Phuket to Phi Phi: Sunrise Speedboat Tour & Small Group

4.91

(1392 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

“You’re not a morning person?” our guide joked as we shuffled onto the dock in Phuket — it was barely 5:30am and I was clutching my coffee like a lifeline. But honestly, there’s something about the air before sunrise here, kind of salty and cool, with that low hum from the marina as the speedboats get ready. We set off towards Phi Phi just as the sky started to warm up. The group was tiny — maybe 12 of us — so it felt more like a bunch of friends than a tour. I remember someone’s flip-flop flying off during boarding and everyone laughing (even the crew). No one seemed rushed.

Maya Bay came up fast — you know that feeling when you round a corner and suddenly everything goes quiet? The sand was still untouched except for a few crab trails. Our guide, Nok, laid out breakfast right there on the beach. I swear I can still taste that sweet pineapple with just a hint of sea breeze on it. We had time to just sit and stare at those limestone cliffs before anyone else showed up. Nok told us how they close Maya Bay some months to let it heal — she seemed genuinely proud of that. If you’re here in August or September, they swap in Bamboo Island instead (she said it’s just as pretty but less famous).

Pileh Lagoon was next, all emerald water ringed by cliffs so high they block out half the sun. Jumping in felt colder than I expected but in a good way — like waking up twice. Later we watched macaques at Monkey Beach from the boat (they’re cute but apparently thieves). There was this moment when one monkey stared right back at me and scratched its head; I swear we had an understanding for half a second. The Viking Cave looked mysterious from outside — Nok pointed out armed guards keeping watch over the birds’ nests inside (I didn’t even know bird nest soup was such a big deal here).

The snorkeling stops were spaced out enough that no one felt hurried; staff handed out gear and checked on everyone, especially first-timers who looked nervous at first but ended up laughing underwater through their snorkels. Fish everywhere — flashes of yellow and blue darting around us. After all that swimming, we landed on either Bamboo Island or Koh Rang Yai (depends on weather), where palm trees leaned over soft sand and someone actually napped under a coconut tree until lunch.

Lunch back at the pool club tasted even better after all that saltwater — proper Thai flavors, nothing fancy but exactly what you want when you’re tired and sun-warmed. On the ride back to Phuket, most people were quiet or dozing; I kept thinking about those first footprints in Maya Bay and how rare it is to feel alone in such a famous place. Honestly, if you’re after crowds or party vibes this isn’t your tour… but if you want space to breathe and some real moments between all the scenery, this sunrise speedboat trip is worth waking up for.