Phi Phi Island Hopping Day Trip by Speed Boat from Phuket

Phi Phi’s best moments come from the water: steep limestone cliffs, clear coves, reef fish, and Maya Bay’s shallow reef where black tip reef sharks may circle below. This fast-paced island tour covers the main sights in one long day, with hotel pickup and lunch included.

I like the easy transport, since you do not need to arrange a taxi to the pier, and I like the mix of sightseeing and swimming. The boat carries no more than 30 people, and the package includes snorkeling gear, drinks, fruit, a life jacket, and a Thai buffet.

The tradeoff is time. The advertised tour lasts about 7 hours and 30 minutes, but a west Phuket hotel can add an hour or more each way. With transfers, this is likely a full 10-hour day, and the speedboat ride can feel brisk rather than relaxed.

Key points to know before you book

• Maya Bay is a short scenic stop: You get about 15 minutes to look into the famous lagoon and shallow reef.
• Pi Leh Bay is the main snorkeling highlight: High cliffs shade much of the bay, with the best snorkeling near its entrance.
• The group is capped at 30 people: Boats have either two or three engines and 20 or 30 seats.
• Lunch is served on Phi Phi Don: The included buffet gives you a proper break from the boat and a view of the island.
• Bamboo Island depends on conditions: Poor weather can change the final stop to Koh Rang Yai, near Phuket.
• The national park fee is extra: Adults pay THB 400 and children pay THB 200.

Why this Phi Phi day trip works well

I see this as a practical way to fit several famous Phi Phi locations into one day from Phuket. The tour removes the hardest pieces of planning: hotel transport, pier transfers, boat arrangements, snorkeling equipment, and lunch.

That convenience matters in Phuket. The islands are not a quick hop from most resorts, and arranging separate transport to a marina can turn a simple outing into a string of small decisions. Here, Andaman Leisure collects you from your hotel and brings you to its Phuket Boat Lagoon office for a briefing before departure.

The listed start time is 9:00 am, though the hotel pickup itself is described as early morning. Your actual collection time will depend on your hotel, so check that detail when booking. A quick health screening and safety briefing take place before you board.

The boat is a speedboat with either two or three engines. Smaller boats carry about 20 people, while larger ones carry about 30. That is a reasonable group size for a popular Phi Phi route, though it is not a private outing. You should expect a busy schedule, shared seating, and several people entering the water at each stop.

The 45-minute ride to Phi Phi Leh

After leaving Phuket, you have roughly 45 minutes on the water before reaching Phi Phi Leh. The ride gets you to the islands quickly, but speed comes with a few practical considerations.

You will want sunscreen, a hat that will not blow away, and a dry bag for phones or cameras. The boat has soft drinks, drinking water, and fresh fruit, but the supplied details do not promise shaded seating or a smooth ride in all conditions. If you are prone to seasickness, sit where the crew recommends and keep your attention on the horizon.

Phi Phi Leh is uninhabited, so this first section feels focused on coves, cliffs, and water rather than village life. The scenery is dramatic, but the schedule gives you only brief windows at some locations. This is a tour for seeing many places, not for lingering at one beach all afternoon.

Maya Bay and the short look into the lagoon

Maya Bay is the name most people recognize, thanks to its enclosed bay and towering limestone walls. The stop here is about 15 minutes, which is enough to take in the shape of the lagoon and look for black tip reef sharks over the shallow coral.

Do not plan on a long swim at Maya Bay. The stop is primarily scenic, and conditions or local conservation rules can affect exactly how close the boat gets. Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation closes Maya Bay every August and September, so this tour cannot offer that stop during those two months.

That annual closure is important, not a minor footnote. If Maya Bay is the main reason you are booking, avoid August and September or confirm the operating schedule before paying. The rest of Phi Phi Leh can still offer excellent scenery, but it will not be the same visit.

Loh Samah Bay for fish and coral

The boat then reaches Loh Samah Bay, where you get around 30 minutes in the water. This is one of the more useful stops for people who want actual snorkeling rather than only photographs.

The provided equipment includes a mask and snorkel, along with a life jacket. You may see tropical fish and coral in the clear water, though visibility depends on weather, tide, and daily sea conditions. You should treat the reef carefully and avoid standing on coral.

This stop also gives you a chance to cool off after the ride. The schedule is generous enough for a swim, but not so long that you should expect a slow, independent snorkeling session. The guide will organize the group, and you will need to return to the boat on time.

Pi Leh Bay beneath 100-meter cliffs

Pi Leh Bay is one of the strongest scenic stops. Vertical cliffs rise about 100 meters from the water, and much of the bay stays shaded except around midday. At the entrance, the water offers good conditions for snorkeling.

I like this stop because it combines the two things that make Phi Phi special: enormous limestone walls and close-up marine life. The contrast between the pale rock and turquoise water is the sort of view that explains the islands’ fame without needing much commentary.

The bay can feel more comfortable than an exposed beach because the cliffs provide shade. Still, the boat may be one of several vessels in the area, and the narrow setting can make the stop feel busy. You should expect a shared excursion, not solitude.

Viking Cave and Monkey Beach

The route continues toward Phi Phi Don with a brief stop at Viking Cave. The cave is associated with swiftlet birds’ nests, which are harvested there. The stop lasts about 15 minutes, so think of it as a look from the boat rather than a cave visit on foot.

Next comes Monkey Beach, a roughly 150-meter strip of white sand. The beach is attractive and compact, and it adds a land-and-wildlife moment to a day otherwise spent around cliffs and water.

Monkey Beach is not a long beach break on this schedule. You get about 15 minutes, and the focus is on seeing the shore and monkeys rather than settling in for a quiet afternoon. Keep food and loose belongings secure, and do not approach wildlife. The supplied tour details do not promise a landing at every tide or in every condition, so follow the crew’s instructions.

Lunch and a short walk on Phi Phi Don

At Ton Sai Pier on Phi Phi Don, you walk toward the large ton sai, or banyan, tree that marks one end of the narrow path between Tonsai Bay and Loh Dalum Bay. This is the inhabited island portion of the trip and gives you a short break from the speedboat.

The stop lasts about an hour and includes a buffet lunch. That is a real advantage over tours that leave you to buy food at a crowded pier or beach. You can eat, look around the central part of the island, and enjoy views before returning to the boat.

Do not expect a long village tour or much free time. One hour passes quickly once you walk from the pier, find the meal, eat, and regroup. Still, this pause gives the day a better rhythm. Without it, the sequence of boat, swim, boat, swim could become tiring.

The buffet is included, as are nonalcoholic drinks and fresh fruit. The supplied details do not list individual dishes, so you should not book this specifically for a certain menu. The value comes from having food arranged during a tightly timed day.

Bamboo Island as the final tropical stop

In the afternoon, the boat heads to Bamboo Island, about 5 kilometers from the northern tip of Phi Phi Don. The stop is planned for about 1 hour and 10 minutes, making it the longest beach-oriented portion of the route.

Bamboo Island is known for its white sand and open tropical setting. After the cliffs and narrow bays of Phi Phi Leh, this stop gives you more room to stretch out, swim, and take in the coast. If the sea is calm, it can be the most relaxed part of the day.

Weather matters here. If conditions are too poor, the route changes to Koh Rang Yai, a quiet island about 5 kilometers off Phuket’s east coast. That alternative is practical for safety and scheduling, but it is not a substitute if your main goal is to see every Phi Phi location. You should treat Bamboo Island as weather dependent.

What the $110.58 price really covers

At $110.58 per person, the price is reasonable if you value convenience and want several major stops in one outing. The package includes hotel round-trip transport, the speedboat, an English-speaking guide, lunch, snorkeling equipment, life jackets, soft drinks, water, fruit, and basic accident insurance.

The national park entrance fee is not included. Adults pay THB 400, and children pay THB 200. Add that cost when comparing this tour with other Phi Phi options, since a cheaper headline price may not include the same items.

The biggest value is not simply the boat ticket. It is the coordination. You get collected from your hotel, moved to the marina, briefed, fed, equipped for snorkeling, and returned to the starting point. If you prefer to arrange each piece yourself, you may find a slower ferry or private charter more appealing. If you want the main sights in one day, this bundled format makes sense.

The long day and the real pace

The official duration is about 7 hours and 30 minutes, but that does not tell the whole story. A pickup from a west Phuket resort can add an hour each way, and one available account describes the complete outing as more than 10 hours with transport.

I would plan your whole day around it. Do not schedule an evening show, airport transfer, or special dinner too tightly afterward. Hotel pickup times, traffic, pier procedures, sea conditions, and the return ride can all stretch the day.

The route also moves quickly. You will visit ten listed stops or alternatives, with some visits lasting only 15 minutes. That makes the tour efficient, but it also means you may feel hurried at Maya Bay, Viking Cave, and Monkey Beach.

The speedboat organization has been described as first rate and stress free, which is exactly what matters on a complicated route like this. Still, good organization cannot change the nature of a speedboat day. You will spend much of the outing boarding, riding, swimming, and regrouping.

Who should book this tour

I would recommend this trip to you if you are staying in Phuket and want a broad first look at Phi Phi without arranging transport yourself. It suits people who want Maya Bay, snorkeling, Monkey Beach, Phi Phi Don, and Bamboo Island in one day.

It is also a good fit for confident swimmers and active families, provided everyone is comfortable with boat travel and a long schedule. Most people can participate, and life jackets are supplied, but the tour details do not promise special arrangements for every mobility or medical need.

I would hesitate if you want a quiet beach day, long snorkeling sessions, or a private experience. You may also prefer another plan if you dislike speedboats, dislike early starts, or want to spend more time on Phi Phi Don itself.

Book with a clear understanding of the costs and timing. Add the THB 400 adult park fee, confirm the hotel pickup time, and keep August and September in mind because Maya Bay closes then. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time, while poor weather or too few participants can lead to a new date or full refund.

Should you book the Phi Phi speedboat day trip?

Book it if your priority is maximum sightseeing with minimum planning. The included transfers, lunch, equipment, and capped group size make the $110.58 price easier to justify, especially for a first visit to Phuket.

Skip it if you want slow travel. The long transfer day, brief stops, possible crowds, extra national park fee, and weather-dependent route are real drawbacks. For most visitors with only one free day, though, this is a well-organized way to see Phi Phi’s cliffs, reefs, beaches, and famous bays in one sweep.

FAQ

How long does the Phi Phi Island tour last?

The advertised activity lasts approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes. Hotel pickup and return transport can make the complete day longer, especially from a west Phuket resort.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 9:00 am. Hotel pickup takes place earlier, depending on your accommodation and the transfer schedule.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Round-trip hotel transfer from Phuket is included, and the activity ends back at the meeting point after the return transfer.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 30 people. The speedboats have either 20 or 30 seats and use two or three engines.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch is included during the stop on Koh Phi Phi Don. Soft drinks, drinking water, and fresh fruit are also provided.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and a life jacket are included in the tour price.

What is the national park entrance fee?

The adult fee for Hat Noppharat Thara and Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park is THB 400 per person. The child fee is THB 200 per person, and these charges are not included.

Does the tour visit Maya Bay all year?

No. Thailand’s Department of National Parks closes Maya Bay every year during August and September.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If weather conditions are too poor for Bamboo Island, the tour may visit Koh Rang Yai instead. If the entire experience is canceled because of poor weather, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.