Phuket to Phi Phi

Ferry, speedboat or your own boat

Phi Phi is boat only, and the easy way is your own boat, leaving from your side of Phuket with the van at the villa door, back when you're ready.

The ferry, a shared speedboat and the day tours are the scheduled options. Ask Tanner which suits the group's day.

The ferry crossing

The Phuket to Phi Phi ferry takes about 2 hours: Andaman Wave Master sails daily from Rassada Pier at 8:30am to Tonsai at 10:30am, and at 1:45pm to Tonsai at 3:45pm, from ฿700, its own timetable shows (checked November 2026).

Seasick? Take the ferry and sit on the lower deck in the middle. Ask Tanner to time the van to your sailing.

Is the speedboat worth it?

Yes, if you want a quicker crossing: Andaman Wave Master's speedboat to Tonsai is from ฿850, and to Laem Tong from ฿1,000, its own site shows, but it's bumpier than the big ferry.

Your own speedboat leaves from your side of Phuket, stops where the group wants, and comes back when you're ready.

See every route on Getting around Thailand, and ask Tanner to put your own boat on the date.

The park fee and Maya Bay

The national park fee to land on Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh or Bamboo Island is ฿400 a foreign adult and ฿200 a child, in cash, the Tourism Authority of Thailand says (checked October 2026).

Maya Bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September, under the national park notice in the Royal Gazette (9 January 2026), and swimming isn't allowed there.

Keep some cash on you, in case your boat doesn't cover the fees. Ask Tanner whether your day includes them.

A day out on the islands

A Phi Phi island tour from Phuket is a shared boat on a set route for the day. Your own boat goes at your own pace, with stops for swims and a long lunch.

Your own motor yacht or sailing catamaran: the price depends on the boat, and Tanner quotes it to your plan, with the party on top: the DJ, the open bar and hosts and performers for your party keeping the energy up.

The public boats are dry: since 12 May 2026, alcohol is banned at public piers and on scheduled public boats, under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee notice (signed 17 April 2026). The rule names public boats, not private charters.

See Phuket yachts, and ask Tanner which boat fits the group.

The best months to go

December to March is Phuket's core dry season, with the smoothest crossings and the clearest water; November and April are good edge months.

Boats can be cancelled on the worst monsoon days, and Maya Bay is closed from 1 August to 30 September.

Take the first boat, and the islands are quiet before the tour boats arrive. Ask Tanner to keep a spare day in the plan in the wet months.

Ferry tickets and what the day costs

A big-ferry seat with Andaman Wave Master is from ฿700 and its speedboat from ฿850 to Tonsai, the operator's own site shows (checked November 2026).

On your own boat, the party goes on top: a DJ from ฿8,000, an open bar at ฿1,500 a guest and the park fee for each of you. The boat is quoted to your plan, as on our Phuket yacht day example.

Buy ferry seats the day before in high season; the morning boats fill first. Ask Tanner to book the seats with the van.

What to do on Phi Phi

Swim and snorkel off Phi Phi Leh, see Maya Bay when it's open, then a long lunch on Phi Phi Don.

Stay on past sunset and the beach on Phi Phi Don turns into the party: no cars, just sand and music. Ask Tanner which night suits a stay.

Is Phi Phi worth it?

Yes. It's the classic Andaman day: clear water, limestone cliffs and the boat out in the open sea.

Tanner's pick for a group: do it as a day on your own boat, then sleep back in Phuket near the clubs. Ask Tanner to hold the boat for your first free day.

Phuket to Phi Phi in short

• What it is: Phi Phi is a small island group off Phuket, home of Maya Bay. The ferry takes about 2 hours from Rassada Pier to Tonsai.

• Speedboat: quicker, from ฿850 with Andaman Wave Master.
• Ferry seats from ฿700 with Andaman Wave Master, 8:30am and 1:45pm daily.
• The national park fee, ฿400 a foreign adult, paid in cash on landing.
• Maya Bay closes every 1 August to 30 September; you can wade but not swim.
• Phi Phi is boat only, about 2 hours from Phuket by ferry.

Checked November 2026.

Stay in Phuket or on Phi Phi?

Stay in Phuket for the villas, the clubs and the airport, and do Phi Phi as a day.

Or stay a night on Phi Phi: small, no cars, and lively on the beach after dark. It's a boat ride from Krabi too, so it links the two.

See Phuket to Krabi and the Phuket nightlife guide, then ask Tanner where to base the trip.