SeaTV · Thailand · Andaman Coast · Phuket Region · Ko Mai Phai & Lanah Bay
Ko Mai Phai (Bamboo Island) & Lanah Bay — The Outer Phi Phi Anchorages
~5 km NE of Phi Phi Don to Bamboo Island · ~3 km NE to Mosquito Island (Koh Yung) · Lanah Bay tucked into the NW coast of Phi Phi Don · the three outer anchorages reached on side-trips from a Phi Phi Don base · all within Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park · all dawn-or-don’t-bother due to the day-trip fleet.
When the seven anchorages of Phi Phi Don feel too settled and the regulated chaos of Phi Phi Le isn’t where you want to spend the day, the outer anchorages give you the alternative. Ko Mai Phai (Bamboo Island) is a 700 m long, flat, casuarina-covered island ~5 km NE of Phi Phi Don with a powder-white sand ring and a reef extending ~500 m offshore — the best snorkel beach in the Phi Phi group at sunrise. Mosquito Island (Koh Yung) is its smaller, rockier neighbour ~2 km W with steeper drop-offs and rarely visited beaches. Lanah Bay (Loh Lana) is a small NW-coast cove of Phi Phi Don itself — a quiet lunch stop reached by tender or short hop from Loh Dalum. All three sit inside the National Park · all three charge the same 400 THB park fee · all three suffer from day-trip overcrowding from 10:00 onwards but are practically empty at 06:30.
⚠ Reality check:
→ Park fee 400 THB / 200 THB child · pre-register via DNP e-ticket from Jan 2025
→ No anchoring on reefs · use mooring buoys only · designated areas marked by buoys
→ Bamboo Island reef ~500 m offshore · don’t drop hook in shallow water near the beach
→ Day-trip armada arrives ~10:00 · be there by 07:00 or after 16:00 to avoid 30+ tour boats
→ Lanah Bay is NW of Phi Phi Don · NE-monsoon (Nov-Apr) only · exposed to SW swell May-Oct
→ No overnight on Bamboo Island or Mosquito Island · day-stop only · rangers patrol at dusk
→ Reef-safe sunscreen only · regular sunscreen banned · fines apply
⚓ The Three Outer Anchorages at a Glance
Bamboo Island
Ko Mai Phai · ~5 km NE Phi Phi Don · 0.27 km²
Mosquito Island
Koh Yung · ~3 km NE Phi Phi Don
Lanah Bay
Loh Lana · NW coast Phi Phi Don
Park status
Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi NP
Park fee
400 THB / 200 THB child
Best time
Dawn (06:30-09:00) or late (after 16:00)
Best season
Nov-Apr (NE monsoon)
Overnight
⚠ Day-stop only · no overnight
Anchoring
Mooring buoys only · no reef anchor
The Three Anchorages
1 · Ko Mai Phai (Bamboo Island) — The Sunrise Snorkel Stop
A flat, low-lying, oval-shaped island measuring about 0.27 km² and ~700 m long. The interior is a casuarina pine forest (despite the English name, there is no actual bamboo on the island). The entire perimeter is a powder-white sand strip with a reef ~500 m offshore. ~45-60 minutes from Tonsai by longtail · ~15 minutes from Laem Tong at the NE tip of Phi Phi Don.
Anchorage: use designated mooring buoys around the W side · do not anchor on the reef · holding offshore in 10-15 m sand is fine for yachts. The mooring zone is signed.
⚠ Day-trip overcrowding 10:00-15:00. The beach can have 30+ speedboats and 200+ swimmers at peak times. Arrive at 06:30 to have it to yourself · the early-bird Phi Phi sunrise tours leave Phuket at 05:30 specifically for this window.
→ Snorkel zones: N and S of the mooring area · the reef is partially damaged but still has reef fish, blacktip reef shark sightings, and clownfish at dawn.
→ Walk around the island: ~30 minutes · only at low tide · take water and reef shoes.
→ Facilities: ranger station, basic toilets, occasional snack stalls (NE-monsoon high season). No accommodation.
Use it for: dawn snorkel + breakfast at anchor before sailing back to Phi Phi Don for the day.
2 · Mosquito Island (Koh Yung) — The Quieter Neighbour
A smaller, rockier islet ~2 km W of Bamboo Island · about 3 km NE of Phi Phi Don. Thai name Koh Yung. Steeper drop-offs around the perimeter make it a better dive site than snorkel beach · the small sand cove on the SW side is the only landing area · the rest of the island is cliff.
Anchorage: use mooring buoys on the lee side · or stay offshore in 15-20 m sand · the perimeter drops fast so anchor selection matters.
⚠ Far less developed than Bamboo Island · no facilities ashore · come prepared with water, food, and reef-safe sunscreen.
⚠ Currents around the perimeter can be strong · brief snorkellers and divers before they enter the water.
Use it for: dive stop · quiet alternative when Bamboo Island is overrun · the small SW cove is empty most of the day.
3 · Lanah Bay (Loh Lana) — NW Phi Phi Don Cove
A small bay tucked into the NW coast of Phi Phi Don · backed by limestone cliffs and a small fishing community. Connected by a hill path to Loh Bagao on the E side and to Tonsai via the viewpoint trail. Boats anchor 12-15 m offshore on sand.
Approach by tender from Loh Dalum. The simplest way to visit Lanah is by short tender from a yacht anchored in Loh Dalum or Tonsai · alternatively, anchor offshore on a calm NE-monsoon day.
⚠ NE monsoon (Nov-Apr) only. Fully exposed to SW swell · uncomfortable to dangerous in May-Oct.
⚠ No mooring buoys at Lanah · anchor in sand on the lee side · check holding before leaving the boat.
Use it for: calm-weather lunch stop with very few other yachts · gateway to the hill path to Loh Bagao or the viewpoint trail.
Best Strategy from Phi Phi Don
The Dawn Run · Bamboo + Mosquito (NE)
Anchor overnight in Laem Tong on the NE tip of Phi Phi Don. Sail out at first light · 15 minutes to Bamboo Island · 30-45 minutes for snorkel + breakfast · 5 minutes to Mosquito Island · another snorkel · back to Phi Phi Don by 09:30 before the day-trip fleet. The whole loop is ~6 NM and takes about 3 hours including swim time.
The Lunch Run · Lanah Bay (NW)
In NE-monsoon weather, sail from Tonsai or Loh Dalum around the NW corner of Phi Phi Don to Lanah Bay · ~1 NM · 20 minutes · anchor for lunch · short hike up to the viewpoint trail · back to Tonsai for the night. Skip in May-Oct due to swell.
Pro Tips for the Outer Anchorages
Sunrise or skip it. Bamboo Island after 09:30 is 30 boats and crowded sand · before 09:00 it’s a private island. The whole point of being on a yacht in the Phi Phi area is the dawn window · use it.
Anchor in Laem Tong, not Tonsai, for the dawn run. Laem Tong is 15 minutes from Bamboo Island vs 45 minutes from Tonsai · the difference is 30 minutes of empty beach time at sunrise.
Pre-register the park fee. 400 THB / 200 THB child via DNP e-ticket since Jan 2025 · keep the receipt accessible for ranger inspection.
Reef-safe sunscreen only. Standard chemical sunscreens are banned in the National Park · zinc-oxide based products only.
Take everything back to Phi Phi Don. No bins on Bamboo Island or Mosquito Island · pack out all rubbish · the rangers are strict.
Check tides for Bamboo. The reef can be uncomfortable to cross at very low tide · time the snorkel for mid-tide rising for best visibility.
No overnight on the outer islands. Park rangers patrol at dusk · sail back to Phi Phi Don, Lanta, or Krabi for the night.
Routes To & From the Outer Anchorages
From Phi Phi Don (Laem Tong): ~3 NM NE to Bamboo Island · ~4 NM NE to Mosquito Island. See Ko Phi Phi Don · 7 Anchorages.
From Phi Phi Don (Tonsai/Loh Dalum): ~1 NM NW around the corner to Lanah Bay (NE-monsoon only).
From Phuket (Yacht Haven): ~30 NM SE to Phi Phi Don · then the dawn run NE. See Phuket Yacht Haven Marina.
From Phi Phi Le: ~5 NM N from Pileh Lagoon to Bamboo Island. See Ko Phi Phi Le · Maya Bay & Hong Pileh.
Emergency Numbers — Phi Phi National Park
Tourist Police (24/7, English): 1155
Marine Emergency & SAR: 1196
Coastguard Distress: VHF Ch. 16
National Park Office (Phi Phi): +66 75 661 145
Phi Phi Hospital: +66 75 622 151 (small clinic, minor cases only)
Useful Links
→ DNP Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi NP (official)
→ DNP National Park e-Ticket System
Related SeaTV Pages
Routes To & From the Outer Anchorages
→ Phuket Yacht Haven Marina (charter base)
→ Krabi Coast · Ao Nang & Railay
Hub & Routes
Planning the Outer Phi Phi Run?
Bamboo Island and Mosquito Island NE · Lanah Bay NW · all park-fee territory · all dawn-or-don’t-bother. Anchor at Laem Tong overnight, sail out at first light, snorkel before the day-trip fleet arrives.
“Three outer anchorages on the edges of the Phi Phi map — Bamboo Island and Mosquito Island sitting flat and sandy three-and-five kilometres NE of Phi Phi Don, Lanah Bay tucked into the limestone cliffs of the NW coast. None of them is worth bothering with after nine in the morning when the day-trip armada arrives. All of them are private islands at six-thirty when the only sounds are reef fish jumping and the occasional baby blacktip cruising under the boat. Anchor at Laem Tong the night before, set the alarm for first light, pre-register the four hundred Thai baht park fee, bring the zinc-oxide sunscreen, and remember that Lanah Bay is November-to-April only — the rest of the year the SW swell makes the NW coast of Phi Phi Don a place for nobody at all.”
— SeaTV Visual Pilot · Andaman Coast Edition
