Phi Phi Island Maya Bay Bamboo Island

About this trip

The Phi Phi Islands sit further offshore than the day trips closer to Ao Nang, which is exactly why they are worth the crossing. This full day trip runs by speedboat from Krabi out to the Phi Phi group, taking in Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Beach and Bamboo Island, with lunch at Phi Phi Don in the middle. It runs from 09:00 to around 16:00, about seven hours, and it is the longest and fullest of our island hopping days.

What the day looks like

Pickup is between 08:00 and 08:30 and the boat leaves at 09:00. The run out to Phi Phi is the longest crossing we do, and the order of stops shifts with the sea and with how busy each bay is on the day.

The first stops are around Phi Phi Leh, the smaller and uninhabited of the two main islands. Pileh Lagoon is a stretch of green water enclosed almost entirely by limestone walls, and swimming inside it feels like swimming in a courtyard. Maya Bay is the bay from the film The Beach and is the anchor of the trip. Loh Samah Bay sits on the other side of the same island, a scenic bay under the same cliffs and a good snorkeling stop.

Viking Cave is a photo stop rather than a landing. It is a bird nest cave, where swiftlet nests are harvested from bamboo scaffolding high inside for bird's nest soup, and the boat slows so you can see the structures from the water.

Around Phi Phi Don the boat passes Monkey Beach, where macaques come down onto the sand and the rocks. Watch them from a sensible distance and keep food and bags closed, since they are wild and quite practiced at helping themselves. Lunch is at Tonsai Bay, the main bay on Phi Phi Don, and a buffet lunch is included in the trip.

The last stop is Bamboo Island, north of the group, with clear blue water and white sand, and it makes a good final swim before the boat heads back for around 16:00.

Who this trip suits

This suits people who want the well known places and do not mind a long day and a longer boat ride to get them. It works well for couples, friends and families with children who travel comfortably on a speedboat. If anyone in your group is prone to seasickness, this is the trip where it matters most, so take something before you leave rather than partway out. If you would rather have a shorter, calmer day closer to shore, the four island trip or the Hong Islands will suit you better.

What to bring

Swimwear under your clothes, a towel, a hat, sunglasses and plenty of reef-safe sunscreen, since you will be exposed for most of seven hours. Snorkeling equipment, life jackets, drinking water and a buffet lunch are all included, along with a guide, so you do not need to carry much. Bring cash for the national park entrance fee, which is not included, and for personal expenses. A dry bag for your phone and a light layer for the ride back are both worth packing.

Good to know

Maya Bay closes to visitors during August and September every year to let the bay and its reef recover. That is a fixed annual closure, not a weather call. If you travel in those two months the trip still runs and still visits the other stops in the Phi Phi group, but you will not be going into Maya Bay itself. Ask us when you book and we will tell you exactly what the itinerary looks like on your dates.

The clearest, calmest conditions on this coast are roughly November to April. May to October is monsoon season and the crossing is more exposed than the trips closer in. The program may be rescheduled depending on weather conditions.

Pickup runs between 08:00 and 08:30 from Ao Nang and nearby areas. Give us your hotel name when you book and we will confirm your time and pickup point.

The Phi Phi national park entrance fee is not included in the tour price. It is ฿400 per adult and ฿200 per child aged 4 to 11, charged per person.

Booking

Message us on WhatsApp with your dates, the number of adults and children and where you are staying. We will confirm availability, give you your pickup window, and tell you plainly whether Maya Bay is open on the dates you are asking about.