Phi Phi Islands Day Trip from Phuket: The Complete Guide (Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Bamboo Island)

A Phi Phi day trip from Phuket is a full day of island-hopping across the Andaman Sea: you walk the sand at Maya Bay, swim in the emerald water of Pileh Lagoon, snorkel off Phi Phi Don, eat lunch on the island and finish on the white beach of Bamboo Island. Most tours run from about 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, include hotel pickup and the national park fee, and differ mainly in the boat you travel on and the order of the stops. Here is how to plan it well.

Where is Phi Phi, and how long does it take to get there?

The Phi Phi Islands belong to Krabi province and lie roughly 45 km south-east of Phuket. There are two main islands: Phi Phi Don, the larger and inhabited one with Ton Sai village, hotels and restaurants, and Phi Phi Leh, the uninhabited cliff-ringed island that holds Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon. Both sit inside a national park. By speedboat or speed catamaran the crossing takes about 45–60 minutes; larger, slower boats take longer but are steadier.

What does a typical Phi Phi itinerary look like?

The order changes from boat to boat (smart operators deliberately go against the flow to dodge crowds), but the stops are much the same. This is the timetable of our Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Bamboo Island tour by premium speed catamaran:

Time	Stop
07:30	Hotel pickup in Phuket
08:30	Lounge check-in and a drink at Royal Phuket Marina
09:00	Depart
10:00	Maya Bay
11:00	Pileh Lagoon, swimming from the boat
11:50	Viking Cave (seen from the boat)
12:00	Monkey Beach
12:15	Snorkelling near Phi Phi Don
13:00	Lunch on Phi Phi Don
14:20	Bamboo Island beach time
16:30–17:30	Back at the marina, then the transfer to your hotel

Maya Bay: what are the rules now?

Maya Bay became world-famous after the film The Beach (2000), and two decades of overtourism nearly destroyed its reef. The national park closed it completely in 2018 and reopened it in 2022 under strict new rules. They are still in force, and they are why the bay looks so good today:

• No swimming. You can paddle up to knee depth at the water’s edge, but swimming in the bay is prohibited. Young blacktip reef sharks patrol the shallows, and they are a sign the ecosystem has recovered.
• No boats on the beach. Boats moor at Loh Samah bay on the far side of Phi Phi Leh, and you walk a short boardwalk through the forest to the main beach.
• Limited time and numbers. Visitor numbers on the beach at any one time are capped, and each group gets roughly an hour.
• Annual closure. The beach closes for two months each year in the low season. In 2026 it was closed from 1 August to 30 September. During the closure, boats can still view the bay from the water at a set distance.
• Reef-safe sunscreen only, as in every Thai marine park. No littering, no smoking, no feeding fish.

Closure dates are set by the Department of National Parks each year, so if you are travelling in late July or early October, check with us before you book.

The other Phi Phi highlights

• Pileh Lagoon: a near-enclosed lagoon of jade-green water inside towering cliffs on Phi Phi Leh. This is where you swim, straight off the boat, and for many guests it is the highlight of the day. Some tours switch to a small longtail boat to glide in.
• Viking Cave: a sea cave with old wall drawings of boats and a long tradition of swiftlet-nest harvesting. Visitors cannot go inside; you see it from the water.
• Monkey Beach: long-tailed macaques on the rocks and sand. Watch, photograph, but don’t feed them, and keep bags and sunglasses close. They are wild and quick.
• Snorkelling: usually along the reefs near Phi Phi Don or Viking Cave, with parrotfish, sergeant majors and colourful corals in calm conditions.
• Bamboo Island: a small, flat island north of Phi Phi Don with a long beach of powder-white sand. It is the ideal place to slow down before the ride home.
• Maiton Island: a small island much closer to Phuket where some tours stop on the way back for snorkelling and sunset.

How much are the national park fees?

Phi Phi lies inside a Thai national park, and foreign visitors pay an entrance fee, around ฿400 per adult at the time of writing. Fees are set by the national park authority and can change. On all of our Phi Phi tours the national park ticket is already included, so you won’t be asked for cash on the boat. At checkout we ask for passport details, because operators must register every guest with the park.

Speedboat, catamaran, semi-yacht or yacht: which Phi Phi tour is for you?

Tour	Boat	From (adult)	Good to know
Island hopping to Phi Phi, Maya and Bamboo	Speedboat	฿2,800	Best value; early start from a private pier at Panwa; buffet lunch at Ton Sai
Phi Phi, Maya and Bamboo	Premium speed catamaran	฿3,600	Smoother than a speedboat; lounge start at Royal Phuket Marina
Semi-yacht tour with Khai Nok Island	Semi-yacht	฿3,700	Adds Khai Nok Island; reaches Pileh and Maya in the late afternoon
Phi Phi and Mai Ton Island	Premium speed catamaran	฿4,200	Longtail ride into Pileh, paddleboard and clear kayak, sunset BBQ at Mai Ton
Phi Phi with Maiton sunset (Whale Shark Fleet)	Double-decker big boat	฿4,500	Slides and paddleboards at Maiton, sunset cruise home
Phi Phi and Maya Bay by luxury yacht	55 ft luxury yacht	฿8,500	Small group, gourmet lunch, DJ; Phi Phi from 15 November to 16 April

A few rules of thumb:

• On a budget or short on time? The Phi Phi speedboat island-hopping tour covers all the big names at the best price.
• Worried about seasickness? Choose a catamaran or a big boat. Two hulls or a larger hull roll much less than a single-hull speedboat.
• Want to avoid the midday crowd at Maya? The Phi Phi semi-yacht tour reaches Pileh and Maya Bay late in the afternoon, after most boats have left.
• Want more than sightseeing? The Phi Phi and Mai Ton Island catamaran and the Whale Shark Fleet sunset trip add water toys and a sunset return.
• Celebrating something? The luxury yacht day to Phi Phi sails on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in high season.

Our detailed comparison of speedboats, catamarans and yachts goes deeper into comfort, speed and price.

How do you avoid the crowds?

Honestly, you won’t have Maya Bay to yourself in high season. But timing makes a big difference. Most boats from Phuket arrive between 10 am and 1 pm, so the beach is calmer early in the morning and again from mid-afternoon. Tours that run the classic loop backwards, or arrive late in the day, often find Pileh Lagoon with just a handful of boats. Weekdays outside Thai public holidays are quieter than weekends, and November, late April and early May are quieter than January. The green season is the quietest of all, but remember the beach is closed in August and September.

Practical tips for a better Phi Phi day

• Best months: November to April, when the sea is calm. Trips run in the green season too, but the crossing can be rough.
• Bring: swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, a dry bag, a towel if your tour does not supply one, and some cash for drinks or souvenirs.
• Footwear: water shoes or sandals with straps make boat steps and coral-rubble beaches easier.
• Health: these tours are not suitable for pregnant travellers or people with back, spinal or heart problems, because of the speed and the swell.
• Pickup: hotel transfers are included from most areas of Phuket. Your exact pickup time is confirmed by e-mail or WhatsApp the day before.

Phi Phi is busy for a reason: it really is that beautiful. Choose the boat that suits your group, book a few days ahead in high season, and keep in mind that cancellation is free up to 72 hours before the trip. Pick any of the tours above, or ask us about a private longtail or yacht charter if you would like Phi Phi at your own pace.