June, 2024
Thailand: vibrant, diverse, enchanting
During Eid Al Adha, we went to Thailand, renowned for its stunning landscapes, from pristine beaches to lush jungles and majestic mountains. We spent 6 days in Phuket and Phi Phi Islands.
It was great fun to show the kids this part of Thailand, where we have so many beautiful memories.
Travel itinerary
Day 1-4:
Arrival at Phuket International Airport; land and sea transfer to Phi Phi Islands; stay at SAii Phi Phi Island Village.
Day 5:
Back to Phuket (sea and land transfer); stay at SAii Laguna Phuket.
Day 6:
Back to Dubai
See below our day by day report.
Day 1: Arrival in Phuket & transfer to Phi Phi
After a smooth flight to Phuket, we directly got a transfer by taxi and boat to the stunning Phi Phi Islands. The boat ride took about one hour and 15 minutes through turquoise waters, we were greeted by the dramatic limestone cliffs and lush greenery of the islands. Upon arrival at the SAii resort, we were welcomed with live music, drinks and snacks, which promised to be a paradise oasis amidst the island’s natural beauty.
SAii Resort Phi Phi Islands
We had rented two beautiful cabins on stilts, in the middle of the jungle where the monkeys were swinging through the trees. We had to watch out, because we also saw a big snake lying on the ground.
The rest of our day was all about unwinding. Headed straight to the pool and beach for a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear water. Spend the afternoon basking in the sun, and as evening falls, we had dinner in the local village which was just a 2 minutes walk from the resort.
Day 2: Island Tour by Traditional Boat
We booked an island tour for our second day and hopped on board of a traditional long-tail boat and set out to explore the best of Phi Phi (we booked via a local lady with her company in the village behind the resort, whatsapp: +66925568104).
Our first stop was the famous Maya Beach, where the film "The Beach" was shot. And indeed, the pristine white sand and crystal-clear waters left us speechless.
But it also has a downside: the beach has become much more crowded and touristy; more than 20 years ago we were the only ones walking here, now we walk in lines and a visitors center has been built, together with restaurants and other facilities.
Maya beach has become much more crowded and touristy..
Next, we headed to Phi Phi Lagoon for some tranquil relaxation and picturesque views. The lagoon’s calm waters were perfect for a leisurely swim. Then, it was time for some underwater exploration at Shark Point. Snorkeling here was really joyful, with many schools of colorful fish around us.
Our final stop of the day was Monkey Bay. Literally, this is a beach with lots of monkeys. But watch out for these animals... they can do strange things. Beautiful, charming bay, but here too boats full of tourists moor. For us this means get away.
In the evening we had a nice meal on the beach and enjoyed the sunset.
We finished our day with relaxing at the pool!
Day 3: Jungle Hike to Phi Phi Viewpoint
Early this morning, we set out on a jungle trek to the Phi Phi Viewpoint. We started in the local village, and after that it only started going uphill. It was well signposted and on the way we came across a number of monkeys, swinging in the trees, but also on the path. They are looking for food, so you should definitely not eat on the way.
At the top of Phi Phi Islands
It was very humid, we sweated our way up, but the panoramic views from the top were absolutely worth the effort. We were rewarded with a breathtaking vista of the islands and their surrounding turquoise waters. Unfortunately we were out of season, so no coffee at the top for us.
After descending, we took some time to explore the local village and decided to book a relaxing massage and beauty treatment for later on that day.
In the afternoon we snorkeled at the house reef of the resort. The water was a bit cloudy, but we still saw some beautiful fish.
Day 4: Diving Trip to Viking Cave
We booked a diving trip for today. The children first received a refresher lesson in the swimming pool, where they were reacquainted with breathing underwater with the diving equipment.
Then, we set of by boat into the deep blue. We went to two different diving spots. The first one was 'Viking Cave', renowned for its stunning underwater landscapes and diverse marine life. The cave itself is a fascinating site, with ancient paintings and swift currents that make the diving experience truly exhilarating.
The second dive site was a bit further offshore, around an underwater island, where we saw turtles and several reef sharks. The weather had changed a bit so we were glad to have solid ground under our feet again.
Day 5: Return to Phuket and Bang Tao Beach
We said goodbye to Phi Phi and returned to Phuket. Our next destination was Bang Tao Beach, one of the most beautiful and quiet beaches of Phuket. Here again we received a wonderful welcome at the SAii resort Phuket.
Bang Tao Beach Phuket
In the afternoon, we went on the lake (little lake) close to the resort for a catamaran sailing trip. Nice and very relaxing. Afterwards, we swam in the pool (the sea is tricky here, due to high waves), and in the evening we had a nice dinner at Bang Tao Beach, a very lively beach with high swings and lots of live entertainment.
Day 6: Departure from Phuket to Dubai
The Eid break was coming to an end so our last day, we headed early to Phuket Airport for our flight back to Dubai.
Although the Phi Phi Islands have changed over the last 20-25 years, it still has that 'backpacker vibe', with cozy bars and lively beaches. And of course, we have changed too, we used to stay somewhere low budget, now we stay in the beautiful resorts of SAII. It was great fun to show the kids this part of Thailand, where we have so many beautiful memories.
We had a safe journey and are already looking forward to our next adventure!