Phi Phi Island Tour from Phuket

Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave and Monkey Beach are core stops on a phi phi island tour from Phuket. By speedboat the crossing takes about an hour. Maya Bay shuts every year from 1 August to 30 September. On GetYourGuide, five listings for this trip hold more than 2,000 reviews each.

This guide covers boats, piers, each stop, snorkelling, seasons, park rules, safety, food and booking. Anyone planning more trips across the country can compare destinations and tours on the Thailand Tours homepage.

What does a phi phi island tour from Phuket include?

A phi phi island tour from Phuket is a full-day boat trip. It visits Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave and Monkey Beach. Then come snorkelling, lunch and free time on a beach before the boat returns to Phuket in the afternoon.

Operators write their own itineraries, so the stops differ from page to page. This guide reads five operator plans. Three of them open with the same four stops in the same order. A phi phi island tour from Phuket on those plans starts like this.

• Stop one is Maya Bay, on Phi Phi Le.
• Stop two is Pileh Lagoon, where one plan adds a swim.
• Stop three is Viking Cave, a quick photo stop from the boat on one plan.
• Stop four is Monkey Beach, seen from the boat on two plans.

After Monkey Beach, the three plans part ways. The first operator lists snorkelling at two points from the boat. The day closes at Khai Nai with a swim and time on the beach.

The second operator lists free time at Tonsai Bay on Phi Phi Don. A longer snorkelling stop follows. On this plan, the phi phi island tour from Phuket closes with lunch and beach time at Bamboo Island.

The third operator serves lunch at Tonsai Bay. Swimming and snorkelling follow at the Khai Islands. Then the boat returns to the pier.

The other two plans differ more. A fourth operator lists Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, lunch at Bamboo Island, then Monkey Beach and Viking Cave. A fifth lists Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Bamboo Island in its current plan. So a phi phi island tour from Phuket follows the operator’s plan, and plans differ.

Pileh Lagoon is one stop on this route. A different lagoon sits at the centre of the Hong Islands tour in Krabi, among limestone cliffs.

The route crosses more than one island. Maya Bay lies on Phi Phi Le, while lunch on the first plan is on Phi Phi Don. The first operator counts nine points and activities across four islands. The fifth warns that the order of stops can change with weather, tides and park rules.

GetYourGuide listings for a phi phi island tour from Phuket show the same choice in their titles. The main listing for this route names Maya, Phi Phi and Bamboo Island. Other listings name Maya Bay, Phi Phi and the Khai Islands, Khai Nok or Khai Nai. A further listing pairs Bamboo Island with Pileh Lagoon.

Not every group wants a shared boat. A private longtail boat tour in Krabi lets the group set the pace with its own crew.

Two plans open with a briefing before the crossing. All five plans finish with the boat back at the pier or marina.

Pick a phi phi island tour from Phuket by reading its stop list. Check the first four stops, then check the last island and where lunch is served. Use that list as your checklist, then look through our Thailand tours for a day trip that matches it.

Which boats run a phi phi island tour from Phuket?

A phi phi island tour from Phuket runs on a speedboat, catamaran, big boat, ferry or longtail. The speedboat crosses in about an hour. The ferry takes about two hours. The catamaran and big boat give more room.

A phi phi island tour from Phuket by speedboat is the fastest way across. Three guides put the crossing from Phuket to Phi Phi at about an hour. One operator lists three-engine speedboats that take up to 45 people but limits each trip to 32 guests. Its twin-engine boats seat up to 25 and carry 20.

Guides describe the speedboat ride as bumpy. One guide says speedboats slam on the waves and the spray comes over the side. Another says speedboat trips can be bumpy in rough seas. A third says a speedboat sees more stops in one day but feels rough in bad sea conditions.

A phi phi island tour from Phuket on a speed catamaran gives more room. One guide calls catamarans big and spacious and better suited to larger groups. It says a speed catamaran gives a smooth and comfortable ride. It adds that speedboat and catamaran tours to Phi Phi are shared with other travellers.

One operator describes its speed catamaran with the words More Space, More Stability, Family Friendly. For Phi Phi private charters, it lists a speedboat, a speed catamaran and a premium speed catamaran. On GetYourGuide, a catamaran or speedboat transfer between Phuket and Phi Phi is listed at one hour.

One operator calls its big boat slower but more stable and spacious than a speedboat. It lists a smooth ride, more facilities and shaded seating. Another guide calls the big boat calmer than a speedboat, but slower and less flexible. A phi phi island tour from Phuket by big boat trades speed for calm.

One guide says the big ferries take about two hours. They have an air-conditioned cabin and an open top deck, and roll far less in a swell. The same guide says speedboats save an hour. Another says the big ferry is sometimes calm as a lake and sometimes bumpy.

One ferry guide says ferries carry far more passengers than speedboats. It adds that speedboats reach smaller piers and beaches that larger ferries cannot. Another guide lists spacious seating, open decks and sometimes onboard cafes. GetYourGuide lists a ferry trip from Phuket to the Phi Phi Islands with snorkelling.

One guide calls a Phi Phi longtail trip a traditional Thai tour option. It says private trips suit couples, families and small groups. For a phi phi island tour from Phuket by longtail, GetYourGuide lists a private longtail day trip. One reviewer of a 4 Islands longtail tour wrote that the boat was small and the engine loud.

Wikipedia says the engine of a long-tail boat sits on a pole. The pole can rotate through 180 degrees, which steers the boat. GetYourGuide titles name the boat, such as Speedboat, Catamaran, Ferry or Longtail. Read the title before you pick a phi phi island tour from Phuket.

Where does a phi phi island tour from Phuket depart?

A phi phi island tour from Phuket leaves from a pier or marina that the operator chooses. Royal Phuket Marina and Chalong Pier host day trips to Phi Phi, while Rassada Pier serves the ferries. Operators drive guests there from Phuket hotels.

Royal Phuket Marina is the base for one operator’s phi phi island tour from Phuket by speedboat. Its address is on Thepkasattri Road in Kohkeaw. Guests wait in a private lounge for coffee and a snack before they board. Phuket’s marinas are all on the east side of the island.

Another operator offers three marinas, depending on the booking: AA Marina, Boat Lagoon and Royal Phuket Marina. Guests who skip hotel pickup must reach Royal Phuket Marina by 8:45 AM. They ask the operator for the GPS location.

A phi phi island tour from Phuket can also start at Chalong Pier on Sunrise Road. The pier lies east of the Chalong Circle. Wikivoyage lists small-group trips and private charters from this pier. Chalong Bay is Phuket’s principal boat anchorage, 11 km south of Phuket Town.

Rassada Pier is on Phuket’s east coast, about 3.5 km from the Old Town. Ferries to Phi Phi run from Rassada Port. The pier is 10 minutes from Phuket Town and 40 to 55 minutes from the airport. From Patong it takes 25 minutes without traffic, and 40 to 45 minutes in the morning.

Ao Po Grand Marina is in Phuket’s northeast. One catamaran listing names the Ao Po area as a hotel pickup zone, with pickup at about 8:20 AM.

Every operator listing used for this guide includes a hotel transfer with its phi phi island tour from Phuket. One says a minivan collects guests from any hotel in Phuket.

One operator splits Phuket into pickup zones. Patong, Kalim, Kata and Karon carry no extra charge, and neither do Kathu, Phuket Town, Chalong and Koh Siray. Kamala, Rawai, Surin and Bangtao carry an extra fee. Layan, the airport and Ao Po Pier need a private pickup.

Pickup times differ on each phi phi island tour from Phuket. One operator starts hotel pickups at 5:00 AM. Another collects guests between 7:00 and 8:00 AM. It holds a briefing at 8:30 AM and sets off at 8:45 AM.

One catamaran listing gives a pickup time for each area. Laguna is first at 8:15 AM. Patong and Kamala follow at 8:45 AM. Kata and Karon come at 9:15 AM, and Chalong comes last at 9:30 AM.

The exact pickup time arrives before the trip. One operator confirms it a day ahead. Another sends it by email or WhatsApp at least 24 hours before departure. That operator asks for your hotel name and address by 8:00 PM the night before. If your hotel sits on a steep slope, meet the driver on the main road.

For a phi phi island tour from Phuket on that catamaran listing, wait in the lobby 10 minutes before pickup. Its drivers wait no longer than 10 minutes after it.

How do you visit Maya Bay on a phi phi island tour from Phuket?

You reach Maya Bay on foot from Loh Samah Bay. On a phi phi island tour from Phuket, boats moor at a pier at the back of the island. You then walk a boardwalk to the beach. Swimming is not allowed.

Maya Bay sits on Ko Phi Phi Le. The island is a ring of steep limestone hills around two shallow bays, Maya Bay and Loh Samah. At low tide, boats cannot reach Maya Bay directly from the sea because of shallow water and coral. Boats anchor at the deeper Loh Samah instead.

At Loh Samah Bay, a floating pier replaces a landing on the beach. A raised wooden boardwalk then crosses the narrow strip of forest between the two bays. On a phi phi island tour from Phuket, no boats enter Maya Bay itself, so every group arrives on foot. The walk adds a short stretch to the visit.

Swimming inside Maya Bay is not permitted, and rangers enforce the rule. The ban covers every phi phi island tour from Phuket. One guide says rangers whistle at anyone who goes past knee depth and can fine repeat offenders. You can walk on the sand and paddle at the water’s edge only.

The strict rules exist to protect the coral that has recovered there. One guide says the shallows are a nursery for young blacktip reef sharks and transplanted coral.

Coral draws snorkellers to other parts of the Andaman Sea too. A Phi Phi tour from Krabi page explains what Bamboo Island and Mosquito Island are. Readers who want snorkelling at Koh Haa can read about a Koh Lanta to Koh Rok trip.

Each boat’s stop on a phi phi island tour from Phuket is limited to roughly one hour on site. One guide counts that hour from the moment you step onto the boardwalk until you leave it. Visitor numbers are limited too. One operator says entry is controlled in rotating time blocks.

One guide says the hour limit keeps the beach from filling past capacity. The cap on people on the beach is unclear. Guides quote different figures. One guide says the park authority has not published one consistent number. The same guide says the cap is enforced at the boardwalk entry.

The view on a phi phi island tour from Phuket is the beach itself. Pale sand curves between two limestone headlands. One guide measures the crescent at 250 metres, closed in on three sides by cliffs 100 metres high.

The cliffs shut the bay in almost completely, so the sea inside stays glassy on all but the roughest days. The water shades from pale turquoise at the shore to deep jade further out.

Once on the beach, you can walk on the sand, photograph the bay and the cliffs, and sit briefly. You do not get to sunbathe on a towel for hours. Rangers are stationed at the bay to enforce the rules.

This is the order of the Maya Bay stop on a phi phi island tour from Phuket:

• The boat moors at the pier in Loh Samah Bay.
• You walk the wooden boardwalk across the island to the beach.
• You spend about one hour on site, walking, looking and taking photos.
• You walk back along the boardwalk to the boat.

When is Maya Bay closed to a phi phi island tour from Phuket?

Maya Bay is closed every year from 1 August to 30 September. During those two months, a phi phi island tour from Phuket does not land on the beach. The bay reopens on 1 October, after the annual closure.

The park announces the closure. Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi announced it. The closure covers three bays: Maya Bay, Loh Samah Bay and Lor Kor Bay. It runs from 1 August to 30 September. The notice calls it an annual closure. News reports also credit the Department of National Parks (DNP).

The park closes the bays to every phi phi island tour from Phuket for two reasons. One is the safety of tourists during the rainy season. The other is to let nature rehabilitate itself. The park chief also cited strong winds and rough seas as major concerns.

One news report says all tourist activities at the bay are suspended in those months. One operator says its sightseeing tours go by boat, without a stop on land at Maya Bay. It says the rest of the itinerary stays as scheduled. The park says other parts of the national park remain open.

From 1 October, the bay is open to visitors. Access still follows national park rules and sea conditions. To have a chance of landing, pick a phi phi island tour from Phuket outside August and September.

The yearly pause follows a longer closure. In two thousand and eighteen, the DNP announced a four-month closure of Maya Bay, from 1 June to 30 September. The bay was closed because of environmental issues caused by overtourism. The beach had received an estimated 5,000 visitors per day. Another 200 boats per day set anchor in the bay.

That closure applied to every phi phi island tour from Phuket. The DNP did not allow boats into the bay in front of the beach. It also banned anchoring at nearby Loh Samah Bay.

Visitors still had a view of the bay from 400 metres away, or through the two cliffs at the entrance. The DNP supervised this. It also planned a study of reef and beach resources, environmental control and tourism management.

After the four months, the DNP said the bay stays closed until further notice. The aim was more ecological recovery time. The bay reopened to tourists in January of two thousand and twenty-two. The Tourism Authority of Thailand said it had been off limits to the public for three and a half years.

Since the reopening, the bay has continued with annual seasonal closures. One report said the pause gives onshore and offshore ecosystems at Maya Bay a chance to recover. The same two-month rule applies to a phi phi island tour from Phuket every year.

Check the dates before you book a phi phi island tour from Phuket. Visitors are encouraged to contact park officials or read the park’s official Facebook page. Park authorities urge travellers and tour operators to respect the closure.

What is Pileh Lagoon on a phi phi island tour from Phuket?

Pileh Lagoon is the swim stop on a phi phi island tour from Phuket. It is an enclosed inlet on Phi Phi Le, walled in by limestone cliffs. Boats enter through a narrow opening, and the water inside has no waves.

Guides write the name as Pileh Lagoon, Pi Leh Bay, Pileh Cove or Pi Ley Bay. Wikipedia places Phi Phi Le in Krabi Province. It lists a large, shallow, fjord-like inlet there called Pi Ley. The inlet has a small coral reef at the entrance.

A phi phi island tour from Phuket reaches the lagoon by boat only, because there is no land access. Longtail boats and speedboats both come here. They slow to a near-idle as they pass through the entrance. Once a boat is through the opening, the open ocean disappears.

The inlet measures roughly 600 metres from its narrow sea entrance to the back wall. Limestone walls rise from the sea in an amphitheatre-like shape. Jungle grows on top, and sheer grey rock drops down to the green water. There are no sandy shores.

The water shifts from pale jade at the entrance to deep green at the back wall. It sits at around 28 degrees. Other guides call the colour turquoise and emerald. One guide reports no swell at all inside the cove. Another says the cliffs protect the lagoon from strong waves.

On a phi phi island tour from Phuket, you swim from the boat. Guests jump in off the back. Boats tie off to a mooring line, alongside ten or so others. One operator says limestone mountains encircle the lagoon and calls it a “swimming pool in the sea”. Its itinerary also lists paddleboarding. Another guide lists kayaking.

Guides give different times at the lagoon. One says there is about 20 minutes to swim before the boat moves on. Another says tours stop for 20 to 40 minutes. A third says tours get a 45-minute window. Read the stop time in the itinerary of your phi phi island tour from Phuket.

On a phi phi island tour from Phuket, you can swim and snorkel inside the lagoon. Coral exists along sections of the cliff base, and small reef fish are present. One guide says the lagoon does not rank among the richest snorkelling in its province.

Another guide points to the lagoon as a better spot than Maya Bay’s shore, where snorkelling is not permitted. One traveller reports that snorkelling is limited to the area inside a buoy line.

You do not have to get wet on a phi phi island tour from Phuket to enjoy the lagoon. Guests can stay on the boat and just look at the cliffs. One guide calls the enclosed, calm water a reasonable spot for less confident swimmers. It rates the water clarity as generally good.

One guide says colourful wooden longtail boats glide slowly through the lagoon. Another describes the lagoon as surrounded by sheer cliffs and open sky. A third notes that the lagoon has no facilities.

What do you see at Viking Cave on a phi phi island tour from Phuket?

On a phi phi island tour from Phuket, you see Viking Cave from the boat. It sits at the bottom of a limestone cliff on the northeast edge of Phi Phi Leh. Landing is not allowed, so the boat stops at the entrance for photos.

The English name does not come from a Viking visit. It comes from old wall paintings of long boats that resemble Viking boats. A national park site says the cave was first called Tham Ruea, which means Boat Cave.

The Thai name now is Tham Phaya Nak. One guide says King Bhumibol Adulyadej gave that name after a visit. A boulder inside resembles the head of a great serpent.

Look up at the cliffs from the deck on a phi phi island tour from Phuket. The limestone cliffs of Phi Phi Leh rise almost vertically from the sea. One guide calls the cave a large opening in those cliffs. A national park site gives its length as 170 metres.

The same site says the main chamber is 60 metres deep and 80 metres wide. You cannot go inside. One guide says the cave is protected and the nest concession is private. Another says it is no longer open for tourists to enter.

A bird’s nest company holds the concession for the cave. The stop is short. One guide says the boat only stops for a while in front of the entrance. Have your camera ready when a phi phi island tour from Phuket reaches the cave.

The cave is small. One guide says the installations for harvesting bird’s nests can easily be seen from the boat. The wall paintings cannot. They are on the eastern and southern walls. They show elephants and sailing ships from Europe, Arabia and China.

Swiftlets build their nests on the ledges inside the cave. The birds make the nests from their own saliva. The nests go into bird’s nest soup. A national park site says the nests are collected and sold to the Chinese market. Wikipedia describes a thriving industry harvesting edible bird’s nests at Viking Cave.

A phi phi island tour from Phuket passes that working trade. Look up at the cave roof. One guide says the cave is still worked for edible swiftlet nests.

The same guide says the nests are gathered from the roof on bamboo scaffolding that is visible from the water. It adds that the collectors’ rights are strictly held. A pier at the cave serves the bird-nest harvesters.

Two guides give the nest season as February to April. One of them says to visit in those months to witness the harvest. It adds that thieves tried to steal the nests, so the caves are guarded 24/7. Choose a phi phi island tour from Phuket in those months for the harvest.

On a phi phi island tour from Phuket, the view from the boat holds three things:

• A limestone cliff that rises almost vertically from the sea.
• The cave mouth, with bamboo scaffolding on the cave roof.
• The installations for harvesting swiftlet nests.

What happens at Monkey Beach on a phi phi island tour from Phuket?

On a phi phi island tour from Phuket, Monkey Beach is the wildlife stop. A resident troop of long-tailed macaques comes down to the water when boats arrive. One operator says its boat does not land, so guests take photos from the boat.

Monkey Beach lies on Phi Phi Don, in Yong Kasem Bay. Wikivoyage says the name comes from the macaques that walk free on the sand and live in the surrounding trees. One guide says casuarina trees line the shore. Another says the monkeys forage along the shoreline, especially in the mornings.

On a phi phi island tour from Phuket, operators describe this stop in their listings. One lists sightseeing from the boat with no beach landing. Another lists a Monkey Beach visit with photos taken from the boat. One guide says a number of tour companies no longer let passengers go ashore. Boats still stop close by for pictures.

The beach is small. One guide says it feels crowded quickly when two or three boats are in. Another guide says the sand has no toilets, no shade structures and no vendors.

Monkey Beach on a phi phi island tour from Phuket is home to long-tailed macaques, Macaca fascicularis. Wikipedia says the name comes from a tail as long as the head and body combined. The species is also called the crab-eating macaque, because it was seen foraging on beaches for crabs.

Wikipedia says these macaques live in groups of 10 to 85 members. Males leave the group at puberty. Young females stay with the group they were born into. Adult males weigh between 4.7 and 8.3 kilograms, and females weigh between 2.5 and 5.7. A newborn infant weighs about 320 grams.

On a phi phi island tour from Phuket, the troop at Monkey Beach is wild but used to people. One guide says the macaques are used to being fed, and they bite and scratch. The same guide says feeding is what made them aggressive. Wikipedia says macaques can be aggressive towards humans.

The macaques go for loose items. One guide says they take off with sunglasses, hats and cameras. Another says they quickly target backpacks and cameras. Wikivoyage says the monkeys can bite, steal your things or become territorial with tourists.

One guide gives four rules for anyone near the macaques on a phi phi island tour from Phuket. Do not feed them. Do not hold food. Keep bags closed. Do not get between an adult and an infant.

One guide says a bite is a real risk, because rabies is present in Thailand. Wikivoyage says local hospitals caution about rabies. Wikipedia calls the species a known carrier of monkey B virus. A news report says Thai authorities have warned tourists for years not to feed or approach the monkeys.

Do not mix up two names on a phi phi island tour from Phuket. One guide says Monkey Bay is a different spot from Monkey Beach. It places Monkey Bay on the left-hand side of Tonsai Bay and Monkey Beach in Yong Kasem Bay.

What is Phi Phi Don like as a stop on a phi phi island tour from Phuket?

One phi phi island tour from Phuket stops at Tonsai Bay on Phi Phi Don. The stop has a village, a beach and a viewpoint. Ton Sai village stands on a sandy strip that rises less than two metres above sea level.

Phi Phi Don is almost split into two islands. A narrow strip of flat land connects the two halves. Ton Sai village is built on that sandy strip, between two long, tall ridges. A semicircular bay lined with beaches lies on each side of the village.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand says the main pier of Phi Phi Don is at Tonsai Bay. It calls the bay the busiest, with accommodation, restaurants and tourist shops. A large, modern deep water government pier stands on the bay.

A phi phi island tour from Phuket that visits Tonsai Bay is at the bay where the main pier stands. Restaurants, bars, hotels and guesthouses are found around that bay. In the populated parts of Ton Sai, nowhere is more than about a ten minute walk from anywhere else.

Roads in Ton Sai are for people on foot. Push carts move goods and bags. Loh Dalum Bay is the other bay, on the far side of the village. Boats anchor in the sand there, because the bay has no pier. Ton Sai is the capital and the largest settlement on the island.

One phi phi island tour from Phuket splits the Tonsai Bay stop three ways. You can hike up to a viewpoint, explore the local village or sit on the beach. The operator sets no plan for the time, so the choice is yours.

The viewpoint path is a stepped path. It rises from the eastern end of Tonsai village to a series of terraces on the hill. Signs point the way from both bays. You reach it on foot, because there is no vehicle access.

Stairs and terraces are a reminder to think about fitness on any island day. Who can join a Similan Islands tour, and what to pack, gets a direct answer in its own guide.

The path is unshaded for much of the way. It has handrails on the steepest sections, and the rock is slippery after rain. One guide puts the main viewpoint roughly 180 metres above sea level.

From the highest terrace you look down on the isthmus. Tonsai Bay lies on one side and Loh Dalum Bay on the other. The village sits on the narrow strip between them. Phi Phi Leh sits low on the horizon. On one phi phi island tour from Phuket, the hike option ends at this view.

The lunch setting on a phi phi island tour from Phuket changes with the operator. One operator lists lunch at a beach side restaurant on Phi Phi Don, and free time on the island. Another operator puts lunch on Bamboo Island instead and keeps Tonsai Bay for the hike, the village and the beach.

Lunch on Phi Phi Don depends on the stop list. Read that list before you book a phi phi island tour from Phuket. It tells you whether Phi Phi Don is a lunch stop or a walking stop.

Why does a phi phi island tour from Phuket stop at Bamboo Island?

A phi phi island tour from Phuket stops at Bamboo Island. It is a small island with white sand and a reef close to the shore. One guide says almost all Phi Phi day tours include it. The island has no restaurants or hotels.

Bamboo Island is the English name for Ko Mai Phai. A phi phi island tour from Phuket stops there. Wikipedia calls it a small island between the Krabi coast and the Phi Phi Islands. Its area is 0.27 square kilometres. Two sources put it about 5 km from Phi Phi Don.

The name is a mistake. Wikipedia says the name of the casuarina tree was wrongly translated as bamboo. Groves of casuarinas cover the larger part of the island.

One guide says locals call it Koh Mai Phai, which does mean Bamboo Island in Thai. Two guides say no bamboo grows there. Another guide describes casuarinas as tall, wispy pines that grow along beaches throughout Thailand.

One operator says there is no direct Bamboo-only trip. From Phuket, you reach the island on a Phi Phi tour, such as a phi phi island tour from Phuket. One guide says going alone means chartering a private longtail or speedboat from Phi Phi Don. It calls a day tour the easier option.

One guide says a narrow strip of white sand rings part of the island. Another places a stretch of white sandy beach on the east side. A third says the water is shallow enough to wade out quite far. One operator describes powder-white sand and shallow, calm water.

One operator says the coral reef starts right by the shore and rings almost the entire shoreline. Another guide says the reef stays close to shore. Wikipedia calls Ko Mai Phai a popular destination for snorkelling. It names lionfish, leopard sharks and hawksbill sea turtles in the surrounding waters. One guide calls the snorkelling okay, but nothing special.

One operator says the island is small and protected, so time ashore is limited by the tour programme. Another operator lists an hour to snorkel over the reef or sit on the beach.

On a phi phi island tour from Phuket, one guide says the boat pulls up and everyone gets off. The stay is 30 to 45 minutes. That guide lists a swim and photos as the things to do.

A sailing guide says the small moorings sit very close to the reef edge. It says they suit only speedboats and longtails, the boats that make the daily snorkelling trip from Phi Phi.

One guide says the island has no development. There are no restaurants and no hotels, only sand, trees and a national park ranger station. Another guide says nothing is sold on the island and there is no shade structure. What you see is what your tour brings with it.

The two sources above give different stay times, so stop times differ by tour. Check the schedule before you book a phi phi island tour from Phuket.

What are the Khai Islands on a phi phi island tour from Phuket?

The Khai Islands are three small islands east of Phuket: Khai Nok, Khai Nai and Khai Nui. A phi phi island tour from Phuket that includes them adds beach time and snorkelling. No island has accommodation, so the Khai Islands are day-trip stops.

Khai is the Thai word for egg, and one guide calls the group the Egg Islands. The three islands sit in the southernmost part of Phang Nga Bay, between Phuket’s east coast and Koh Yao Yai. They lie in Ko Yao District in Phang Nga Province, yet almost everyone visits from Phuket.

One visitor guide says Phi Phi and Phang Nga tours that visit Khai Nok stop there on the way back. The same guide calls Khai Nok the closest beach island to Phuket’s east coast. Look for Khai in the title when you pick a phi phi island tour from Phuket.

Khai Nok is the busiest of the three islands. One guide calls it a dome of rock and trees. A ring of white sand and very clear, very shallow water circles it. The island has simple restaurants, small beach bars, beach chairs to rent and pay toilets. It has no fresh water or power.

On a phi phi island tour from Phuket, a Khai Nok stop means shallow, clear water. The coral sits close enough to the beach to reach by wading in. The reef is home to angelfish, parrotfish and butterflyfish. One guide adds glass-bottom boat viewing for anyone who prefers to stay out of the water.

Khai Nai is a short boat hop from Khai Nok. One guide says it adds a small restaurant and café. Another guide says it is known for a broad beach and colourful fish near the shoreline. One operator’s phi phi island tour from Phuket adds a Khai Nai stop after free time on Phi Phi Don.

Khai Nui is the smallest of the three islands. One guide calls it the least visited of the trio. A Thai travel site says it is mainly used as a snorkelling stop when sea conditions allow. One operator lists a jump off the boat to snorkel there.

A Thai travel site describes the group by white sand, clear turquoise water, shallow coral areas and colourful fish. It adds that simple surface snorkelling or shallow-water swimming can already give a clear view of the marine environment. A sailing guide says the snorkelling at Khai Nok is good, unlike further north in the bay.

Khai Nok has two rules for visitors on a phi phi island tour from Phuket. A local council landing fee applies per boat and per foreign visitor. Feeding the fish is banned and enforced.

GetYourGuide lists the Khai Islands in two ways. One group of titles puts Khai after Phi Phi and Maya Bay. Another group visits only the three islands. One reads “Phuket: 3 Khai Islands Speedboat Tour, Snorkeling & Relaxing”.

Khai Nai also features on Phang Nga Bay tours. One GetYourGuide title reads “Phang Nga: Early Bird James Bond Island & Khai Nai Swim”.

Where do you snorkel on a phi phi island tour from Phuket?

On a phi phi island tour from Phuket, you snorkel off Phi Phi Don or at Bamboo Island. Operators differ on the route. One operator allows about an hour at Bamboo Island and about 45 minutes at a second reef stop.

One operator’s route has a long snorkelling stop at Phi Phi Don. Another lists snorkelling at two points from the boat there. It adds that the points depend on sea and weather conditions. So read the stop list before you pick a phi phi island tour from Phuket.

A third operator starts at Bamboo Island, where the water stays shallow far out from the white-sand beach. You can snorkel near the reef while still standing. Its second snorkel stop is open water over coral.

One operator says the coral reefs at Phi Phi are very close to the beach. It adds that you can snorkel with the kit included in the price. The same page promises time to snorkel and soak in the views. Another promises colourful fish and coral reefs of the Andaman Sea.

A guest on a phi phi island tour from Phuket wrote that they enjoyed snorkelling twice. The guide took the guest’s daughter around to show sea creatures, including Nemo.

Wikipedia says the national park is home to an abundance of corals and marine life. One dive guide’s park summary names thorn coral, leaf coral and tree coral. Wikivoyage’s diving guide describes an abundance of soft coral and colourful schools of fish around Phi Phi.

Wikivoyage lists Yao Beach, just south of Ton Sai, for coral reefs and snorkelling. You can reach it by walking from Ton Sai or by longtail boat. It names Shark Point, two rocks within swimming distance of Long Beach, where blacktip reef sharks can be seen. Ask whether your phi phi island tour from Phuket stops at either.

The Thai National Parks guide says Surin and Similan have bigger coral reefs and more diving spots. It says those islands need long day trips from the mainland.

One operator says every stop is a swim, a beach walk or a view from the boat. On its phi phi island tour from Phuket, you only need to be comfortable in the water.

Gear differs by operator. One lists a mask, a snorkel and a life jacket. It says fins are not included but can be rented at the pier. Another says its boat provides masks and fins, with a complimentary life jacket on request.

Wikivoyage says shops all over Phuket rent fins, masks and snorkels by the day. Check the inclusion list for fins on every phi phi island tour from Phuket.

Time in the water depends on the boat. Wikivoyage says the more people on board, the longer it takes to get on and off at each stop. That lowers the time you spend off the boat. One operator caps its group at 30 people.

Why pick an early-bird phi phi island tour from Phuket?

An early-bird phi phi island tour from Phuket reaches Maya Bay before the main wave of day-trip speedboats. One guide says sunrise tours arrive at 7:15 to 8:00 AM. Large-group budget tours arrive at 9:30 to 10:30 AM.

An early-bird phi phi island tour from Phuket starts at dawn, says one operator. Two operators list a speedboat departure before 7:00 AM. Another lists it between 5:00 and 5:45 AM.

One operator serves a light breakfast at the marina. The same operator has the boat back around 3:00 to 3:30 PM, for an eight-hour day. A second operator caps its early tour at 18 guests.

One guide describes a sunrise tour that reached Maya Bay at 7:20 AM. The bay was nearly empty, with about 30 people on the whole beach. By 8:00 AM, the boardwalk was already filling fast. The same guide calls an arrival before 8:00 AM the surest way to see the bay without crowds.

A later phi phi island tour from Phuket meets the peak window. The guide says large-group budget tours leave around 8:00 to 9:00 AM. One reviewer on a shared tour reached Maya Bay at 9:40 AM. That reviewer calls the bay the busiest spot on the tour.

The guide sums up the gap between a 7:15 AM and a 9:30 AM arrival. It is the difference between a near-empty beach and a crowded ranger queue.

A late start can also cost you the stop. One guide says not all budget operators guarantee a Maya Bay stop. A budget operator can skip the bay when the ranger queue is long after 11:00 AM. The guide advises a tour that departs before 7:00 AM and lists Maya Bay as a confirmed stop.

The high season adds pressure. One operator warns that standard tours can become very crowded then. It says an early boat gives a much better experience at Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and the snorkelling spots. Another operator describes its early departure as a way to avoid the crowds.

The trade-off is the early alarm. A phi phi island tour from Phuket with a 5:00 AM pick-up asks for a very early start. One reviewer wrote that it is worth waking up early for the early-bird excursion. Another reviewer says the places they visited were less crowded because the group started early.

GetYourGuide puts the timing in the title. On the site, an early-bird phi phi island tour from Phuket carries the words Early Bird. The listing "Phi Phi Islands Early Bird Speedboat Tour & Buffet" runs 10 hours. "Phi Phi Islands Early Bird Tour" runs 8 to 9 hours. A "Phi Phi, Maya Bay & Monkey Beach Late Departure Tour" runs 8 hours.

On any phi phi island tour from Phuket, read the departure time on the listing. One guide’s rule is a departure before 7:00 AM and a bay arrival before 8:00 AM.

How does a private phi phi island tour from Phuket work?

A private phi phi island tour from Phuket puts your group on a boat of its own. GetYourGuide lists private speedboat trips of eight hours and private longtail trips of three to eight hours. Operator pages list private yacht days at eight hours.

Private means the boat carries only your group. One GetYourGuide listing describes a private longtail boat “just for your group”. Other listings show a Private group label beside the duration. Titles name the boat type, such as speedboat or longtail, so you can compare trips quickly.

A private phi phi island tour from Phuket by speedboat takes a full day. Three private speedboat listings on GetYourGuide run eight hours each and show a Pickup available label. Two of them go to Phi Phi and Khai islands. One adds an English-speaking guide on board.

Longtail trips come in more shapes. One listing runs seven hours, includes hotel transfer and visits Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Beach and Viking Cave. Another is titled From Phi Phi and lets you choose three or six hours. The six-hour option adds Bamboo Island.

A mixed-boat day is the third format of the phi phi island tour from Phuket. One 11-hour listing uses private hotel transfers and shared speedboats, then a four-hour private longtail boat tour. A private tour with a local guide also takes 11 hours. The guide meets you in Phuket and travels with you to Koh Phi Phi.

Pick a phi phi island tour from Phuket with an early start. One private sunrise listing goes to Phi Phi and Bamboo Islands. It lasts one day and shows a Private group label.

A yacht day is a different product. One GetYourGuide yacht trip seats a small group of up to 38 guests. One yacht operator gives 8 to 15 guests as the typical group on its private day charters.

Another operator lists a 50-foot motor yacht for up to 11 guests, with captain, crew and fuel to agreed destinations. A second listing from that operator is a 26-foot speedboat for up to five guests, also for eight hours.

A third operator lists a 55-foot yacht that takes up to 20 guests on a day trip. Its full-day charter gives 8 hours aboard, with 4 hours of cruising. It says all private charters include pick-up and drop-off from any Phuket hotel.

Control is the main gain of a private phi phi island tour from Phuket. The third operator says a private yacht charter offers a customised experience, so you choose the destinations.

Check four points before you book a private phi phi island tour from Phuket:

• Boat type: speedboat, longtail, yacht or a mix of boats.
• Start point: one private longtail listing is titled From Phi Phi, not From Phuket.
• Group limit: a yacht guide lists fixed capacity limits of 6, 10 or 12 or more guests, depending on the yacht.
• Extras: crew, lunch, drinks, towels, snorkelling gear and hotel transfer.

Is there a sunset phi phi island tour from Phuket?

Yes. GetYourGuide lists four sunset tours titled “Phuket:” for the Phi Phi islands, lasting 8 to 10 hours. A sunset phi phi island tour from Phuket ends around 7 pm for one operator. A standard day trip ends earlier.

The four listings come from a GetYourGuide search for “phi phi sunset”. Here are their titles, durations and ratings:

• “Phi Phi Islands Full-Day Sunset Max 13 Guests”: 8 hours, rated 5 from 2 reviews.
• “Phi Phi Island Shark Spotting Sunset Tour”: 8.5 hours, rated 5 from 3 reviews.
• “Phi Phi 5 Islands and Sunset Full-Day Premium Catamaran Tour”: 9 hours, rated 4.3 from 4 reviews.
• “Phi Phi and Maiton Island Sunset Premium Catamaran Tour”: 10 hours, rated 4.7 from 116 reviews.

The first title caps the group at 13 guests. The second adds shark spotting to the sunset. The last two name a premium catamaran.

Operators build the sunset into a phi phi island tour from Phuket in two ways. One lists “sunset at Maiton Island” as a stop and ends around 7 pm at the pier. Another has no sunset stop. It says you “head back toward Phuket with front-row sunset views.”

An evening finish at the pier raises the question of what to do next. For live Thai boxing at the Patong Boxing Stadium, see Patong Muay Thai tickets. That page also answers what else is inside the stadium.

A standard phi phi island tour from Phuket ends earlier. Another lists 5:00 to 5:30 PM. A sunset cruise from Phuket gives an approximate return of 7:30 PM.

Sunset times explain the gap. Phuket’s earliest November sunset is at 6:03 PM. Its latest July sunset is at 6:48 PM. A 7:30 PM return falls after both, and a 3 PM return falls before both.

The Maiton operator also lists an evening chicken BBQ with seasonal fruit on its phi phi island tour from Phuket. Another operator page notes a chance to spot dolphins at sunset on its 8.5-hour catamaran trip.

Plankton listings are titled differently. Seven titles in the same search add plankton to a Phi Phi sunset trip. None starts with “Phuket:”. One starts with “Krabi:” and two start with “From Phi Phi:”. A phi phi island tour from Phuket names no plankton in any of the four titles above.

A Phuket plankton search returns four titles that name Phang Nga Bay instead. One operator’s plankton tour of that kind leaves the Phuket Boat Lagoon Marina and lasts 8 hours. The night paddle around Phanak Island and Hong Island takes about an hour. That tour caps the group at 18 travellers.

What makes the water glow? Wikipedia says dinoflagellates in the surface layers of the sea are responsible for the sparkling luminescence. One species, Noctiluca scintillans, gives water a bright blue glow seen at night. It glows when the water is stirred, for example by a passing boat or a breaking wave.

The glow is not guaranteed. One operator’s plankton page says visibility varies with water conditions, weather and moonlight. Read the title and the departure point before you book a phi phi island tour from Phuket for the evening.

Which national park rules apply on a phi phi island tour from Phuket?

A phi phi island tour from Phuket enters Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. Park rules apply to every visitor. Visitors pay an entry fee and avoid four banned sunscreen chemicals. They keep at least two metres from coral and never litter.

The Phi Phi Islands are part of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. Wikipedia says the park was established in nineteen eighty-three and has coral reefs. It covers about 388 square kilometres. The park lies in Krabi Province, not in Phuket. Wikipedia adds that national park status protects the natural environment of the islands.

The park has two parts. One is the Krabi mainland coastline. The other is the Phi Phi archipelago, further south. A phi phi island tour from Phuket visits this second part.

An entry fee applies at the Phi Phi Islands. It applies to any phi phi island tour from Phuket that lands there. One guide says the charge starts when you step off the boat. It covers Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Le and Bamboo Island. Walking onto the mainland beach at Noppharat Thara costs nothing.

The Thai National Parks site lists rates by age and by nationality. Children aged 3 to 14 pay less than adults. Thai citizens pay less than foreign visitors. Foreign scuba divers pay an extra diving fee. Wikipedia says a visitor fee began at the start of nineteen ninety-two to fund waste collection.

Operators handle the park fee in different ways. Another lists it as extra, and a reviewer says the guide called it a required payment. Before you book a phi phi island tour from Phuket, read the inclusions list.

Where do you check the current rate? Use the website of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). It lists the entry fees for all national parks in Thailand. Its officials have told visitors and tour agencies to follow only official DNP notices on price changes.

Read your sunscreen label before a phi phi island tour from Phuket. The Thai National Parks site calls Phi Phi a marine park in Krabi Province. The DNP bans sunscreens with four chemicals in marine national parks. They are oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor and butylparaben. Breaking the ban can bring a fine.

The DNP also issued a warning to tourists with these rules for the water:

• Avoid touching or stepping on corals.
• Stay at least two metres away from coral reefs.
• Never litter or dispose of waste in the ocean.
• Obey all park official instructions.

One operator’s itinerary for a phi phi island tour from Phuket includes a national park rules and safety briefing. The briefing comes before the boat leaves. Obey park officials, as the last rule above says.

Camping is not possible on the other islands, says the Thai National Parks site. One guide adds that overnight camping at Maya Bay and Bamboo Island is prohibited. The site also says the park attractions are open from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM every day.

When is the weather right for a phi phi island tour from Phuket?

Choose November to April for a phi phi island tour from Phuket, when the northeast monsoon brings light winds. From the fifth month to October, the southwest monsoon brings stronger winds, and captains can cancel trips.

From November to April, the northeast monsoon brings light winds and a calm sea on the Andaman side. One operator guide calls this the main boat season. The same guide says the sea is calmest, on average, from late January to April. Book a phi phi island tour from Phuket in those months for the calmest crossing.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says the southwest monsoon season runs from the fifth month to October. It adds that the monsoon does not mean rain all day long. TAT puts the normal rain spell at one to two hours, in the afternoon or early evening. Spells can run longer.

Rainfall numbers show how the seasons differ for a phi phi island tour from Phuket. One Phuket climate guide lists an average of 30 millimetres of rain over four days in February. For September it lists 410 millimetres over 19 days, and for October 310 millimetres over 23 days.

Tour companies use wave height to decide if a phi phi island tour from Phuket goes ahead. One operator guide gives this rough scale for the open sea:

• Under 1 metre: the sea is calm and all trips run.
• 1 to 2 metres: a speedboat ride feels bumpy.
• 2 to 3 metres: speedboat trips to the far islands are commonly cancelled.
• Above 3 metres, or with an official warning for small boats: the open sea is shut to nearly all tours.

The same guide says the Thai Meteorological Department issues warnings for the Andaman Sea. It adds that the Phuket Marine Office can ban small boats from going out. When that happens, no tour company can sail, even if the sky looks fine.

TAT says island-hopping trips still run in the monsoon season. They can be cancelled or delayed at the last minute when the weather turns dangerous. TAT adds that a called-off trip is for the safety of passengers and crew.

The route matters on a phi phi island tour from Phuket in the wet months. TAT reports sailing in Phang Nga Bay, down to Phi Phi Island, with strong sea conditions. Swells are larger in the more exposed areas. One operator guide says Phang Nga Bay is sheltered by the mainland on three sides, so the water stays flat.

That operator says that when the sea is safe but rough, its team changes the plan instead of cancelling. It names Phang Nga Bay as the first choice for the change.

Weather terms differ. One operator says you can cancel or reschedule at no cost if its team judges the sea unsafe. Another says it is not responsible for programme changes caused by weather or sea conditions, and gives no refund. Read the terms before you pick a phi phi island tour from Phuket, and check the daily sea update.

What do you pack for a phi phi island tour from Phuket?

Pack swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat and a dry bag for a phi phi island tour from Phuket. Add a dry change of clothes for the ride back. Seasick travellers take a tablet before they board.

Three packing lists for a phi phi island tour from Phuket agree on the basics. Each names swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. One operator’s list adds slippers, a camera and pocket money. A travel guide adds lightweight clothing and a reusable water bottle.

One tour site says to put your swimsuit on in advance. It notes there is nowhere and no time to change. The same site lists sunglasses, a hat and a long-sleeve cotton shirt or sarong for sun protection. For your feet, it suggests flip-flops, sandals or crocs, and reef shoes if you have them.

The towel is easy to forget. One operator lists the beach towel as not included on its Phi Phi speedboat tour, so pack your own. A guide also says large bags are inconvenient on boats and between island stops, so pack light.

It adds that violators face a fine. Read the label before a phi phi island tour from Phuket. One guide tells visitors to pack reef-safe sunscreen.

One guide lists a dry bag for your phone and a dry change of clothes for the ride back. Another guide says a waterproof bag or dry pouch is useful for protecting phones, cameras, passports and other valuables. A third guide lists a waterproof bag for electronics among its essentials.

One guide lists seasickness tablets for a phi phi island tour from Phuket, if you need them. The same guide says to take a tablet before you board. One travel blog says the boat ride back can be rough, so it is worth being prepared.

The NHS says pharmacies sell tablets, patches and acupressure bands to help prevent motion sickness. It notes that the bands do not work for everyone. A pharmacist will recommend a treatment for you. The NHS also lists ginger, which you can take as a tablet, biscuit or tea.

One travel blogger who is prone to seasickness takes ginger tablets before boarding. Skip heavy meals and spicy food before a phi phi island tour from Phuket. The NHS says not to eat heavy meals or spicy food, or drink alcohol, shortly before or during travel.

On the boat, the NHS says to sit in the middle of a boat. Look straight ahead at a fixed point, such as the horizon. Breathe fresh air if possible. Do not read, watch films or use electronic devices. If you feel ill, close your eyes and breathe slowly.

Keep a little cash with you. One operator’s list names pocket money, and one guide lists cash for drinks on Phi Phi Don. Another guide also lists cash for personal expenses. Put the cash in the dry bag you pack for a phi phi island tour from Phuket.

Is a phi phi island tour from Phuket safe for children and older travellers?

Yes, inside each operator’s limits. One operator lists ages 4 to 75 for its phi phi island tour from Phuket. Another bars passengers under 1 and over 70, because of the bumpy ride. Check the age rule before you book.

Age rules for children differ between operators. One sets a minimum age of 4. Another lets an infant under 3 travel free, but with no insurance. The operator with the under 1 limit says infants must sit on an adult’s lap.

Upper age limits differ too. One operator stops at 70 and another at 75. The first says its accident insurance does not apply to passengers under 1 or over 70. Read the insurance terms before you book a phi phi island tour from Phuket for a grandparent.

Health rules count as much as age. Four operator pages rule out or advise against the trip for heart problems. Three do the same for back problems. One lists wheelchair users as not suitable, and another lists mobility issues. One adds lung disease. Another adds high blood pressure and bone diseases.

One listing calls its phi phi island tour from Phuket suitable for all ages and fitness levels. The same listing does not recommend it for pregnant guests or guests with heart disease. Another operator keeps the right to refuse guests with medical conditions without a refund.

Operators rule out pregnant travellers on a phi phi island tour from Phuket in plain words. One operator says pregnant women are not permitted on the boats. Another says no pregnant woman is allowed on the tour. A third lists pregnant women as not suitable for the trip.

The Phuket Marine Office has issued orders on life jackets. All passengers on vessels around Phuket must wear them at all times. If passengers do not put them on, the boat is not allowed to leave port. If passengers at sea go without them, the captain is held responsible.

Operator pages list life jackets as included on a phi phi island tour from Phuket. One adds that you can ask for a complimentary one. Another lists a life jacket with the mask and snorkel. Wear it while you are on board, as the order requires.

One Phuket travel guide gives three checks to make before you step on any tour boat.

• Check that life jackets and communication equipment are on board.
• Choose licensed tour operators with good reviews.
• Do not board boats that are clearly overloaded or lack safety equipment.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand reports a safety audit of all 24 major piers on the island. Every tour boat pier must install CCTV cameras. Each must also post clear signs that tell tourists the government marine safety guidelines.

The same report says tour boats will be checked regularly. The checks cover the equipment on board and whether the crew meet safety regulations. The Phuket guide adds that the government of Thailand controls the insurance and licensing of companies. Pick a phi phi island tour from Phuket with a licensed operator.

What food comes with a phi phi island tour from Phuket?

A phi phi island tour from Phuket includes lunch, and six of seven operator listings call it a buffet. Vegetarian meals appear on all seven listings, and soft drinks on six.

Buffet lunch shows up in the GetYourGuide titles for a phi phi island tour from Phuket. Another is called “Phi Phi, Maya Bay & Khai Islands Tour with Buffet Lunch”. Other titles say “with Lunch”, “Seaview Lunch” or “with Meal”.

One listing calls the lunch an all-you-can-eat Thai buffet and adds that the restaurant varies by option. Another lists Thai, Western, vegetarian and halal options in the buffet. A third lists a seaview buffet of Thai and foreign cuisine.

A fourth listing names a Thai-style buffet at a beachfront local restaurant. A fifth names a lunch buffet with a variety of dishes, drinks and seasonal fruits. A sixth names a buffet lunch at a beach-side restaurant.

Check the lunch line before you pick a phi phi island tour from Phuket. One operator lists lunch on the beach, with beach picnics or a local restaurant as options. It says it occasionally moves lunch to a local restaurant in the rainy season.

Dietary needs are covered on every listing. All seven offer vegetarian meals. Five state halal meals in the lunch line. A sixth shows a halal food badge on its booking widget. Two listings add gluten-free meals, and one of them also names vegan and pescatarian meals.

One operator page for a phi phi island tour from Phuket has two images. Their captions read “vegetarian menu lunch” and “Halal food menu lunch”. It states that the halal lunch is “100% Halal Certified”.

Ask for these meals when you book. One operator offers vegetarian and gluten-free meals “upon request during booking”. Another says “please let us know in advance”. A third booking form carries a “Vegetarian food” field and a “Special Requests” field. One reviewer says both veg and non-veg food were available.

Soft drinks come with a phi phi island tour from Phuket on six of seven listings. Four listings also list water, and one of them says bottled water. One says soft drinks and drinking water are on board. Another says seasonal fruit and soft drinks are on the boat, and that alcoholic beverages are not included.

One reviewer says water and cold drinks were served on the way. The same reviewer says lunch came first, then fruit and cold drinks on another island. A second reviewer says drinks and fruit were included all day.

Food starts before the boat leaves on a phi phi island tour from Phuket. Two listings name a light breakfast. Another names complimentary tea, coffee and snacks before the tour. A fourth names coffee, tea and light breakfast snacks at check-in, and light refreshments after the tour.

Five listings name snacks, and five name fruit. One listing names morning snacks, tea and coffee at the pier before departure. The listings name the fruit as fresh fruit, season fruits or seasonal fruit.

Which GetYourGuide listings sell a phi phi island tour from Phuket?

Five GetYourGuide listings sell a phi phi island tour from Phuket with more than 2,000 reviews each. All five show the Free cancellation and Pickup available labels, and all five list a buffet lunch. Ratings run from 4.3 to 4.8 out of 5.

Each listing below sells a phi phi island tour from Phuket by speedboat. Prices and review counts change, so this guide leaves prices out and rounds each review count down.

• “Phuket: Maya, Phi Phi, and Bamboo Island with Buffet Lunch”: 8 hours, rated 4.6 from over 22,000 reviews.
• “Phuket: Phi Phi, Maya Bay & Khai Island Day Tour with Lunch”: 8 hours, rated 4.4 from over 2,300 reviews.
• “Phuket: Phi Phi Islands and Maya Bay Day Trip with Lunch”: 8 hours, rated 4.3 from over 4,500 reviews.
• A second listing with the same title: 6 to 10 hours, rated 4.4 from over 3,600 reviews.
• “Phi Phi & Bamboo Islands: Premium Day Trip w/ Seaview Lunch”: 9 hours, rated 4.8 from over 2,000 reviews.

The ratings and the review counts pull in opposite directions. The fifth listing has the top rating, 4.8, and the smallest review count of the five. The first listing has the largest count, with over 22,000 reviews, and a rating of 4.6.

Durations are close. Three listings run 8 hours and the fifth runs 9 hours. The fourth shows a range of 6 to 10 hours, and its card does not say what sets the length. For a phi phi island tour from Phuket with a range, plan your day around the longer figure.

Inclusions differ, so compare them first when you pick a phi phi island tour from Phuket. The first listing limits its tour to 35 to 70 passengers. The second includes a professional guide and unlimited soft drinks. The fifth includes round-trip hotel transfers, national park fees and insurance.

The third listing names three meals: a light breakfast, a buffet lunch and a light dinner. It also lists a paddleboard. The fourth listing names one snorkelling stop and a buffet lunch.

All five cards carry the Pickup available label. It is a transport label, and the card gives no pickup zone or time. Read the listing for those details. Only the fifth listing also shows a Skip the line label.

All five cards carry the Free cancellation label, and the label shows no time window. Each card also shows a booking cut-off. The first and fourth listings must be booked at least 10 hours in advance. The second needs 8 hours, the fifth 2 hours and the third 30 minutes.

Check that cut-off before you choose a phi phi island tour from Phuket for tomorrow. Then match the labels, the hours and the inclusions to your day. The first listing, tour 431461, is the place to start. It has the largest review count of the five and an 8-hour day.

How does a phi phi island tour from Phuket compare with a night on Phi Phi Don?

A phi phi island tour from Phuket covers Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and the snorkelling stops in one day. A night on Phi Phi Don adds the sunset viewpoint and an evening in Tonsai. You also get the beaches after the day boats leave.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand says day trips run from Phuket. It adds that holidaymakers can also stay overnight on Phi Phi Don. One guide says a phi phi island tour from Phuket takes 8 to 11 hours. Those tours list hotel pickup, lunch and snorkel gear.

For the island itself, the same guide says to take the scheduled ferry and stay at least a night. Its FAQ gives one night at least, ideally two. It names the viewpoint and the beaches after the day boats leave.

GetYourGuide lists overnight options beside the day tours. One is a Phi Phi overnight with a private longtail, at 2 days. A listing under Phuket is an overnight ferry trip with Maya Bay and a fire show, at 32 hours. Another is a speedboat tour with a hotel stay, at 2 days.

A ferry works differently from a phi phi island tour from Phuket. You buy two one-way tickets and come back on whichever boat you like. One ferry listing names ten operators, among them Andaman Wave Master, Phi Phi Cruiser, Bundhaya and Sea Angel.

The same listing shows sailings between 08:30 and 15:30. The first guide lists Andaman Wave Master and Phi Phi Cruiser at 08:30 and Chaokoh at 11:00. Be at the pier 30 to 45 minutes before sailing, to swap your booking for a boarding pass.

The ferry listing gives crossing times from 50 minutes to 3 hours. The 3-hour crossings have one stop. Laem Tong lies at the northern end of Phi Phi Don. The Tourism Authority of Thailand says it is only reachable by a 45-minute boat ride from the main pier.

A spot reached only by boat makes meal planning a real question. Meal plans for allergic guests at a Phuket elephant sanctuary sit in a guide. That forest setting lies inland from the island’s beaches.

Andaman Wave Master asks Laem Tong passengers to confirm the return through their hotel reception the day before. The ferry listing calls Laem Tong not an actual pier but a natural bay with four resorts. Check where your hotel is before you book the boat.

The night is the real difference. Wikivoyage says fire shows are held nightly at venues on Phi Phi Don. Island rules force all bars and clubs to close at 01:00. A silent disco then runs on Loh Dalum Bay from 01:00 until 04:00.

Wikivoyage names dawn and sunset as the times to climb the viewpoint for a view of the whole island. It also notes that rooms are hard to find at certain times. It adds that people arrive on the morning ferry only to leave in the afternoon.

One operator’s phi phi island tour from Phuket ends with a transfer back to your hotel. A night on the island still leaves room for a boat trip. Wikivoyage says speedboat tours of the islands run for guests who stay on Phi Phi.

Pick a phi phi island tour from Phuket for Maya Bay and the snorkelling stops. Pick a ferry and a night for the island itself.

What is the story of the islands on a phi phi island tour from Phuket?

A phi phi island tour from Phuket covers a group of six islands. The group has limestone mountains, cliffs and caves. The film The Beach used Ko Phi Phi Le. A tsunami struck Phi Phi Don on 26 December two thousand and four.

The islands on a phi phi island tour from Phuket are part of Krabi Province. The Phi Phi group has six islands. Phi Phi Le is the second largest. Bida Nok and Bida Nai are not much more than large limestone rocks jutting out of the sea.

Phi Phi Don is the largest island. It is the only island in the group with permanent residents. It is 8 kilometres long and 3.5 kilometres wide. It is non-volcanic and made mainly of limestone. A phi phi island tour from Phuket visits islands with limestone mountains, cliffs and caves.

The name Phi Phi comes from Malay. The old name for the islands was Pulau Api-Api, which means “the fiery isle”. It refers to the grey mangrove, a tree called the “fiery tree”, which grows on the islands.

Thai Malay fishermen first populated Phi Phi Don in the late nineteen-forties. The island later became a coconut plantation. The resident Thai population of Phi Phi Don remains more than 80 percent Muslim.

The islands became known worldwide when Ko Phi Phi Le was a location for the film The Beach. Danny Boyle directed it and Leonardo DiCaprio stars in it. It came out on 11 February in the year two thousand. Maya Bay, the beach used in the film, is a stop on a phi phi island tour from Phuket.

The film brought criticism. Critics said the film company bulldozed beach areas and planted palm trees. The filmmakers contest that claim. Environmental lawsuits followed. In two thousand and six, Thailand’s supreme court upheld an appeals court ruling that the filming had harmed the environment.

Then came the tsunami. On 26 December two thousand and four, much of the inhabited part of Phi Phi Don was devastated. The water in both bays pulled back first. The tsunami then came in from both bays and met in the middle of the island’s sandy strip.

The wave that came into Ton Sai Bay was three metres high. The wave that came into Loh Dalum Bay was 6.5 metres high. After the tsunami, about 70 percent of the buildings on the island had been destroyed. At the time, the island held an estimated 10,000 people, tourists included.

A volunteer group, Help International Phi Phi, was set up on 6 January two thousand and five. It took on clearing and rebuilding work on the island. By the end of July that year, 23,000 tonnes of debris had been removed. 300 businesses had been restored. By 6 December, nearly 1,500 hotel rooms were open.

The Thai government also installed a tsunami early-warning alarm system, with help from volunteers. Phi Phi Don was rebuilt after the tsunami. A phi phi island tour from Phuket now reaches that rebuilt island.

Can you scuba dive on a phi phi island tour from Phuket?

Yes, through a dedicated dive day trip. One operator runs a diving phi phi island tour from Phuket as three dives. Two are at Phi Phi and one is at Shark Point or Anemone Reef.

A Phuket dive centre lists five Phi Phi dive sites. They are Palong Wall, Turtle Rock, Koh Bida Nai, Koh Bida Nok and Hin Bida. It also calls Turtle Rock Maya Wall North. A second operator says its boats normally dive Koh Bida Nok or Koh Bida Nai. It places both in the south of the Phi Phi Islands.

Divers look at the reefs below the surface. A Phuket dive centre names blacktip reef sharks, harlequin shrimp and the tiger tail seahorse. Another operator reports frequent sightings of blacktip reef sharks, turtles and a variety of corals.

On a phi phi island tour from Phuket, one operator places the third dive on the way to Phi Phi. PADI puts Shark Point about 28 km east of Phuket, close to Anemone Reef and the King Cruiser Wreck. It gives the maximum depth as about 24 metres.

PADI says Shark Point was named for its leopard sharks. It adds that leopard sharks are now probably seen more at the Phi Phi sites to the east.

One operator prices its Phi Phi dive trip for certified divers. A second lists its Phi Phi trip as Open Water and above. Pick a phi phi island tour from Phuket that matches the card in your wallet.

PADI sets the Open Water Diver minimum age at 15 and the depth limit at 18 metres. Junior Open Water Diver starts at age 10. Advanced Open Water Diver allows 30 metres from age 15. One dive centre says its Phi Phi sites suit every level, from beginners to divers with years of experience.

No certificate? PADI says you can scuba dive without one. It calls its Discover Scuba Diving experience a taster of a full certification course. The experience starts at age 10 and has a depth limit of 12 metres. A PADI-certified instructor guides you underwater.

GetYourGuide lists a “Try Dive Excursion for Beginners: Phi Phi Island” that lasts 5 hours. It also lists “From Phi Phi: PADI Discover Scuba Half-Day Trip (2 Dives)”. That trip holds a 4.9 rating from 69 reviews.

GetYourGuide also lists dive days with Phi Phi in the title. “Phi Phi Islands & Shark Point” lasts 10 hours and holds a 4.9 rating from 55 reviews. “3-Dive Koh Phi Phi/Shark Point Scuba Diving Day Trip” lasts 12 hours. Read the dive count and certificate rule before you book a phi phi island tour from Phuket for diving.

One operator notes that dive sites can change because of weather conditions. Another prices its certified-diver trip with breakfast, lunch and drinking water included. The same operator charges extra for rental equipment, so ask what your dive package covers.

Plan your flight around a diving phi phi island tour from Phuket. PADI advises a 24-hour surface interval before flying after any type of diving. Leave one full day between your last dive and your flight home.

What do travellers ask about a phi phi island tour from Phuket?

A phi phi island tour from Phuket raises small practical questions. Phone data can fade at sea, cash is worth carrying, and drones are banned in the park. Tips are not included, and not every boat lists a toilet. Bring ID too.

Will my phone work at sea?

Wikivoyage says mobile coverage is very good throughout Thailand. It adds that prepaid SIM cards can be bought in any convenience store. One eSIM guide says Tonsai and Loh Dalum are not difficult places to stay connected.

That guide treats data as a bonus around Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Bamboo Island. It says data can stay available close to a pier. Once enough water lies between the phone and the nearest tower, the connection can weaken quickly or disappear. Save your tickets and meeting point offline before a phi phi island tour from Phuket.

Are there ATMs on Phi Phi Don?

Guides disagree. One says getting money out on Koh Phi Phi is not a worry. Another calls the ATMs limited and says they charge hefty fees and sometimes run empty. So carry cash on a phi phi island tour from Phuket.

Can I fly a drone?

No. One guide to Thai drone laws lists Phi Phi under “Where you cannot fly”. A second guide lists Maya Bay as a national park with a ban that rangers actively enforce on the beach. It adds that there are no recreational permits.

The first guide says fines and equipment confiscation are the standard outcome. Leave the drone at home on a phi phi island tour from Phuket.

Do I need my passport?

Operators differ. One day-trip listing that visits Phi Phi Island says to carry a valid ID or passport. It gives the reason that the document can be required during the trip. Another operator asks for a picture of your passport information page for the insurance. Keep a photo on your phone for a phi phi island tour from Phuket.

Is there a toilet on the boat?

It depends on the boat. One speed catamaran listing names a restroom on board. A second catamaran listing names an on-board toilet. A private speedboat charter lists a restroom on board too. One speedboat tour page does not mention a toilet. Ask the operator before you book a phi phi island tour from Phuket.

Do you tip the crew?

Two operator pages list tips as not included. Wikivoyage says tipping is not common in Thailand and the Thais themselves do not do it. It also says not to tip where a service charge is applied. Read the exclusions line of a phi phi island tour from Phuket.