Phi Phi Islands One-Day Tour by Speedboat or Catamaran + Lunch

About This Experience

GR Rungtawan’s day trip is the standard Phi Phi speedboat day from Ao Nang, on fairly relaxed hours. A shared van collects you from your hotel in Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Klong Muang or Ao Nam Mao, you check in at the company’s office next to Burger King in Ao Nang, and the speedboat leaves from Ao Nang Beach around 9:00. The crossing takes about 45 to 60 minutes each way, and you are back on the mainland around 5 pm.

The listed route is Maya Bay (about 45 minutes ashore), a swim in Pileh Lagoon, snorkeling from the boat near Viking Cave, a look at Monkey Beach, an hour and a half on Phi Phi Don with a buffet lunch at 12:00, and a final 45 minutes on Bamboo Island. The order changes with tides and weather, and the operator’s own description puts Pileh Lagoon first. At Maya Bay the boat ties up on the Loh Samah side and you walk across to the beach. Swimming at the front beach is not allowed, so plan on a walk, photos and a paddle.

It suits first-time visitors who want the main Phi Phi sights, lunch and transfers sorted at a fair price: $50 per person on the dates we checked in early November 2026, with a catamaran option on the same listing at $74. It is rated 4.7 from 1,887 reviews, and reviewers often mention their guide by name.

The lower-rated reviews describe busy stops, most of the swimming done straight off the boat, and slow pickup runs when the van collects other hotels on the way; one reviewer with an infant was driven in the back of a pickup truck. The day starts later than an early bird tour, so expect company at Maya Bay, although one recent reviewer still got there ahead of the crowds.

Budget for the national park fee on top of the ticket: 400 THB per adult and 200 THB per child aged 4 to 11, in cash. Fins and dry bags are not provided.

Highlights

• About 45 minutes ashore at Maya Bay, walking in from the Loh Samah side
• A swim stop in Pileh Lagoon, ringed by limestone cliffs
• Snorkeling from the boat near Viking Cave
• A stop at Monkey Beach to watch the resident monkeys
• An hour and a half on Phi Phi Don around lunchtime
• 45 minutes on Bamboo Island to finish the day

What's Included

• ✓ Shared hotel pickup and drop-off in Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Klong Muang and Ao Nam Mao
• ✓ Buffet lunch on Phi Phi Don (halal, vegetarian and gluten-free on request)
• ✓ Snorkeling equipment and life jackets
• ✓ Bottled water, soft drinks, snacks and seasonal fruit
• ✓ Live guide (English, Thai or Malay)
• ✓ Travel insurance (public hospital cover)

Not Included

• National park fee: 400 THB per adult, 200 THB per child aged 4 to 11, in cash
• Fins
• Dry bags
• Personal expenses

What to Bring

• Cash for the park fee
• Swimwear and a towel
• Water shoes
• Sunscreen without oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-MBC or butylparaben (check the label)
• Sunglasses and a hat
• A waterproof bag for your phone

Good to Know & Caveats

• Maya Bay is open again after its yearly closure (1 August to 30 September). Boats moor on the Loh Samah side and you walk in; swimming at the front beach is not allowed and each landing is limited to about an hour.
• During the yearly closure the boat goes to another island instead; the operator's note gives the closure as 1 August until 1 October.
• Lunch is at 12:00, three hours after the start, so eat breakfast before you leave.
• The ride can be bumpy. If you get seasick, take a tablet before boarding.
• Snorkeling stops and timings can change without notice with tides and weather.
• Thai marine parks ban sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-MBC or butylparaben, and drones need park permission.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

Meeting Point

Free shared pickup from hotels in Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Klong Muang and Ao Nam Mao, with check-in at the operator's office next to Burger King in Ao Nang and the speedboat leaving from Ao Nang Beach; Railay is not listed as a pickup zone, so message the operator before booking if you are staying there.