Ao Nang to Phi Phi by Ferry or Speedboat

From Ao Nang you can reach Phi Phi Don by speedboat in about 70 minutes or by ferry in about 2 hours, and the price difference is small. Our pick is Railay Eco Tour’s Ao Nang to Phi Phi speedboat transfer: $30 per person on 8 November 2026, 4.6 from 210 reviews, with pickup from Ao Nang hotels and two departures a day each way. Our review →

The speedboat shuttle

The boat leaves from Ao Nam Mao pier, on the mainland just east of Ao Nang, and calls at Railay before crossing to Tonsai pier on Phi Phi Don. The listed times, pier to pier:

Hotel transfer is included inside Ao Nang, and the operator asks you to be in your lobby 45 minutes before departure. From Krabi Town, Klong Muang, Tub Kaek or the airport the car transfer costs extra. Guests at Centara Grand Beach Resort or the Tonsai Beach hotels wait at Ao Nang Beach or Railay, as the boat does not collect from those beaches. Food and drinks are not included, and the schedule can change in storms.

Low reviews mostly concern the land side: a driver arriving late from the airport or a hotel, and being hard to reach when late. One reviewer missed a safety briefing. The operator does not recommend the boat for pregnant travelers, older people or anyone with back pain, as a speedboat can be bumpy.

If you are already on Railay, the same company’s Railay to Phi Phi speedboat leaves from Railay East pier and takes about 40 minutes, also $30, with 4.8 from 46 reviews. There is no hotel transfer on Railay. More on that in our Railay page.

The ferry from Nopparat Thara

Lanta Tourist Center’s Ao Nang to Phi Phi ferry leaves from Nopparat Thara pier, just north of Ao Nang town, and takes about 2 hours to Tonsai. Pickup from Ao Nang hotels runs from 08:00 to 09:00, or you can meet at the pier 20 minutes before departure. If you book after 20:00 the evening before, there is no pickup and you make your own way to the pier. It was $27.68 on 9 November, so only about $2 cheaper than the speedboat, and it has only nine reviews so far.

Crossing times for Ao Nang ferries vary by boat. Ferry booking sites list the larger ferries from Ao Nang Beach at around 2.5 to 3 hours, so check the time printed on your ticket rather than assuming two hours.

Another speedboat from Ao Nang

The Krabi speedboat transfer between Ao Nang and Phi Phi is a second option, listed from $49 with 4.2 from 45 reviews. It includes van pickup in Ao Nang only; if you go to the pier yourself, arrive 30 minutes before departure. The listing does not print its sailing times, so check them when you pick a date.

Ferry or speedboat?

The speedboat is the better choice for most people moving to Phi Phi with normal luggage: it is faster, costs about the same and collects you from your Ao Nang hotel. The bigger ferry is usually a calmer ride and suits travelers who would rather avoid a fast, bouncing boat. If you are staying in Krabi Town, the ferry from Klong Jilad is closer.

Whichever you take, Phi Phi Don charges 20 THB per person at Tonsai pier, in cash.

If you only want to see Phi Phi and come back the same evening, a day tour does more for not much more money. The Ao Nang Phi Phi speedboat or catamaran tour was $50 and visits Bamboo Island, Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon, plus the 400 THB national park fee in cash. See Phi Phi island tours from Ao Nang.