Right, I’m going to be upfront with you: I run small group boat trips, so you might think I’m not exactly a neutral party here. Fair enough. But I’ve also been on this water for nearly 20 years, and I’ve seen both sides of this from close up. So let me give you the most honest comparison I can, and you can make up your own mind.
The big tour operators — the ferries, the large speedboats with 40, 60, sometimes 80 people — aren’t doing anything wrong. They fill a real need. They’re affordable, accessible, and they do get you to Phi Phi or James Bond Island or wherever you want to go. If budget is your primary concern and you just want to say you’ve been, they’ll do the job.
But here’s what comes with that:
You’ll be on a schedule that doesn’t flex. Departure at 8am, back at 5pm, with fixed stops in between. If the snorkelling is particularly good somewhere and you’d like another 20 minutes, that’s not really on offer. The boat moves when the boat moves.
The popular spots will be popular. Phi Phi and James Bond Island are busy places. When multiple large boats arrive at the same time — and they tend to, because they’re all running the same itinerary — the “paradise island” experience gets a bit crowded. I’ve seen 200 people on Maya Bay at the same time. It’s still beautiful, but it’s a different experience.
And on the water itself, space is limited. Deck space, snorkelling space, lunch space. 60 people on a boat means exactly that — 60 people on a boat, at the same time, all wanting the same few spots on the railing for their photos.
On our boats, the maximum is 20 guests. Sometimes it’s 12 or 14. The day is structured, but it breathes. If everyone wants more time in the water somewhere, we stay longer. If something’s looking a bit crowded, we know where else to go.
Early departures mean we get to the best spots before the crowds show up. On a Phi Phi day trip, we pull into Nui Beach before most other boats have even left the pier. By the time things get busy, we’re already somewhere else.
The crew knows who you are. Not your seat number — your name, your dietary needs, whether this is your first time snorkelling. That personal attention is genuinely hard to replicate at scale.
The snorkelling is better. Not because the fish are different, but because you’re not trying to snorkel through a crowd. 20 people spread out over a reef is a completely different experience to 60.
Small group tours are usually more expensive. Sometimes significantly so. Whether that difference is worth it depends entirely on what you’re after.
If you’re doing a day trip to Phi Phi because it’s on the list and you want to tick it off, the cheaper option makes sense. You’ll see Maya Bay. You’ll get some good photos. The day will be fine.
If this is a trip you’ve been planning for a while, if it’s a special occasion, if you genuinely love the sea and you want to actually experience the Andaman rather than just visit it — then the price difference starts to look very small against the difference in experience.
There’s a third choice that people often overlook: chartering the boat privately. This means the boat is yours for the day — just your group, your itinerary, your pace. It’s the right option for honeymoons, anniversaries, family groups, corporate outings. Anything where you really don’t want to share the day with strangers.
Our private charters can be tailored completely around you. Want to skip James Bond Island and spend more time snorkelling? Done. Want to find a secluded beach and have lunch there? We know exactly where to go.
If you’re booking for two people on a modest budget, a big tour boat to Phi Phi is a perfectly reasonable choice. You’ll have a good day.
If you’re booking for a group, a family, or anyone who cares about the quality of the experience as much as the destination itself — a small group tour or a private charter is the right call. You’ll have a great day. There’s a difference.
And if you want to talk through the options before you commit to anything, just get in touch. I’m happy to help you work out what suits you best, even if the answer turns out to be that a big tour boat is the right fit.
— Captain Mark
Exceptional, uncrowded island day trips from Phuket. Family-owned and operated since 2004.
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