Big Boat vs Speedboat vs Longtail: Which Phuket Tour Boat Is Best?

For most island day trips from Phuket, a speedboat is the better choice: it reaches Phi Phi in about 45 to 60 minutes instead of 90 minutes to 2 hours, fits in more stops and can enter shallow bays and lagoons that big boats cannot. A big boat is the better choice if you get seasick easily, travel with elderly relatives or want more space and a lower price. A longtail, the traditional Thai wooden boat, is for short hops close to shore, not for long crossings. This guide compares all three, plus catamarans, so you can pick the right boat for your trip.

Where we stand: the island day trips and private charters we sell all run on speedboats. That is exactly why this guide also says plainly when another boat type would suit you better.

The Short Answer

• Most time at the islands and the most stops: speedboat.
• Prone to seasickness, or comfort matters more than time: big boat, or a speedboat trip on sheltered water.
• Tight budget: a big boat or a longtail is usually cheaper than a speedboat to the same place.
• A short trip to a nearby island, or a traditional ride for the photos: longtail.
• A group that wants speed without strangers on board: a private speedboat.

Side by Side Comparison

Speedboats

Speedboats are fiberglass boats with powerful outboard engines, usually carrying 25 to 35 passengers on a shared tour. They are the dominant tour boat in Phuket and the one most island day trips use.

Advantages

• Speed: you reach the islands in half the time or less, so you spend more of the day swimming and exploring and less of it in transit.
• More stops: a typical speedboat day visits 4 to 6 places, where a big boat might manage 2 to 3.
• Access: speedboats can enter shallow bays and narrow lagoons and come in close to beaches. That is what makes Pileh Lagoon and a close approach to Maya Bay possible on a day trip.
• Earlier arrival: they tend to reach popular spots before the big boats and the crowds those boats carry.
• Better snorkeling: a speedboat can anchor at the best snorkeling spots, including smaller reef areas a big boat cannot use.
• Range: they are the only practical option for distant destinations such as the Similan Islands, about 60 to 70 minutes away by speedboat.

Disadvantages

• Bumpy ride: speedboats bounce over waves. In choppy water this is uncomfortable, and it is the boat type most likely to cause seasickness.
• Wet and loud: expect sea spray, especially in the front rows, and engine noise that makes conversation hard while you are moving.
• Limited space: tight bench seating with little room to move around.
• Basic facilities: some speedboats have a small toilet at the back, others have none.
• Higher price: usually the most expensive of the three.
• Not for everyone: because the crossings can be bumpy, our Phi Phi and James Bond Island speedboat tours are not recommended for pregnant women or guests with back problems.

Best for

Active travelers, snorkelers, first-time visitors who want the highlights in one day and anyone who wants to make the most of their time at the islands.

Big Boats

"Big boat" covers the larger vessels that carry 40 passengers or more: converted ferries, converted fishing boats, purpose-built tour boats and large catamarans. The largest take well over a hundred people. They have covered decks, toilets and sometimes several levels.

Advantages

• Stability: the bigger hull handles waves far better, and this is the main reason to choose one. Motion that would have you gripping the side of a speedboat is barely noticeable on a big boat.
• Space: room to walk around, stretch your legs or lie on the deck, which matters on a full day out.
• Facilities: toilets and shade on covered decks, and on some boats sun decks, buffet meals served on board, snorkeling platforms or air conditioning.
• Price: generally 30 to 50 percent cheaper than a speedboat tour to the same destination.

Disadvantages

• Slow: 90 minutes to 2 hours to Phi Phi, compared with 45 to 60 minutes by speedboat, which leaves less time at the islands.
• Fewer stops: big boats cannot enter shallow bays or narrow passages, so some highlights, such as Pileh Lagoon, are skipped or seen from a distance.
• Later arrival, bigger crowds: you reach popular spots after the speedboats, and with 40 or more passengers on board every stop is busier.
• Fixed schedule: a rigid itinerary with very little flexibility.

Best for

Travelers prone to seasickness, elderly travelers, families with very young children who need room to move, budget travelers and anyone who values comfort over time at the islands. Big boat tours are run by other operators; we do not sell them.

Longtail Boats

Longtails are the traditional wooden Thai boats with a long propeller shaft reaching out from the stern, driven by a converted car or truck engine. They carry 6 to 15 passengers and are an iconic part of Thai coastal life.

Advantages

• Authentic: a longtail ride is a quintessential Thai experience, and the boats photograph beautifully against the islands.
• Affordable: generally the cheapest way onto the water.
• Gentle at low speed: they travel slowly enough that the ride is usually comfortable on calm water.
• Flexible: you can hire one at many beaches for a short custom trip.

Disadvantages

• Slow: a top speed of about 8 to 10 knots, so Phi Phi would take 2 hours or more each way.
• Limited range: not suitable for distant destinations such as the Similan or Surin Islands.
• Basic: no toilet, no shade on most boats and, on some, minimal safety equipment. Check there is a life jacket for everyone before you set off.
• Loud and less stable: the exposed engine is very noisy, and the boat can rock a lot in rough water.

Best for

Short trips to nearby islands, getting around Phi Phi once you are already there, slow exploring in Phang Nga Bay, budget travelers and photographers. Longtail trips are run by other operators; we do not sell them.

What About Catamarans?

Some operators use large catamarans, a middle ground between big boats and speedboats. Two hulls reduce the rocking motion, so a catamaran is more stable than a speedboat, and it is faster than a traditional single-hull big boat. Catamarans are best known for sunset cruises, though some operators also run island day tours on them. Expect to pay a little more than for a standard speedboat tour. We do not sell catamaran trips or sunset cruises; our sunset cruises guide explains what other operators offer.

Seasickness: Picking the Gentlest Option

If anyone in your group gets seasick, the boat matters, but so do the route and the season.

• Boat type: big boats have the lowest risk, longtails sit in the middle and speedboats have the highest. If you get seasick easily, that alone can justify a big boat.
• Sheltered water: Phang Nga Bay is protected by the mainland, so the water is usually calmer than on the open crossing to Phi Phi. Our James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay tour is the gentler speedboat option.
• Short crossings: Coral Island is only about 15 minutes by speedboat from Chalong Pier.
• Season: seas are calmest on most days from November to April.

More practical advice is in our seasickness tips. If you are pregnant, read our guide to speedboat tours in pregnancy before you book.

Which Boat for Which Destination

• Phi Phi Islands: a speedboat for most people, because its speed and access are what let one day cover Pileh Lagoon, Maya Bay and several other stops. A big boat if you get seasick easily. Our Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai Island tour runs by speedboat from a pier on Phuket's east coast, about 10 hours door to door, stopping at Khai Nai Island, Monkey Beach, Phi Phi Don for lunch, Viking Cave, Pileh Lagoon, and Loh Sama Bay and Maya Bay. If you would rather take the ferry and stay over, see visiting Phi Phi without a tour.
• Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island: a speedboat for efficiency, a longtail for a slower, more traditional trip. Our speedboat tour also includes a sea canoe ride at Hong Island (or Talu Island, depending on the tide) and lunch at the Koh Panyee floating village.
• Coral Island: any boat works. A speedboat is fastest at about 15 minutes; a longtail is cheapest. Our Raya and Coral Island tour leaves by speedboat from Chalong Pier and combines beach time on Coral Island with snorkeling at Racha Island.
• Similan or Surin Islands: speedboat only, as they are too far for anything else. We do not sell these trips, but our Similan Islands guide explains how to go.
• Custom island hopping: a private speedboat for the best experience, a longtail for short trips on a budget.

Weather and Boat Choice

Sea conditions should shape your choice, especially in the transition months of May, June, October and November, when the weather can be unpredictable.

• Calm seas (most days from November to April): any boat works, and a speedboat gives you the most time at the islands.
• Moderate seas: big boats handle the waves much better. If you are unsure how you cope with rough water, a big boat or a sheltered route is the more comfortable choice.
• Rough seas: tours may be cancelled whatever the boat. If speedboat tours are cancelled while big boats still sail that day, that tells you which vessel copes better with the conditions.

Ask about the expected sea conditions when you book. If we cancel a tour because the weather is unsafe, you get a full refund or a new date. Our rainy season tours guide and booking terms explain the details.

Shared or Private Speedboat?

A private speedboat gives you the speed and access of a speedboat without sharing it with strangers, and you set the pace at each stop. The price is per boat rather than per person, so it makes more sense the larger your group is. Our private charters last 6 hours, take up to 25 guests and follow four routes: Phi Phi, Phang Nga Bay, and the 4 Islands and Hong Islands of Krabi. Read our honest take on whether a private speedboat is worth it, and see what to expect on a speedboat tour before your first trip. You can browse all our tours to compare routes.

Frequently asked questions

Is a big boat or a speedboat better for Phi Phi?

For most people, a speedboat. It takes about 45 to 60 minutes instead of 90 minutes to 2 hours, visits more stops and can enter Pileh Lagoon. Choose a big boat if you get seasick easily or if comfort matters more to you than time at the islands.

Which boat type is best if I get seasick?

A big boat has the lowest seasickness risk and a speedboat the highest. If you want a speedboat tour anyway, pick a sheltered route such as Phang Nga Bay or a short crossing such as Coral Island, and travel between November and April if you can.

Are big boat tours cheaper than speedboat tours?

Usually, yes: generally 30 to 50 percent cheaper to the same destination, and longtails are often the cheapest of all. When you compare prices, check what each one includes, such as national park fees, lunch and hotel transfer. Our national park fees guide helps you compare like with like.

Can you go to Phi Phi by longtail boat from Phuket?

It is not practical. A longtail travels at about 8 to 10 knots, so Phi Phi would take 2 hours or more each way. Longtails are better for short hops, for example around Phi Phi once you are already staying there.

Do your tours use speedboats, big boats or longtails?

Our island day trips and private charters all use speedboats. The James Bond Island tour adds a sea canoe ride at Hong Island, and the Jet Ski 7 Islands tour is done on jet skis. We do not sell big boat, catamaran or longtail tours.

Can pregnant women or people with back problems take a speedboat tour?

Our Phi Phi and James Bond Island speedboat tours are not recommended for pregnant women or guests with back problems, and pregnant guests cannot join the Raya and Coral Island tour. A big boat on calm water is gentler, but ask your doctor first.