🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
The whole appeal of an island-hopping plan is the "timing." Day-tour crowds pour into Phi Phi mid-morning and clear out by mid-afternoon. If you stay overnight, you get both the early-dawn hours and the evening, when the island gets its quiet back. This plan runs 3 days and 2 nights, starting from Krabi town or Krabi airport, over to Koh Phi Phi (Phi Phi Don) for 1 night, then on to Koh Lanta Yai for another night. On the last day you take a minivan back to the mainland and the airport. The route only moves one direction — no doubling back — which saves you a lot of ferry time.
Before you set off
Book your ferries and island accommodation ahead, especially in high season (Nov–Apr), because rooms on Phi Phi fill fast and prices jump hard · The Phi Phi–Lanta ferry mostly runs in high season only. If you come in the rainy months (May–Oct), some sailings are cancelled, so check with the operator first · Pack one bag if you can, because you'll be hauling it on and off the boats yourself, and there are no cars on Phi Phi.
Route overview and ferry costs
Before the day-by-day, here's the overview of ferry costs and travel times so you can budget your money and your time. The prices below are rough 2026 ranges and may shift with the operator and the season.
- Krabi town (Klong Jilad pier) → Koh Phi Phi (Tonsai pier) — ferry around 350–500 THB/person, roughly 1.5–2 hrs. Morning sailings start around 09:00, last sailing around mid-afternoon
- Koh Phi Phi (Tonsai pier) → Koh Lanta (Saladan pier) — ferry around 350–600 THB/person, roughly 1–1.5 hrs. Several sailings from late morning to afternoon (usually high season only)
- Koh Lanta (Saladan) → Krabi airport — shared minivan + car ferry crossing (Khok Kloi–Lanta Noi) around 350–450 THB/person, roughly 2–3 hrs. The last minivan usually leaves around early afternoon
- National park fee — if you do a boat tour around Phi Phi Leh (Maya Bay/Pileh Lagoon), Thais pay 40 THB, foreigners 400 THB, paid on the spot
What to know about the boats
Koh Lanta now has the Siri Lanta bridge connecting Lanta Noi to Lanta Yai, so the only remaining car ferry is the single Khok Kloi–Lanta Noi crossing, which makes it faster than it used to be. But in high season the car-ferry queue can get long, so leave some buffer · If you need to make your flight, don't book it too late in the evening. Late-afternoon minivans out of Lanta are hard to find.
Book the activities in your Krabi trip ahead
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Day 1 — Krabi to Koh Phi Phi, 1 night
The first day is travel plus settling into island mode. Take the boat from Krabi town in the morning or late morning, arrive at Phi Phi in the afternoon, check in, drop your bags, then walk up to the Phi Phi viewpoint in the evening once the sun's gone softer. The upside of staying over is that once the day-tour boats have all left, the island gets noticeably quieter — Loh Dalum and Tonsai go back to belonging to the people who stayed the night.
Krabi, board the boat, on to Koh Phi Phi
Honestly, about Phi Phi
Phi Phi in the daytime is crowded and loud, and everything costs more than on the mainland because supplies have to come in by boat. If you're expecting a quiet island all day, you may be let down. But if you come to "stay the night," the real charm is the early-dawn hours and after 8pm once the day crowds have gone. ATMs on the island are limited and charge steep fees, so bring extra cash.
Day 2 — Phi Phi Leh in the morning, then ferry to Koh Lanta
On day two, make the most of the morning before the day-tour crowds arrive. If you want to see Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon with fewer people, book an early-morning longtail tour from Tonsai (a half-day morning trip), then get back in time to check out and catch the late-morning ferry to Lanta. If you'd rather not rush, skip the morning trip and just stroll the beaches near your hotel, then take the midday boat to Lanta.
Phi Phi Leh in the morning, on to Koh Lanta
Pick a Lanta beach that fits your style
Klong Dao — northernmost, soft sand and shallow water, good for families with kids · Phra Ae (Long Beach) — 5 km long, swimmable at both high and low tide, lined with bars and restaurants, great for a first visit · Klong Khong — laid-back, hippie bars, fire shows in the evening · Ao Kantiang — down south near the national park, a quiet, pretty beach with clear water and few people
Day 3 — Explore Lanta, then back to the mainland
The last day picks up the Lanta highlights that day-trippers usually never get to see — the southern end around Mu Ko Lanta National Park and Lanta Old Town — before you take the minivan back to the mainland. If you've got an afternoon flight, get up early, do something close by, and head back quickly. If your flight is in the evening, you've got plenty of time to go down to the far end of the island.
The far end of Lanta, then back to the airport
Rough budget per person (3 days, 2 nights)
- Ferries for the whole trip — Krabi→Phi Phi + Phi Phi→Lanta, around 700–1,100 THB total (depending on operator and season)
- Minivan Lanta→airport — around 350–450 THB/person
- Island accommodation — Phi Phi from 1,000–3,000+ THB/night; Lanta ranges from 600 THB guesthouses to multi-thousand resorts. Pick by budget
- Morning Phi Phi Leh boat trip (optional) — around 600–900 THB/person + park fee (Thais 40 / foreigners 400)
- Lanta national park entry (lighthouse) — foreigners around 200 THB, cheaper for Thais
- Meals — 100–200 THB a plate on the island; a big shared seafood meal around 400–600 THB/person (island prices run higher than the mainland)
Honestly, about the budget
An island-hopping plan with overnight stays costs noticeably more than a day tour, because you're paying for two nights of pricier island accommodation and everything you eat and use on the island carries a markup. But what you get back is the early-morning and evening hours when the islands are quiet — something a morning-out, evening-back tour can never give you. If your budget is tight, cut Phi Phi down to a single night and put more of your stay on Lanta, which is cheaper and more relaxed.
Which area to stay in on each island
Phi Phi — Tonsai / Loh Dalum
The centre of the island, walking distance to the pier, restaurants, and bars — most convenient if you're only staying one night. But it's noisy at night, so light sleepers may be bothered.
Phi Phi — Long Beach
20–30 min from Tonsai (on foot or by longtail), quieter, with a nicer beach and views toward Phi Phi Leh. Good for people who actually want to unwind.
Lanta — Phra Ae (Long Beach)
A long, swimmable beach lined with restaurants and bars, close to Saladan — good for a first visit and anyone who wants convenience.
Lanta — Klong Khong / Klong Nin
Laid-back, hippie vibe, easygoing and friendlier on the wallet, though some beaches are only swimmable at high tide. Good for people who are there for the atmosphere.
See the island stays we've actually reviewed and shortlisted
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