🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Phi Phi sits roughly halfway between Phuket and Krabi. It splits into Phi Phi Don (the big inhabited island with resorts) and Phi Phi Leh (the smaller uninhabited one, home to Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon). Most day trips from Phuket loop both islands in a single day, and with the boat ride there and back it eats up nearly the whole day.
The first thing to know before anything else: Maya Bay is no longer a place you swim like in the movie. After it closed for recovery in 2018, the park reopened with strict rules. Boats no longer pull up to Maya Beach itself — instead they dock at Loh Samah Bay on the back of the island, and you walk a roughly 80-metre boardwalk through to the beach. Knowing that in advance saves the disappointment.
What a Phi Phi trip actually covers
A standard day trip from Phuket stops at these spots. The order can shuffle depending on the swell and the park's queue, but you'll generally hit almost all of them.
Maya Bay
A white-sand beach ringed by cliffs and the trip's iconic photo spot. You can walk around and wade in only to knee height inside the buoyed zone — no swimming and no snorkeling in the bay.
Pileh Lagoon
An enclosed inlet between limestone cliffs with very still, emerald-green water. This is where a lot of tours let you swim or paddle a kayak.
Viking Cave
A cave with old paintings of ships on its walls and a working swiftlet-nest harvesting site. Boats cruise past to view it from outside — you don't go ashore.
Monkey Beach
A small beach on Phi Phi Don with a troop of long-tailed macaques. Watch your food and your bag — they're quick to grab.
Bamboo Island
A white-sand island with clear water and shallow coral all around, good for snorkeling. Some tours include it, others charge an extra fee.
Khai Island
Usually the last stop on the way back, close to Phuket. Shallow, clear water with plenty of fish you can feed — a nice place to sit on the sand before heading home.
What to know about Maya Bay
The park caps the beach at 380 people at a time and opens 07:00–16:00. Speedboat tours that leave early get a late-morning slot before the crowds build. If you land between about 10am and 1pm the beach is packed and harder to photograph.
Want more out of Phuket? Book tours & activities
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.
Can you enter Maya Bay? The 2026 rules
In 2026 Maya Bay is open, with no long closure announced as there has been in some earlier years. Historically, though, the park tends to close during the monsoon — roughly August to September — to let it recover, so if you're planning for that window, double-check with your operator. The main rules to remember are these:
- No swimming in Maya Bay — you can only wade in to knee height inside the buoyed zone, to protect the recovering coral.
- No snorkeling (mask and fins) in the bay — if you want to snorkel, you'll need another spot like Pileh or Bamboo Island.
- Boats don't dock at the beach — you land at Loh Samah Bay on the back and walk the roughly 80-metre boardwalk to the beach.
- Time is limited — you generally get about an hour on the beach, depending on the slot your tour booked.
How much is the national park fee?
The entry fee for Nopparat Thara–Phi Phi Islands National Park is charged separately from the tour by almost every operator, and you usually pay it in cash on the spot. The 2026 rates are:
- Foreign adult 400 THB · foreign child 200 THB
- Thai adult 40 THB (bring your ID card)
- Some tours include the fee in the price already, so read the terms before booking to see whether it's 'park fee included / not included'.
Don't forget cash
The park fee — and the Bamboo Island fee at some stops — is cash only. Keep small notes on you, because there are no ATMs out in the middle of the sea.
Speedboat or ferry — which to pick?
There are two main ways to reach Phi Phi from Phuket. Pick based on whether you want speed or comfort.
Speedboat (day trip)
Faster, about an hour to Phi Phi, and it loops several stops in one day. Comes with a guide, snorkeling gear, lunch, and hotel pickup and drop-off — ideal if you want to see everything in a single day. The downside is a rough, bumpy ride; if you get seasick easily, bring medication.
Ferry (big boat)
Slower, around two hours, but far calmer and more comfortable — good if you get seasick or are bringing older relatives or small kids. It's mostly for travelling over to stay the night on Phi Phi Don, not for looping several snorkeling stops.
If you want to see Maya Bay and Pileh, snorkel, and be back in Phuket the same day, go with the speedboat day trip — it's the best fit. The ferry suits people who plan to stay overnight on Phi Phi Don and explore the area at their own pace afterwards.
Roughly what does a Phi Phi tour cost?
Prices swing with the season and with what's bundled into the package. The figures below are the ranges actually seen from operators in early 2026 (not including the national park fee where it's listed as separate).
Speedboat join-tour day trip
A shared group trip looping Phi Phi Leh, Phi Phi Don and Khai Island, with a buffet lunch, snorkeling gear and hotel transfers. The best-value option for most travellers.
Speedboat day trip plus Bamboo Island
Same as the standard trip but with an extra stop at Bamboo Island to snorkel — clear water and shallow coral. Better for people who'd rather snorkel for fish than walk the beach.
Premium / small-group boat trip
Fewer people per trip, a faster and comfier boat, and better food. Some operators book an early, less crowded Maya Bay slot — good for couples or anyone who'd rather skip the crush.
Return ferry (tour not included)
Just the ferry ticket across from Rassada Pier to Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don. Good if you're planning your own trip or staying overnight.
Which pier do you leave from?
Speedboat day trips usually leave from piers on the east-to-south side of Phuket. Most tours already include a car to pick you up from your hotel and take you to the pier, so you don't have to find your own way. The piers most commonly used are:
- Rassada Pier — the main pier for both ferries and speedboats, on the east side near Phuket Town.
- Royal Phuket Marina — the pier some speedboat operators use.
- AA Marina / Coco pier — secondary piers a few tours use.
- Hotel pickup is generally 07:30–08:00, getting you back around 17:00–18:30.
What to bring
- Wear your swimsuit from the hotel so you don't have to change on the boat.
- Reef-safe sunscreen — the sun at sea is strong, and it spares the coral.
- Seasickness tablets taken about 30 minutes before departure, especially on a speedboat.
- A waterproof camera or phone pouch — there's a lot of spray.
- Small cash notes for the park fee and food on the islands.
- Heel-strap sandals or water shoes — easier on the rocks and the boardwalk.
Is the trip worth it, and who for?
Straight talk: if you're expecting to swim at Maya Beach like in the film, you may be disappointed — these days all you can do is walk around for photos and wade in to knee height. But if you see it as a full day out on the water — the cliff scenery at Maya Bay, the inland sea at Pileh, snorkeling for fish at Bamboo and Khai islands — the trip is still good value and genuinely beautiful. It suits first-time visitors to Phuket who want to tick off the Andaman highlights in one day.
To dodge the crowds, pick a tour that leaves early and books a late-morning Maya Bay slot, or go outside high season (avoid Nov–Feb, when it's busiest) for a nicer atmosphere.
Find a well-located place to stay in Phuket before your sea trip
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