Krabi
Phi Phi with an early start, and four islands
- Early start for Phi Phi
- Four islands as well
- Best for
- An early start for Phi Phi, and four more islands the same day
- Skip if
- You get seasick or want a short day near Ao Nang
Islands · East side of Phi Phi Leh
Pileh Lagoon
An inlet almost closed by limestone walls on Phi Phi Leh, where the boats go in through a narrow gap and most tours stop for a swim.
Access
By boat only
Entry
National park fee
Time to allow
A stop on a Phi Phi day
Best time
Early or late in the day, when fewer boats are inside
Why go
You cannot swim at Maya Bay; Pileh is described as the usual swimming stop of a Phi Phi day: a sheltered inlet surrounded by limestone, reached from the deck rather than from a beach.
What you will find
An inlet on the east side of Phi Phi Leh, almost entirely enclosed by cliffs, with a narrow entrance that the boats thread through. There is no beach to land on: you see it from the boat, and swim from it if your tour stops for that.
The water just outside the lagoon, in front of Pileh, is one of the snorkelling sites the national park reopened on 17 April 2025, after the coral bleaching of 2024.
Getting there
By boat only, as a stop on a Phi Phi day tour from Krabi. Check the stops listed on the tour you book: they differ from one tour to another.
Before you go
It is busiest in the middle of the day, when most tour boats arrive at once.
Pileh is part of the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, and the park fee is often not included in the tour price: ask before you book, and carry cash.
Whether and where you may swim is up to the crew and the rangers on the day: follow what they say.
Days out that go with this
Krabi
Phi Phi at sunset, with plankton
- Sunset at Koh Poda
- BBQ dinner
- Best for
- One long island day with the most named stops
- Skip if
- You want an early night or travel with small children
Where this place leads
Common questions
Can I swim in Pileh Lagoon?
Most Phi Phi tours stop here for a swim from the boat. Whether you go in, and where, depends on the crew and the park rules on the day.
Is there a beach at Pileh Lagoon?
No. The lagoon is enclosed by cliffs; you see it from the boat.
Do I pay a park fee for Pileh?
Yes, Pileh is in the national park, and the fee is often not included in the tour price. Ask before you book and carry cash.