Is it better to stay on Koh Phi Phi or do a day trip?

If you can fit in at least two nights, stay on the island: you will see Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon early in the morning before the boats from Phuket and Krabi arrive, and enjoy the island in the evening. If your itinerary is tight, a day trip from Krabi or Phuket is still a great visit, as long as you pick an early departure.

How much does a day trip to Koh Phi Phi cost?

On a shared boat, 1,900 THB per person from Krabi/Ao Nang and 2,000 THB from Phuket, with hotel transfers, lunch and snorkeling gear included. Early bird or sunset combos cost around 2,500 to 2,600 THB. A private speedboat starts at 12,700 THB per boat from Phi Phi and 29,000 THB from Phuket. Depending on the tour, the national park fee (400 THB per adult, 200 THB per child) is either included or paid in cash at boarding.

What is the best departure point for a day trip to Phi Phi?

Krabi/Ao Nang is the closest (45 minutes to 1 hour by speedboat) and the cheapest. Phuket offers the widest choice (speedboat, premium catamaran, private boat) but the crossing is longer. From Koh Lanta, we recommend a transfer and one or two nights on the island instead.

Can you visit Koh Phi Phi from Koh Lanta in a day?

Yes, Koh Lanta is about one hour by speedboat from Tonsai. But since every boat arrives mid-morning, the best plan from Lanta is the transfer plus one or two nights on Phi Phi, with Maya Bay at sunrise. For a private day trip from Lanta, message us: we quote a private speedboat on request.

Can you visit Koh Phi Phi from Koh Yao?

Yes. Our Koh Yao Pirate Boat team runs a private speedboat from Koh Yao to Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon, 8 am to 4 pm, lunch and snorkeling included, priced per boat on request. There is no direct ferry from Koh Yao to Phi Phi: to sleep on Phi Phi, we arrange the connection via Phuket or by private speedboat.

How long do you need to visit Koh Phi Phi?

One day is enough to see Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Monkey Beach. Two nights let you add sunrise at Maya Bay, the viewpoint and Bamboo Island. Three nights is the relaxed version with a dive or the boat party.

Is Maya Bay open all year?

No. Maya Bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September to let the reef recover. During that period, tours continue to Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, Monkey Beach and Bamboo Island.

How to Visit Koh Phi Phi: Stay on the Island or Day Trip from Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Koh Yao (2026)

Proue d'un long-tail au coucher du soleil, Koh Phi Phi

Two ways to visit Koh Phi Phi

There are two ways to visit Phi Phi Island, and the choice changes everything:

Stay on the island (1 to 3 nights) and join a tour from Tonsai, at the hour when the beaches are still empty.
Come for the day from Phuket, Krabi/Ao Nang, Koh Lanta or Koh Yao, on a boat that drops you at Maya Bay mid-morning.

Our agency is based on Koh Phi Phi and runs its own boats and partners from each departure point. Here are the options, with our 2026 prices, so you can pick the one that fits your itinerary.

Viewpoint de Koh Phi Phi au coucher du soleil

In short: which option should you choose?

Your situation	Recommended option	Indicative budget
You have 2 nights or more to spare	Stay on Phi Phi + Maya Bay at sunrise	From 900 THB/person (tour)
You are staying in Krabi / Ao Nang	Speedboat day trip from Ao Nang	1,900 THB/person
You are staying in Phuket	Speedboat or premium catamaran day trip	2,000 to 3,900 THB/person
You go from Krabi to Phi Phi next	Early bird Phi Phi + 4 Islands combo, then transfer	2,500 THB/person
You are staying on Koh Lanta	Transfer (about 1 h) + 1 or 2 nights on Phi Phi	From 450 THB/person (boat)
You are staying on Koh Yao	Private speedboat with Koh Yao Pirate Boat	On request, per boat
Family, group or honeymoon	Private longtail or speedboat	From 2,500 THB/boat

Prices are from our 2026 catalogue, per person unless marked "per boat". The Phi Phi Leh national park fee (400 THB per adult, 200 THB per child) is included on some tours (Magic Day) and paid in cash at boarding on the others: each tour page says which.

Option 1: stay on Koh Phi Phi (our recommendation)

This is how regulars do it. Mainland boats reach Maya Bay between 10 and 11 am; by sleeping on the island, you get there two to three hours earlier.

Bateaux long-tail sur l'eau turquoise, Koh Phi Phi

Morning Maya, Maya Bay at sunrise: small group of 10 people max, 6:30 am departure from our office, back at 11 am. Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and snorkeling at Coral City. 900 THB per person, the best value on the island.
Magic Day, the complete speedboat tour: the XL day, 8 am to 5 pm. Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, Monkey Beach, Bamboo Island, Mosquito Island and Nui Bay, lunch on the beach. 1,900 THB per person.
Private longtail: your own traditional boat with captain, 2 to 8 people, half day or full day. From 2,500 THB (2 h) to 6,500 THB (6 h) per boat.
Private speedboat: custom itinerary and timing, guide included, ideal for families and groups. From 12,700 THB per boat.
Pirate Boat, the Phi Phi boat party: 8 hours of music, kayaking, Monkey Beach, Pileh Lagoon and Maya Bay at sunset. 1,800 THB per person (2,200 THB for sailings from 1 November 2026).
Discovery scuba dive: two supervised dives down to 12 m, no certification needed. 3,700 THB.

To reach the island, everything goes by boat from Phuket or Krabi: ferry (about 2 h 20, from 650 THB) or speedboat (about 1 h, from 950 THB). Full details are in our guide on how to get to Koh Phi Phi, and you can book the crossing on the transfers page.

How many nights? Two nights are enough for sunrise at Maya Bay, the viewpoint and a full day on the water. Our guide on how many days to spend in Koh Phi Phi walks through the scenarios.

Option 2: a day trip from Krabi or Ao Nang

Krabi is the closest departure point: 45 minutes to 1 hour by speedboat between Ao Nang and Phi Phi Leh, and the lowest price on the market.

Phi Phi Islands day trip from Krabi / Ao Nang: 9 am to 4 pm, Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, Monkey Beach, snorkeling and buffet lunch. 1,900 THB per person, hotel transfers included.
Phi Phi + 4 Islands early bird combo: 6:30 am departure to reach Maya Bay before the crowds, then Poda, Tup and Chicken Island in the afternoon. 2,500 THB per person.
Phi Phi by catamaran: more stable than a speedboat, perfect for families and anyone prone to seasickness. 2,600 THB per person.
Phi Phi + 4 Islands at sunset: 11 am to 7:30 pm, beach barbecue and a swim in bioluminescent plankton. 2,600 THB per person.
Private speedboat from Krabi: 9 to 30 people, Koh Phi Phi round trip itinerary available. From 13,400 THB per boat.

All our Phi Phi tours departing from Krabi are gathered on this page.

Option 3: a day trip from Phuket

Phuket is further away (about 1 hour by speedboat from Rassada or Royal Phuket Marina) but offers the widest choice of boats.

Phi Phi Islands by speedboat from Phuket: 7:30 am hotel pick-up, back at 6 pm. Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, lunch on Phi Phi Don, snorkeling, plus Khai Nai or Bamboo Island. 2,000 THB per person.
Phi Phi Premium by catamaran + sunset barbecue: Bamboo Island, Pileh Lagoon by longtail, Maya Bay, then barbecue and sunset at Maiton. Kayak and paddleboard included. 3,900 THB per person.
Private speedboat to Phi Phi from Phuket: your own boat, up to 38 people, flexible pick-up between 6 and 9 am. From 29,000 THB per boat.
Early Bird Phi Phi, private speedboat at sunrise: leave before dawn to reach Maya Bay up to two hours before the other boats. From 31,000 THB per boat.

All our Phi Phi tours departing from Phuket are gathered on this page.

Option 4: from Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is about one hour by speedboat from Tonsai (Saladan pier), 450 to 1,300 THB per person depending on ferry or speedboat and the season. Boats arrive mid-morning, which means at the same time as everyone else at Maya Bay.

Our advice from Lanta: transfer + one or two nights on Phi Phi, with Morning Maya at dawn the next day. Lanta works very well at the end of an itinerary, because you leave it by road to Krabi airport without depending on a boat on your flight day. Timetables and fares are on the Koh Lanta to Koh Phi Phi route, and the island order in our guide Krabi, Phi Phi and Koh Lanta: in what order.

Set on a private day trip from Lanta? Message us: we quote a private speedboat based on the sea conditions and your group size.

Option 5: from Koh Yao

From Koh Yao Yai or Koh Yao Noi, our Koh Yao Pirate Boat team runs a private speedboat to Koh Phi Phi: 8 am departure, back at 4 pm, Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and snorkeling over the best reef, with lunch, fruit and gear included. Priced per boat, on request depending on the season and group size.

There is no direct ferry from Koh Yao to Phi Phi. If you want to sleep on Phi Phi after Koh Yao, we arrange the connection via Phuket or by private speedboat. To explore the island itself, read our Koh Yao guide.

What to know before you choose

Maya Bay closes from 1 August to 30 September every year. Tours continue to Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, Monkey Beach and Bamboo Island, and the bay reopens on 1 October.
Mornings are always better: calmer sea, softer light, fewer people. Pick an early bird whenever one exists.
Ferry or speedboat to come and stay on the island: the ferry is more stable and cheaper, the speedboat twice as fast. Our guide longtail vs speedboat in Phi Phi also compares the tour boats.
Low season (May to October): crossings run most days, but keep a day of margin before a flight. See do Phi Phi tours get cancelled in the monsoon.
Direct operator price: you book with the agency that runs or coordinates the boat, no platform commission, and Olivia answers you on WhatsApp from Tonsai.

Need help choosing?

Tell us where you are staying and how many days you have: we will suggest the simplest option, with the exact boat time and a confirmed price. Fast reply on WhatsApp, 7 days a week.