Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave, Phi Phi: swimming, snorkeling and day trips from Phuket (2026)
Quick answer: Pileh Lagoon (Pi Leh) is a green, cliff-ringed cove on Phi Phi Leh where you can swim and snorkel; Viking Cave, a few minutes away by boat, is mostly seen from the water. You can only reach them on a boat trip from Phuket (about 1 hour by speedboat), with a stop of roughly 30 to 60 minutes at the lagoon. Listings we saw run from about GBP 60 to 92 per adult depending on the boat; the national park fee (400 baht per foreign adult, as on our other pages) is sometimes extra. Unlike Maya Bay, where swimming is banned, Pileh Lagoon is the stop where you jump in. It is also what boats offer instead when Maya Bay is closed (1 August to 30 September).
Highlights
Phi Phi Leh's cliffs
Pileh Lagoon sits in the same limestone scenery as Maya Bay, on the north-east side of the island.
Pileh Lagoon
A sheltered cove with calm green water: swim or snorkel, with life vests on most boats.
Viking Cave
A cavity with old paintings and swiftlet nest harvesting; depending on the trip you sail past it or stop to snorkel. Check the format before booking.
Monkey Beach
Often on the same route; macaques approach boats. Do not feed them and keep bags closed.
Practical info
Tips
- To sort the trips: an early speedboat departure (around 7 am) arrives before the big groups; a large boat is cheaper but slower. Check the real time at the lagoon, the number of snorkeling stops (often two), whether the park fee and lunch are included, and whether the route really passes Viking Cave. Sources disagree on that last point and on timings: confirm with the operator. Bring reef-safe sunscreen without oxybenzone or octinoxate (banned in the park). To compare all trips and prices: Phi Phi day trips from Phuket; for the film beach: Maya Bay; for the whole group: Phi Phi Islands; for the ferry: Phuket to Phi Phi ferry.
How to get there
Speedboat trip from Phuket (about 1 hour crossing, hotel transfer in most offers) Large boat (about 2 hours), cheaper From Krabi or Phi Phi Don: longtail boat or day trip
Opening hours
Nearby
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