Bamboo Island — known locally as Koh Mai Phai — is a small, palm-fringed island at the northern edge of the Phi Phi Islands, famous for its powder-soft white sand, shallow turquoise water, and a coral reef that wraps almost the entire shoreline. It is one of the most beautiful stops on a Phi Phi day tour from Phuket, and, visited early, one of the quietest.
Here's everything you need to know about Bamboo Island — where it is, why it's special, whether you can swim and snorkel there, when it's open, and how to see it before the day-tripper crowds arrive.
Where is Bamboo Island?
Bamboo Island sits just north-east of Phi Phi Don, the main inhabited island in the Phi Phi group, within Krabi Province. It's a small, oval island — just 0.27 km² — with a centre of lush casuarina trees and a soft, powdery beach running around its edge. The English name comes from the bamboo-forest look of that foliage, though there's actually no bamboo on the island. As part of the Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, its reefs and marine life are protected, which is exactly why the water around it is so alive.
Can you swim and snorkel at Bamboo Island?
Yes — and the snorkelling is the real reason to come. A shallow reef rings the whole island, especially along the eastern side, and the water is calm and clear enough for swimmers and snorkellers of every level. You'll see reef fish of every colour, and if you're lucky a leopard shark (entirely harmless) or a turtle gliding past. Step ashore for a stroll on the soft sand, then take a mask and fins and explore — it's the kind of shallow, sheltered, fish-filled water that makes people fall in love with the Andaman.
The trick: arrive at first light
Bamboo Island is small, so it fills quickly once the mid-morning boats arrive. The single best thing you can do is get there early. While most operators are still tied up in the marina, our Phi Phi Sunrise tour (from ฿5,310) has already swum the reefs and is gliding into the Andaman — so you reach Bamboo Island when the beach is empty and the water is at its clearest. Running tours at first light takes planning and discipline; it's the same safety-first mindset I carried through 23 years as an airline pilot, now applied to how every Simba departure is planned and run.
When to go: low season is a secret weapon
The dry season (November–April) brings the calmest seas overall, but Bamboo Island is one of the few places that's arguably better in the low season (May–October). With fewer boats around, a small island like this feels genuinely yours, and because we go early we avoid most of the weather. Mornings are typically calm, clear and crowd-free, and the reef gets a rest from heavy foot traffic — so there's often more marine life than you'd expect. Bamboo Island also comes into its own in August and September, when Maya Bay closes for its annual conservation period and our Phi Phi tours feature Bamboo as the headline beach stop.
Practical tips for visiting Bamboo Island
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen — better for your skin and for the coral.
- Pack light — towels, a hat and a dry bag for your phone are all you need; we provide snorkel gear, floating aids, water and fresh fruit.
- Respect the reef — don't stand on coral or touch marine life.
- Go early — it's the difference between sharing the beach with a hundred people and having it to yourself.
See Bamboo Island the way it's meant to be seen
With Simba Sea Trips you don't just see Bamboo Island, you get it at its best: calm water, empty sand, and a reef just waking up. It's the standout stop on our Phi Phi Sunrise tour, and for couples and families who want the island entirely to themselves, our private charters let you set the pace. Either way, arrive early and Bamboo Island delivers one of the most beautiful mornings in the Andaman.
