Varun Verma’s Thrillophilia Adventure to the Phi Phi Islands in Thailand
Parvej and I had not met in several years. Life has thrown us in different directions, be it jobs, families, or obligations. But somewhere between our usual “bro, we should catch up” messages, one call turned into a real plan. That plan took shape as a long overdue reunion… in Thailand.
I came across a Phi Phi Island Speedboat Tour through Thrillophilia. I messaged Parvej, “What if we chased islands this time?”
He just replied with three words: “Book it. Done.”
And so, we travelled to Phuket in May 2025 with sunscreen, GoPros, and a strange mix of excitement and nostalgia.
Racing with the Wind from Chalong Pier to Maya Bay
The next morning, the speedboat floated at the dock of Chalong Pier and was ready to leave. We tightened our life vests and hopped aboard.
As the engine started and we cut through the Andaman Sea, I could not stop smiling. Water sprayed in our faces, the boat bounced, and for the first time in months, I felt completely awake.
Our first stop was Maya Bay, which was famously featured in “The Beach.” But honestly? The camera did not do it justice.
When we stepped off the boat and our feet touched the warm white sand, time slowed down. The tall limestone cliffs, the turquoise water, and the hush of waves felt surreal.
Parvej turned to me and said, “You remember our beach trip to Goa in college? Feels like the grown-up version of that.”
I laughed, “Except this time we are not broke and sunburned.”
We stood there for a while and soaked it all in.
Viking Caves and the Stories Etched in Stone
Our guide pointed to a massive limestone cliff of the Viking Cave.
From afar, it looked like any other rock face, but as we drifted closer, intricate drawings, paintings of ships, birds, and tales lost in time emerged.
I have always loved places that hold secrets. There is something humbling about realising your worries are just tiny waves in the ocean of centuries.
Besides just a photo stop, the cave was a pause button.
Inside, the air was cool and silent, and the limestone formations hung like frozen waterfalls. Our guide told us about the swiftlet nests collected here. He also told us about how the cave was sacred to locals, and how nature and culture had coexisted here for generations.
Parvej whispered, “Imagine being the first person to discover this place.”
I replied, “Yeah… Imagine being the kind of person who still looks for things to discover.”
We left Viking Cave with a heavy heart.
Snorkelling in Pileh Lagoon
Nothing prepared me for Pileh Lagoon.
The boat slowed down as we entered a hidden emerald paradise, surrounded by cliffs that rose like walls to the sky. The water was so clear you could count the ripples of sunlight on the seafloor.
I slipped on my snorkel gear and jumped in.
The world below was alive.
Schools of fish moved like silver fireworks, coral reefs bloomed in impossible colours, and I was just floating weightless and speechless.
It felt like flying underwater and tapping into something ancient and perfect.
Back on the boat, Parvej looked at me with wide eyes and said, “Bro, why didn't we do this before?”
I just nodded and smiled. “Because then, we were not ready to appreciate it.”
Monkey Beach, Phi Phi Don, and a Lunch with a View
Our next stop was Monkey Beach, and yes, the name lived up to the hype. Dozens of cheeky monkeys greeted us, with some snatched bags of chips playfully while others lounged like they owned the island.
It was pure chaos and charm. One monkey even tried to grab Parvej’s sunglasses. We burst into laughter, surrounded by travellers, trees, and tropical mischief.
By the time we reached Phi Phi Don, we were starving and sun-soaked. The beachfront restaurant was beautiful, with wooden chairs on the sand and plates of steaming Thai curry and jasmine rice.
Over lunch, we talked about our families, dreams, regrets, and how life had quietly shaped us.
Parvej said something I will not forget:
“Maybe this trip is about remembering who we were before the world asked us to be someone else.”
And he was right.
Our Last Stop at Khai Nai Island
Our final stop was Khai Nai Island, which was a perfect half-moon slice of paradise. The beach was soft, and the sea melted from sky blue to sea green.
Some people went snorkelling again, but I just walked the beach barefoot and let the waves chase my ankles.
Parvej and I sat on the rocks at the far end, where the crowd thinned out. The sun dipped lower and cast long golden shadows across the water.
“This is what peace feels like,” I said quietly.
We both knew something had shifted. We had started the trip as two friends trying to catch up and ended it as two men who had reconnected with a piece of their younger and truer selves.
The Ride Back
The speedboat ride back to Phuket was calmer. The sun set behind us, and everyone on board was tired but smiling.
I leaned back to watch the waves roll out behind us and thought about everything we had seen that day.
I thought it would be a vacation. But it turned out to be a reminder:
That the world is bigger than my inbox.
That silence can say more than words.
That some friendships, like islands, remain untouched even by time.
Thanks to Thrillophilia, every detail from pickup to guide to experience felt seamless and genuine. It allowed us to just be present, without stress, planning, and the usual mess of figuring things out in a foreign country.
I came to Thailand to catch up with a friend.
I returned with a story that I will carry for the rest of my life.
Read More: Thrillophilia Thailand Reviews