Koh Phi Phi Leh or Ko Phi Phi Ley is an island of the Phi Phi archipelago, in the Andaman Sea. It belongs to the Krabi province of Thailand.
The Beach
Controversy arose during the making of the film The Beach due to 20th Century Fox bulldozing and rescaping of the natural beach setting of Koh Phi Phi Leh to make it more “paradise-like”. The production altered some sand dunes and cleared some coconut trees and grass to widen the beach. Fox set aside a fund to reconstruct and return the beach to its natural state, however lawsuits were filed as many believed the damage to the ecosystem is permanent and restoration attempts failed. The lawsuits dragged on for years. In 2006, Thailand’s Supreme Court upheld an appeal court ruling that the filming had harmed the environment and ordered that damage assessments be made. Defendants in the case included 20th Century Fox and some Thai government officials.
The island before and after
Prior to 2004, the island had avoided development. However, it is now a part of Phi Phi National Park and has since begun to see the beginnings of development and some clearing of natural plant life. There are current plans to build bungalows on the island. Since 2007, there has been an entry charge for private visitors of Bt200 per person. There are now permanent basic facilities on the island – toilets, a snack bar and camping sites.
Phi Phi is situated in Krabi Province in southern Thailand. The two islands that make up this group (Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le) are about 40 kilometres south-west of Krabi City . The islands are about equidistant from Krabi and Phuket (to the north-west). The islands are famed for their spectacular landscapes. Rock climbers are attracted by the breathtaking cliffs, with tall sheer walls of limestone. Nature lovers, meanwhile, find a haven in the islands’ transparent seas and corel beds, which are home to a wide range of sea life. The two sections of Phi Phi Don, the larger of the two islands, are linked by a 1 k.m. isthmus of sand. Here stands the island’s original Muslim fishing village, Ban Ton Sai, now enveloped by an ever-expanding belt of bungalows, cafes and hotels. A pleasant one-hour coastal walk from Ban Ton Sai leads to Hat Yao (long beach), with tantalising white sands, vibrant offshore marine life and unhindered views to the soaring flanks of Phi Phi Le, 4 kilometres away. It is also worth climbing the steep trails on Phi Phi Don’s two massifs, which afford wonderful vistas over the island (see photo). Superb coral beds at Hin Pae off Hat Yao provide some of the best snorkelling in Thailand. To the north is Ban Laem Tong. This village’s sea gypsy population still survives on fish caught in the isolated coves of nearby Laem Tong. In contrast to phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Le remains uninhabited and unspoilt. Boats from Phi Phi Don bring visitors on day trips to see the paintings in Viking Cave (see picture). Another feature of the cave are the nests of edible swiftlet nests which are used in bird nest soup. Agile collectors climb rickety bamboo scaffolding to reach the nests, which are so valuable that the caves are protected by armed guards. In a bid to halt the illegal trade of the nests, staying overnight on the island is prohibited. There is excellent snorkelling at the coral reefs of ao Maya, a bay in the southwest corner of the island During late 1998, 20th Century Fox and the production team for the movie ‘The Beach’ landed in full force on the small Phi Phi Le island in southern Thailand. Almost from the start they were causing controversy with their plans to bulldoze two sections of the beach in Maya Bay and plant 60 palm trees. Unknown to Fox, a war had been waging here for a long time, and their arrival just put it onto the international stage for the first time. Fox and their representatives found themselves in the spotlight and they received a lot of un-wanted media attention. It seemed they were being attacked on many sides. The most outspoken, of course, were the environmentalists. The purpose of these web pages is to delve deeper into what really happened on those beaches. We will also take a look at the state of Maya Beach today and try and guess what the future may hold. This story is certainly not over. We chose the medium of the internet as it is easy for us to update these reports and give you the latest information. Travel to the Phi Phi Islands Ko Phi Phi can be reached by boat either from Krabi or Phuket. In downtown Krabi tourists can take a boat at Chaofa pier. The boat leaves for Ko Phi Phi daily. Boat tickets are available at the pier or from travel agents in the town. It takes about 2 hours and a half for the journey. Regular boats from Ao Nang to Ko Phi Phi are also available during high season.Mu Ko Phi Phi An archipelago of six islands consists of Ko Phi Phi Don and Ko Phi Phi Le as the major islands. The superb scenery of the islands includes high hills with jutting cliffs surrounded by marvelous beaches and emerald sea, hiding underneath a bank of coral reefs and colorful marine life. Places to visit of Mu Ko Phi Phi include Rainy season : May-Dec Monsoons : Sep- Nov Dry season : Jan-Apr Average Temp. : 17-37 c High Season : Dec-May Low Season : Jun-Oct
