How to Get to Phi Phi: Ferry, Speedboat & Routes

Featured image: GinkgoTelegraph, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr.

The Short Answer: How to Get to Phi Phi

Phi Phi has no airport and no road link. Phi Phi Don, the inhabited island, lies roughly 40 km southeast of Phuket. Two gateways cover most trips: Phuket and Krabi. Ferries from Phuket take about 2 hours, and speedboats take 45 to 60 minutes. Krabi ferries take about 1.5 hours. Koh Lanta, Railay and Ao Nang have their own boat links, covered in the sections below. Schedules shift by season, so check each operator's current timetable before you pay.

Ferry vs Speedboat vs Tour vs Private Boat

Choose by your main priority: cost, time, comfort or flexibility. Public ferries suit budget travelers with a spare morning. Quoted one-way fares from Phuket range from ฿400 to ฿800, so confirm the current price. Speedboats cut the crossing to 45 to 60 minutes. Quoted one-way speedboat fares from Phuket run from about ฿800 to ฿1,000. Tours bundle transport, lunch and park fees, with day-trip packages quoted at ฿1,500 to ฿4,000 per person. Private boats start around ฿5,000 and can reach ฿50,000, depending on the itinerary. For schedules in more detail, use our ferry timetable and fare guide.

• Budget backpackers: take the public ferry and book a return fare.
• Families with luggage: ferry, or a transfer that includes hotel pickup.
• Short on time: speedboat, with a generous buffer after your flight.
• Seasick-prone travelers: avoid speedboats, or take medication beforehand.

From Phuket to Phi Phi

Most boats leave from Rassada Pier on Phuket's east coast. Ferries typically run around 08:30 in the morning and between 13:30 and 15:00 in the afternoon. Speedboats are quoted from about 08:30 and 10:00, with afternoon departures around 15:30 to 16:00. Ao Po Grand Marina is a separate departure point with different prices. One operator lists public speedboat fares from ฿800 out of Rassada and from ฿1,400 out of Ao Po. Confirm which pier your ticket uses before leaving your hotel. Many hotel and agency tickets include a pickup, but double-check. Flying in the same day? One operator advises landing at least 3.5 hours before departure. Missing the last boat means an unplanned night in Phuket. Staying near Rassada makes an early boat easier.

From Krabi, Ao Nang and Railay to Phi Phi

Krabi ferries take about 1.5 hours, which is shorter than the Phuket ferry. Krabi Town boats are often tied to Klong Jilad Pier. One operator lists a public speedboat from Kong Ka Pier at ฿1,050 and also names Krabi River Marina as a check-in point. Ticket wording varies, so confirm your pier by name. Speedboat fares from Krabi start higher than the ฿800 Rassada fare quoted by that same operator. Ao Nang and Railay boats follow seasonal timetables, and prices vary by operator. Our Railay to Phi Phi route guide covers that crossing. Krabi suits you if your trip continues along the mainland coast. Phuket suits you if your flight lands there.

From Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe to Phi Phi

Boats from Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe run on seasonal timetables, and we have no confirmed fare for either. Read our Koh Lanta to Phi Phi guide, then confirm times with the operator.

Arriving at Phi Phi: Tonsai Pier, Laem Thong and Your Hotel

Most boats dock at Tonsai Pier, where the walkways of the main village begin. No cars operate on Phi Phi Don, so you walk or hire a longtail boat. Resorts on the northern tip, such as those on Laem Thong Beach, often use Laem Thong as their arrival point. Ask your hotel which pier it recommends before buying a ticket. Loh Ba Kao Beach sits 2.5 km from Tonsai, so luggage matters there. Hotels on far beaches often arrange a longtail pickup. Independent longtail rentals are quoted at ฿1,500 to ฿3,000, depending on destination. Our Tonsai Pier orientation explains where to head first. Pack light if your room is up a walkway.

Costs and Fees: What Is Included, What Is Not

Separate your transport cost from park and activity fees. Ferry and speedboat tickets cover the crossing only. Hotel packages from Phuket start around ฿750 per person round trip. Day trips usually bundle lunch and park fees into ฿1,500 to ฿4,000. Overnight packages are quoted from ฿4,000, rising with hotel and activities. Fee figures conflict between sources. One guide cites ฿400 for the Maya Bay area, while another lists a ฿20 landing fee for the national park. They are probably different charges, so confirm with the national park authority. Inside Tonsai, the Phi Phi viewpoint ticket counter charges ฿30, according to a local guide. Always ask whether your fare includes fees.

• Ferry: ฿400 to ฿800 one way (quoted range).
• Speedboat from Phuket: ฿800 to ฿1,000 one way; from Krabi: from ฿1,050.
• Longtail on the island: ฿1,500 to ฿3,000 by destination.
• Private boat: ฿5,000 to ฿50,000.

Best Time to Go and Sea Conditions

November to April is the favored window. Rainy season runs from May to October, when rougher seas can affect crossings. Look up current sailing status with your operator before paying for a non-refundable ticket. Seasickness deserves a plan, because speedboats can feel rough for some travelers. Motion-sickness medication taken beforehand helps, or choose the ferry. Maya Bay appears on most tour routes, but access rules and closure months have changed over the years. Check the Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park office for its current status.

Day Trip or Overnight? How to Decide

Day trips from Phuket feel rushed and crowded. Do the math first: a ferry costs about 4 hours round trip on the water, and a speedboat roughly 1.5 to 2 hours. Remaining time shrinks fast once lunch and a lagoon stop are added. Staying one night lets you take a longtail out early, before tour boats arrive. You can also catch the viewpoint at sunrise. Choose a day trip if you only need a quick look and want park fees bundled. Choose an overnight stay if you want swimming, snorkeling or viewpoints without a clock. Two days works well with one night in between.

Booking Tips and Mistakes to Avoid

Tickets are sold at Rassada Pier counters, through agencies, at hotel tour desks and online. Book ahead from November to April, when popular departures fill. Round-trip fares are usually cheaper than two one-way tickets. Children under 2 travel free on some ferries, so ask. Avoid these common errors.

• Booking a tight flight connection with less than the advised 3.5 hours.
• Assuming one fare covers every pier.
• Ignoring the last boat of the day.
• Forgetting seasickness tablets before a speedboat.
• Expecting an empty beach like the movie.
• Leaving big bags for a longtail transfer without asking your hotel.

Phi Phi Route Map

Use this list as a map of every gateway pier and landing point mentioned here. Save the pier names in your phone before departure.

• Rassada Pier, Phuket: main departure for ferries and speedboats.
• Ao Po Grand Marina, Phuket: separate speedboat departures and pricing.
• Kong Ka Pier and Krabi River Marina, Krabi: speedboat check-in points.
• Tonsai Pier, Phi Phi Don: main arrival.
• Laem Thong, Phi Phi Don: arrival for northern-tip resorts.