Phi Phi Islands from Phuket: The Complete Guide

The Phi Phi Islands lie in the Andaman Sea southeast of Phuket, roughly 40 to 50 km from the piers on Phuket's east coast. Most visitors go on a speedboat day tour: the crossing takes about 45 minutes to an hour, the whole day runs about 10 hours, and you see Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave and Monkey Beach without organizing anything yourself. Ferries take about 1.5 to 2 hours and suit an overnight stay on Phi Phi Don. For most first-time visitors one day is enough for the highlights. This guide covers the boat ride, what a tour includes and costs, the honest downsides, the best season and when a night on the island is worth it.

Phi Phi at a glance

The Phi Phi Islands are a small archipelago of six islands with limestone cliffs, clear turquoise water and coral reefs. Two matter most:

• Phi Phi Don: the larger, inhabited island, with Tonsai village, the ferry pier, hotels, Monkey Beach and the famous viewpoint.
• Phi Phi Leh: uninhabited and part of the national park, with Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave. No ferry goes there, so you see it from a tour boat, a private charter or a local longtail.

How long is the boat ride from Phuket to Phi Phi?

• Speedboat: usually around 45 minutes to an hour for the crossing in normal conditions.
• Ferry: usually around 1.5 to 2 hours from Rassada Pier near Phuket Town to Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don.
• Private speedboat: about the same as a tour speedboat, but with no waiting for other guests.
• Rough sea: add time. Boats slow down in swell, and in the monsoon months a crossing can take noticeably longer.

On a day tour the boat ride is only part of the travel time: there is also the drive to the pier, check-in and a safety briefing. Tours split the crossing into hops. On ours, the first stop is Khai Nai in the Khai Islands, between Phuket's east coast and Phi Phi, and the hops between the Phi Phi stops are short. Added up, you spend a couple of hours on the boat, spread across the day.

What makes the crossing longer or rougher

• Sea conditions. The crossing is on open water, and captains slow down when the wind is up. This happens most often in the southwest monsoon, roughly May to October, but windy days can happen in any month.
• Time of day. The sea is often calmer in the morning, so the ride back can be bumpier than the ride out.
• Where you sit. On a speedboat the front seats bounce the most. The back is usually smoother.
• The pier. Phuket's east coast piers are spread out, so the distance varies a little between them.

Speedboat tour, ferry or private boat

Speedboat day tour

The usual choice for a day trip, because a speedboat can cover several islands and still be back in Phuket by late afternoon. Operators use different east coast piers, such as Rassada Pier or Royal Phuket Marina, and their routes differ, so compare the stops as well as the price.

Ferry

Large ferries run from Rassada Pier to Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don. They are slower but steadier, and the usual way to go if you stay overnight. A ferry only reaches Phi Phi Don, so for Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon you still need a longtail or speedboat trip once you arrive. We do not sell ferry tickets. Our guide to visiting Phi Phi without a tour compares the ferry and the speedboat, including the real cost of going on your own.

Private speedboat charter

A private speedboat gives your group the whole boat and your own order of stops, so you can try to reach popular spots before or after the main tour boats. Our private Phi Phi charter is priced per boat, for up to 25 guests and up to 6 hours on the water, and covers Maya Bay via Loh Sama Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, Monkey Beach and Bamboo Island. Crew, fuel, snorkel gear, soft drinks, insurance and hotel pickup are included. National park fees and lunch are not. For a larger group, the cost per person can come close to the shared tour.

What a Phi Phi day tour looks like

Our Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai Island speedboat tour is a typical full day:

1. Pickup usually between 07:30 and 08:45 depending on your area, with the exact time confirmed the evening before, then a light breakfast at a pier on Phuket's east coast.
2. Khai Nai: a small island with a white sand beach and a first swim.
3. Monkey Beach: a short stop at a cove on Phi Phi Don where wild macaques live.
4. Lunch on Phi Phi Don: a halal buffet.
5. Viking Cave: seen from the boat, as visitors cannot go inside.
6. Pileh Lagoon: a swim in green water enclosed by cliffs, with the chance to try a stand-up paddle board.
7. Loh Sama Bay and Maya Bay: the boat stops at Loh Sama Bay and you walk across on a boardwalk to the famous beach.
8. Return around 17:30, about 10 hours after the day starts.

You also have time to snorkel during the day. The order of the stops can change, and the program may change with weather and sea conditions. This tour does not stop at Bamboo Island or Shark Point. For how it compares with a standard itinerary, read Phi Phi with Khai Island vs a classic Phi Phi tour.

The main sights

Maya Bay

Made famous by the film The Beach, Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh reopened in 2022 after a long closure for ecological restoration. Boats no longer enter the bay: you land at Loh Sama Bay on the other side of the island and walk in. You can walk on the beach and take photos, but swimming is not allowed, there is a daily visitor cap, and the bay usually closes for recovery around August and September each year, with dates set by the national park. See our guide to Maya Bay rules.

Pileh Lagoon

Often considered even more beautiful than Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon is an enclosed emerald lagoon on the eastern side of Phi Phi Leh, ringed by sheer cliffs. Swimming is allowed, and the calm, warm water makes it a highlight for most visitors.

Viking Cave

Viewed from the boat, as entry is restricted. It is known for old wall paintings of boats and for the bird's nest harvesting that still takes place inside.

Monkey Beach

A small beach on Phi Phi Don with a troop of long-tailed macaques. Watch them from a distance, keep food out of sight and never feed them: it changes their behavior, and they can bite. Our Monkey Beach guide has more.

Bamboo Island and Shark Point

Many speedboat tours from other operators include one of these. Bamboo Island, part of the Phi Phi group, has a long white sand beach and shallow snorkeling, and Shark Point is a snorkeling spot known for harmless blacktip reef sharks. Our shared tour stops at neither. If Bamboo Island matters to you, our private Phi Phi charter includes it.

Are Phi Phi island tours worth it?

For most first-time visitors, yes. The scenery around Phi Phi Leh is some of the most striking in Thailand, and a speedboat tour shows you the famous spots in one day without organizing anything. It is less worth it if you get very seasick, are pregnant or have back problems, strongly dislike crowds, or have already been and want something new.

Why it can be worth it

• The scenery. Limestone cliffs rising out of clear water are why people come, and Pileh Lagoon is even more striking in person than in photos.
• Variety. In one day you get beaches, a lagoon swim, snorkeling, paddle boarding and lunch on Phi Phi Don.
• Easy logistics. On our tour, pickup, the park fee, meals and gear are sorted. You just bring swimwear and sunscreen.

The honest downsides

• A long day. About 10 hours from pickup to return, with an early start.
• A bumpy ride. The crossing is on more open water than most trips from Phuket, and seasickness is common on rough days. The tour is not recommended for pregnant women or guests with back problems.
• Crowds. Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon are busy with boats, especially in the middle of the day and in the December to March peak.
• Short stops. A group tour follows a schedule, so you will not linger anywhere for long.
• Weather. From roughly May to October the program can change, and operators or the national park can cancel trips for safety.

Who might choose something else

• You get seasick easily: the James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay tour stays in sheltered water.
• You have young children or want short boat rides: the Raya and Coral Island tour leaves from Chalong Pier on the south coast, and each leg is short.
• You have been to Phi Phi before: try Racha for clear water, or the Hong Islands or 4 Islands of Krabi on a private charter.
• You want more time on Phi Phi itself: stay a night or two on Phi Phi Don (see below).

What a Phi Phi trip costs

For our shared tour, the tour page shows the price for your date, with a child price for ages 4 to 11, and prices can vary by date. It includes return hotel transfer from standard zones (with a surcharge for Kamala and outer areas), a guide, the national park fee, breakfast and a halal buffet lunch, fruit and soft drinks, snorkel and mask, life jacket, a stand-up paddle board and accident insurance. You only pay for extras you choose, such as alcohol.

Across the wider market, group speedboat tours to Phi Phi are commonly sold at around 1,500 to 3,500 THB per person and big boat tours at around 800 to 1,500 THB. Big boats cost less but take longer, so you usually see fewer places. When you compare, check whether the park fee, lunch, transfers and snorkel gear are included, because a lower headline price can leave you paying for these on the day. Where the park fee is extra, it is 400 THB for foreign adults and 200 THB for children. See our national park fees guide.

Is one day enough for Phi Phi?

For most visitors, yes. A day tour shows you the iconic highlights, gives you time to swim and snorkel, and you sleep in your Phuket hotel. With about 4 to 5 hours at the stops themselves, you get a strong sense of why Phi Phi is famous. What a day trip cannot give you is Phi Phi without the day crowds.

What you miss on a day trip

• The evening. Day-trip boats leave Phi Phi Don by mid-afternoon. Then the beaches empty, the light turns golden, and the evening brings beachfront dining, fire shows at Loh Dalum Bay and a small bar scene in Tonsai village.
• The viewpoint. A steep climb of roughly 20 to 30 minutes leads to the Phi Phi Viewpoint, overlooking the twin bays of Tonsai and Loh Dalum. Group tours rarely leave time for it.
• Quieter beaches. Long Beach, Loh Moo Dee and Laem Tong are calmer than Tonsai and reached by longtail boat.
• Diving. Dive trips take at least half a day and usually run from Phi Phi Don. We do not sell diving.

One day is enough if

• You mainly want the highlights: Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and a swim or snorkel.
• You have limited days in Phuket and want to fit in other trips.
• You prefer your Phuket hotel to the more basic accommodation on Phi Phi.
• You are traveling with young children, for whom a full day is already a lot.

Stay overnight if

• You want the evening atmosphere, or golden hour and sunset at the viewpoint.
• You want a slower pace, or a local longtail trip around Phi Phi Leh.
• You are continuing to Krabi: Phi Phi is on the ferry route between Phuket and Krabi. Our one week Phuket, Phi Phi and Krabi itinerary shows how to fit it in.

For an overnight stay, take the ferry from Rassada Pier and travel light, as ferries and longtails have limited space. The Tonsai area has the most places to stay, from dorm beds at around 500 THB to beachfront bungalows at 5,000 THB and more, so book ahead in peak season. On the island, local longtail and speedboat trips take you to Phi Phi Leh.

Best time to visit Phi Phi

The calmest seas are usually from November to April, the dry season, when snorkeling visibility is good and rain is infrequent. The busiest months are roughly December to March. From May to October the southwest monsoon brings more wind and swell, and Phi Phi, the longest crossing of the day trips from Phuket, is the most likely to be bumpy or cancelled for safety. Many days are still fine, and tours often run. Maya Bay usually closes around August and September.

Book your Phi Phi day early in your stay, so there is time to move it if the sea is rough. If we cancel for unsafe weather, you get a full refund or a new date, and the Phi Phi tour can be cancelled free until 23:59 the day before. Our rainy season guide explains what to expect.

Tips for a better day

• Take seasickness tablets before you board if you are prone to it, not once you feel ill, and eat a light breakfast. Our seasickness tips explain what helps.
• Sit toward the back, watch the horizon and stay seated while the boat is moving.
• Use reef-safe sunscreen, ideally a mineral formula without oxybenzone, plus a hat and a rash guard. The sun on open water is strong even when the breeze feels cool.
• Bring a dry bag or waterproof phone pouch against the spray, a small towel and a light layer for the morning wind.
• Wear water shoes for rocky entries, slippery boat steps and hot sand, and drink plenty of water.

For a full packing list, see what to bring on an island tour from Phuket. Check dates on the tours page, or contact us for help choosing between a shared tour and a private boat.

Frequently asked questions

How long is a Phi Phi day tour from Phuket?

About 10 hours on our Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai Island tour. Pickup is usually between 07:30 and 08:45 depending on your area, and you are back around 17:30.

How far is Phi Phi from Phuket?

Roughly 40 to 50 km from the piers on Phuket's east coast. A speedboat crosses in about 45 minutes to an hour, a ferry in about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Is the speedboat to Phi Phi bumpy?

It can be, especially on windy days and in the monsoon months. Sitting at the back helps. Speedboat tours are not recommended for pregnant women or guests with back problems.

Is the ferry or the speedboat better?

For a day trip that covers Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon, a speedboat. For an overnight stay on Phi Phi Don, the ferry is the usual choice.

Is the national park fee included?

Yes, on our Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai Island tour. On the private Phi Phi charter it is not, and with other operators you should check.

Can you swim at Maya Bay?

No. You walk in from Loh Sama Bay and can stand on the beach, but swimming is not allowed. Pileh Lagoon is where most people swim.

Does the Phi Phi tour stop at Bamboo Island?

Our shared Phi Phi tour does not stop at Bamboo Island or Shark Point. Our private Phi Phi charter includes Bamboo Island.