There is a lot in a Phi Phi day for children: jumping off the boat into Pileh Lagoon, monkeys on the beach, snorkeling at Bamboo Island. What makes it harder with kids is the length. A day trip from Krabi runs seven to nine hours, with a 45 to 60 minute speedboat crossing each way that can be bumpy, and the minimum age differs from tour to tour. A smaller group helps, and the Phi Phi Small Group Speedboat Tour takes up to 12 guests and starts at Bamboo Island, away from the morning boats at Maya Bay.
Phi Phi Small Group Speedboat Tour
Minimum ages, tour by tour
There is no single rule. Each operator sets its own, and the listing’s “not suitable for” section is where you will find it. These are the limits on the tours we review:
| Tour | Youngest age accepted | Other limits |
|---|---|---|
| Phi Phi, Maya Bay & Bamboo Island | Not under 3 | |
| Phi Phi Early Bird & 4 Islands | Not under 3 | No strollers |
| Phi Phi Sunset, BBQ & Plankton | Not under 2 | |
| Phi Phi Speedboat with Buffet Lunch | Not under 2 | Not under 120 cm; no strollers |
| Semi-Private Phi Phi & Early Maya Bay | Not under 4 | |
| Private Phi Phi Speedboat Charter | Not under 3 | |
| Phi Phi Speedboat or Catamaran Day | Not under 1 | Not for non-swimmers |
| Phi Phi Small Group Speedboat Tour | No age stated | |
| Phi Phi Speedboat Tour with Lunch | No age stated |
Where no age is stated, send the operator a message before you book. Listings change, so check the live page too.
The child park fee
Children pay 200 THB for the national park, half the adult fee of 400 THB, in cash on the day on almost every tour. Only the Small Group Tour & Early Maya Bay includes the park fee in its price.
Who counts as a child is less clear. One listing gives the child rate for ages 4 to 11, another for 3 to 11, and some sources use a height limit. Ask your guide, and bring enough cash for the adult rate in case your older child is counted as an adult. The tour price itself may also have a child rate; the booking page shows it when you add a child.
Is a speedboat suitable for young children?
For most children from about three, yes, on a calm day. The crossing from Ao Nang takes about 45 to 60 minutes, and between the islands the hops are short. In a swell, though, a speedboat slams over the waves, and it is the front of the boat that takes the hardest knocks. One operator advises against sitting in the nose. Sit in the middle or towards the back with a small child on your lap or beside you.
Plan for the sea. The calmest months are about December to April, and January and February are the driest. From May to October the swell is bigger and some days are cancelled. Our best time guide goes month by month.
Nearly every listing we review says the tour is not suitable for pregnant women, and most rule out people with back problems, so if a parent is expecting, the speedboat is not an option.
Toddlers and babies
Under two, your choice narrows a lot. Most tours exclude children under 2 or 3, two accept them from age 1, and the ones with no age listed do not mention infants either. If you are thinking of taking a baby, message the operator first and ask three things: whether they accept infants, whether they carry an infant life jacket, and how you get from the hotel to the pier. One reviewer on a standard tour describes riding to the pier in the back of a pickup truck with an infant and feeling unsafe.
Strollers are not allowed on several tours, and they would not help anyway. At Maya Bay the boats moor on the Loh Samah side and you walk 5 to 10 minutes along a boardwalk; most other stops mean stepping off the boat into shallow water. A baby carrier works far better.
Think about the hours too. The early-bird tours pick up from about 05:50 and return around 16:00, which is a long day for a toddler. A standard tour starting around 9:00 and back by about 17:00 is easier, and a private boat lets you skip a stop or head home early.
Life jackets and swimming
Life jackets are included on every tour we review. Child sizes are not mentioned on the listings, so ask when you book if your child is small. The operator of the Phi Phi Sunrise & Shark Nursery recommends wearing a life jacket for the whole boat ride and while snorkeling, which is a sensible rule for children on any tour.
Children who cannot swim can still join most tours. Bamboo Island and the lunch stop are beaches, and you can snorkel at the surface in a life jacket. Two tours, the Speedboat or Catamaran Day and the Phi Phi & 4 Islands Sunset Catamaran, say they are not suitable for non-swimmers. At Maya Bay itself, nobody swims; you can only wade at the front beach.
In some seasons there are jellyfish in the Andaman Sea. A long-sleeved swim shirt and water shoes protect children’s skin from the sun and from stings. Our packing list covers the rest, including sunscreen without the banned ingredients.
Small-group and private options
Crowding is the most common complaint on the big shared boats. Reviews of the Phi Phi, Maya Bay & Bamboo Island tour and the Sunset, BBQ & Plankton tour describe 30 to 57 people on board, with everyone getting on and off together. With small children, a smaller boat means less waiting and more room.
The Phi Phi Small Group Speedboat Tour takes up to 12 guests and costs $89 per person on the dates we checked in early November 2026. It rates 4.7 from 54 reviews and lists no minimum age. It also runs the circuit in reverse, starting at Bamboo Island and reaching Maya Bay in the afternoon. Our review →
The Semi-Private Phi Phi & Early Maya Bay costs $116 with the park fee included, in groups of up to 17, with a picnic lunch on a quiet beach. Children must be at least 4.
For a family of four or more, the Private Phi Phi Speedboat Charter is priced per boat: $566 for up to 12 people, with lunch extra at 280 THB per person and the park fee on top. The day can go at your children’s pace. The private tour page compares the private options.
Is Phi Phi a good day out for a family?
For children from about four who are happy in the water, I think it is a very good day out from Krabi, if you pick a calm day and a smaller boat. For toddlers it can work with a private charter or a standard-hours tour and a parent ready to cut stops short. With a baby, check with the operator before you book anything.
If the long crossing worries you, the islands closer to Ao Nang make a shorter day. Our Phi Phi vs Hong Island guide compares them, and the itinerary guide shows how a full Phi Phi day is laid out.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take a toddler on a Phi Phi island tour?
Yes, from about age 2 or 3 on most tours. Check the minimum age on the listing, choose a calm day, and sit in the middle or back of the speedboat. A private charter or small group is easier with a toddler.
How much is the Phi Phi park fee for children?
200 THB per child, paid in cash on most tours, against 400 THB per adult. The age that counts as a child varies by listing, so ask your guide.
Is Phi Phi safe for babies?
Most speedboat tours do not accept children under 2 or 3, and only two of the tours we review accept them from age 1. Ask the operator about infant life jackets and the pickup vehicle before you book.
Do Phi Phi tours provide life jackets for kids?
Life jackets are included on every tour we review, but child sizes are not mentioned. Ask the operator when you book.
Which Phi Phi tour from Krabi is best for families?
A small-group tour such as the Phi Phi Small Group Speedboat Tour, with up to 12 guests, or a private speedboat charter for a larger family. Both avoid the crowding of the big shared boats.
Pick your Phi Phi day and check the boat
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on the tours we review. The national park fee (400 THB per adult) is usually paid in cash on the day.
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