Maya Bay(Phiphi Island)

• Phi Phi Islands The name is derived from Malay, and the original was Pulao Pi ah Pi, where in pulao is the Malay word for island , and pi,pronounced with only a haft 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 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 42 square kilometers,They were incorporated into the National Park in 1983. Some of the interesting places to visit include:
Yung Island lies to the north of Phi Phi Don. there is a rocky beach on the east side, and a smaller strand of sand in a fold of the hill. Many beautiful and various corals are found there.Pai Island lies also to the north of Phi Phi Don, not far from Koh yung . Sandy beaches are on the north and east sides of the island. Broad coral reefs stretch away into the south.

Phi Phi Don Island 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 gipsy village. these sea gipsies emigrated from Koh Lipeh in tarutao National Park, near the border eith Malaysia. Diving at Laem Tohng is excellent, as it is also at Hua Rah Ket to the extreme south.
There are long beaches with rock scattered about. Two curving bays are especially beautiful: Ton Sai and Loh Dalam.

Phi Phi Ley Island 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 point off the island's southern tip.Phi Phi Ley has several beautiful bays: Piley, Maya, and Loh samah; Ao Piley is very nearly enclosed by the limstone 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 Pya Nak, from the shape of a particular boulder, which resembles in shape the head of the great serpent of Buddist 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' nest Soup, a Chinese delicacy. On the eastern and southern walls of the cave are coloured drawings dating from historic times.
There are pictures of elephants and also of various boats : European,Arab, and Chinese sailing ships; barques, motorboats , and steamships, It is theorized that these were done by pirates who paused in their travels from west to east, sheltering in the cave to escape the monsoon winds, transfer cargo,or make repairs.
For travel to the Phi Phi Islands, Tour operators provide transport and tour packages to this popular destination. Regular boat service is available from Jao Fah pier in Krabi.