Is a Private Speedboat in Phuket Worth It? Costs vs Group Tours

A private speedboat in Phuket is worth it when your group values its own pace, privacy and timing more than the lowest price, or when the group is big enough that the cost per person comes close to a shared tour. On price alone, a shared tour wins for solo travelers, couples and most families: with the standard prices of the tours we sell, the private Phi Phi boat only costs less per head than a shared seat at around 10 adults, and that is before the national park fees and lunch that the shared tour already includes. This guide shows the numbers by group size, what each option includes and when private is worth paying extra for.

Prices below are the standard listed prices at the time of writing, in Thai baht. Prices can vary by date, so the booking page always shows the current price for your day.

What a Private Speedboat Charter Is

A private charter means hiring a whole speedboat for your group. Instead of sharing with 25 to 35 other passengers on a group tour, you have the boat, captain and crew to yourselves, and you decide how long to spend at each stop.

The private charters we sell give you up to 6 hours on the water for up to 25 guests, on four routes:

• Phi Phi Islands: Maya Bay via Loh Sama Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, Monkey Beach and Bamboo Island.
• Phang Nga Bay: Ko Panak, Ko Hong, James Bond Island and Koh Panyee.
• Hong Islands (Krabi): the Koh Hong lagoon and beach, Lao Lading and Pakbia.
• 4 Islands (Krabi): Poda, Chicken Island, the Tup Island sandbar and Phra Nang Beach.

Charters include the boat, captain and crew, fuel, life jackets, soft drinks and water, insurance and hotel pickup, plus snorkel gear on every route except Phang Nga Bay. National park fees, lunch and alcohol are not included. Other operators in Phuket and Khao Lak also run private boats to places such as the Similan Islands, Koh Racha and Coral Island; we do not sell those as charters.

What It Costs

Private charters (per boat)

• Phi Phi Islands: from about 29,000 THB
• Phang Nga Bay: from about 35,000 THB
• Hong Islands (Krabi): from about 25,000 THB
• 4 Islands (Krabi): from about 20,000 THB

The price is for the whole boat, so it stays the same whether you are 2 guests or 20, but it can vary by date.

Shared day tours (per person)

• Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai Island: from about 3,100 THB per adult and 2,200 THB per child (ages 4 to 11). The national park fee, light breakfast, halal buffet lunch, snorkel gear, a stand-up paddle board, accident insurance and hotel transfer (standard zones) are included. About 10 hours door to door.
• James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay: from about 3,500 THB per adult and 2,200 THB per child (ages 3 to 11). Thai buffet lunch at Koh Panyee, a sea canoe at Hong Island and hotel transfer are included. The national park fee is not included and is paid on the day. About 9 hours.

Phi Phi: Shared vs Private by Group Size

The table compares the shared tour price with the boat price only. On the charter you still add national park fees and lunch, which are already in the shared tour price.

So for Phi Phi, the boat only costs less per head than a shared seat (3,100 THB) at around 10 adults, and even then the saving is small once you add park fees and lunch. For most groups under 10, the shared tour is the budget choice.

Phang Nga Bay: Shared vs Private by Group Size

Here both options pay the national park fee on the day, so the prices compare directly. The shared tour still includes lunch at Koh Panyee and the sea canoe. On the charter, lunch is not included and sea canoeing is not part of the charter price (ask when booking if you want it arranged).

At 10 adults the boat price per person matches the shared tour, but the shared tour still includes lunch and the canoe. Private only becomes the cheaper option for larger groups, up to the boat's limit of 25 guests.

Children Change the Math

Shared tours have child prices, while charters are priced per boat with no child discount. A family of 2 adults and 2 children pays about 10,600 THB on the shared Phi Phi tour, or about 11,400 THB on the shared James Bond Island tour plus park fees, compared with 29,000 or 35,000 THB for a charter. For families, the shared tour almost always wins on price. The case for a private boat is comfort and pace, not cost.

The Extras to Add Up

• National park fees: included on the shared Phi Phi tour, paid on the day on the shared James Bond Island tour and on all charters. See our national park fees guide.
• Lunch: included on the shared tours, not on charters (ask about options when booking).
• Hotel transfer: included on charters. On the shared Phi Phi tour, Kamala and outer areas have a surcharge.
• Alcohol: not included on either.
• Optional sea sports: extra on shared tours, for example at the Naka Island stop on the James Bond Island tour.
• Tips: optional, but groups on a charter often give one tip for the crew. See our tipping guide.

What You Get for the Extra Money

Your own pace

On a group tour you follow a fixed route with fixed times at each stop. On a charter you stay longer where you like and skip what you do not, within the 6 hours and the national park rules. Nobody rushes you back to the boat because 30 other people are waiting.

Timing around the crowds

Tour boats follow predictable schedules and reach the famous spots at about the same time. With your own boat you can try to reach popular places before or after the main tour boats, which makes a real difference at busy stops like Maya Bay.

Families, older relatives and special occasions

A packed shared speedboat can be stressful with young children. A charter gives you space to manage their needs, take breaks and skip stops that do not suit them. It also suits older relatives, anniversaries, birthdays, honeymoons or anyone who simply dislikes busy boats.

Routes and stops we only sell privately

On our site the Hong Islands and the 4 Islands in Krabi are available as charters, not as shared tours. The private Phi Phi route also includes Bamboo Island, which the shared Phi Phi tour does not visit.

The Trade-offs

Charters give you up to 6 hours on the water, while the shared Phi Phi tour is a full day of about 10 hours door to door with more included. On a charter you also arrange lunch and pay park fees yourself. And speedboats are bumpy on either option: neither is recommended for pregnant women or guests with back problems. Read what to expect on a speedboat tour if you have not been on one before.

When a Shared Tour Is the Better Choice

• Solo travelers and couples: the per-person cost of a charter is high for one or two people. A shared tour visits the same highlights for a fraction of the price, and you meet other travelers.
• Families on a budget: child prices make the shared tour much cheaper.
• One price for everything: the shared tours include lunch, and the Phi Phi tour also includes the park fee, so there is nothing to arrange.
• First-time visitors: a fixed itinerary covers the highlights efficiently, with a guide who knows each stop.

Our Honest Verdict by Group Size

• Solo travelers: rarely worth it financially. Join a shared tour.
• Couples: worth it only if budget is not a concern and you want a special day. On Phi Phi, the charter works out at 14,500 THB each for two, against about 3,100 THB on the shared tour.
• Groups of 3 to 5: worth it for special occasions or if comfort and flexibility matter more than cost. Expect to pay clearly more per person than on a shared tour.
• Groups of 6 to 9 adults: the gap narrows (about 4,830 THB each for 6 on the Phi Phi charter, 3,625 THB for 8, before park fees and lunch). Worth it if you value the pace and privacy.
• 10 adults or more: the boat price per head meets or beats the shared tour, and private becomes a strong choice up to the 25 guest limit.

The value of a charter is not the destinations, since you visit the same islands. It is the quality of the day: less stress, more freedom and a schedule built around your group.

What to Check Before Booking Any Charter

• Licence and insurance: book through a licensed operator and make sure the boat carries passenger insurance. We are a licensed tour operator.
• Captain: a licensed captain with experience in the area you want to visit.
• Boat condition: well maintained and clean, with working safety equipment such as life jackets, a first aid kit and a radio.
• What is included: fuel, food, drinks, snorkel gear and national park fees are included on some charters and extra on others.
• Capacity: check that one boat can take your whole group.
• Cancellation and weather policy: on our charters you can cancel for a full refund more than 48 hours before departure, and if we cancel for unsafe weather you get a full refund or a new date.

Our guide to booking island tours safely covers more warning signs. For a wider look at prices, see our island tour price guide, or compare every option in how to choose a Phuket island tour.

Frequently asked questions

Is a private speedboat worth it in Phuket?

Yes, if your group values its own pace, privacy and timing, or if you are around 10 adults or more, when the boat price per head meets the shared tour price. For solo travelers, couples and most families, a shared tour is much cheaper.

Is a private speedboat cheaper than a group tour?

Only for larger groups. With our standard prices, the private Phi Phi boat costs less per head than the shared tour at around 10 adults, before park fees and lunch. In Phang Nga Bay the two meet at 10 adults, but the shared tour still includes lunch and the sea canoe.

How many people fit on a private speedboat?

Our charters take up to 25 guests. The price is per boat, so it does not change with the number of guests.

What is not included on a private charter?

National park fees, lunch and alcohol. Hotel pickup, captain and crew, fuel, life jackets, soft drinks and water and insurance are included, plus snorkel gear on every route except Phang Nga Bay.

Do children get a discount on private charters?

No. Charters are priced per boat. Child prices apply on the shared tours.

Can we choose where the boat goes?

You choose one of the four routes, and on the day you decide how long to stay at each stop within the 6 hours. If you have something specific in mind, contact us before you book.

What happens if the weather is bad?

If we cancel a charter for unsafe weather, you get a full refund or a new date. You can also cancel for a full refund more than 48 hours before departure. See our booking terms.