Phi Phi Islands Speedboat Tour from Krabi — Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon & Bamboo Island
Last updated: May 2026
The Phi Phi Islands sit 45 kilometres south-west of Ao Nang in the Andaman Sea — five separate islands of vertical limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons, and beaches so impossibly turquoise that *The Beach* (the Leonardo DiCaprio film that put them on the global map) was filmed at one of them. Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, Bamboo Island, and the monkeys of Phi Phi Don — all visited in a single full day from Krabi by speedboat.
Our Phi Phi Islands Tour from Krabi covers all the major stops with a halal-friendly Thai buffet lunch at a beachside restaurant on Phi Phi Don, English-speaking group guide throughout, snorkelling mask and life jacket, fresh fruit and water, and free pickup from Ao Nang hotels. Krabi Town, Klong Muang, and Tub Kaek pickup is available for an additional ฿600 per person to cover the longer transfer.
From ฿1,700 per adult and ฿1,500 per child (4–11 years) with Trip Thai Tour — TAT Licensed No. 14/04232. National Park Fee (฿400/adult, ฿200/child) is paid directly to the park ranger at the pier on the morning of your tour. Pickup is strict 8:00–8:30 AM from Ao Nang — late guests cannot be collected. **Important: tours pause every August and September** during the annual Maya Bay closure mandated by the Thai marine authorities — book the Krabi 4 Island Tour for those months. Book on WhatsApp for confirmation in 15 minutes.
Phi Phi Islands Tour from Krabi Price 2026
Package Deals — Best Value
Phi Phi Islands Tour by Speedboat — Group Join
Speedboat (shared with group) + English-speaking group guide + halal-friendly Thai buffet lunch at beachside restaurant on Phi Phi Don + fresh fruit on the boat + bottled water + snorkelling mask + life jacket + free Ao Nang hotel pickup and drop-off + insurance
Optional Temple Add-ons & Extras
Free pickup is available from Ao Nang hotels only. For Krabi Town, Klong Muang Beach, and Tub Kaek hotels, add ฿600 per person to cover the longer minivan transfer to Nopparat Thara Pier. Pickup time is approximately 30 minutes earlier than the Ao Nang pickup window. Our online booking form will check your hotel address and apply the surcharge automatically.
Tell us at the time of booking and we coordinate with the Phi Phi Don beachside restaurant in advance. The buffet is shared catering — request must be confirmed at booking, not on the day. Honest distinction: this is halal-friendly preparation in a restaurant kitchen rather than a fully halal-certified facility.
Vegetarian options are available with advance notice. Allergy notes (nuts, shellfish, gluten, dairy) should be flagged at booking; we cannot guarantee allergen-free preparation in the restaurant day-of.
Bring a quick-dry towel and a small dry bag for your phone, wallet, and passport. Boarding from Nopparat Thara Pier is dry but the snorkelling stops at Pileh and Bamboo involve getting wet, and Phi Phi Don's beachside restaurant is a sandy walk from the boat.
Phi Phi Islands Speedboat Tour from Krabi — Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon & Bamboo Island
Phi Phi Islands by speedboat from Krabi — Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Bamboo Island, Viking Cave, Monkey Beach, lunch on Phi Phi Don. Halal-friendly buffet, English guide, snorkelling gear, Ao Nang hotel pickup. ฿1,700 per adult.
Highlights:
- Maya Bay (Phi Phi Leh) — the bay made famous by the 2000 film *The Beach*. Since 2022 no swimming is permitted and boats park at Loh Samah Bay; you enter via the boardwalk and have approximately 1 hour. Closed every year 1 August – 30 September — we do not run tours during this period.
- Pileh Lagoon (Phi Phi Leh) — an enclosed turquoise lagoon surrounded on all sides by 100-metre limestone cliffs. The water inside is calm and shockingly blue. One of the photographs that defines Phi Phi.
- Bamboo Island (Koh Phai) — north of Phi Phi Don. White sand, clear shallow water, fewer crowds than Maya Bay. Snorkelling here is one of the highlights of the day for many guests.
- Viking Cave (Phi Phi Leh) — a photo stop where swiftlets nest in the cave walls. Their nests are harvested for traditional Chinese birds nest soup. The boat passes close enough for clear photos but does not enter.
- Monkey Beach (Phi Phi Don) — a small beach where wild macaques come down to the shoreline. Photogenic, kids love it, but do not feed or touch the monkeys.
- Buffet lunch at a beachside restaurant on Phi Phi Don — Thai curry, fried rice, stir-fried mains, fresh fruit, drinking water. Halal-friendly preparation available on request at booking.
- All major Phi Phi stops in one full day from Krabi — the only realistic way to see Phi Phi as a day trip. Ferry crossings to stay overnight at Phi Phi exist but cost more total and miss the speedboat-only stops at Pileh and Maya Bay.
- TAT-licensed Thai tour operator (No. 14/04232), maintained speedboat fleet, English-speaking guide, halal-friendly catering, transparent pricing on park fees and pickup zones.
Tour Program
Strict 8:00–8:30 AM from your Ao Nang hotel lobby
Driver does not wait for late guests — be in the lobby ready to board the minivan.
Approximately 7:30–8:00 AM (30 minutes earlier than Ao Nang)
+฿600/person surcharge applies — booked through our online form.
15–25 minutes from Ao Nang
Driver hands you over to the boat crew on arrival.
National Park Fee paid directly at the pier — ฿400/adult and ฿200/child
Park ranger collects this, not us. Cash in Thai Baht.
Boat leaves Nopparat Thara at 9:00 AM sharp
Phi Phi crossing in 45 minutes. Life jacket on for the crossing — required on Thai speedboats.
Bamboo Island first (snorkel) → Viking Cave (photo) → Pileh Lagoon (swim) → Maya Bay (boardwalk visit) → Phi Phi Don (lunch + Monkey Beach)
ideally before 10:30 AM
Boat parks at Loh Samah Bay; you walk the boardwalk to the beach. Approximately 1 hour at the bay including walk-in and walk-out time. No swimming permitted.
60–75 minutes
Halal-friendly portion served if requested at booking.
45–55 minutes
Minivan back to your Krabi hotel — Ao Nang ~4:30 PM, Krabi Town/Klong Muang/Tub Kaek ~5:00 PM.
✅ Included
- ✓Speedboat tour to all major Phi Phi stops — group join, shared with other guests
- ✓English-speaking group guide for the full tour
- ✓Buffet lunch at a beachside restaurant on Phi Phi Don — halal-friendly available on request at booking
- ✓Fresh fruit (typically pineapple, watermelon) on the boat
- ✓Bottled drinking water throughout
- ✓Snorkelling mask and life jacket
- ✓Insurance
- ✓Free hotel pickup and drop-off — Ao Nang area only (other Krabi areas +฿600/person, see Please Note)
❌ Not included
- ✕National Park Fee — ฿400 per adult and ฿200 per child paid directly to the park ranger at the pier on the day. Cash in Thai Baht. We do not collect this and we do not mark it up.
- ✕Pickup surcharge for Krabi Town, Klong Muang, or Tub Kaek hotels — +฿600 per person, applied automatically when you enter your hotel in our online booking form
- ✕Pickup from Railay Beach — not available. Railay is reachable only by boat. Guests staying in Railay must travel to Ao Nang the night before or take an early longtail to Ao Nang at their own arrangement.
- ✕Pickup from Tonsai Bay or Centara Grand Beach Resort — not available on this package
- ✕Tours during 1 August – 30 September annually — Maya Bay is closed by the Thai marine authority for coral recovery. We do not run Phi Phi tours during this period.
- ✕Towels and dry bag — bring your own
- ✕Snorkel fins — not included (mask only)
- ✕Personal expenses (drinks beyond water at lunch, souvenirs, additional snacks)
- ✕Gratuities for guide and driver (optional, always appreciated)
The Phi Phi Islands are simultaneously the most famous and most misrepresented day trip from Krabi. Travellers arrive expecting to swim at Maya Bay (you cannot — banned since 2022), to have the islands largely to themselves (you will not — Phi Phi receives over 1.5 million day-trippers per year), and to find Maya Bay open year-round (it is closed every August and September for coral recovery). Most Klook and Viator listings hide or downplay each of these facts. We lead with them, because guests who arrive prepared have a great day, and guests who arrive surprised leave 1-star reviews.
What's actually here is still extraordinary: Pileh Lagoon's enclosed turquoise water surrounded by 100-metre cliffs, Bamboo Island's white sand and shallow snorkelling, the boardwalk approach to Maya Bay (which is genuinely beautiful even without swimming), and the open-ocean speedboat crossing through the Andaman. Phi Phi is worth the day — provided you understand what the day actually contains.
Please note - Read Important (Click to expand)▼
- MAYA BAY IS CLOSED EVERY 1 AUGUST – 30 SEPTEMBER: The Thai marine authority closes Maya Bay annually for coral recovery. We do not run Phi Phi tours during this period because Maya Bay is the main attraction. If you are travelling in August or September, please book our Krabi 4 Island Tour instead — same operating standards, different islands.
- MAYA BAY RULES (since 2022): No swimming is permitted at Maya Bay. Boats no longer enter the bay; tours park at Loh Samah Bay and guests walk in via a boardwalk. Visit time is capped at approximately 1 hour. Daily capacity is 375 visitors at any time, and the bay typically reaches full capacity by 10:30 AM. Our 9:00 AM speedboat departure is timed to arrive at Maya Bay before saturation.
- PICKUP IS AO NANG FREE — STRICT 8:00–8:30 AM: Be in your hotel lobby ready to board, with shoes on. The minivan picks up multiple groups in sequence and the driver does not wait for late guests. There are no refunds for missed pickups.
- KRABI TOWN / KLONG MUANG / TUB KAEK PICKUP: Available for +฿600 per person — applied automatically by our online booking form when you enter your hotel. Pickup time is approximately 30 minutes earlier than the Ao Nang window (around 7:30 AM). We do not pick up from Railay, Tonsai, Centara Grand, or other Krabi areas.
- NATIONAL PARK FEE PAID AT PIER: ฿400 per adult and ฿200 per child (4–11 years) — paid directly to the park ranger at Nopparat Thara Pier in cash, in Thai Baht. This is set by the Thai national park authority. Every operator on every Phi Phi tour pays the same fee — we do not add a markup.
- BOARDING AND BOAT TRANSFERS: Nopparat Thara Pier has a proper jetty (no wet boarding from the beach unlike the 4 Island tour). However, the Phi Phi crossing is 45 minutes each way across open ocean — guests prone to seasickness should consider taking motion sickness medication an hour before departure.
- WEATHER CANCELLATIONS: If the marine authority closes the route due to weather (most common during the May–October monsoon season), the tour is rescheduled or fully refunded — your choice. Light rain alone does not cancel.
- MIN AGE: Children of any age welcome. Infants under 4 travel free (no seat). Children 4–11 pay ฿1,500. Above 11 pay adult price. Life jackets fitted for all children. Note: this is a long, active full-day trip on open ocean. Families with children under 5 may prefer the calmer 4 Island Tour.
What to Bring — Don't Forget These
- • Swimwear worn under your clothes — limited changing space on the boat
- • Quick-dry towel — not provided
- • Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+ — sun on the open speedboat is intense even in cool season
- • Sun hat and sunglasses — at least 4 hours of the day is in direct sun
- • Dry bag for your phone, wallet, and passport — protects against spray
- • Cash in Thai Baht — ฿400 per adult and ฿200 per child for the National Park Fee, plus extra for any drinks or snacks beyond the included buffet (budget ฿400–600/person)
- • Underwater camera or waterproof phone case — Pileh Lagoon and Bamboo Island snorkelling are the photograph moments of the day
- • Light long-sleeved top or rash guard — sun protection during the boat transfers and snorkelling
- • Snorkel fins (your own) — only mask is provided, fins are not. Bring fins if you want them
- • Comfortable sandals — Phi Phi Don beach is sandy; closed shoes are too hot
- • Motion sickness medication (if prone) — take 1 hour before the 45-minute open-ocean crossing
Cancellation Policy
8:00–8:30 AM: Hotel pickup from Ao Nang (strict, no-wait policy)
- Minivan arrives at your Ao Nang hotel lobby between 8:00 and 8:30 AM — exact time confirmed in your WhatsApp reminder the night before.
- Be in the lobby ready to board: bag packed, shoes on, sunscreen applied, motion sickness medication taken if you need it.
- Late guests cannot be collected — the minivan continues to the next pickup. No second pass, no refund for missed pickups.
- Krabi Town / Klong Muang / Tub Kaek pickup is approximately 30 minutes earlier (around 7:30 AM) and incurs a +฿600 per person surcharge applied at booking.
~8:45 AM: Pier arrival, National Park Fee, board the speedboat
- 15–25 minute minivan ride from Ao Nang to Nopparat Thara Pier.
- Pay the National Park Fee directly to the park ranger at the pier: ฿400 per adult and ฿200 per child (4–11 years). Cash in Thai Baht. Keep your receipt — it is your park entry pass for the day.
- Board the speedboat at the jetty (no wet boarding from the beach). Life jackets fitted before departure.
- Boat departs Nopparat Thara Pier at 9:00 AM sharp.
9:45–10:30 AM: Bamboo Island snorkelling (30–45 min)
- First stop in a typical day's order — Koh Phai (Bamboo Island), north of Phi Phi Don.
- White sand beach, clear shallow water, less crowded than the Phi Phi Leh stops.
- Snorkelling: hard and soft corals, sergeant fish, parrotfish, occasional reef fish. Mask and life jacket included.
- The boat anchors offshore — wade or swim to the beach. Beach has space to spread out.
10:45 AM: Viking Cave photo stop (~10 min)
- Boat stops alongside the cave on the eastern side of Phi Phi Leh — does not enter.
- Famous for ancient red ochre wall paintings of boats and the swiftlets that nest in the cave's high ceiling.
- The bamboo scaffolding inside is for licensed birds nest harvesters — the swiftlet nests are the main ingredient in traditional Chinese birds nest soup.
- Photo stop only — no swimming, no disembarkation.
11:00–11:45 AM: Pileh Lagoon (30–45 min swim)
- Enclosed turquoise lagoon surrounded by 100-metre limestone cliffs.
- The boat enters through a narrow gap in the rock — you find yourself in a natural amphitheatre.
- Water depth 2–8 metres; you can swim. Colour shifts from pale turquoise in shallows to deep emerald in the centre.
- One of the most photographed spots in southern Thailand — the entrance arch is the iconic shot.
12:00–1:00 PM: Maya Bay boardwalk visit (~1 hour total)
- Speedboat parks at Loh Samah Bay (rear of Phi Phi Leh) — boats no longer enter Maya Bay since 2022.
- 5-minute boardwalk walk into Maya Bay from Loh Samah.
- Approximately 45 minutes on the beach itself. NO SWIMMING permitted — you can stand in shallow water at the edge but cannot swim.
- Daily capacity 375 visitors at any one time; bay typically reaches saturation by 10:30 AM. Our 9:00 AM departure from Krabi is timed to arrive before saturation.
- Maya Bay is closed every 1 August – 30 September annually for coral recovery — we do not run tours during this period.
1:30–2:45 PM: Buffet lunch on Phi Phi Don (60–75 min)
- Speedboat to Phi Phi Don — the larger inhabited island.
- Thai buffet lunch at a beachside restaurant: green/red curry, stir-fried mains, rice, noodles, fresh fruit, water.
- Halal-friendly portion served if requested at booking. Vegetarian also available with notice.
- Time to walk Tonsai village briefly if you want — main street is 2 minutes from the beach.
~3:00 PM: Optional Monkey Beach (15–20 min)
- Small cove on the west side of Phi Phi Don where wild long-tailed macaques come to the shoreline.
- Boat anchors offshore — wade in to waist depth for photographs.
- Do NOT feed or touch the monkeys. Keep phones and food bags secure.
- Stop included if tide and monkey activity allow — your guide decides on the day.
~4:30 PM: Return to Krabi hotel
- 45–55 minute return crossing from Phi Phi Don to Nopparat Thara Pier.
- Afternoon sea is typically rougher than morning — motion sickness medication helps if you are prone.
- Same minivan transfers your group back to your hotel.
- Ao Nang drop-off ~4:30 PM. Krabi Town / Klong Muang / Tub Kaek drop-off ~5:00 PM.
We offer pick-up to the following places for this experience:
- Ao Nang area hotels — FREE pickup, strict 8:00–8:30 AM. The driver does not wait for late guests. Krabi Town, Klong Muang Beach, and Tub Kaek hotels — pickup available with a +฿600 per person surcharge applied automatically by our online booking form when you enter your hotel name. Pickup from these areas is approximately 30 minutes earlier (around 7:30 AM). We do NOT pick up from Railay Beach (no road access — reachable only by boat), Tonsai Bay, Centara Grand Beach Resort, Nong Thalay, Ao Nam Mao, or other Krabi areas. Guests staying in these locations should WhatsApp us to discuss options before booking. Exact pickup time within your window is sent the night before by WhatsApp.
Why Choose Us?
- 🚤 Modern speedboat with serviced engines — Phi Phi is a 45-minute crossing each way and the boat matters. Maintained engines, proper bench seating, partial overhead shade, life jackets in working condition. Important for older travellers, anyone with a back issue, and the Andaman crossing in any sea state.
- ✅ TAT Licensed operator No. 14/04232 — verifiable at tourismthailand.org. Licensed Thai tour operator, not a reseller — important on a 7-hour day involving open-ocean transfers, Maya Bay's strict access rules, and weather decisions that affect your safety.
Have Questions?
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Everything you need to know
What Actually Happens
Hotel pickup, Nopparat Thara Pier, and the National Park Fee
The minivan pulls up to your Ao Nang hotel between 8:00 and 8:30 AM. The driver is on a tight schedule — multiple hotels in sequence before the speedboat departs at 9:00 AM sharp from Nopparat Thara Pier — so the rule is genuinely strict. Be in the lobby with your bag packed, shoes on, sunscreen already applied, and motion sickness medication taken if you need it. If you are not there when the driver arrives, the minivan continues to the next pickup. There is no second pass. Guests staying in Krabi Town, Klong Muang, or Tub Kaek are picked up around 30 minutes earlier; the +฿600 per person surcharge for these areas is applied automatically by our online booking form when you enter your hotel name.
The drive to Nopparat Thara Pier from Ao Nang takes 15 to 25 minutes. The pier is the main departure point for Phi Phi day tours from the Krabi mainland — speedboats from multiple operators leave at roughly the same time, so the area is busy in the morning. The driver hands you over to the boat crew on arrival and you board with your group.
At the pier you pay the National Park Fee directly to the park ranger: ฿400 per adult and ฿200 per child (4–11 years). Cash in Thai Baht only — there is no card payment. This fee is set by the Thai national park authority and every visitor to Phi Phi pays it, regardless of which operator or boat they are on. We do not mark it up and we do not collect it on behalf of the operator. The ranger gives you a paper receipt that serves as your park entry pass for the day. Most complaints about hidden fees on competitor Phi Phi listings come from operators who failed to mention this clearly upfront.
The Phi Phi crossing and Bamboo Island snorkelling
The speedboat leaves Nopparat Thara Pier at 9:00 AM and crosses the open Andaman to the Phi Phi Islands in approximately 45 minutes. This is the longest single boat segment of the day — the islands are 45 kilometres south-west of Krabi, and the open ocean between them is exposed to whatever the wind and tide are doing. On a calm day the crossing is fast and pleasant. On a choppier day the boat slams across the swell. If you are prone to seasickness, take motion sickness medication an hour before pickup; the driver will not stop the boat mid-crossing.
The stop order varies daily based on Maya Bay's morning capacity slot and the tide. A typical sequence has Bamboo Island first — a small white-sand island north of Phi Phi Don, less crowded than the Phi Phi Leh stops, with shallow water clear enough that you can see the seabed from the boat. The snorkelling here is consistently good: hard and soft corals in shallow water, sergeant fish and parrotfish in good numbers, and on a clear day visibility past 15 metres. Mask and life jacket included. The boat anchors offshore and you swim or wade to the beach. Time on Bamboo Island is typically 30 to 45 minutes.
Bamboo is the favourite Phi Phi stop for many guests precisely because it is not Maya Bay. There are no boardwalk queues, no time limit, no crowd at saturation. The water is the same Andaman turquoise; the beach has actual room to spread out; the snorkelling is genuinely better than at Maya. If your day's stop order has Bamboo first, take your time here.
Viking Cave and Pileh Lagoon
From Bamboo Island the speedboat moves south to Phi Phi Leh — the smaller, uninhabited island that contains all of Phi Phi's most photographed sights. The first stop is Viking Cave, a large limestone cave at sea level on the eastern side of the island. The boat does not enter; you stop alongside for photographs. The cave is famous for two things: ancient red ochre wall paintings of boats (which gave the cave its name), and the swiftlets that nest in the cave's high ceiling. The swiftlets' nests, made entirely from solidified saliva, are harvested by licensed climbers and are the main ingredient in traditional Chinese birds nest soup — a single bowl of which can sell for over US$100. The bamboo scaffolding visible inside the cave belongs to the licensed harvesters. Time at Viking Cave is roughly 10 minutes — it is a photo stop, not a swimming stop.
A few minutes around the corner brings you to Pileh Lagoon, and this is the photograph that for many guests defines Phi Phi. The lagoon is an enclosed pool of turquoise water surrounded entirely by vertical limestone cliffs over 100 metres tall. The boat enters through a narrow gap in the rock and you find yourself floating in calm water inside a natural amphitheatre. You can swim here — water depth ranges from 2 to 8 metres in the lagoon, and the colour shifts from pale turquoise in the shallows to deep emerald in the centre.
Time at Pileh is typically 30 to 45 minutes. Your guide will point out the best spots for photographs — the entrance arch with the cliffs framing it is the iconic shot. Pileh is one of the rare places where the photographs really do match what you see in person. The combination of vertical limestone, calm enclosed water, and impossible turquoise colour is genuinely overwhelming on a first visit.
Maya Bay — the boardwalk approach and what's actually possible there now
Maya Bay is the famous one — the bay where Leonardo DiCaprio's The Beach was filmed in 1999, the bay that became Thailand's most-visited beach within five years, the bay that was closed for nearly four years (2018–2022) so the destroyed coral could recover. Since reopening in 2022 with strict new rules, Maya Bay is no longer the place you may have seen in old photographs.
Here is exactly what happens now, and what is genuinely possible:
The boat does not enter Maya Bay. Boats park instead at Loh Samah Bay (the back side of Phi Phi Leh), and guests walk into Maya Bay via a wooden boardwalk that takes about 5 minutes each way. Visit time at the beach itself is approximately 1 hour, including the walk in and out. Swimming at Maya Bay is no longer permitted — you can stand in shallow water at the edge but you cannot swim. The Thai authorities cap daily capacity at 375 visitors at any one time, and the bay typically reaches saturation by 10:30 AM. Our 9:00 AM speedboat departure from Krabi is timed to arrive before saturation; later operators often find the bay full and have to wait offshore.
With the swimming ban, the question every honest review of Phi Phi must answer is: is Maya Bay still worth the visit? Our honest answer: yes, but with realistic expectations. The beach itself is genuinely beautiful — soft white sand, the famous limestone cliff backdrop, calm water you can wade in. But it is no longer the empty-paradise photograph from the film, and pretending otherwise has been the source of more disappointed reviews than any other single thing about Phi Phi tours. Arrive prepared for the reality and you will enjoy the visit. Arrive expecting to swim in an empty bay and you will not.
Maya Bay is closed every year from 1 August to 30 September for coral recovery — this is mandated by the Thai marine authority and is not at the operator's discretion. We do not run Phi Phi tours during this annual closure because the tour without Maya Bay is a different product. Our 4 Island Tour is the better choice for those months.
Lunch on Phi Phi Don, Monkey Beach, and the return to Krabi
After Maya Bay the speedboat heads to Phi Phi Don, the larger of the two main islands and the only one with hotels, restaurants, and a permanent population. Lunch is a Thai buffet at a beachside restaurant — typically green curry, red curry, stir-fried vegetables and chicken, fried rice, pad thai noodles, fresh fruit, and bottled water. Your halal-friendly portion is served separately if you requested it at booking; the restaurant coordinates this in advance with our supplier. Vegetarian options also available with notice. Time for lunch is approximately 60 to 75 minutes, which gives you a chance to walk Tonsai village briefly if you want — the small main street of Phi Phi Don is two minutes from the beach.
Depending on tide and the day's monkey activity, your guide may add a short stop at Monkey Beach on the way back — a small cove on the west side of Phi Phi Don where wild long-tailed macaques come down to the shoreline. The boat anchors offshore and you can wade in to about waist depth for photographs. Important rules: do not feed the monkeys (this is illegal and harmful), do not touch them, and keep your phone and food bags secure — the monkeys are habituated to tourists and will grab anything within reach. Time at Monkey Beach is typically 15 to 20 minutes, and it is the part of the day kids consistently remember most.
The return crossing from Phi Phi Don to Nopparat Thara Pier is 45 to 55 minutes, depending on sea state. Sea conditions in the afternoon are typically rougher than the morning crossing because the wind picks up. Once back at the pier, the same minivan takes your group back to your Krabi hotel — Ao Nang drop-offs by 4:30 PM, Krabi Town/Klong Muang/Tub Kaek by 5:00 PM. The day is over, the photographs are taken, and the rest of the afternoon and evening in Krabi are yours.
Is This Right for You?
✦ First-time visitors to Krabi who want the famous Phi Phi day
Yes — but with realistic expectations about Maya Bay, which is the question that decides whether you have a great day or a disappointed one. If you understand that you will not swim at Maya Bay, that you will share the boardwalk with hundreds of other visitors, and that the day's real highlights are Pileh Lagoon and Bamboo Island rather than Maya itself, you will love this tour. If you are coming primarily for the Maya Bay you saw in the film, please read our complete Phi Phi guide before booking — there are honest details you should know upfront.
✦ Couples and honeymooners
Yes — particularly for the photographs at Pileh Lagoon, which is one of the most photographed spots in southern Thailand. Maya Bay's boardwalk approach is also genuinely beautiful even with the crowds. The 45-minute open-ocean crossing each way means a long day on the boat — couples who get seasick should choose the calmer 4 Island Tour or wait for our catamaran tour (launching soon — gentler ride, much less motion). The day ends by late afternoon, leaving the evening free in Krabi.
✦ Families with older children (8+)
Yes for kids 8 and up — the long boat day, snorkelling at Pileh and Bamboo, and the monkeys at Phi Phi Don are consistently a hit with this age group. Children 4–11 pay ฿1,500. Honest note: families with **kids under 5 or 6** may find this tour too long. The 45-minute open-ocean crossings each way are exposed to whatever the sea is doing that day, and the full-day schedule with restricted Maya Bay time can be tiring for very young children. The 4 Island Tour is calmer, shorter on the boat, and a better fit for families with toddlers.
✦ Muslim travellers and halal-conscious guests
Yes — halal-friendly lunch is available on request at booking. We coordinate with the Phi Phi Don restaurant in advance so your portion is prepared accordingly. Honest distinction: this is halal-friendly preparation in a restaurant kitchen rather than a fully halal-certified facility. For most travellers this is acceptable; if you require strict halal certification, mention it at booking and we will discuss whether this tour is the right fit. We are one of the few Krabi Phi Phi operators that confirms halal preparation in writing in advance.
✦ Travellers staying in Krabi Town, Klong Muang, or Tub Kaek
Yes — pickup is available from these areas for an additional ฿600 per person, applied automatically when you enter your hotel name in our online booking form. Pickup time is approximately 30 minutes earlier than the Ao Nang window (around 7:30 AM). We do not pick up from Railay (no road access — Railay is reachable only by boat), Tonsai Bay, or Centara Grand Resort. If you are staying in those locations, please WhatsApp us to discuss your options before booking.
✦ Older travellers, anyone with back issues, or guests prone to seasickness
Honest answer: this tour is harder than the 4 Island Tour for these guests. The 45-minute open-ocean crossings each way are exposed to the wind and swell, and the speedboat can slam significantly on a choppier day. For travellers with back issues, severe seasickness, or older guests who tire easily, we recommend either the calmer 4 Island Tour (shorter crossings, sheltered water) or waiting for our **Phi Phi by Catamaran tour** which launches soon — the catamaran is genuinely the right boat for guests who need a smooth ride. Read the catamaran section in our Phi Phi blog for the full explanation of why.
✦ Travellers visiting Krabi in August or September
No — we do not run Phi Phi tours during these two months. The Thai marine authority closes Maya Bay every year from 1 August to 30 September for coral recovery, and a Phi Phi tour without Maya Bay is a different product than what is advertised. Many operators substitute another stop and run the tour anyway; we believe this is misleading. Please book our Krabi 4 Island Tour for these months — same operating standards, different islands, fully open year-round.
What Our Guests Say
"Trip Thai Tour told us upfront we wouldn't be swimming at Maya Bay, that boats park at Loh Samah and we'd walk in via the boardwalk, and that the bay fills up by 10:30 AM. Knowing this in advance is what made the day great — we arrived prepared, we weren't disappointed when we couldn't swim, and we got there before the saturation. Pileh Lagoon was the photograph of our entire Thailand trip. Halal lunch sorted in advance for my brother. Honest operator, would book again."
"Travelling with three kids and one grandparent. The team confirmed halal lunch at the Phi Phi Don restaurant in advance which was a relief. Pickup was exactly 8:15 from our Klong Muang hotel — they checked our hotel at booking and applied the extra transfer fee transparently. The kids loved Monkey Beach and Bamboo Island; my father-in-law found the 45-minute crossing tough but the staff helped him on and off the boat. Our guide was honest about what to expect at Maya Bay which I appreciated."
"Solo female traveller — felt completely safe and looked after on this tour. English-speaking guide was friendly and made sure I had a snorkel buddy at Bamboo Island. The boat was a full speedboat group but the crew managed it well. National Park Fee was disclosed clearly upfront so I had ฿400 ready in cash at the pier — no surprises. Pileh Lagoon was extraordinary; honestly the best 30 minutes of my entire Thailand trip. The guide's honest framing of Maya Bay as 'beautiful but no longer the empty paradise from the film' set the right expectations."
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Phi Phi Islands Tour from Krabi — Group Speedboat
Frequently
Asked
Questions
Your ฿1,700 adult / ฿1,500 child (4–11) booking includes the speedboat to all major Phi Phi stops (Bamboo Island, Viking Cave, Pileh Lagoon, Maya Bay, Phi Phi Don for lunch, Monkey Beach), an English-speaking group guide for the full day, halal-friendly Thai buffet lunch at a beachside restaurant on Phi Phi Don (request at booking), fresh fruit on the boat, bottled drinking water throughout, snorkelling mask, life jacket, insurance, and FREE hotel pickup and drop-off from Ao Nang area hotels.
Not included: the National Park Fee (฿400/adult, ฿200/child paid directly to the park ranger at the pier), pickup surcharge for Krabi Town/Klong Muang/Tub Kaek hotels (+฿600/person, applied automatically by our booking form), towels, snorkel fins (mask only), personal expenses, and gratuities.
No. Since Maya Bay reopened in January 2022 after a four-year closure for coral recovery, swimming has been permanently banned. You can stand in shallow water at the edge of the beach but you cannot swim, snorkel, or wade in past your knees. The Thai marine authority enforces this strictly to protect the recovering coral.
What you can do at Maya Bay: walk the beach, take photographs against the famous limestone cliff backdrop, sit on the sand, and explore the boardwalk approach. Visit time is approximately 1 hour total. If swimming is the priority for your day, you will get more swim time at Pileh Lagoon (which permits swimming) and at Bamboo Island.
Yes. The Thai marine authority closes Maya Bay every year from 1 August to 30 September for coral recovery. This is mandatory — no operator can run tours that include Maya Bay during this period. We do not run Phi Phi tours during these two months because Maya Bay is the main attraction; running the tour without it would be misleading.
If you are visiting Krabi in August or September, please book our Krabi 4 Island Tour instead — same operating standards, different islands, available all year. The 4 Island Tour is also a calmer day with shorter boat crossings.
The National Park Fee for foreign visitors in 2026 is ฿400 per adult and ฿200 per child (4–11 years). Thai nationals pay ฿40 adult / ฿20 child. The fee is set by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and is collected by the park ranger at Nopparat Thara Pier in cash, in Thai Baht, on the morning of your tour. Keep your receipt — it is your park entry pass for the day.
We do not include this fee in the booking price for two reasons: it is collected by the Thai government, not by us or our boat operator; and bundling it would create the kind of hidden markup that drives one-star reviews on Klook and Viator. We tell you the exact amount upfront and you pay the ranger directly.
Hotel pickup from Ao Nang is between 8:00 and 8:30 AM. Krabi Town / Klong Muang / Tub Kaek pickup is approximately 30 minutes earlier (around 7:30 AM). The boat departs Nopparat Thara Pier at 9:00 AM sharp and the tour returns to your Ao Nang hotel by 4:30 PM (Krabi Town / Klong Muang / Tub Kaek by 5:00 PM).
Pickup is genuinely strict. The minivan picks up multiple hotels in sequence and the driver does not wait for late guests. If you are not in your hotel lobby ready to board when the driver arrives, the minivan continues to the next pickup. There is no second pass and no refund for missed pickups. Be in the lobby with your bag packed, sunscreen on, shoes on, and motion sickness medication taken if you need it.
Yes — pickup is available from these three areas for an additional ฿600 per person, applied automatically by our online booking form when you enter your hotel name. This covers the longer minivan transfer to Nopparat Thara Pier and helps offset online payment processing fees. Pickup time is approximately 30 minutes earlier than the Ao Nang window, around 7:30 AM.
We do NOT pick up from Railay Beach (no road access — Railay is reachable only by boat), Tonsai Bay, Centara Grand Beach Resort, Nong Thalay, or Ao Nam Mao. If you are staying in those locations, please WhatsApp us at +66 89 949 6235 to discuss your options before booking. Railay guests typically take an early morning longtail to Ao Nang at their own arrangement.
Yes — halal-friendly lunch preparation is available on request at booking. We coordinate with the Phi Phi Don beachside restaurant in advance so your portion is prepared accordingly. Honest distinction: this is halal-friendly preparation in a restaurant kitchen rather than a fully halal-certified facility. For most travellers this is acceptable; if you require strict halal certification, mention it at booking and we will discuss.
Vegetarian options are also available with advance notice. Allergy notes (nuts, shellfish, gluten, dairy) should be flagged at booking; the buffet is shared catering and we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment in the restaurant day-of.
Yes for children aged 8 and up — the snorkelling, monkeys, and beach time are consistently a hit. Children 4–11 pay ฿1,500. Children under 4 travel free without a seat. Honest note for families with children under 5 or 6: this tour is a long full day with 45-minute open-ocean crossings each way. The 4 Island Tour is calmer, shorter on the boat, and better suited to very young children.
For elderly travellers, those with back issues, or anyone prone to seasickness — the open-ocean crossings to Phi Phi can be challenging on a choppy day. The 4 Island Tour is the calmer alternative. We also have a Phi Phi by Catamaran tour launching soon, designed specifically for guests who need a smooth ride — read the catamaran section in our Phi Phi blog for the full explanation.
The speedboat crossing from Nopparat Thara Pier (Ao Nang) to the Phi Phi Islands is approximately 45 minutes each way, depending on sea state. Phi Phi sits 45 kilometres south-west of Krabi in open ocean — the crossing is exposed to whatever the wind and tide are doing on the day.
On a calm morning the crossing is fast and pleasant. On a choppier day the speedboat can slam significantly across the swell. Take motion sickness medication an hour before pickup if you are prone — the driver will not stop the boat mid-crossing. Afternoon return crossings are typically rougher than morning crossings because the wind picks up after midday.
Pileh Lagoon is an enclosed turquoise pool of water on the eastern side of Phi Phi Leh, surrounded entirely by vertical limestone cliffs over 100 metres tall. The boat enters through a narrow gap in the rock and you find yourself floating in calm water inside a natural amphitheatre. Water depth ranges from 2 to 8 metres; the colour shifts from pale turquoise in the shallows to deep emerald in the centre.
Yes, you can swim at Pileh Lagoon — this is the main swimming stop of the day for many guests. Time at Pileh is typically 30 to 45 minutes. The entrance arch with the cliffs framing the lagoon is the most-photographed shot on the entire Phi Phi tour.
Phi Phi is roughly equidistant from Krabi and Phuket — both crossings take approximately 45 minutes by speedboat. From Krabi, the departure pier is Nopparat Thara (Ao Nang area). From Phuket, common departure piers are Chalong, Rassada, or Bang Rong. Tour itineraries are similar — same five stops, same Maya Bay rules, same lunch on Phi Phi Don.
If you are staying in Krabi: book from Krabi (this tour). If you are staying in Phuket: book a Phuket-based operator. There is no advantage to taking a Krabi-based tour from a Phuket hotel or vice versa — the additional transit time defeats the purpose. We currently operate from Krabi only; for Phuket departures please book a local Phuket operator.
If the marine authority closes the route due to weather (most common during the May–October monsoon season), the tour is rescheduled at no extra cost or fully refunded — your choice. Phi Phi crossings are open ocean and the authorities are conservative about weather closures because guest safety on the 45-minute crossing is non-negotiable.
Light rain alone does not cancel. The tour runs year-round in normal conditions except during the 1 August – 30 September Maya Bay closure. If you visit during low season (May–October, excluding August–September), book a flexible itinerary in case of weather rescheduling and book earlier in your Krabi stay so a reschedule still fits.
Yes — and this is the most common pairing for travellers staying 3+ days in Krabi. Phi Phi one day, 4 Islands the next. The two tours cover completely different islands with different characters: Phi Phi is the famous-name day with Maya Bay and Pileh; the 4 Island Tour is the calmer day with the Talay Waek sandbar and Poda's beach. Together they cover the two most-photographed Krabi day-trip experiences.
Both tours are full-day commitments ending around 4–4:30 PM, so you cannot do both in one day. See our Krabi tour packages for multi-day itineraries that combine Phi Phi, 4 Islands, Tiger Cave Temple, and Krabi Hot Springs.
A cancellation fee of 100% applies if the booking is cancelled 2 days (48 hours) or less before the tour date. For cancellations made more than 2 days in advance, please contact us via WhatsApp to arrange a refund or reschedule.
We do not cancel confirmed bookings due to low numbers. Your tour runs as confirmed. Weather cancellations by the marine authority are rescheduled or fully refunded at your choice — no fee applies. The 1 August – 30 September Maya Bay closure is announced in advance and we do not take Phi Phi bookings for this period.
Private Phi Phi boat options (luxury longtail or private speedboat) are available via WhatsApp inquiry at +66 89 949 6235. Send us your travel dates, group size, ages of children if any, boat preference, Ao Nang hotel name, and any halal or vegetarian requirements. We confirm availability and quote within 15 minutes during business hours (7 AM–9 PM Bangkok time).
We are also launching a dedicated Phi Phi by Catamaran tour soon — designed specifically for families with young children, older travellers, anyone with back issues, and anyone who finds speedboat slamming uncomfortable. Read the catamaran section in our Phi Phi blog for the full explanation of when the catamaran is the right choice.
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