Phi Phi Island Tours

Your ultimate guide to visiting Phi Phi Islands

Phi Phi Island is one of Thailand's most iconic day trips, a cluster of limestone islands in the Andaman Sea that covers everything from the world-famous Maya Bay to quiet snorkeling lagoons most visitors never find. Getting there requires a boat, and almost every tour is built around that boat ride: where you depart from, how fast you travel, how many islands you cover, and how long you stay.

The decisions that matter most aren't which island to visit: they're all worth it, but which combination of departure point, boat type, and tour duration works for your schedule and travel style. This guide covers all of it so you can plan the day without surprises.

Essential info at a glance

  • Tour types: Most options are full-day shared tours by speedboat or catamaran from Phuket or Krabi, covering Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Beach, and at least one more island. Longtail boat and private tours are available from Phi Phi itself.
  • Book ahead. Full-day tours from Phuket sell out 3–5 days in advance during peak season (Dec–Feb). Private longtail tours from Phi Phi can usually be booked same-day.
  • Timings: Most tours depart between 7am and 10:30am. Sunrise tours start as early as 6am. Plan your hotel pickup time accordingly; transfers typically begin 30–60 minutes before pier departure.
  • When to go: Early morning departures avoid peak crowds at Maya Bay and get calmer sea conditions. Dry season (November–April) gives the best visibility for snorkeling.
  • Tour duration: ~8–10 hours (full-day) | ~4–6 hours (half-day from Phi Phi).
  • National Park fee: ฿400 per person, payable in cash on arrival. Not always included in the tour price: check your ticket before you go.
  • Departure points: Phuket, Krabi, or Phi Phi Don. Your departure point shapes your entire day: see the boarding section before booking.
  • Travel light. Most tours have limited dry storage. A waterproof bag for your phone and valuables is worth bringing.

Everything you need to know to plan your Phi Phi Island tour

Types of tours to choose from

Tour typeVariantsWhat's includedDurationExperience focusPrice range

Speedboat

Standard (shared) · Premium (shared, fewer passengers)

Buffet lunch, snacks, soft drinks, snorkeling gear, English guide, hotel transfers

8.5–10 hrs

Fastest transit, covers most islands; standard is lively and packed, premium offers more space and amenities

฿1,500–฿3,200

Catamaran

Standard · Premium speed (sunset route)

Buffet lunch, snacks, drinks, snorkeling, kayak and paddleboard gear, English guide, insurance, hotel transfers; sunset variant adds BBQ dinner

10 hrs

Stable and spacious; best for families and rough-season travel; sunset variant ends at Maiton Island with a BBQ dinner

฿2,200–฿2,900

Longtail boat

Shared · Private

Snorkeling gear, life jacket, water, seasonal fruits, English guide; private adds fully customisable itinerary

4–8 hrs

Traditional open-air boat from Phi Phi Don; shared is budget-friendly, private lets you set the pace and stops

฿750–฿2,400

Early bird speedboat (Krabi)

Shared only

Breakfast, buffet lunch, fruits, soft drinks, snorkeling gear, life jacket, insurance, hotel transfers

8.5 hrs

Departs at 6am from Krabi: designed specifically to reach Maya Bay before the main crowd

฿2,650

Know your boat types

The boat you're on shapes more of your day than most people expect: not just the journey time, but the comfort, the crowd size, and how much of the route you can cover.

💡 Not sure which to pick? If you're coming from Phuket and want to cover the most ground quickly, a standard or premium speedboat is the practical choice. If comfort is the priority, especially for families or rough-season travel, the catamaran is worth the extra cost and longer journey. Already on Phi Phi? Skip the mainland crossing entirely and take a longtail.

Half-day or full-day?

Half-day tours (4–6 hrs) | from Phi Phi only: Half-day options are only realistically available if you're already based on Phi Phi Don. From the island, longtail and speedboat tours cover Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Beach, and Viking Cave in a morning or afternoon slot. Good for guests who want to see the key highlights without a full day commitment.

Full-day tours (8.5–10 hrs) | from Phuket or Krabi: The standard format for most visitors. You'll cover five to eight attractions depending on the tour, with a buffet lunch included, usually on Phi Phi Don. The extra time allows stops at Bamboo Island or Maiton Island: spots that half-day tours don't reach. Most guests find the full day well-paced; the boat time is broken up by swimming and snorkeling stops.

What time do Phi Phi Island tours depart?

Tour typeHotel pickup startsPier departureReturns to pier

Sunrise / early bird

5:30am–6:00am

6:00am–7:00am

~4:00pm

Standard full-day (Phuket)

6:30am–7:30am

7:30am–8:30am

~5:00pm–5:30pm

Standard full-day (Krabi)

7:00am–8:00am

8:00am–9:00am

~4:00pm–4:30pm

Sunset catamaran (Phuket)

6:00am–7:00am

7:00am

~7:00pm

Half-day from Phi Phi

No transfer

Multiple slots

4–6 hrs later

Best time to go

Find your Phi Phi Island tour depparture points

What you'll see

Beach with turquoise water and limestone cliffs at Maya Bay, Thailand.
Aerial view of Pileh Lagoon's emerald waters surrounded by limestone cliffs and boats.
Monkeys on Monkey Beach, Krabi, Thailand, interacting with tourists on a sandy shoreline.
Viking Cave with wooden scaffolding and boat in turquoise waters, Ko Phi Phi, Thailand.
Aerial view of Bamboo Island with boats along the sandy shore and turquoise waters.
Longtail boats in Loh Samah Bay, Phi Phi, with limestone cliffs and clear water.
Snorkelers in clear blue water near Racha Noi island with a speedboat nearby.
Souvenir shops and bakery on a vibrant street in Koh Phi Phi Don, Thailand.
1/8

Maya Bay

The most famous stop on any Phi Phi tour, made internationally known by the film The Beach. A horseshoe cove ringed by sheer limestone cliffs and turquoise water. Swimming is restricted to protect the recovering coral reef, but the beach and the views are the draw. Arrive early, by 10am it's significantly busier.

Ideal time: 1 hour.

Pileh Lagoon

An enclosed emerald lagoon surrounded by towering cliffs on all sides: no beach, just water and rock. Quieter than Maya Bay, and often more visually striking. One of the best swimming spots on the route.

Ideal time: 30–45 minutes.

Monkey Beach

A small bay on Phi Phi Don where wild macaques come down to the waterline. Most tours stop here for photos from the boat rather than going ashore. No feeding: it disrupts their diet and encourages aggression.

Ideal time: 20–30 minutes.

Viking Cave

A large sea cave on Phi Phi Leh with ancient boat paintings and an active bird's nest harvesting operation: the nests are collected for bird's nest soup, a delicacy across Southeast Asia. Most tours view it from the water.

Ideal time: 20–30 minutes.

Bamboo Island (Ko Mai Phai)

A flat island with shallow coral reefs, calm water, and a wide sandy beach lined with casuarina trees. One of the best snorkeling stops on any full-day tour: expect reef fish and the occasional small reef shark. Typically added on longer tours departing from Phuket.

Ideal time: 1–2 hours.

Loh Samah Bay

A calmer bay on the southern tip of Phi Phi Leh with good snorkeling and fewer boats than Pileh Lagoon. A useful second swimming stop on tours that include it.

Ideal time: 30–45 minutes.

Maiton Island (Ko Maiton)

A private island south of Phuket, exclusively covered on the sunset catamaran tour. Coral reefs, calm clear water, and a BBQ dinner on the beach at sunset. The furthest stop from the main Phi Phi route, but the quietest and most scenic end to a full day.

Ideal time: 2 hours.

Phi Phi Don

The main island and the only inhabited one. Most full-day tours stop here for a buffet lunch at a beachside restaurant. Worth arriving a few minutes early to walk the beach before the lunch crowd settles in.

Ideal time: 1–1.5 hours including lunch.

Pre-boarding guide

Local tips

  • Take the earliest departure available. The difference between arriving at Maya Bay at 8am vs. 10am is the difference between 20 boats and 200. Every guide will tell you this. It's true.
  • Sit at the front of the speedboat for photos, the back if you get seasick. The bow gives the best views and wind; the stern is calmer and drier.
  • The buffet lunch stop on Phi Phi Don is your best chance to explore the village. Most tours give 60–90 minutes here. Walk five minutes from the restaurant and you'll find the back streets of Tonsai Village: quieter than the beach and worth a quick look.
  • Pileh Lagoon is often better than Maya Bay for swimming. It's less crowded, the water is just as clear, and you can actually get in. If your tour covers both, prioritise getting in the water at Pileh.
  • The National Park fee surprise. If it's not listed as included in your tour, assume you'll pay it in cash at Phi Phi. ฿400 per person. Bring small bills.
  • Seasickness on the return crossing is more common than the outward trip. You're tired, you've been in the sun all day, and the late afternoon sea is often choppier. If you took medication in the morning, consider a second dose before the return journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Arrive at the pier at least 15–20 minutes before your listed departure time. If your tour includes hotel transfers, your driver will have a pickup time: be ready in the lobby 10 minutes early. Drivers typically wait a maximum of 10 minutes after the scheduled pickup before leaving.