Getting from Phuket to Phi Phi Islands
- Speedboat: 45–60 minutes. Faster, pricier, bumpier in open water.
- Ferry: 1.5–2 hours. Cheaper, steadier, better if you’re prone to motion sickness.
- Departure point: Rassada Pier, Phuket
- Most tours include: Hotel pickup, transfers, and lunch
- The phuket to phi phi islands ferry schedule typically offers departures at 08:30 and 13:30 from Rassada Pier.
The speedboat option gets you there fast, but the swell between Phuket and the islands can be rough. I took the ferry on my first trip and actually preferred the slower approach — the cliffs appear gradually, which gives the whole arrival a different kind of weight.
- Book pier transfers the night before — tuk-tuks to Rassada at 7am are not always easy to find
- If you’re prone to motion sickness, take medication before boarding, not on the boat
- Check weather conditions before booking speedboats — high season (Nov–Apr) is reliable. Shoulder season can be rough.
Day Trip vs Overnight: How to Decide
- Day trip suits you if: You have limited time, or you’re combining Phi Phi with other Phuket activities
- Overnight suits you if: You want beaches without the tour boat crowds
- Minimum overnight stay recommended: 1 night on Phi Phi Don
Day trips cover the main stops — Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, a snorkeling spot or two. You’ll see everything on the highlight reel. But by 2pm every operator on the island has arrived and the beaches are loud. On the overnight I did, I was at Maya Bay the next morning at 6:30am with four other people. The water inside the bay was completely flat.
What's Actually on the Phi Phi Islands
- Phi Phi Don: The main island. This is where all accommodation, restaurants, and nightlife are.
- Phi Phi Leh: Uninhabited. Home to Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, and Viking Cave.
- Maya Bay swimming: Currently not permitted inside the bay — coral restoration is ongoing. You can visit and wade, not swim.
- Snorkeling: Usually done at designated spots around Phi Phi Leh and the smaller surrounding islands
Pileh Lagoon is the one that surprised me most. It’s completely enclosed by cliffs — the water inside is a greenish-blue that doesn’t look entirely real. The boat idles there for maybe 20 minutes. Most people jump in immediately. The walls block all sound except water.
What to Pack for a Phi Phi Day Trip
- Swimwear and a full change of dry clothes
- Dry bag — your bag will get wet on a speedboat
- Waterproof phone case or leave the phone behind
- Reef-safe sunscreen only — standard sunscreen is banned on many boats and damages coral
- Bug spray for the evening if you’re staying overnight
- Cash in Thai baht — ATM access on Phi Phi Don is limited and fees are high
- Motion sickness medication if needed — take it before you board
I learned the dry bag lesson the hard way. The speedboat back to Phuket hit a series of swells and everything on the open deck got soaked. My phone survived. My book did not.
If you only have one day, the day trip is worth it. Phi Phi Leh is genuinely unlike anywhere else in Thailand, and the snorkeling holds up. But if your schedule allows, one night on Phi Phi Don changes what the place feels like entirely. The tour boats leave by 4pm. What’s left is quieter than most people expect.
