Tonsai East Phi Phi; Everything You Need To Know In 2024
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Tonsai Bay, located on a bay facing east over the blue Andaman Sea, is a major arrival and departure center for Koh Phi Phi Don. Tonsai West and Tonsai East are separated by a 2-kilometer bay, which is supported by the famed Tonsai Village.
The infrastructure caters mostly to backpackers, with an endless supply of beach shacks, pubs, cheap and mid-range lodging options, and several restaurants serving both local and foreign cuisine. On the island, the only modes of transportation are by foot, bicycle, or longtail boat, all of which may be arranged in Tonsai village.
Tonsai Village buzzes with energy. A tangle of small streets surrounded with stores offering various kinds of jewelry, sarongs, and clothing, restaurants, guesthouses, and travel offices, among other things.
It is typically highly crowded in the mornings as people come and go, as well as utilize it to depart on boat excursions, because it is the primary ferry port. By dusk, the neighborhood is a hive of activity, with people flocking to the numerous restaurants and pubs.
Tonsai East and Tonsai West are two beaches that stretch east and west from the harbor. These two beaches provide a plethora of activities such as longtail boat rides, yachting, snorkeling, and kayaking.
Tonsai East features nonstop beach activity, several restaurants, and a vibrant nightlife where you can dance until morning 💃, whilst Tonsai West is considerably calmer, with only a few resorts and clubs, allowing you to relax in peace while yet dipping your toe into the action if you desire.
The cheapest method to go from Ko Phi Phi to Tonsai Bay Resort, Tonsai Beach is to take the boat from Ao Nang Pier, which costs $15 to $23 and takes 2 hours and 52 minutes.
Where To See On Tonsai East Phi Phi
Tonsai Village
Tonsai Village, located on the short strip of land between Tonsai Bay and Loh Dalum Bay, is the island’s primary core.
There are no roads, only trails, and bicycles are the only form of transportation.
Tonsai Village is rather tight, with many small alleyways to get lost in for the first day or so before you find your bearings.
There are a plethora of book stores and coffee shops, pharmacies, diving shops, jewelry stores, boutiques, restaurants, pubs, tattoo studios, and affordable lodging in the alleyways.
Tonsai Village has multiple banks and ATMs, so changing money is not an issue.
Tonsai East Beach
Tonsai East is a beach region that begins immediately behind the magnificently called Phi Phi Don Chukit Resort on the way to Long Beach. This neighborhood is not as crowded as Tonsai village, but it offers shopping and several excellent restaurants that transform into nighttime hotspots in the evening.
One of the best features of this beach is the breathtaking vistas of Tonsai Bay and Phi Phi Leh Island. If a 15-minute walk to the village is too much for you, you can simply get a boat-taxi to the pier.
Tonsai East Beach Hotels
Tonsai is the busiest part of Koh Phi Phi, with no roads or automobiles, only walkways. Tonsai offers plenty of affordable and midrange lodging, but few high-end options.
The Phi Phi Cabana is one of the nicest hotels in Phi Phi, located directly on the beach and offering superb amenities such as direct beach access to both Tonsai and Loh Dalum beaches.
The Phi Phi Casita is a stylish new resort on the east end of the island, a short distance from Loh Dalum Beach.
Phi Phi Tonsai Place, located in the heart of Tonsai, is an ideal place for those looking to enjoy Koh Phi Phi’s nightlife. There are doubles and twin rooms available, all of which are clean, contemporary, and well-furnished.
Also, check out some of the top hotels on Phi Phi;
Tonsai East Beach Restaurants & Nightlife
During the day, restaurants become quieter and less crowded. But once the sun goes down, the restaurant becomes a place where everyone gets down and starts dancing, drinking, and partying.
Italiano Bar and Restaurant, located near Tonsai’s pier, provides Italian and Thai cuisine in a tranquil environment.
Tonsai East Shopping
One thing is certain: if you need a ridiculous hat, Tonsai East’s booths and businesses have enough of them.
Aside from that, there are plenty of high-end convenience stores and a variety of vendors selling Phi Phi holiday essentials.
After making a right turn at the intersection where the road splits into two one way streets (Tonsai West and Tonsai East), continue straight ahead for approximately half a mile until you reach an alley full of stalls selling handmade jewelry, shirts, sarongs, shorts and various souvenirs. Some of these items are nice, but most of them aren’t worth anything except maybe a few dollars if they’re really cheap. Still, check out this plethora of stalls if you’ve forgotten your Frisbee or beach ball, or if you’re looking for a hand-woven bracelet or a pair of phony Ray Bans or Oakleys.
If you visit Ko Phi Phi during the day, take a walk down through Tonsai town to the beautiful bay at sunset; if you stay there for the night, enjoy the view from your room.
On and around the island, there are several activities and attractions to enjoy, like snorkeling, scuba diving, walking tours of the island, and rock climbing, to mention a few.