Think Twice Before Visiting Thailand's Dangerous Island Region
By Amanda Finn
VACATIONS
For enthusiasts of culture, nature, and stunning beaches, Thailand is an absolute dream, but there is also a region you should put on your "maybe not" list: Koh Phi Phi.
Many beaches on the Phi Phi Islands are home to poisonous box jellyfish, which have some of the deadliest venom in the world. Travelers have noted a lack of warning signs.
For Nomadic Matt, tourism has polluted the waters and made the islands unbearable. He describes them as being "filled with drunk tourists," which is why they are so dangerous.
A drink called the Thai Bucket is notorious for being too strong and has even been known to be deadly. Travelers have noted they can contain substances that are unsafe to consume.
In areas like Monkey Beach, visitors are encouraged to feed and interact with the monkeys, but they will bite and scratch you to take your food if you don't hand it over willingly.
Per the Bangkok Post, there were 600 people treated in hospitals in 2012 for monkey bites at Phi Phi Island Hospital — the majority of them were tourists.