A Selection of Popular Tours to Phi Phi Islands
Phi Phi Islands are about 45 km southeast of Phuket, and getting there is half the adventure. You have options. Lots of them. Speedboats get you to Maya Bay in under an hour but cost more and bounce around in choppy water. Ferries take longer, around 2 hours, but they are cheaper and more comfortable if you get seasick easily. Some tours combine Phi Phi with Bamboo Island or Khai Island for a full day of island hopping.
The biggest decision is whether to do a day trip or stay overnight. Day trips are convenient but crowded. You will share Maya Bay with hundreds of other tourists who all arrived at the same time. Staying overnight means you can visit the bay early morning or late afternoon when the crowds thin out. I have done both, and the overnight option feels like a completely different place.
Most tours include hotel pickup, lunch, snorkelling gear, and a guide. Prices range from around 1,500 THB for basic speedboat tours to 4,000+ THB for private or premium experiences. National park fees (400 THB for adults, 200 THB for children) are sometimes included, sometimes not. Always check before you book. Below is my selection of reliable Phi Phi tours from Phuket.
Popular Tours to Phi Phi Islands
Going on Your Own by Ferry
If you prefer to skip the organised tours entirely, you can take a ferry or speedboat from Rassada Pier in Phuket Town directly to Phi Phi Don. Big ferries run several times a day and take about 2 hours. The one-way fare is around 600 THB. Speedboats take about 1 hour and cost 850 to 950 THB. Most operators offer online booking with hotel transfer included.
This is the best option if you plan to stay overnight on Phi Phi. You arrive at Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don and can explore at your own pace. Once on the island, you can hire a longtail boat for a private tour of Maya Bay, Pi Leh Lagoon, Bamboo Island, and the surrounding bays. It gives you much more flexibility than a day trip, and you get to experience Phi Phi in the quieter early morning and late afternoon hours when the day-trippers have gone.
One thing to keep in mind: the last ferry back to Phuket leaves at around 3:30 pm. If you are doing a same-day return, make sure you are back at Tonsai Pier in time. During the monsoon season (May to October), some departures may be cancelled due to rough seas.
Speedboat vs Big Boat vs Longtail
Speedboats are the most popular option. They take about 45 minutes to 1 hour from Phuket to Phi Phi and can reach spots like Pi Leh Lagoon and Maya Bay directly. Group sizes range from 14 to 40 passengers, depending on the operator. The ride can be rough in choppy weather, especially on the return leg in the afternoon when the wind picks up. If you are prone to seasickness, take medication 30 minutes before departure and sit at the back of the boat.
Big boats (ferries and large tour boats) take about 2 hours but are far more stable. You can walk around, sit inside with air conditioning, or stand on the open deck. These are better for families with young children or anyone who does not handle rough seas well. Big boat day tours typically go to Tonsai Bay on Phi Phi Don, where you transfer to a smaller longtail for the island hopping part.
Longtail boats are mainly used once you are already on Phi Phi Don. You can hire one from Tonsai Pier for a half-day or full-day private tour of the surrounding islands. Expect to pay 1,500 to 3,000 THB depending on the itinerary and duration. Longtails are slow and open to the elements, but they can access shallow bays that speedboats cannot enter.
What a Typical Day Trip Looks Like
Most speedboat day trips from Phuket follow a similar pattern. Hotel pickup is early, usually between 6:30 and 7:30 am. A minivan takes you to the departure pier (often Royal Phuket Marina or a pier near Phuket Town). After a safety briefing and light breakfast, you board the speedboat.
The first stop is usually Pi Leh Lagoon on Phi Phi Leh, where you swim in the emerald water surrounded by limestone cliffs. Next is Maya Bay, where boats drop you at a floating pier in Loh Samah Bay. You walk through a jungle boardwalk to reach the beach. No swimming is allowed at Maya Bay, only wading knee-deep. You get about 30 to 45 minutes there.
After Maya Bay, the tour usually passes Viking Cave (viewed from the boat) and stops at Monkey Beach for photos. Then there is a snorkelling stop, often near Phi Phi Don or at a reef around the islands. Lunch is typically a buffet at a restaurant on Phi Phi Don or at a resort. Some tours include a stop at Bamboo Island or Khai Island on the way back. You return to your hotel by 4 to 5 pm.
The whole day is about 8 to 9 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off. It is a full day, and you will be tired by the end. Bring sunscreen, a hat, a dry bag for your phone, and cash for drinks or the national park fee if it is not included.
Sunrise and Sunset Tours
Sunrise tours depart very early, around 5 am pickup, with the boat leaving by 6 to 7 am. The idea is to reach Maya Bay and Pi Leh Lagoon before the main wave of day-trippers arrives. It works. The beaches and lagoons are noticeably emptier, the light is better for photos, and the overall experience is calmer. You return to Phuket by early afternoon. Sunrise tours cost more than standard tours (typically 3,500 to 4,500 THB), but the difference in crowd levels is worth it.
Sunset tours depart later in the day, usually around 10 to 11 am. The itinerary is similar but in reverse order, ending with a sunset view from the water on the way back. Some sunset tours include stops at lesser-known spots like Shark Point near Long Beach, where you can snorkel with blacktip reef sharks in shallow water. Sunset tours tend to be more relaxed because you are visiting sites after the morning rush has left.
Private vs Group Tours
Group tours (also called join-in tours) are the standard option. You share a speedboat with 14 to 40 other passengers, follow a fixed itinerary, and stop where the guide decides. They are affordable (1,500 to 3,000 THB) and well organised. The trade-off is that you have no control over timing or stops, and popular locations can feel rushed.
Private tours let you charter a speedboat or longtail for your group only. You choose the itinerary, the pace, and how long you spend at each stop. Want to skip Monkey Beach and spend an extra hour at Pi Leh Lagoon? Done. Private speedboat charters from Phuket start at around 15,000 to 25,000 THB for the boat (not per person), which can be good value for groups of 6 or more. Private longtail charters from Phi Phi Don start at about 3,000 to 5,000 THB for a half day.
For families with young children, private tours are often the better choice. You can set the pace, avoid the rushed schedule of group tours, and stop whenever the kids need a break.
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