Phi Phi Ferry Guide: Routes, Times, Prices & Piers

Featured image: Hari K Patibanda, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Phi Phi ferry at a glance

Almost every route ends at Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don. Laemtong Beach is the resort-side alternative. From Phuket, expect about 1 hour by speedboat or up to 2 hours by conventional ferry. Krabi's Klong Jilad Pier is typically about 2 hours by ferry. Koh Lanta is the shortest hop, at roughly 30 minutes by speedboat. Starting fares listed by sellers sit near ฿400 to ฿445 on the cheaper routes. Sea distance from Phuket is about 22 nautical miles (40 km). Treat every figure below as typical and confirm the live timetable before you travel.

Which Phi Phi ferry route should you take?

Start from where you sleep tonight, not from the cheapest ticket you can find. Arrivals at Phuket airport face a long chain of transfers, and Andaman Wave Master lists about 3 hours from the airport to Tonsai Pier. Beach travelers in Ao Nang should look at the short speedboat piers rather than the 2-hour ferry from Krabi town. Island hoppers on Koh Lanta get the quickest crossing of all. Koh Lipe and Langkawi connect too, but those are long days of 4 hours or more.

• First-timer with big bags: a conventional ferry from Rassada Pier, with room to stow luggage.
• Budget backpacker: the Koh Lanta or Krabi ferry, which show the lowest starting fares.
• Seasick-prone: the shortest crossing available, ideally from Railay or Saladan.
• Day-tripper: a speedboat, so more of the day is spent on the island.
• Flight connection: a morning sailing with generous slack, never the last one.

Ferry vs speedboat: time, cost and comfort

Quoted durations for the same Phuket route vary from 1 hour to 2 hours. Boat type explains most of the gap. Speedboats cut time but ride harder in chop. Conventional ferries are slower and steadier, with air-conditioned indoor seating and outdoor deck seats. Cabins are normally not offered on these routes. Sellers list starting fares from about ฿445 for Phuket sailings, while one seller shows speedboat transfers from Phi Phi to Krabi starting at ฿1,000 one way.

Phuket to Phi Phi: Rassada Pier to Tonsai

Rassada Pier sits near Phuket Town. Operators listed on this route include Andaman Wave Master, Bundhaya Speed Boat, Chaokoh Ferry, Phi Phi Cruiser and Tigerline. Dozens of sailings run daily across operators, and Andaman Wave Master and Bundhaya each list around 1 hour to Tonsai Pier. Chaokoh and Phi Phi Cruiser list about 2 hours. Andaman Wave Master also lists a 1 hour 30 minute sailing to Laemtong Beach. Fares start from about ฿445. Beach-resort travelers should book a hotel transfer to Rassada Pier in advance.

• Rassada to Tonsai: about 1 h by speedboat, about 2 h by ferry.
• Rassada to Laemtong Beach: about 1 h 30 min.
• Phuket airport to Tonsai: about 3 h door to door by combined ticket.

Krabi, Ao Nang and Railay to Phi Phi

Pier choice matters more here than operator choice. Klong Jilad Pier handles the slower ferry, at about 2 hours and fares from about ฿430. Ao Nam Mao Pier and Nopparat Thara Pier serve faster boats, at about 45 to 50 minutes. Railay East Pier is the shortest, at about 30 minutes. For that hop in detail, read our guide to Phi Phi to Railay by boat. Speedboats back to Krabi leave Tonsai Pier daily, according to one seller.

Koh Lanta to Phi Phi

Saladan Pier on Koh Lanta has the quickest, cheapest crossing. Speedboats take about 30 minutes, and Chaokoh Ferry lists about 1 hour. Fares start from about ฿400. Boats to Laemtong Beach take about 2 hours, so confirm your hotel's pier first. Service on this hop can thin out in the rough-water months. For timing and onward notes, see Phi Phi to Koh Lanta transfers.

Arriving on Phi Phi: Tonsai Pier vs Laemtong Beach

Tonsai Pier is the main port, on the southern coast of Phi Phi Don. It is within walking distance of most accommodation near the main village. Cars do not travel on these ferries, and the island is car-free apart from small service vehicles. Laemtong Beach lies in the northeast of Phi Phi Don. One seller says guests of SAii Phi Phi Island Village, P.P. Erawan Palms, Phi Phi Natural, Outrigger Phi Phi and Phi Phi Holiday must choose Laemtong. Confirm this with your hotel before booking. Full arrival logistics are in our Phi Phi pier guide.

Phi Phi ferry prices and how to book

Quotes disagree because sellers differ. Operator, boat type, booking fees and season all move the number. Listed starting fares include ฿445 from Phuket, ฿430 from Krabi and ฿400 from Koh Lanta. One seller says Phuket ferries start at ฿700 per person one way. Compare the final total after fees, not the headline. Book 1 to 2 months ahead for November to April. Most operators close counters around 21:30, so book earlier in the day. One aggregator holds a cart for 30 minutes. Check each seller's refund and change terms before paying.

Luggage, pets, cars and kids

Operators normally allow 1 piece of luggage plus 1 piece of hand luggage per passenger. Combined weight is typically up to 25 kg. Pets are normally not allowed, though rules vary by operator. Cars cannot be carried. Infants up to 3 years can usually travel free, and child fares apply from 3 to 11 years. Families with strollers should ask the operator about boarding help. Arrive 30 to 40 minutes before departure.

Weather, season and cancellation risk

Services run year-round, but schedules vary by season. Rough seas can cancel or delay sailings. Check the Thai Meteorological Department forecast for the Andaman Sea before you travel. If a trip is cancelled, sellers usually offer a change to another departure or a refund request. Confirm the policy before paying. Busy periods fall between November and April. Operators call this high season, when extra routes to Koh Ngai, Koh Mook and Koh Lipe may be added.

Common mistakes to avoid

Four errors cause most missed boats. Booking the last sailing before an international flight is the worst. Phuket airport to Tonsai can take about 3 hours, so leave generous slack. Picking the wrong pier is next, especially for Laemtong resorts. Assuming one price across sellers wastes money. Missing the 21:30 booking cut-off strands late planners. Ask about the national park fee on Phi Phi and check the current amount with the Department of National Parks.