Can You Visit Phi Phi Without a Tour? Ferry vs Speedboat

Yes. You do not need a tour to visit the Phi Phi Islands: public ferries run from Rassada Pier near Phuket Town to Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don, the main inhabited island, in about 1.5 to 2 hours. The catch is that Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave are on Phi Phi Leh, which has no pier and no ferry, so you still need a tour boat, a private charter or a local longtail to see them. For a single day that covers both islands, a speedboat tour is faster and usually cheaper than doing it yourself. For an overnight stay, the ferry is the natural choice. Here is how the ferry and the speedboat compare on time, price and comfort, and what going independently really costs.

Ferry vs speedboat at a glance

The biggest difference is what you see. The ferry only goes to Phi Phi Don, the island with Tonsai village. A speedboat tour is built around Phi Phi Leh, so it is the simpler way to see Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon in one day.

Option 1: the public ferry to Phi Phi Don

How it works

Several companies run large passenger ferries every day from Rassada Pier near Phuket Town to Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don. The crossing takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. You get a proper seat and can walk around, and a big boat handles waves well. Hotel pickup is not included: a taxi to Rassada Pier costs around 300 to 800 THB depending on where you stay. Our Rassada Pier guide explains the pier itself. We do not sell ferry tickets.

Schedule and fares

Timetables change with the season, but a typical pattern has been three departures a day from Phuket, around 08:30, 11:00 and 14:00, with return ferries from Phi Phi Don around 09:00, 12:30 and 14:30. With times like these, a same-day return by ferry leaves only a few hours on the island, which is why the ferry suits overnight stays better than day trips. Typical fares:

• One way: about 400 to 800 THB per person
• Round trip: about 700 to 1,400 THB per person
• VIP or air-conditioned seating: about 100 to 200 THB extra

Always confirm current times and fares with the ferry company before you travel.

What you can do on Phi Phi Don

• Explore Tonsai village and its shops, restaurants and bars
• Hike to the Phi Phi Viewpoint, a steep climb of roughly 20 to 30 minutes rewarded with panoramic views
• Swim at Long Beach, Loh Dalum Bay or other beaches
• Rent a kayak and paddle along the coast
• Hire a local longtail boat to nearby beaches

The catch: Phi Phi Leh has no ferry

Phi Phi Leh, home to Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave, is an uninhabited island inside the national park. There is no pier and no ferry service. If your main goal is Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon, you need a boat trip, and you have two ways to do it:

• Book a day tour from Phuket that includes Phi Phi Leh.
• Travel to Phi Phi Don on your own, then hire a local longtail to Phi Phi Leh. A half-day private longtail costs about 1,500 to 3,000 THB, and the national park fee of 400 THB for foreign adults comes on top.

Maya Bay has its own visitor rules, including no swimming in the bay. Read our Maya Bay rules guide before you go.

Option 2: a speedboat day tour

Most day trips to Phi Phi use speedboats, because they can cover Phi Phi Leh, Phi Phi Don and swimming stops in one day and still be back in Phuket by late afternoon. The speedboat is faster but bounces over waves, especially on open water and on windy days. Routes and piers differ by operator, so compare the stops, not just the price.

Our Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai Island speedboat tour takes about 10 hours. Pickup is usually between 07:30 and 08:45 depending on your area, with the exact time confirmed the evening before. The boat leaves from a pier on Phuket's east coast, where a light breakfast is served, and the stops are:

1. Khai Nai Island
2. Monkey Beach
3. Lunch on Phi Phi Don (halal buffet)
4. Viking Cave, seen from the boat
5. Pileh Lagoon
6. Loh Sama Bay and Maya Bay

It does not stop at Bamboo Island or Shark Point. The price includes return hotel transfer (with a surcharge for Kamala and outer areas), the national park fee, breakfast and lunch, fruit and soft drinks, snorkel and mask, life jacket, a stand-up paddle board and accident insurance. The tour page shows the price for your date, with a child price for ages 4 to 11, and prices can vary by date. The tour is not recommended for pregnant women or guests with back problems.

The real cost of doing Phi Phi on your own in one day

At first glance the ferry looks much cheaper. But to see both islands in one day on your own, you add up several costs:

The taxi and the longtail are hired per vehicle, so a larger group can split them. Even so, for a solo traveler or a couple who want to see both islands in one day, a speedboat tour usually works out cheaper, and it saves you arranging every leg yourself. The price of our tour for your date is on the tour page.

Option 3: a private speedboat

A private speedboat charter gives you full control over the stops, how long you stay and when you head back, which suits families and groups. Our private Phi Phi charter takes up to 25 guests for up to 6 hours and is priced per boat, not per person. It visits Maya Bay via Loh Sama Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, Monkey Beach and Bamboo Island. For a bigger group, the cost per person can come close to a group tour while you keep your own schedule. Private charters can be cancelled for a full refund until 48 hours before departure.

Which option should you choose?

Going independently makes sense when

• You are staying overnight on Phi Phi Don and want to see the island after the day trippers leave.
• You are spending two or more nights on Phi Phi.
• You are on a budget and happy to skip Phi Phi Leh and enjoy Phi Phi Don's beaches.
• You get seasick easily, as the larger ferry is smoother. Our seasickness tips help on any boat.
• You carry heavy luggage or want to set your own schedule.

A speedboat tour makes sense when

• You have one day and want to see the highlights, including Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon.
• It is your first visit and you want to be sure to see the main sights.
• You value convenience: hotel pickup, lunch, equipment and a guide in one booking.
• You want better value as a solo traveler or couple, since the all-in price is often less than arranging everything yourself.

In short: for a day trip to see the highlights, take a speedboat tour. To stay overnight or spend a budget day on Phi Phi Don only, take the ferry. For a group that wants its own pace, book a private speedboat. Our complete guide to Phi Phi from Phuket covers the sights, the best season and whether one day is enough, and you can browse all our tours.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a ferry to Maya Bay?

No. Ferries only go to Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don. Maya Bay is on Phi Phi Leh, which you reach on a tour, a private charter or a local longtail from Phi Phi Don.

How long does the ferry to Phi Phi take?

About 1.5 to 2 hours from Rassada Pier to Tonsai Pier. A speedboat crosses in about 45 to 60 minutes.

How much is the ferry from Phuket to Phi Phi?

Typically about 400 to 800 THB one way and 700 to 1,400 THB return, with VIP seating extra. Fares change with the season, so check with the ferry company.

Can you do Phi Phi as a day trip by ferry?

You can, but with typical timetables you only get a few hours on Phi Phi Don, and seeing Maya Bay means adding a longtail trip. For a day trip, a speedboat tour covers more.

Is the ferry better if I get seasick?

Usually, yes. The ferry is a larger, steadier boat. Speedboats are faster but bounce more, especially on windy days.

Is a tour cheaper than going on your own?

For a solo traveler or a couple who want to see both Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh in one day, usually yes, once you add the ferry, taxi, longtail, park fee, lunch and snorkel gear.

Do you sell ferry tickets?

No. We run a shared speedboat day tour and private speedboat charters to Phi Phi. Ferry tickets are sold by the ferry companies.