Can Pregnant Women Go on Speedboat Tours in Phuket?

If you are pregnant and planning a holiday in Phuket, you have probably seen photos of speedboats racing towards Phi Phi and wondered whether you can join one. Our honest answer: we do not recommend speedboat day tours during pregnancy, and some of the trips we sell do not accept pregnant guests at all. This guide explains why, sets out the rules on each tour and suggests gentler ways to enjoy the Andaman Sea.

Please read this as general travel information, not medical advice. Every pregnancy is different, and the final word should always come from your own doctor or midwife.

The short answer

• Speedboats are bumpy. Even on a good day they bounce over waves and wakes, and you feel each landing through the seat.
• The tour rules are strict. One of our tours does not allow pregnant guests, and the others are either not recommended or not suitable during pregnancy. Details are below.
• Talk to your doctor first about any boat trip, including slower ferries, and about being far from a hospital for a whole day.
• There are good alternatives, from a large ferry to Phi Phi Don to beaches, viewpoints and Phuket Old Town.

Why speedboats are the main concern

A speedboat is light and fast. Instead of cutting through the waves like a big ferry, it rides over them, and when there is any swell the hull drops back onto the water with a jolt. You feel these impacts through the seat and the spine, sometimes for 45 minutes to an hour on a single crossing, and the front of the boat moves the most. Even on a calm morning, the wake of another boat can cause a sudden bump.

For pregnant travelers, the concerns usually raised are:

• Repeated jolts and the chance of a hard landing, or of slipping on a wet, moving deck or while stepping between the boat and a beach or pier.
• Nausea. Pregnancy nausea and seasickness can make each other worse, and not every seasickness remedy is suitable in pregnancy.
• Heat and dehydration on a long day in strong tropical sun, with limited shade on board.
• Distance from medical care. Many island stops are small or uninhabited, and getting back to a hospital in Phuket can take hours.

Tour by tour: the rules for pregnant guests

These rules come from the licensed operators who run the trips, and they are shown on each tour page:

• Raya and Coral Island snorkeling tour: pregnant guests are not allowed on this trip.
• Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai Island: not recommended for pregnant women or guests with back problems, because the speedboat ride can be bumpy. It is also a long day, about 10 hours door to door, on the most open crossing of our tours.
• James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay: not recommended for pregnant women or guests with back problems. The bay is more sheltered than the route to Phi Phi, but it is still a speedboat day of about 9 hours, and it includes climbing in and out of a sea canoe.
• White water rafting, flying fox and waterfall: not suitable for pregnant women or guests with back, neck or heart problems.
• Jet Ski 7 Islands: pregnant women are not allowed to drive. Riding as a passenger means the same bumps and a real chance of ending up in the water, so we do not suggest this tour during pregnancy.
• Private speedboat charters: not recommended for pregnant women or guests with back problems. Having the whole boat to yourselves does not change the fact that it is a speedboat on open water.

If anyone in your group is pregnant, please tell us when you book, and contact us first if you are unsure whether a trip suits you.

Questions to ask your doctor

You will get a more useful answer if you take specific questions to your appointment rather than asking whether it is safe to travel:

• Is my pregnancy considered low risk, and is there any reason I should avoid jolting or bumpy transport?
• Is it reasonable for me to spend a day several hours away from a hospital at my stage of pregnancy?
• What can I safely take for nausea or seasickness?
• Are there any mosquito-borne disease precautions for Thailand, for example for dengue or Zika, that apply to me?
• Which sunscreen and insect repellent are suitable during pregnancy?

Many doctors see the middle part of pregnancy as the most comfortable time to travel, but that is a general guide for flights and holidays, not a green light for a speedboat ride. Later in pregnancy, airlines and insurers also set their own limits, so check both before you fly. Our travel insurance guide explains what to look for in a policy.

Gentler ways to enjoy the sea while pregnant

A large passenger ferry

Big ferries sit heavier in the water and tend to roll gently rather than slam. Ferries run from Rassada Pier near Phuket Town to Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don, and the crossing takes roughly two hours. If your doctor is comfortable with it, the ferry is a much smoother way to see Phi Phi Don, and you can stay a night on the island instead of rushing. We do not sell ferry tickets, but our guide to visiting Phi Phi without a tour explains how it works. Keep in mind that the ferry only goes to Phi Phi Don. Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon on Phi Phi Leh can only be reached by smaller boats.

Beaches and viewpoints on Phuket

You do not need a boat to enjoy the Andaman Sea. Phuket's west coast beaches are at their calmest from roughly November to April. From May to October, during the southwest monsoon, waves and rip currents are common on the west coast, so only swim where lifeguards are present, between the flags, and never when red flags are up. Viewpoints such as Promthep Cape at sunset and the Big Buddha give you wide sea views without any bumps.

Easy days on land

Phuket Old Town, with its colorful shophouses and cafes, is an easy half day, and Wat Chalong, cooking classes and a slow lunch by the sea all fit a gentle pace. If you book a massage, tell the therapist that you are pregnant. Our Old Town walking guide has a route you can do at your own speed.

Practical tips for any boat trip your doctor approves

• Choose a large, slow boat on calm water and a short journey.
• Sit in the middle of the boat, low down and near the back, where movement is smallest, and hold on when the boat moves.
• Drink plenty of water, stay in the shade and carry light snacks.
• Wear shoes with grip for wet piers and decks.
• Carry your pregnancy notes, your doctor's contact details and your insurance details.
• Know where to go if you need care. Phuket has large hospitals, including Vachira Phuket Hospital and Bangkok Hospital Phuket, both in the Phuket Town area.

Frequently asked questions

Can I join the Raya and Coral Island tour if I am pregnant?

No. Pregnant guests are not allowed on this trip, whatever the stage of pregnancy.

Phang Nga Bay is sheltered. Is the James Bond Island tour OK?

The bay is calmer than the route to Phi Phi, but the tour is still a speedboat day and it is not recommended for pregnant women. If calm water matters most, ask your doctor about a large ferry instead.

Can I ride on a jet ski as a passenger?

Pregnant women are not allowed to drive on the Jet Ski 7 Islands tour. Riding as a passenger brings the same bumps and the risk of falling into the water, so we do not suggest it.

Is a speedboat safer in the first or second trimester?

We cannot call a speedboat ride safe at any stage of pregnancy, and the tour rules above apply throughout. Only your own doctor can advise on your situation.

What if I book a tour and then find out I am pregnant?

Contact us as soon as you can. Most tours have free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and some have their own terms shown on the tour page. See our terms for details.