Have you ever looked at a photo of Phi Phi Islands and thought “that can’t be real”? The water really is that blue. The cliffs really are that tall. And yes, you really can get there and back from Phuket in a single day.
But here’s the thing — there are at least a dozen different ways to do this trip, and the price difference between the cheapest and most expensive option is about $150 per person. The boat type, departure time, group size, and which islands you actually stop at all vary wildly depending on which tour you pick.
I’ve compared the main options so you don’t end up on a cattle-boat with 40 strangers and a lunch that looks like it was packed three days ago.
Short on time? Here are my top picks:
Best overall: Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Trip by V. Marine — $91. Speedboat, sea-view lunch, well-organized stops at Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, and Monkey Beach.
Best budget: Phi Phi Islands and Maya Bay Day Trip — $34. Full-day with lunch included — hard to beat at this price.
Best premium: Luxury Small Group Phi Phi Sunrise — $174. Leave before dawn, beat every other boat to Maya Bay, small group of 15 max.
- How Phi Phi Island Tours Work From Phuket
- Should You Book From Phuket or From Krabi?
- Individual Tickets vs. Guided Tours
- The Best Phi Phi Island Tours to Book From Phuket
- 1. Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Trip by V. Marine —
- 2. Phi Phi Islands and Maya Bay Day Trip With Lunch —
- 3. Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai Island Day Tour by Speedboat —
- 4. Luxury Small Group Phi Phi Sunrise — 4
- 5. Half-Day Longtail Tour to Maya Bay —
- When to Go
- How to Get to the Departure Point
- Tips That Will Save You Time and Money
- What You’ll Actually See
- What Else to Do Around Phuket and Southern Thailand
How Phi Phi Island Tours Work From Phuket
The basic setup is simple: a speedboat or large boat picks you up from a pier on Phuket’s east coast (usually Rassada Pier or Royal Phuket Marina), then heads southeast across the Andaman Sea to the Phi Phi archipelago. The crossing takes 45 minutes by speedboat or about 90 minutes by larger vessel.
Most full-day tours follow a similar route. You’ll stop at Maya Bay (the famous beach from the Leonardo DiCaprio film), Pileh Lagoon for swimming and snorkeling, Monkey Beach to watch long-tailed macaques, and Viking Cave to see the cliff face from the boat. Lunch is either on Phi Phi Don island at a beachside restaurant or on the boat itself.
There are two key differences between tours:
Speedboat vs. big boat: Speedboats carry 20-35 passengers, get there faster, and can access smaller coves that big boats can’t enter. Large boats carry 100+ people but tend to be cheaper and more stable in choppy water.
Standard vs. sunrise departure: Regular tours leave Phuket around 7:30-8:30am and arrive at Maya Bay around 10am, when it’s already filling up. Sunrise tours depart around 5:30am and reach Maya Bay before 8am — fewer people, softer light, and cooler temperatures. Worth the early alarm if you can handle it.
The national park entrance fee (currently 400 THB / ~$11 per adult, 200 THB for children) is sometimes included in tour prices and sometimes not. Always check before booking. Since 2022, Maya Bay has a separate 100 THB entry fee on top of the national park fee.
Should You Book From Phuket or From Krabi?
If you’re staying in Phuket, book from Phuket — obviously. But if your itinerary includes both, here’s the real difference.
From Phuket, the speedboat ride is about 45 minutes. From Krabi or Ao Nang, it’s about 90 minutes to Phi Phi but only 30 minutes to Maya Bay via the eastern approach. So Krabi departures actually get to Maya Bay faster, while Phuket departures reach Phi Phi Don (the main island) faster.
Phuket tours tend to include more stops (Khai Island, Bamboo Island) because the operators pack in extra value to justify the longer travel time. Krabi tours are more focused on Phi Phi and Maya Bay specifically.
If you’re doing both Phuket and Krabi on the same trip, I’d do the Phi Phi tour from Phuket and save Krabi for the 4 Islands tour instead — less overlap that way.
Individual Tickets vs. Guided Tours
You can technically get to Phi Phi independently. The public ferry from Rassada Pier costs about 600-800 THB one-way and takes 2 hours. Ferries run a few times daily, and once you’re on Phi Phi Don you can hire a longtail boat from Tonsai Pier to Maya Bay for about 1,500-2,500 THB per boat (not per person).
But honestly? For a day trip, just book a tour. The math rarely works out cheaper independently, and you lose time arranging your own longtail, buying separate national park tickets, and finding lunch. The only reason to go independent is if you’re staying overnight on Phi Phi Don — then the ferry makes total sense.
For a day trip from Phuket, a tour is the better move. You get hotel pickup, all the logistics handled, snorkeling gear, lunch, and a guide who knows which snorkeling spots have the best coral at what time.
The Best Phi Phi Island Tours to Book From Phuket
1. Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Trip by V. Marine — $91
This is the one I’d pick for most people. V. Marine has been running this route for years and their operation is tight — over 3,200 reviews with a near-perfect rating don’t happen by accident. The speedboat is comfortable, the guide actually knows what they’re talking about, and the sea-view lunch at a restaurant on Phi Phi Don beats the sad packed lunches you get on cheaper tours.
At $91, it’s mid-range — not the cheapest, but you’re paying for organization and a full itinerary that hits Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Beach, Viking Cave, and a snorkeling stop. National park fees are included, which saves you the hassle of paying separately at the pier.
2. Phi Phi Islands and Maya Bay Day Trip With Lunch — $34
If budget is the priority, this is the one. At $34 per person with lunch included, it’s genuinely hard to find a cheaper way to see Phi Phi from Phuket. The trip runs 6-10 hours depending on the day and covers Maya Bay, Phi Phi Don, and snorkeling at a couple of spots.
The trade-off? Bigger groups, a large boat instead of a speedboat (so longer travel time), and lunch that’s functional rather than memorable. But with over 3,200 reviews, most people come back satisfied. The 4.4 rating is slightly lower than the premium options — mostly because the larger group size means you’re sharing snorkel spots with 40-50 other people instead of 20.
3. Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai Island Day Tour by Speedboat — $47
This one adds Khai Island to the standard Phi Phi route, which is a smart move if you want more beach time and less boat time. Khai is a tiny island about 20 minutes from Phuket — shallow, warm water, good snorkeling, and usually less crowded than the Phi Phi stops.
The $47 price point puts it squarely between the budget big-boat option and the premium V. Marine trip. It’s a speedboat tour (so faster crossing), runs 8 hours, and 1,600+ reviews at 4.2 stars suggest it’s solid if unspectacular. The slightly lower rating usually comes down to the number of stops — some people feel rushed trying to fit Khai, Phi Phi, and Maya Bay into one day.
4. Luxury Small Group Phi Phi Sunrise — $174
This is the one for people who hate crowds and don’t mind paying for it. Simba Sea Trips caps their group at 15 people, departs Phuket before dawn, and arrives at Maya Bay around 7am — a full three hours before the standard tour boats show up.
At $174 it’s the most expensive option on this list by a wide margin. But the reviews are extraordinary — perfect 5.0 from nearly 1,500 people. That kind of consistency at scale is rare. The sunrise over the Andaman Sea, Maya Bay with barely anyone else there, a proper Thai breakfast on the boat, and a guide who takes photos for you — it’s a different experience entirely from the budget trips.
If it’s your honeymoon, a birthday trip, or you just want the best possible version of this day, this is the one.
5. Half-Day Longtail Tour to Maya Bay — $24
A different angle on the Phi Phi experience. This 4-hour longtail tour departs from Phi Phi Don island (not Phuket), so it’s really for people who are already staying overnight on Phi Phi or who took the public ferry over independently.
At $24 it’s the cheapest way to see Maya Bay. The longtail boat is slower and louder than a speedboat, but there’s something genuinely fun about bouncing across the waves in a wooden boat with a repurposed car engine strapped to the back. The 1,700+ reviews at 4.2 stars are decent — most complaints are about the short time at Maya Bay (about 45 minutes) and the fact that snorkeling gear costs extra.
When to Go
Best months: November through April is the dry season on Phuket’s Andaman coast. December to February is peak season — the best weather but also the most crowded and the highest prices. November and March-April offer a good balance of decent weather and fewer travellers.
Avoid: May through October is monsoon season. Tours still run, but seas are rougher, visibility is worse for snorkeling, and there’s a real chance of cancellation. Some tour companies won’t operate on particularly rough days — if yours gets cancelled, a Phuket city tour hitting Wat Chalong and the Big Buddha viewpoint makes a decent land-based backup. If you’re prone to seasickness, absolutely avoid the monsoon months.
Best time of day: Sunrise tours (departing 5:30am) give you the best experience at Maya Bay. Standard tours depart 7:30-8:30am and arrive at the main stops around 10-11am when it’s hottest and most crowded. Afternoon and sunset tours exist but are less common from Phuket.
Maya Bay is open from 7:00am to 6:00pm daily. The national park occasionally closes Maya Bay for maintenance — usually for a few weeks in August. Check the Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park status before booking if you’re traveling in monsoon season.
How to Get to the Departure Point
Most tours include hotel pickup from anywhere in Phuket. If you’re arranging your own transport, the main departure points are:
Rassada Pier — the biggest and busiest pier, about 15 minutes from Phuket Town. Most large boat and budget speedboat tours leave from here. There’s parking, a couple of coffee shops, and a waiting area with fans.
Royal Phuket Marina — used by some premium operators including Simba Sea Trips. It’s on the east coast, quieter and better maintained than Rassada. About 25 minutes from Patong Beach.
Boat Lagoon Marina — another east coast option for smaller operators. Similar distance from Patong.
From Patong Beach, budget 30-40 minutes by taxi or Grab to any east-coast pier. From Kata or Karon, add another 10-15 minutes. Grab is cheaper than hotel taxis, usually around 200-400 THB depending on distance. If you have a free morning before or after the Phi Phi trip, the ATV jungle adventure courses are on the same side of the island as the piers — easy to combine without backtracking across Phuket.
Tips That Will Save You Time and Money
Book online, not at the pier. Street vendors and tour desks at piers charge more than online prices and often put you on whichever boat has empty seats — you might not get the exact tour you wanted. Booking through GetYourGuide or Viator locks in the specific operator and itinerary.
Bring your own snorkel mask if you have one. The included masks are fine but heavily used. If you’re particular about fit (or just don’t love sharing a mask with hundreds of previous travellers), bring your own.
Reef-safe sunscreen only. Thailand’s marine national parks are cracking down on harmful sunscreen. Some tours will actually check and confiscate non-reef-safe products before you get in the water.
Waterproof phone case. Not optional. The spray on the speedboat will soak everything, and there’s a solid chance of rain even in dry season. Get one of those cheap waterproof pouches — they’re about 200 THB at any convenience store in Phuket.
Eat something before you go. Hotel pickup is usually around 7am and lunch isn’t until noon or later. The boat ride on an empty stomach plus choppy water is a recipe for misery.
Cash for extras. Most extras on the islands — drinks, snacks, kayak rental, photos — are cash only. Bring 500-1,000 THB in small bills.
Plan your evening too. You’ll be back at your hotel by 5-6pm with most tours. If you still have energy, a Muay Thai fight at Patong Stadium is a completely different kind of spectacle — matches start around 9pm, so you have time to shower and grab dinner first.
What You’ll Actually See
Maya Bay — the one from the movie. Since it reopened in 2022 after a four-year rehabilitation, the beach is limited to 300 visitors at a time with one-hour time slots. Swimming is not allowed (the reef is still recovering), but you can walk on the beach and take photos. The new visitor management system means it’s actually pleasant now — the water has recovered, the coral is growing back, and the beach isn’t trashed.
Pileh Lagoon — a sheltered cove on the eastern side of Phi Phi Leh surrounded by sheer limestone cliffs. The water here is bright green-blue, extremely calm, and you can swim and snorkel. This is actually many people’s favorite stop of the whole day — less famous than Maya Bay but more enjoyable since you can actually get in the water.
Monkey Beach — a small beach on Phi Phi Don where long-tailed macaques hang out near the water’s edge. You view them from the boat (you’re not supposed to feed them, though some travellers ignore this). Honestly? It’s fine but not a highlight. The monkeys are cute from a distance and aggressive up close.
Viking Cave — a cliff face on Phi Phi Leh where locals historically harvested bird’s nests for soup. You can’t enter — it’s viewed from the boat. The name comes from ancient paintings on the cave walls that vaguely resemble Viking ships, though historians think they were drawn by Southeast Asian sailors.
Bamboo Island — a flat, circular island north of Phi Phi Don with a white sand beach and good snorkeling on the surrounding reef. Not all tours stop here. If yours does, it’s one of the more relaxing stops — shallow water, soft sand, less crowded than Maya Bay.
Khai Island(s) — three small islands (Khai Nok, Khai Nai, Khai Nui) closer to Phuket than Phi Phi. Some tours stop here on the way back. They’re nothing spectacular but the snorkeling is easy and the water is warm and shallow — good for kids or people who aren’t confident swimmers.
What Else to Do Around Phuket and Southern Thailand
Phi Phi takes a full day, but most visitors have at least two or three more to fill. The obvious next boat trip is Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island — the scenery is completely different, all mangroves and sea caves and karst towers rising out of flat water, and it runs on the calmer east side of Phuket so it works even when the Andaman swells are up.
If you’d rather stay on dry land for a day, the elephant sanctuary tours are a half-day well spent, especially if you’re traveling with kids who need a break from boats.
For a day when you just want to cool off without another ocean crossing, Andamanda Water Park is the biggest water park on the island and genuinely fun for all ages — the wave pool alone justifies the ticket price on a 35-degree afternoon.
And if the snorkeling at Phi Phi left you wanting more time underwater, head to Koh Tao on the Gulf side — it has the best visibility and marine life in the country. Our Koh Samui island hopping guide covers the broader Gulf coast if you’re headed that direction. Traveling onward to Krabi?
The 4 Islands tour there covers different ground entirely, and departure from Ao Nang puts you closer to the eastern approach to Maya Bay if you want a second look from a different angle.