The 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 Thong, where there is a Chao Ley, or sea gipsy village. These sea gypsies emigrated from Koh Lipeh in Tarutao National Park, near the border with Malaysia. Diving at Laem Thong is excellent, as it is also at Hua Rah Ket to the extreme south. There are long beaches with rocks scattered about. Two curving bays are especially beautiful: Ton Sai and Loh Dalam. This is also where accommodations and tourist services are found.

The 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 : Pileh, Maya and Loh Samah. Ao Pileh is very nearly enclosed by the limestone walls of the island's cliffs, so that the water appears almost to be an island 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, Tam Pya Nak, from the shape of a particular boulder, which resembles in shape the head of the great serpent of Buddhist 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's Nest Soup, a Chinese delicacy. On the eastern and southern walls of the cave are colored drawings dating from historic times. There are pictures of elephants and also of various boats: European, Arab and Chinese sailing ships; baroques, motorboats, and steamships. It is theorized that these pirates who paused in their travels from west to east, sheltering in the cave to escape the monsoon winds, transfer cargo, or make repairs.

To travel to the Phi Phi Islands, many tour operators in both Phuket and Krabi provide transport and tour packages to this popular destination. Regular boat service is available form Jao Fah pier in Krabi.

The 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.

A couple of caves are located in the center of the island, offering a wonder of rocks and caverns and housing the spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. Some sections in the cave create a cavern pool that you can swim in. To explore the cave, a guide is needed; a Muslim family who lives near the trailhead to the cave offers guide service for 50 Baht per person. The cave is located off the lower of two cross-island roads, down a narrow 1.5 kilometer-dirt path through the rubber plantation that ends up at the Muslim home.