A Phi Phi island tour is the most popular boat day on Thailand’s Andaman coast. The islands lie in the sea between Phuket and Krabi, inside Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, and almost every tour visits the same core stops: Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave on Ko Phi Phi Leh, plus a lunch or swim stop on Ko Phi Phi Don. Maya Bay is closed every year from 1 August to 30 September, and swimming there is not allowed at any time. This guide covers what a tour includes, how tours from Phuket and Krabi differ, the national park fee, typical timings and what to check before you pay.
Know before you go
- Where: Ko Phi Phi Don and Ko Phi Phi Leh, Krabi province.
- Maya Bay season: open 1 October to 31 July; closed 1 August to 30 September.
- Park fee for foreigners: 400 baht per adult, 200 baht per child aged 3 to 14.
- Swimming in Maya Bay: not allowed.
- Starting points: Phuket, Krabi (Ao Nang) or Phi Phi Don itself.
- Driest months: roughly November to April.
- Last checked: 5 November 2026.
In this Article
- The two Phi Phi islands
- The usual stops on a Phi Phi island tour
- Maya Bay rules and closure dates
- Phi Phi island tour from Phuket
- Phi Phi island tour from Krabi
- A night on Phi Phi Don
- Types of Phi Phi island tour package
- Phi Phi island tour price: what changes it
- Phi Phi island tour timings
- When to go
- What to bring
- Phi Phi for Indian travellers
- FAQ
The two Phi Phi islands
The group has two main islands, and a tour normally takes in both.
Ko Phi Phi Don is the large, inhabited island. Ferries land at Tonsai Pier, and the village between Tonsai Bay and Loh Dalum Bay has hotels, restaurants and dive shops. A steep path leads up to the viewpoint, which looks down on the two curved bays. Day tours usually stop here for lunch or a short swim.
Ko Phi Phi Leh, a few kilometres south, is uninhabited. It is mostly sheer limestone cliff, with small beaches and lagoons tucked inside. This is the island most people come to see, because Maya Bay is on its western side.
The usual stops on a Phi Phi island tour
Operators mix and match, but the list rarely changes much.
| Stop | Island | What happens there |
|---|---|---|
| Maya Bay | Phi Phi Leh | Walk in from Loh Samah pier, time on the beach, no swimming |
| Pileh Lagoon | Phi Phi Leh | Boat enters the lagoon; swimming stop on many tours |
| Viking Cave | Phi Phi Leh | Viewed from the boat |
| Loh Samah Bay | Phi Phi Leh | Landing pier for Maya Bay; snorkelling nearby on some tours |
| Tonsai or Loh Dalum | Phi Phi Don | Lunch, beach time, sometimes the viewpoint |
| Bamboo Island or Khai Island | Nearby | Extra beach stop on longer tours |
Some cheaper tours add a “monkey beach” stop on Phi Phi Don. Whatever the list says, read it closely, since sea conditions sometimes change the order or cut a stop on the day.
Maya Bay rules and closure dates
Maya Bay became famous after the 2000 film The Beach. Within two decades the small beach was crowded with boats from morning to evening and the coral was badly damaged, so the park closed it completely in 2018. It reopened in January 2022 with a new system, and that system still applies.
Boats no longer enter the bay. They drop you at a pier in Loh Samah Bay on the other side of Phi Phi Leh, and you walk across on a boardwalk. Swimming in Maya Bay is banned, and park officers on the beach make sure people stay at the water’s edge. Visits run in timed rounds, and your guide tells you how long you have.
Every year the bay closes from 1 August to 30 September. The Department of National Parks gives two reasons: the reef and beach need time to recover, and the southwest monsoon makes the sea around Phi Phi Leh rough. In 2026 it reopened on 1 October. During the closure tours still run, but they skip Maya Bay. If the bay is the reason you are going, book between October and July.
The bay is also a nursery for blacktip reef sharks. A department survey on 2 September 2026, during the closure, counted up to 278 adult sharks near the beach. They are shy fish, so watch from the sand and do not chase them.
Park rules for visitors include:
- No collecting coral, shells or sea creatures.
- No sunscreen with chemicals that harm coral.
- No foam containers or single-use plastics.
- No feeding fish and no litter.
- No drone flights without permission.
Phi Phi island tour from Phuket
Most tours from Phuket leave from piers on the east coast, and many include a hotel pickup. Speedboats are the most common choice. They are fast, so you get more time at the islands, but the ride can be bumpy when the sea is choppy. Larger tour boats are slower and steadier and usually cheaper, with fewer stops.
A typical speedboat day starts with an early pickup, a briefing at the pier and a run out to Phi Phi Leh, then lunch on Phi Phi Don and one or two extra stops on the way back. Our Phuket guide has more ideas for the rest of your stay, including Phang Nga Bay if you want a second boat day.
Phi Phi island tour from Krabi
Phi Phi is part of Krabi province, and tours from Ao Nang and the nearby piers have a shorter crossing than tours from Phuket. That can mean more time at the islands for the same day. Krabi tours often add Bamboo Island on the way. Our 7-day Thailand itinerary shows how to fit Phuket, Krabi and a Phi Phi day into one week.
A night on Phi Phi Don
You can also skip the mainland tour and stay a night or two on Phi Phi Don. Ferries from Phuket and Krabi land at Tonsai Pier. From there, longtail boats can be hired for a half day or full day around Phi Phi Leh. This is the best way to reach Maya Bay in an early or late slot, before or after the day boats from the mainland arrive.
Types of Phi Phi island tour package
| Package | Good for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Speedboat day tour | First-timers short on time | Busy at the main stops; rough in choppy seas |
| Big boat tour | Budget and families who get seasick | Slower, fewer stops |
| Sunrise or early tour | Quieter Maya Bay | Very early start |
| Private speedboat or longtail | Groups and couples who want their own timing | Higher price |
| Overnight on Phi Phi Don | Relaxed pace, early or late visits | Hotel cost, two ferry legs |
Phi Phi island tour price: what changes it
Tour prices vary a lot by operator, boat type, season and what is included, so compare quotes rather than trusting a single figure. The one fixed cost is the national park fee. Foreign adults pay 400 baht and children aged 3 to 14 pay 200 baht. Most tours include it, but some list it as an extra paid on the day, which makes a cheap headline price look better than it is. The fee is charged per park per day, so one ticket covers all the park stops on the same trip.
Before you pay, check:
- Is the park fee included?
- Is hotel pickup included, and from which areas?
- How long is the stop at Maya Bay?
- How many people are on the boat?
- Are lunch, water and snorkel gear included?
- What happens if the trip is cancelled for weather?
Booking through your hotel, a local agent or an online platform all work. Check the operator’s reviews, and avoid any tour that promises swimming in Maya Bay or “private access”, since neither is allowed.
Phi Phi island tour timings
Maya Bay is open in rounds from 07:00 to 18:00, according to the rules the park set for the 2024 to 2025 season. Mainland day tours usually leave in the morning and return in the late afternoon, which puts most boats at Phi Phi Leh around midday. That is when the beach is busiest and the light is harshest. The first and last rounds of the day are quieter. To get one of those slots, stay on Phi Phi Don or book a tour marketed as an early start.
When to go
The Andaman coast is calmest and driest from roughly November to April, which is high season. From May to October the southwest monsoon brings rougher seas. Tours still run, but some days are cancelled, crossings can be uncomfortable, and Maya Bay is closed for August and September. If you get seasick, pick a bigger boat or a tour from Krabi with a shorter crossing.
What to bring
- Reef-safe sunscreen, or better, a rash guard and hat
- A refillable water bottle, since single-use plastic is discouraged in the park
- Swimwear and a towel, and a dry bag for your phone
- Cash for small extras on Phi Phi Don
- Your passport or a copy, if your operator asks for it
Phi Phi for Indian travellers
Indian passport holders should check the current entry rules before booking. Our Thailand visa guide for Indians covers them. Most travellers fly into Phuket or Krabi, or start in Bangkok. If you are spending a few days in the capital first, see our list of things to do in Bangkok.
FAQ
What is included in a Phi Phi island tour package?
Most packages include the boat, a guide, lunch, drinking water, snorkel gear and hotel pickup in set areas. Many also include the 400 baht national park fee, but check, because some collect it separately.
How do I book a Phi Phi island tour from Phuket?
Book through your hotel, a local agent or an online platform, a day or more ahead in high season. Confirm the pickup time and the pier, and check whether the trip includes Maya Bay, since it is closed in August and September.
What is the Phi Phi island tour price?
It depends on the boat, season, inclusions and group size. Speedboat and private tours cost more than big boat tours. The national park fee for foreign adults is 400 baht, and it may or may not be in the quoted price.
What is the Phi Phi island tour from Phuket price compared with Krabi?
Prices overlap and change through the year, so compare current quotes. Tours from Krabi have a shorter crossing, which can mean more island time for a similar day.
Can I do a Phi Phi island tour from Krabi?
Yes. Phi Phi belongs to Krabi province, and tours leave from Ao Nang and nearby piers. Many add Bamboo Island on the way.
What are the Phi Phi island tour timings?
Mainland day tours usually pick up early in the morning and return in the late afternoon. Maya Bay visits run in timed rounds between 07:00 and 18:00, and your guide tells you how long you have.
Official resources: Department of National Parks: Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park; Tourism Authority of Thailand: Ko Phi Phi
Photo credits
Featured image: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; The two Phi Phi islands: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; Maya Bay rules and closure dates: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; A night on Phi Phi Don: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0; Phi Phi island tour timings: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; What to bring: JULIANISME / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Phi Phi for Indian travellers: Caitriana Nicholson from 北京 ~ Beijing, ä¸å›½ ~ China / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0; What are the Phi Phi island tour timings?: Brandon Minieri / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
