Tonsai Village is the bustling heart of Phi Phi. Here, there are no cars or roads, only footpaths. It's located on the isthmus, for which Phi Phi is famous, with Tonsai Bay on the south side and Loh Dalum on the north.

Before 2.30pm, when the last ferry leaves, the streets are busy with daytrippers and people arriving/departing. After that the island is more relaxed and the difference is tangible.

In the evening the streets fill again with diners looking for a place to eat, additionally as most business is done at night, the tour shops, dive shops and every other kind of shop come to life. Later on some isolated nightlife areas heat up.

Phi Phi is a very bohemian place; after all, bicycle and longtail are the only modes of transport apart from by foot.

Getting Around Tonsai Village

In Phi Phi there are really only three modes of transport; by foot, by longtail to places that require a boat journey and by bicycle around Tonsai Village.

You can walk to most places in Tonsai Village within 10 minutes, Long Beach can be reached in about 30 minutes.

Longtails ferry passengers to and from Long Beach for 80/100 baht (day/night), and can be rented for 1000/2000 baht for half/full day for trips to Maya Bay, snorkelling etc.

Bicycles can be rented in Tonsai Village for around 200 baht a day, a little expensive maybe but if you want to get around quickly it's your only option.

Tonsai Pier

The pier is Phi Phi's lifeline to the outside world and acts as a hub. The atmosphere changes throughout the day with the focus on the ferry boat schedule. At certain times the area around the pier is as busy as any city railway station in rush hour, with passengers milling around whilst waiting for their boat.

New arrivals and daytrippers hover and look bemused at the hustle and bustle of this island paradise and all this while touts trying to sell them accommodation. In general, time in Phi Phi is measured in boats; ferry boats. After 2.30pm, when the last boat leaves, the atmosphere becomes much calmer, and the streets uncrowded.

Tonsai Bay

Stunning Tonsai Bay has turquoise water and is a hive of boating activity. Ferries come and go, yachts anchor, dive and tour boats pick-up their customers and longtails whiz back and forth carrying passengers or goods.

The bay is nearly two km long from the outer points with tall cliffs giving way to small beaches inhabited by monkeys and coral reefs fringing the west side. The east side of the bay is shallower with large areas of coral and a series of beaches and hotels occupying the shore. At the mouth of the bay on the east side is Long Beach and Shark Point which face Phi Phi Ley.

Tonsai Beach

Although the area close to the pier is taken up by boats, the far west end of the beach is very isolated. Silky soft sand, clear water and coral awaits. It's strange that it's not more popular. From afar it looks like there's nothing there but the ten-minute walk along the beach is well worth it.

You can rent deck chairs for 40 baht per day from one of the small bungalow resorts or a kayak for 300 baht for two hours. Lunch, drinks and snacks are provided, and there are toilets. Snorkeling is good all along the edge of the bay and close-by cliffs are used by climbers to test their skills.

If you're looking for somewhere close to Tonsai Village that's secluded to relax this is your spot.