Phi Phi Don 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

Covers a total area of 28 square kilometers: 8 kilometers in length and 3.5 at its broadest point. At the north end is Cape  Laem Tohng where there is a Chao Ley, or sea gypsies emigrated from Koh Lipeh in Tarutao National Park, near the border with Malaysia. Diving at Laem Tohng is excellent, as it is also at Hua Rah Ket to the extreme south. There are long beaches with rocks scattered about two curving bays are especially beautiful: Ton Sai and Loh Dalam. This is also where accommodations and tourist services are found.