Phi Phi to Koh Lanta: Ferry Times, Cost & Tips

Featured image: Neitram, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Phi Phi to Koh Lanta: the short answer

Yes, a passenger boat links the two islands. You board at Tonsai Pier and get off at Saladan Pier. Quoted crossing times differ. One booking listing says about 30 minutes, while an older regional timetable implies about 1 hour. Plan on up to 1 hour and treat 30 minutes as a best case on a fast boat. Booking listings show up to 10 sailings a day, running 5 to 7 days a week. Frequency drops in low season. Pick the option that fits your trip:

• Want the simplest trip? Take the direct boat from Tonsai Pier to Saladan Pier.
• Want a night on Phi Phi first? Break the trip and sail the next morning.
• Want to skip the boat? Route through Krabi by minivan or speedboat.

Ferry times: first and last boats

Booking listings show the first Phi Phi departure at about 09:30 and the last at about 15:30. An older regional timetable describes a different pattern. A boat leaves Phuket Rassada Pier at 08:00, reaches Phi Phi at 09:00 and arrives at Koh Lanta around 10:00. The return leaves Lanta at 15:00, calls at Phi Phi at 16:00 and reaches Phuket at 17:00. These two schedules do not match, so reconfirm the direction-specific time with the operator 2 to 3 days ahead. Missing the last boat means a night on Phi Phi. Book that room before you need it, because rooms on the island can be scarce.

How much the ferry costs

No current baht fare for the Phi Phi to Saladan leg is confirmed here. For scale, an older regional listing shows Phuket Rassada Pier to Koh Lanta at ฿1,500. That is a longer through-journey, so do not use it as your Phi Phi fare. Ask the operator for the baht price for your date. Fares move with operator, boat type, season, booking channel and any platform markup. In high season, book online so your seat is held. In low season, ask at the Tonsai Pier counter whether your sailing is running before you pay a markup.

• Compare the counter price with the online price including fees.
• Ask whether the ticket covers hotel pickup or only the boat.
• Keep the receipt in case a sailing is cancelled.

Which companies run it and how to book

Several operators run speedboat and ferry services in the Andaman Sea, and the mix changes by season. Not every operator calls at both Tonsai and Saladan, so check the pier names on your ticket. Booking platforms such as 12Go and Openferry list sailings online. For a wider view of boats out of the island, see our Phi Phi ferry guide. Buy a ticket early if your dates are fixed, then reconfirm 2 to 3 days before you travel. Carry your passport and the e-ticket, and allow a buffer at the pier.

Low season, weather and cancellations

Regional timetables describe low season as May to November, when some ferries stop running. Later-day boats are usually the ones cut, so an early-morning sailing is the safer bet. Rough water can also delay or cancel boats in the wet season. Do not book a same-day flight or a hard-deadline connection after a sea crossing. Leave a full day of slack. Check departure times with the pier counter or a local agent, and ask about the sea conditions on the day.

Foot passengers, luggage, cars and pets

Foot passengers are the normal case on this route. Carry your luggage aboard and tag each bag with your hotel name. Some listings mention vehicle spaces, but plan on foot passenger travel only and confirm with the operator if you need more. Pet rules vary by operator, so ask in writing before you buy a ticket for an animal.

Phi Phi to Koh Lanta vs the alternatives

The direct boat is the shortest answer, but it is not the only one. A regional guide calls the quickest route into Lanta a flight to Krabi Airport, then a minivan or speedboat transfer. If Phi Phi is not essential, that avoids the narrow boat window. The nearest sibling route is covered in our Phi Phi to Railay guide.

Getting to Tonsai Pier and from Saladan Pier to your beach

Tonsai Pier is the Phi Phi departure point, and cars do not run on the island. Walk or use a porter from your guesthouse, and read our Phi Phi pier guide for the pier layout. Allow a buffer before your boat, since you will need to check in and find the right counter. On Koh Lanta, Saladan Pier is the arrival point. From there, transfers on to the resorts along Long Beach and Klong Nin are by minivan, songthaew, taxi or a pre-booked hotel pickup. Ask your hotel to arrange the pickup in advance, and agree the price before you set off.

Should you stay on Phi Phi first?

If you arrive late or sail in low season, a night on Phi Phi removes the risk of missing the last boat. Book ahead, because rooms can be scarce and carrying a backpack from door to door is no fun. Use our guide to reaching Phi Phi if you are still arriving from Phuket or Krabi. If you are short on time, go straight through and take the earliest boat you can.