Phi Phi Islands day trip from Phuket: Beat the crowds at dawn

Arrive at Maya Bay and the Phi Phi Islands while the beaches are still quiet.

An eight-hour speedboat tour from Phuket that departs in the early morning to reach the Phi Phi Islands before the day-trippers arrive. The boat stops at Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Don, Koh Phi Phi Leh and Bamboo Island for snorkeling and lunch. Includes hotel pickup, Thai buffet, snorkeling equipment, life jacket and national park entry. A live English-speaking guide leads the tour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Phi Phi Islands by speedboat

• Depart from Phuket early morning
• Visit Maya Bay and admire cliffs
• Explore Phi Phi Islands beaches
• Discover Phi Phi Leh island
• Enjoy Thai buffet lunch on Bamboo Island

The experience

The tour leaves Phuket before dawn. You'll get early morning coffee and a light snack at the pier, then board the speedboat while most visitors are still asleep. Arriving at the Phi Phi Islands ahead of the crowds means you get to Maya Bay (a sheltered cove ringed by 100-metre cliffs with a 200-metre beach of white sand, clear water and coral reef), while it's still uncrowded. The boat also stops at Koh Phi Phi Don, the largest island in the group, known for its vibrant atmosphere, and Koh Phi Phi Leh, an uninhabited island 1.5km away with vertical cliffs and small sandy beaches.

Snorkeling happens in the turquoise waters around the islands, where you'll see colourful coral and tropical fish. The equipment is provided, as is a life jacket. Lunch is a Thai buffet served on Bamboo Island in a setting that lets you eat surrounded by the landscape instead of crowds. Refreshments are available throughout the day.

The tour runs eight hours total. Hotel pickup is included and happens 30 to 90 minutes before departure, depending on where you're staying. You return to Phuket by air-conditioned minivan. The national park entrance fee is covered in the price. Weather and sea conditions determine whether the tour operates on any given day. The company reserves the right to cancel or modify the itinerary for safety.

What’s included

• Early morning coffee and light snack at the pier.
• Thai buffet lunch on Bamboo Island.
• snorkeling equipment and life jacket.
• refreshments throughout the day.
• national park entrance fee.
• hotel pickup and return by air-conditioned minivan.
• live English-speaking guide.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English07:30

Guide in English08:00

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30 and 08:00

AgesAdult (12 to 75 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (2 to 3 years): free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by I Asia Thailand

Is this one for you?Book the early departure if you want to reach the islands before the crowds arrive and have time to swim and snorkel in quieter waters. The speedboat gets you there at dawn, which is what makes the difference between a crowded beach and a peaceful one.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (2 to 3 years): free.

What is Maya Bay like when we arrive early in the morning?

Maya Bay is a sheltered cove with 100-metre cliffs on three sides, a main beach around 200 metres long with soft white sand, and clear water with colourful coral and exotic fish. Arriving before the crowds means you get to swim and snorkel while the bay is still quiet.

Is snorkeling equipment included, or do I need to bring my own?

Snorkeling equipment is provided as part of the tour, along with a life jacket. You don't need to bring your own or pay extra for it.

What time does the tour depart from Phuket?

The tour departs early in the morning before sunrise. Hotel pickup happens 30 to 90 minutes before the tour start time, depending on your hotel location, so you'll need to be ready for an early wake-up.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food is served?

Lunch is a Thai buffet served on Bamboo Island. It's included in the tour price, along with refreshments throughout the day and an early morning coffee and light snack at the pier before departure.

Does the tour visit Koh Phi Phi Don and Koh Phi Phi Leh, or just Maya Bay?

The tour stops at multiple islands: Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Don (the largest and most populated island in the group), and Koh Phi Phi Leh, an uninhabited island with vertical cliffs and small beaches. You'll snorkel and swim at several of these stops.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of my tour?

Weather and sea conditions determine whether the tour operates. The company reserves the right to cancel or modify the itinerary for safety reasons. If the tour is cancelled due to weather, you'll be notified in advance.