One of the things we like the most about Southeast Asia is that it is easy to combine art, culture, cities, gastronomy and… in the same trip. The beach.
In Southeast Asia you have some of the most beautiful islands and beaches in the world. And it is also a perfect destination for diving. Have you never done scuba diving? ... no problem, if you have 4 days you can take a course and get a PADI Open Water license for much less than it would cost at home. And if you can't do shallow dives accompanied by an instructor and still enjoy an incredible experience.
We usually spend 5 or 6 days at the end of each trip to relax on a beach and do some dives. This summer we opted for Koh Phi Phi, on the Andaman Sea. At first we planned to go to the Ao Nang area, but summer is the rainy season and the sea is usually rough there. So we opted to go to Phi Phi, where we were a few years ago, and see how it was recovering after the tsunami.
The problem is that Tonsai Bay and Long Beach, the central area, were badly damaged by the tsunami and the effects can still be seen. To this has been added a different type of tourist than there was a few years ago, more interested in cheap beer than in the incredible environment. The cheapest accommodations on the small beaches have practically disappeared but the cement remains… and it thrives. Still Phi Phi is probably one of the most beautiful islands in the world.
They are actually two islands, Phi Phi Leh and Phi Phi Don. If you saw the movie The beach, With Leonardo Dicaprio, you have already seen Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh, the smallest island, which you can visit, but it is uninhabited. The hotels and so on are on Phi Phi Don.
This time we opted to flee the main bay and stay at the northern end of the island, in the Zeavola, a magnificent boutique hotel on a much quieter beach. If you are looking for fun, this is probably not the best option. But if like us you are looking to do a couple of dives in the morning and lie down to read under a coconut tree in the afternoons… don't hesitate. The Zeavola It offers good service, first-class and charming accommodation, in beautiful traditional houses, with open bathrooms and lounge.
Next to Zeavola is the Leisure Dive Center ... I know it looks pretty rustic, but the staff is attentive, knowledgeable and friendly ... and one thing exceptional, they speak Spanish! It is about a Brazilian couple who, before arriving in Thailand, passed through Mallorca.
In the photos you have Ana, our uber designer contemplating a couple of clown fish, very abundant in these waters, Sara and Alan with a leopard shark, or me emerging in front of Mosquito Island. The Phi Phi bottoms are spectacular and allow a diver of any level to have a great time. The sea is very calm (we are in a large bay) and on clear days the visibility is excellent.
In the Andaman Sea area, summer is the rainy season, but that does not mean that it rains every day. The usual thing is that it rains for a while in the afternoon some days, nothing more. In the same way that in the dry season you don't get rid of the rain either .. hey, this is the tropics, what did you expect! Being the rainy season it is low season, so you can find real bargains in the area. The Zeavola is by far the most expensive hotel on Koh Phi Phi and we got an excellent price.
The easiest way to get to Phi Phi is to fly to Phuket (with Thai or Air Asia). In most hotels you can request a transfer from the airport when you make the reservation. They send you a car (a Mercedes in the case of the Zeavola), they take you to the pier and you have a boat ready to take you to the island. If you are traveling on a lower budget you can go yourself, taxis are not expensive and then there is a ferry to Tonsay Bay several times a day which is much cheaper.
It is possible that the tsunami and development have irreparably affected Phi Phi, but for me it is still The Beach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWuekfcx6fQ
You can book the Zeavola and other PhiPhi hotels on HotelClub.com (note that the price changes a lot from high to low season).
Hello!! I love your Blog! Could you recommend a diving center to do the open water in 4 days? in or around Phi PHi?
Thank you!
We are a family of 5 and we have been to PhiPhi at the Zeavola Resort, last June… .it has seemed like a real paradise… ..for us an unforgettable vacation.The ZeVola is a unique Resort, we have found it perfect with its integration Totally on the beach, its details are great… and the staff is ceremonious like all Thais and very very friendly, everything is perfect …… I still dream that I'm there… ..