Ao Nang: Phi Phi Islands Speedboat or Catamaran Tour One day

About This Experience

Krabi Blue Sky sells the same Phi Phi day by speedboat or by catamaran, and the practical difference is the toilet: the catamaran has one and the speedboat does not. On the dates we checked in early November 2026, the speedboat option was $50 per person and the catamaran $74. Both pick up from hotels in Ao Nang or Pak Nam in Krabi Town, and the speedboat crossing takes about 50 minutes.

The day starts at Bamboo Island (45 minutes), then Maya Bay (45 minutes, for a walk and photos), Pileh Lagoon (30), Viking Cave (20) and Monkey Beach (20). It ends with an hour and a half on Phi Phi Don for a halal buffet lunch with a vegetarian option, a swim and some shopping, and the whole trip runs 7 to 7.5 hours. Swimming is not allowed at Maya Bay’s front beach, so you swim at Bamboo Island, Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave.

It has 4.7 stars from 64 reviews. Reviewers enjoy the snorkeling, with sharks, fish and rays mentioned, and several name guides who looked after them well. The criticism is about pace: one reviewer felt the guide was going through the motions, and others describe a rushed, busy day with strict waiting times at each stop. One reviewer calls it a trip with a larger group, so expect to share the stops with plenty of other boats.

The national park fee (400 THB per adult, 200 THB per child) is extra, as are fins and dry bags, and you will want some cash for Phi Phi Don. The operator advises against the trip for pregnant women, non-swimmers and anyone prone to seasickness. Its note about Maya Bay closing “August until October” refers to the annual closure, which runs from 1 August to 30 September; Maya Bay is open again now.

Highlights

• Bamboo Island first, with 45 minutes to swim and snorkel
• A 45-minute walk and photo stop at Maya Bay
• Swim in Pileh Lagoon
• Snorkel at Viking Cave
• An hour and a half on Phi Phi Don to swim, walk and shop
• Choose a speedboat or a catamaran with a toilet on board

What's Included

• ✓ Hotel transfers from Ao Nang or Pak Nam (Krabi Town)
• ✓ Buffet lunch at a halal restaurant, with a vegetarian option
• ✓ Bottled water, soft drinks and snacks
• ✓ Mask and snorkel
• ✓ English-speaking guide
• ✓ Travel insurance

Not Included

• National park fee: 400 THB per adult, 200 THB per child
• Fins
• Dry bags
• Personal spending on Phi Phi Don
• A toilet on the speedboat option (the catamaran has one)

What to Bring

• Beach towel
• Sunglasses
• A change of clothes
• Sunscreen without oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-MBC or butylparaben
• Cash for the park fee and for shopping or snacks on Phi Phi Don
• A dry bag or zip bag for your phone (not supplied)

Good to Know & Caveats

• Tell the operator before the trip about any medical condition that could be made worse by boat rides or swimming.
• The route can change for weather and safety.
• Maya Bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September; during the closure the tour goes to Phi Phi Don instead.
• Swimming is not allowed at Maya Bay's front beach.
• No smoking, littering or touching marine life and plants.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Meeting Point

Hotel pickup in Ao Nang or Pak Nam (Krabi Town), with the boat leaving from a pier in the Ao Nang area.