When travelling to Phuket for the first time, there is no doubt that Phi Phi will be on top of the list of places to see or visit. You’ve seen pictures and videos and you simply have to see it in person, it’s just too beautiful and iconic not to, right? But how do you get from Phuket to Phi Phi? How much is it going to cost? And is it worth staying over, or can you see it all in one day? These are all good questions, all of which I’m going to answer for you right here.
Of course, a lot depends on how much time you have. If you’re here for a while, then you might want to stay over for a couple of nights, but be warned, during high season the ferries and the island itself can get pretty busy. And if you’re in Phuket for a short time, then a day trip out to Phi Phi is by far the best way to see it. With the tours I run, I insist on keeping the numbers down on my boats, I hate seeing people packed in like sardines, I want you to have the best day out and for me that means having a bit of space around you. So, let’s get going and answer some of your questions.
Now, I’m quite a modest guy, but I do like to call a spade a spade and I have to say, a trip out to Phi Phi on my boat is the best way to see it for the day. I warn you we start early, but there’s a good reason for that, we like to beat the crowds. With fewer people on the boat, we can get out quicker and it doesn’t take so long to get there, just under an hour, pretty good going, eh? Plus we head out from the north of Phuket so you get to see Phang Nga bay in the distance which is something special.
When we get to Phi Phi, our first stop is Nui beach, we’re the first ones there so we get it to ourselves! We’ll have plenty of time for some amazing snorkelling and there’s an incredible beach.
You won’t believe how clear the water is ‘til you see it for yourself. Next stop, Tonsai bay via Monkey Bay to look at the wild monkeys clinging to the rocks, you might even see some mums with babies. You have some more relaxed snorkelling time here, the fish and coral are just fantastic, keep an eye out for little white pipefish, they’re very sweet, and the brightly coloured parrot fish.
Next stop, lunch. In a prime spot on Tonsai beach, I’ve found the best restaurant with the best food, a great selection of chicken, vegetable, noodle and rice dishes but if you have any special requirements, be sure to let me know when you book, they’re very accommodating and the staff are lovely to boot. Now we take you ‘round to Phi Phi Leh and Maya Bay where you can marvel at how beautiful it is and do some more snorkelling. It’s difficult to know which is more spectacular, above or below the water. If it’s open we can take you to Maya beach, if not we’ll head round to Pi Leh Lagoon before we head back to Phuket. It’s quite a day! You’ll have a great day out and there’s nothing I like more than a happy customer.
Now, if you’re one of the lucky ones who get 10 days or more on Phuket, you might want to go and stay on Phi Phi for one or two nights. The best way to get there is on the ferry that goes out from Ratchada Pier, just north of Phuket town. You’re best to book a day ahead to make sure there’s space, and get there in plenty of time to board the boat.
The ferry has a standard fee of 435 baht per person for a one way trip, and it’s no cheaper to buy a return ticket. The ferry is by far the cheapest way of getting there, there are speed boats but they can cost anything up to 1,245 baht per person one way.
Our boat takes just under an hour, catching the ferry out from Rassada Pier will take about two hours, there’s a speed boat out to Laem Tong Beach Pier too, which takes about an hour and a half.
If you’re trying to get to Phi Phi by ferry and you’ve done an internet search, you’ve probably come up with any number of links from travel agents and different boat companies, it can all get a bit confusing. Try this one, for Phuket Ferry, for a choice of boats to book, with times and online booking available.
If you’re travelling with a large group of people and want to charter a private boat for yourselves to get over to Phi Phi, drop me a line, I’ll be very happy to chat to you about your requirements, it would be great to have you aboard!
It’s been great to answer a few of your questions, if you have anything else you need to know, or you want to know more about our boat trip out to Phi Phi, drop us a line, it’d be great to hear from you.
