxi can quickly whisk you away to one of the quieter bungalow resorts. Phi Phi Leh, the smaller island, is uninhabited -- at least at night. By day, many of the tourists staying on Phi Phi Don take a boat tour to the quieter island, stopping to snorkel in quiet bays and explore hidden coves with flawless beaches. One of those beaches was made famous by the movie The Beach, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and inspired a new wave of visitors to the area. The Phi Phi islands are accessible by ferry from Krabi and Phuket. Although the 2002 tsunami devastated the islands, the infrastructure sprang up again practically overnight, and these days travelers will see few signs of the disaster.
