Phuket to Phi Phi: Ferry Times, Piers & Which Boat to Take

Featured image: Yuriy Surov, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Phuket to Phi Phi at a glance

Boats cover roughly 40 km, or 21 nautical miles, across the Andaman Sea. Rassada Pier to Tonsai Pier typically takes 1 hour, and the fastest sailings are quoted at 59 minutes. Slower vessels take up to 2 hours. Listings show about 19 sailings each way per day on the main route, so you rarely need to plan around a single departure. Timetables change by season, so confirm the operator's schedule the week you travel.

Which pier: Rassada, Chean Vanich, Ao Po or Laemtong

Rassada Pier gives the widest choice of operators, sailing times and prices, with up to 130 sailings a week to Tonsai. Chean Vanich Pier to Tonsai is the shortest crossing at about 45 minutes. Only Tigerline Ferry is listed there, with around 13 sailings a week. Ao Po Pier to Tonsai takes about 2 hours. Laemtong Beach sits on the quieter side of Phi Phi Don and suits resorts nearby. Drive times from your hotel to each Phuket pier vary with traffic, so ask your hotel for a current estimate.

• Sleeping near Tonsai village: book a Tonsai Pier ticket.
• Sleeping at a Laemtong Beach resort: confirm that pier with your property before paying.

Speedboat or ferry: which boat to book

Speedboats on Rassada to Tonsai take about 1 hour. Operators listed on that speedboat timing include Bundhaya Speed Boat, Andaman Wave Master and Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Club. Larger ferries from Phi Phi Cruiser, Chaokoh Ferry and Chureang Travel And Tour take about 2 hours. Cheaper tickets often belong to the slower boat, so compare the time before you compare the fare. Facilities depend on the vessel. Expect indoor air-conditioned seating, toilets and a luggage area, plus an open deck on some boats. Pack a light layer for the air-conditioning and keep medication in your day bag.

How long it really takes, door to door

Arrive at Rassada Pier at least 45 to 60 minutes before departure to check in, load luggage and choose a seat. Add a 1-hour crossing, and you are looking at about 1 hr 45 min to 2 hours between reaching the pier and stepping onto Tonsai Pier. Drive time from your hotel to Rassada comes first, and it varies by area and traffic. Leave extra time in high season and on morning departures.

• Hotel to Rassada Pier: variable; ask your hotel or transfer provider.
• Check-in buffer: at least 45 to 60 minutes.
• Crossing: about 1 hour by speedboat, up to 2 hours by larger ferry.
• Tonsai Pier to your hotel: usually on foot; confirm with the property.

Ferry prices and what changes them

Aggregator listings show Phuket to Phi Phi fares from ฿445, and Phi Phi to Phuket from ฿435. Treat those as floor prices as checked in late 2026, not fixed fares. Operator and vessel type move the price most. Departure time matters too, because popular mid-morning sailings sell out first. Tonsai and Laemtong fares can differ. One-way versus return and transfer-inclusive tickets also change the total. Book ahead from November to April, when early sailings fill. Budget separately for a hotel transfer to the pier and a longtail from Tonsai. National park and marine park fees are not included in ticket listings, so check the current charge with the national parks department.

From Phuket Airport, Patong and Phuket Town

Combined ferry and road transfer tickets link Phuket Airport with Tonsai Pier in about 3 hours. Tigerline Ferry's quickest option takes about 2 hr 15 min. Around 52 sailings run each week, and one booking covers both legs. A taxi to Rassada Pier is the alternative, but it leaves the pier check-in timing to you. Patong Beach to Tonsai is listed at about 2 hr 30 min as a transfer-inclusive ticket, with 8 sailings daily. From Phuket Town, reach Rassada Pier by taxi or hotel transfer and allow for morning traffic. Never book the last boat of the day after a flight. In the May to October rough season, give yourself a full night's buffer.

Is Phi Phi doable as a day trip from Phuket?

Yes, but the day is short. On Rassada to Tonsai the first boat out leaves around 08:30 and the last return around 17:00, giving at most 7 hr 30 min ashore. That buys time in Tonsai village, one viewpoint walk and one swim. It does not buy an unhurried Maya Bay boat trip plus snorkelling. For those, sleep over or book a pre-built guided boat tour. Book the earliest departure and check the last return time on your ticket before planning dinner. Times are indicative and shift by season.

Best time to go and rough-season planning

November to April brings calm seas, the most departures and early sailings that sell out. May to October is cheaper for hotels but rougher, and sailings can be delayed or cancelled in bad weather. Protect your plans in that window. Choose a flexible ticket and keep the Phuket side of your trip loose. Leave a full day before any flight home. If a boat is cancelled, ask the operator for a later sailing or a refund route, and stay on Phuket until the sea settles.

Arriving on Phi Phi: Tonsai Pier to your hotel

Phi Phi Don is essentially car-free, so travel with luggage only. Most visitors walk from Tonsai Pier to their hotel, while longtail boats connect the island's beaches. Confirm hotel access with your property, especially for Laemtong Beach. Tonsai Pier is close to most hotels, restaurants and ticket offices. Buy your return ticket first, then settle in.

• Check the return time on your ticket.
• Walk to your hotel and drop luggage.
• Book any longtail trips from the pier.

Where to go after Phi Phi

Phi Phi sits in the middle of the Andaman island network. Koh Lanta is about 30 minutes from Tonsai Pier, with around 48 sailings a week. Ao Nang in Krabi takes about 50 minutes, with around 19 sailings a week. Back to Phuket is about 1 hour, with around 129 sailings a week. For a broader plan, see our island-hopping routes from Phuket. If the crossing or the day feels too long, closer islands are lower effort. A James Bond Island trip is one option. Another is a visit to Coral Island for a short boat ride. A third is a day on Racha if you want clear water.

Mistakes to avoid

Most problems come from timing, not from the boat. Fix these before you pay.

• Booking the wrong pier for your hotel, especially Laemtong versus Tonsai.
• Skipping the 45 to 60 minute check-in buffer at Rassada.
• Booking the last boat the same day as a flight.
• Not checking the last return time on a day-trip ticket.
• Expecting a Maya Bay boat trip on a ferry day trip.
• Assuming the cheapest ticket is the fastest boat.