G’day! Captain Mark here. I’ve been running boat trips out of Phuket for more years than I care to remember, and if there’s one thing that still winds me up more than anything, it’s seeing a beautiful stretch of ocean ruined by a boat with 80 people on it.
I’ve seen it happen at Maya Bay. I’ve seen it happen at James Bond Island. I’ve seen it at snorkelling spots so special that they should probably have a velvet rope around them. And every time, I think the same thing: those poor people paid a lot of money for that?
Look, I’m not here to knock anyone. If a big tour boat is all you’ve got time or budget for, fine. But if you’re reading this, you’ve probably already got a feeling that there might be a better way. And there is. Let me tell you why small group boat trips in Phuket are, without question, the right call.
Here’s the thing about Phuket’s most famous spots: they’re famous for a reason. Maya Bay is genuinely extraordinary. James Bond Island really does look like something out of a film. Phang Nga Bay will make your jaw drop the first time you see it.
But squeeze 80 strangers onto a boat, sail them all to the same spots at the same time as every other big tour, and what you end up with is a car park on the water. People jostling for space on the deck. Queuing to get off the boat. Getting five minutes at a viewpoint before you’re ushered back aboard. I’ve watched it happen and it makes me sad, honestly.
On one of our boats, the maximum is 20 people. That’s it. That means there’s deck space to breathe. You can sit at the front, lie on the roof if you fancy it, spread your stuff out without apologising to anyone. When we stop somewhere good, you’re not fighting through a crowd to see it — you’re just there, seeing it.
One of the tricks of the trade that nobody talks about is timing. The big boats — the ferries, the packed speedboats — they mostly operate on tourist time. Late breakfast, mid-morning departure, arriving at the popular spots just when they’re busiest.
We go early. That’s not just a selling point, it’s a philosophy. When we pull into Nui Beach on Phi Phi at 9am, we’ve got it to ourselves. By the time the crowds start rolling in, we’re already moving on to the next spot. It’s not complicated, but it makes all the difference in the world.
This is local knowledge working for you. I’ve been navigating these waters for nearly two decades. I know which spots get crowded when. I know the routes that other boats don’t take. I know when to stay and when to move. You don’t get that on a 80-person ferry. You just get a timetable.
If you’ve ever tried to snorkel in a busy spot, you’ll know the problem. Other people kicking near your face. Fins everywhere. Someone inevitably floating directly over the best coral. It’s not exactly the serene underwater world you had in mind.
Small groups change everything here. When there are only 20 of you in the water, there’s room to spread out, find your own patch, and actually look at the marine life rather than the humans around you. The fish don’t scatter. The turtles don’t bolt. You see the reef the way it’s meant to be seen — quietly, with a bit of space and time.
If you’re keen to know the best spots before you book, have a read of our guide to the best snorkelling in Phuket — we cover ten of our favourite locations from Phi Phi all the way out to the Similans.
I’m not going to pretend this is a luxury yacht experience. It’s not meant to be. What it is, is personal. On our boats, the crew knows who’s celebrating a birthday. They notice if you’re nervous about getting in the water for the first time and they’ll take the time to help you through it. If you’ve got a dietary requirement, we’ve already sorted it before we leave. Nobody falls through the cracks because the group is small enough that cracks don’t exist.
I’ve had guests tell me years later that a day on one of our boats was the highlight of their entire trip. Not because we did anything flashy. Just because they felt looked after. That’s what happens when the ratio of guests to crew is actually reasonable.
A big tour boat will get you to Phi Phi. A small group tour will get you to Phi Phi first, with room to move, snorkelling that’s actually enjoyable, a crew who knows you’re there, and without 79 other people’s sunscreen in your face.
The price difference, when there is one, is usually less than you’d expect. And even when it’s a little more, I’d ask you this: how often do you get to see the Andaman Sea? Is this a trip you’re going to do every year? For most people, the answer is no. So if you’re here once, do it right.
We run small group day trips to Phi Phi Island, James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay, and the Secrets of Phang Nga Bay — plus private charters if you want the boat entirely to yourselves. All departures are capped well below what the boat can technically carry, because the point was never to fill seats. It was to give you a day worth talking about.
Any questions? Drop me a line on Facebook or WhatsApp any time. Happy to help you work out which trip suits you best.
— Captain Mark
Exceptional, uncrowded island day trips from Phuket. Family-owned and operated since 2004.
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