Phi Phi Ley Island

The name to derived to Malay, and the original was Pulao Pi Ah Pi, where in pulao is the Malay word for island, and Pi, pronounced with only halp of p sound, was very close in pronunciation to the English word be; the ah was eventually dropped, so the name was said something like Bi Bi. Later the p was pronounced with a stronger aspiration and the name became the Pi Pi we know today (the h with which it is usually spelled is confusing and superfluous). The name refers to the mangrove wood found there. Six islands are in the group; Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Ley, Biddah Nok, Biddah Nai, Yung and Pai; total area is about 35 square kilometers. They were incorporated into the national park in 1983. Some of the interesting places to visit include

Is 6.6 square kilometers in total area: 3 kilometers in length and 1 at its broadest point. The island is entirely limestone and steep cliffs rising from the sea very nearly ring it. Surrounding waters average about 20 meters in depth, reaching 34 meters at the deepest ipoint off the Island’s southern tip. Phi Phi Ley has is very nearly enclosed by the limestone walls of the Island’s cliffs, so that the water appears almost to be an inland sea. On Phi Phi Ley’s northeast is the famous Viking Cave; this was renamed by H.M. Rama IX when he visited it in 1972, Tahm Phy Nak, from the shape of a particular boulder, which resembles in shape the head of the great serpent of Buddhist legend, the Naga. It is a place much revered by the local people who come there to collect the swift’s nests used to make Bird’s Nest Soup, a Chinese delicacy. On the eastern and southern walls of the cave are coloured drawings dating from historic times. There are of various boats: European, Arab, and Chinese sailing ships; barques, motorboats, and stream ships. It is theorized that these pirates who paused in their travels from west to east, sheltering in the cave to escape the monsoon winds, transfer cargo, or make repairs. Travel to the Phi Phi Island, Tour operators in both Phuket and Krabi Provide transport and tour packages to this popular destination. Regular boat service is available from Krabi Passenger Port.