Bamboo Island is an idyllic uninhabited island between Ao Nang and Phi Phi. Around the island is a beach of soft white coral sand and shallow coral reefs.
The Beach
Bamboo Island is 25 kilometres South of Ao Nang and just 10 kilometres North of Tonsai Town on Phi Phi Don.
It looks like a classical castaway island. The top rocky area covered in green vegetation. The island’s edge is nearly all sandy beach of soft fine white coral sand.
The beach extends all the way down the East side of the island and around the Northern end. The South West side of the island has a rocky shore.
All around the island is coral reef and sandy patches which is home to many fish.
Swimming & Snorkelling
Although the island is uninhabited it can be busy with boats on day tours. There is an area designated for boats to use and moor at the beach. Do not swim in this area.
Outside of the boat area you can swim and snorkel. If the tide level is low be very careful not to swim in to hard corals as they are very sharp and can cause cuts.
Swimming close to the island is normally very safe – depending upon the weather. Only swim away from the island if you are a strong experienced swimmer. If you are a good swimmer and keen snorkeller then you will find some beautiful areas of coral reef and see many different species of colourful tropical fish.
While you are not swimming or snorkelling you might want to have walk and explore the beach line.
National Parks
Although there’s no permanent buildings on Bamboo Island it is part of the Noppharat Thara & Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park and the Rangers are based on the island most of the time to care for and maintain the natural environment. The rangers buildings are behind the beach under the cover of the Casuarina pine trees.
Sea Gypsies
If you walked South, towards Phi Phi, along the beach on the East side of the island you will come across some very small ramshackle bamboo huts built on the beach backing on to a rocky wall. Moored on the beach here, in front of the huts, you might see longtail boats filled with fishing gear. The boats will belong to the fisherman whose ancestors may have been fishing along this coast for centuries. They use the huts on Bamboo Island for shelter when they are in this area on a fishing trip.
Transport
Getting To and From Bamboo Island
There is no regular public transport to Bamboo Island.
You can visit Bamboo Island on an organised tour from the Krabi coastline around Ao Nang, Koh Lanta, Phuket and Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi. These tours typically include Bamboo Island and the popular sites of the Phi Phi Islands.
Trips are also available from Tonsai Town on Phi Phi Don. From Tonsai there is more flexibility in tour destinations and you may visit only Bamboo Island or Bamboo Island and other sites on the Phi Phi Islands.
For organised tours see details here.
From all destinations it is possible to arrange a private boat trip to Bamboo Island. See our page on private boat rental here.
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