Ko Phi Phi Le เกาะพีพีเล

Viking Cave, Phi Phi (4 November, 2005)


Ko Phi Phi Le เกาะพีพีเล is a only 6.6 square kilometres, but it is stunningly beautiful. Phi Phi Le measures just 3 kilometers in length and 1 km at its broadest point. The sea around it averages about 20 meters in depth, reaching 34 meters at the deepest point off the island's southern tip. Composed almost entirely of limestone mountains that soar right out of the sea, Phi Phi Le has a number of fjord-like tongues of sea that lead into sheltered lagoons.

Phi Phi Le has some of the most beautiful bays in Thailand: Pileh, Maya and Loh Samah. Ao Pileh is an emerald blue lagoon very nearly enclosed by the sheer limestone walls. Ao Maya, or Maya Bay, is now world-famous, having been featured in the Leonardi DiCaprio movie, The Beach. Ao Loh Samah is another quiet bay with a small sandy beach at the end.

On Phi Phi Le's northeast is the famous Viking Cave. It was renamed by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej when he visited it in 1972. Coming across a stone in the cave that resembles a mythical creature, His Majesty renamed the cave Tham Phaya Nak, or Naga Cave. This cave is revered by the local people who come here to collect swift's nest, the main ingredient in bird nest soup, a Chinese delicacy. The eastern and southern walls of the cave contain colored drawings dating from earlier times. In addition to drawings of elephants, there were also drawings of various boats, including European, Arab and Chinese sailing ships. This provide an indication of their age, to a few hundred years. The cave probably provided early sailors a shelter to escape from rough seas, to transfer their cargo, or make repairs. It is quite likely that pirates and smugglers used this site as well.

Pier at Viking Cave, for the use of bird-nest harvesters, on Ko Phi Phi Le. (4 November, 2005)


The limestone cliffs of Ko Phi Phi Le rise up almost vertically from at sea. (4 November, 2005)


Ko Phi Phi Le is lush and serene. (4 November, 2005)

 Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips

 Discover with Timothy YouTube Channel

 PG Food Channel

 Learn Penang Hokkien YouTube Channel

SojiMart Videos

Map of Roads in Penang

Looking for information on Penang? Use this Map of Roads in Penang to zoom in on information about Penang, brought to you road by road.

Disclaimer

Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.

Latest from Discover with Timothy: Gurney Bay - what to see and do there

About this website

Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.

Robbie's Roadmap