Phi Phi Islands from Phuket: Ferries, Maya Bay and Where to Stay

Ferries to Phi Phi leave from Rassada Pier near Phuket Town: one in the morning at around 08:30 and one in the afternoon at around 13:45. The crossing to Tonsai takes 1.5-2 hours. A one-way ticket costs 400 to 850 THB depending on the operator and class, and some operators sell a return package for roughly 1,200 THB.

Nearly all sailings depart from the same pier and arrive in the same bay, Tonsai on Phi Phi Don. The main operators are Phi Phi Cruiser, Andaman Wave Master, Sea Angel and Raja. Phi Phi Cruiser is usually the fastest at around 1 hour 45 minutes, while the others take closer to two hours. Return sailings from Tonsai leave at about 09:00 and between 14:30 and 15:00.

Prices cause the most confusion. You will see both 400-500 THB and 700-850 THB per adult one way, and both are real. The cheapest option is a basic deck ticket bought in advance. Tickets with a hotel transfer, an air-conditioned cabin seat or an upper-deck place cost more. Children aged 2-11 pay about half the adult fare with most operators. A small environmental or port fee may be collected at the pier and is usually not included in online prices.

From May to October the timetable shrinks. In low season there is often only one sailing a day, around 09:00, so in June or September the afternoon ferry may simply not run.

A speedboat costs more, from about 850 THB, and is faster, at roughly 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes. In choppy water, though, the hull slams against the waves and the ride becomes an ordeal. For families with children, older parents and anyone prone to seasickness, the regular ferry is the better choice. Sit near the middle of the lower deck. The upper deck gets full sun with shade only by the mast, and even tanned travelers burn within two hours.

There is one exception. If you are visiting for a single day and want to reach several bays, a speedboat tour is the only practical way. On the ferry, four hours of round-trip travel leaves you seeing mostly Tonsai. Luggage is stacked in a separate area near the bow, so keep valuables, documents and your phone with you.

Maya Bay, together with Loh Samah and Ao Lo Ko, closes every year from 1 August to 30 September so the reef can recover and because of the monsoon. The Department of National Parks confirmed the 2026 closure, and the bay reopened on 1 October 2026. From 1 October to 31 July you can visit, but under strict rules.

Boats no longer enter Maya Bay itself. They moor at a floating pier in Loh Samah on the far side of the island, and you walk along a wooden boardwalk to reach the beach from the cliff side. Swimming in front of Maya Bay is banned. You may stand only on the sand and at the water's edge.

Visits are time-limited. There are 11 entry slots a day from 07:00 to 18:00, each lasting up to an hour, with about 375 people per slot, or roughly 4,125 visitors a day. Slots are booked by operators and boat captains, not tourists, so your visit falls in whichever window your boat was assigned. The national park fee is paid separately and varies for adults and children, so check the park website before you go. The empty-bay-from-the-movie shot almost never happens in 2026. The quietest minutes tend to be the first morning slot.

Tonsai is the pier, cafes, shops, mask rental and late-night bars. It is convenient if you arrive without a plan, but noisy well past midnight, and bar music carries even into budget guesthouses in the center. Long Beach (Hat Yao) is the compromise: fifteen minutes from Tonsai by longtail boat or on foot along a coastal path, quiet in the evening, with the reef starting right off the beach. Remote bays such as Laem Tong offer real silence, with boat-only access.

What to know in advance:

• There are no cars on the island. Wheeled suitcases are useless on sand and narrow lanes, so bring a backpack.
• Longtail fares to remote bays depend on the bay and time of day, and are higher in the evening. Agree the price before boarding and ask whether the boat will bring you back for the morning ferry.
• In high season, from December to February, decent hotels fill up early, so book your hotel before you fly rather than on the pier.

It is worth staying two nights for one reason alone: in the morning, before the day ferries arrive from Phuket, Tonsai is almost empty and there is no queue on the viewpoint trail.

The most common day-trip mistake is relying on the 14:30 return ferry while planning to see the island. You arrive in Tonsai around 10:30, spend an hour on food and orientation, and it is already time to leave. Neither Maya Bay nor snorkeling at Bamboo fits that schedule. The second mistake is planning Maya Bay for the last days of July. Closure starts on 1 August, but weather deteriorates earlier and trips can be cancelled because of swell, with refunds not always full. The third is forgetting cash. ATMs exist on the island, but fees are higher than on the mainland, and small cafes and boatmen do not take cards.

If you have only one free day and get seasick, skip Phi Phi altogether. Four hours at sea for two hours ashore does not pay off.

FAQ

Can you swim in Maya Bay in 2026?

No. You can step onto the beach, but swimming in the coastal zone in front of the bay is banned. Boats moor at Loh Samah and a wooden boardwalk leads to the sand.

When is Maya Bay closed?

Every year from 1 August to 30 September. In 2026 the bay reopened on 1 October.

How much is the ferry from Phuket to Phi Phi?

Roughly 400-850 THB one way, depending on the operator and seat class. Some operators sell a return package for about 1,200 THB. Children usually pay about half. A separate fee may be charged at the pier.

What time do ferries leave Rassada Pier?

In the morning around 08:30 (09:00 with some operators) and in the afternoon around 13:45. From May to October the afternoon sailing is often cancelled, leaving a single morning departure.

Do I need to book a Maya Bay slot myself?

No. Entry slots are allocated to operators and boat captains, so your window is determined by the tour you buy.

Is the ferry or the speedboat better?

The ferry is steadier and better for families, older travelers and anyone prone to seasickness. A speedboat from about 850 THB is faster, but the ride in rough water is harsh. For a one-day multi-bay trip, a speedboat tour is the only realistic option.

Where should I stay on Phi Phi Don?

Tonsai suits first-time visitors who want food and nightlife nearby but is loud late into the night. Long Beach is quieter with a reef off the shore, and remote bays like Laem Tong offer real silence with boat-only access.

Can I use a wheeled suitcase on Phi Phi?

It is not practical. There are no cars on the island, and sand and narrow lanes make a backpack much easier.

Source: Phuket Authority

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