One Week in Thailand: Phuket, Phi Phi and Krabi in 7 Days

One week is enough to combine Phuket and Krabi, two neighboring provinces on Thailand's Andaman coast. Spend the first three or four days in Phuket, the gateway with the most island tours, then move to Krabi (Ao Nang and Railay) for its dramatic cliffs, quieter beaches and laid-back pace. There are two ways to make the move: by ferry via Phi Phi Don, with a night on the island, or by road, a 2.5 to 3 hour transfer. This guide gives a day by day plan for both routes, with transfer times, a budget and the mistakes to avoid.

Who runs what: we run day tours from Phuket. The ferries, the island tours from Ao Nang and the activities on Railay are run by other companies, so book those with them directly.

Two Routes: Via Phi Phi or by Road

• Choose the Phi Phi route if you want an evening on Phi Phi Don and a quieter look at Phi Phi Leh, and you are traveling in the dry season with light bags. It turns the transfer into part of the trip.
• Choose the road route if you want fewer moves with luggage, an extra day in Phuket for two island tours, or you are traveling in the monsoon, when ferry services are reduced. You still see Phi Phi, on a day tour from Phuket.

Days 1 to 4: Phuket

Arrival day

Arrive at Phuket International Airport and transfer to your hotel. Kata, Karon or Kamala make good bases, though the Phi Phi tour adds a transfer surcharge for Kamala and outer areas. Spend the afternoon on the beach, get your bearings and have dinner at a local restaurant.

Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island

A full day on our James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay speedboat tour, about 9 hours with hotel transfers: Panak Island, a sea canoe ride at Hong Island (or Talu Island, depending on the tide), lunch at the Koh Panyee floating village, James Bond Island and Naka Island, back at the pier around 5:00 PM. The bay is sheltered and accessible year round, so it is a reliable early tour and an incredible introduction to the limestone landscape you will see again in Krabi. The national park fee is paid on the day. This Hong Island is in Phang Nga Bay, not the Hong Islands off Krabi.

Phi Phi day tour (road route)

If you are not sleeping on Phi Phi, see it on our Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai Island speedboat tour: Khai Nai Island, Monkey Beach, lunch on Phi Phi Don, Viking Cave, Pileh Lagoon, snorkeling and Maya Bay via Loh Sama Bay, back at the pier around 5:30 PM. It crosses open sea, so schedule it early in your Phuket days to leave room to move it if the weather turns. Our Phi Phi Islands guide covers the islands in more depth.

Phuket Old Town, beach and sunset

Morning: a walk around Phuket Old Town and lunch at a local food court. Afternoon: beach time, a spa, or a half-day Coral Island trip with a local operator. If you would rather give the islands a full day, our Raya and Coral Island tour combines Coral Island with snorkeling at Racha. Evening: sunset at Promthep Cape and a seafood dinner in Rawai. On the Phi Phi route, pack a small bag tonight for the next three or four days.

Staying in Phuket all week instead?

If you would rather not change hotels, you can see Krabi's islands from Phuket on our private speedboat charters to the 4 Islands (Poda, Chicken Island, the Tup Island sandbar and Phra Nang Beach) or the Hong Islands (the Koh Hong lagoon and beach, Lao Lading and Pakbia). Each gives your group the whole boat for 6 hours, up to 25 guests, at one price per boat. Our guide to the 4 Islands from Phuket explains how that day works.

Getting from Phuket to Krabi

Via Phi Phi by ferry

Take a morning ferry from Rassada Pier to Phi Phi Don, about 90 minutes to 2 hours, or a faster speedboat transfer of about 45 minutes. After your night on Phi Phi, continue by ferry or speedboat to Ao Nang or Krabi, about 60 to 90 minutes. In the dry season there are several departures a day between all three places, but in peak season popular routes can sell out, so book ahead. We do not sell ferry tickets. Our Rassada Pier guide covers the pier, and Phuket to Krabi by boat compares the sea options.

By road

The drive from Phuket to Ao Nang takes 2.5 to 3 hours. A private car costs about 3,000 to 4,000 THB and a shared minivan about 300 to 500 THB per person. Check out after breakfast and you are in Ao Nang by midday. It is the simpler choice with bags and does not depend on sea conditions, but minivans have limited luggage space.

A Night on Phi Phi Don (Phi Phi Route)

Check into your Phi Phi accommodation, then walk up to the viewpoint: a steep climb of about 20 to 30 minutes, rewarded with a panoramic view over Tonsai Bay and Loh Dalum Bay. Swim at Loh Dalum Bay in the late afternoon. The beach empties as the day-trip boats leave and the island takes on a completely different character. In the evening there are beachfront restaurants, fire shows on the beach and a small but lively bar scene.

Next morning, hire a local longtail boat on Phi Phi Don for a trip around Phi Phi Leh: Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave, with fewer people around than on a group tour from Phuket. Expect to pay about 1,500 to 2,500 THB per person, and agree on the price and the stops before you set off. Check the current Maya Bay rules before you go. In the afternoon, take the ferry on to Ao Nang. For more on doing Phi Phi independently, see visiting Phi Phi without a tour.

Days 5 to 7: Krabi, Ao Nang and Railay

Day 5: Arriving in Ao Nang

Settle into your Ao Nang or Railay accommodation, walk Ao Nang beach, look over the longtail boats and explore the town. Have dinner along the beachfront; the night market has good food stalls.

Day 6: Railay Beach

Take a longtail boat from Ao Nang to Railay, about 15 minutes and about 200 THB per person. Railay is only accessible by boat and feels like a separate world.

• Morning: Phra Nang Cave Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand, or Railay West, the main beach.
• Afternoon: a half-day rock climbing course with a local climbing school (about 1,000 to 1,500 THB), or the steep, adventurous trail to the Railay viewpoint and lagoon.
• Evening: dinner on Railay or back in Ao Nang.

Day 7: Four Islands or Hong Islands, then home

The classic Krabi island day leaves from Ao Nang and visits Chicken Island (Koh Kai) with its distinctive rock formation, Tup Island (joined to Chicken Island by a sandbar at low tide), the white sand beach of Poda Island and Phra Nang Cave Beach. Local operators run it by longtail (about 800 to 1,500 THB, often a morning trip from about 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM) or by speedboat (about 1,500 to 2,500 THB). The alternative is the Hong Islands, known for their lagoon and snorkeling (about 2,500 to 3,500 THB per person). We do not sell these Ao Nang tours.

A morning longtail trip leaves time to fly out the same day. Krabi Airport is about 30 minutes from Ao Nang, while the transfer back to Phuket Airport takes about 3 hours. If your flight leaves early, skip the island trip or add a night.

Transfer Times and Costs at a Glance

These are rough guides; fares change. Krabi Airport is about 30 minutes from Ao Nang; Phuket Airport is about 3 hours away by road.

When to Do This Trip

The route works best in the dry season, November to April, when ferries run reliably, seas are calm and all islands are accessible. In the monsoon, May to October, ferry services are reduced and the sea around Phi Phi can be rough, so the road route is the easier choice then, and Phang Nga Bay is the most dependable island day from Phuket. Whatever the season, check the forecast before each ferry crossing: rough seas can make the trip uncomfortable or cancel it outright. See our rainy season tours guide, and Phuket vs Krabi if you are still deciding how to split your nights.

Budget for One Week

A mid-range estimate per person:

Tour prices vary by date, so check the tour pages for yours; the Phang Nga Bay national park fee is paid on the day. Our Phuket holiday budget has more detail on daily costs.

Packing and Luggage

• Travel light. Ferries, minivans and longtails have limited luggage space. A soft bag or backpack is much easier than a hard suitcase on boats and in cramped vehicles.
• Leave what you can in Phuket. If you return through Phuket, most hotels will store bags for free or a small fee, and you can carry only what you need for three or four days.
• Keep a day bag handy with swimsuit, sunscreen, water and camera for unplanned beach stops.
• Bring a waterproof bag. The longtail rides to Railay can be splashy at certain tides and in some conditions.

Mistakes to Avoid

• A tour every day. Rest days make the active days more enjoyable and give you time to take in each place.
• Leaving bookings late in peak season. Book ferries and Krabi accommodation ahead: popular ferry routes can sell out, and Railay and Ao Nang get busy.
• Backtracking. Fly into Phuket and out of Krabi, or the other way round, instead of returning to where you started.
• Ignoring the forecast. Check it before each ferry crossing and before your Phi Phi day.

For a slower trip, see our 10 day Southern Thailand itinerary, or the 3 to 5 day Phuket itinerary if you are staying in Phuket only. Browse all tours to check dates for your Phuket days.

Frequently asked questions

Is one week enough for Phuket and Krabi?

Yes. Three or four days in Phuket covers two island tours and Old Town, and three days in Krabi covers Ao Nang, Railay and a Krabi island day. Add a night on Phi Phi on the way if you take the ferry route.

How do I get from Phuket to Krabi?

By road in 2.5 to 3 hours (shared minivan about 300 to 500 THB per person, private car about 3,000 to 4,000 THB), or by ferry via Phi Phi Don, which works best with a night on the island.

Should I stay overnight on Phi Phi or do a day trip from Phuket?

Stay overnight if you want Phi Phi's evening atmosphere and a quieter morning on Phi Phi Leh, and you are traveling light in the dry season. A day trip from Phuket is simpler, keeps your hotel and adds Khai Nai Island to the day.

Should I fly into Phuket and out of Krabi?

If you can, yes. It saves the transfer of about 3 hours back to Phuket Airport, and Krabi Airport is about 30 minutes from Ao Nang.

When is the best time for this route?

The dry season, November to April, when ferries run reliably and seas are calm. From May to October ferry services are reduced, so the road route is the easier choice.

Do you sell the ferries and the Krabi island tours?

No. We run day tours from Phuket and private speedboat charters, including the 4 Islands and Hong Islands of Krabi. Ferries, Ao Nang tours and Railay activities are run by other companies.

How much does a week in Phuket and Krabi cost?

A mid-range estimate is about 38,900 to 43,900 THB per person, including hotels, food, tours and transfers. Tour prices vary by date.

Can I leave luggage at my Phuket hotel?

Usually, yes. Most hotels store bags for free or a small fee, which helps if you come back through Phuket at the end of the trip.