Phi Phi Island Hopping Speedboat Tour: Maya Bay & 6 Islands

Black-tip reef sharks circle the shallow coral at Maya Bay while you float above them.

An island-hopping speedboat tour from Phuket visits six islands in the Phi Phi archipelago, including Maya Bay and Bamboo Island, with snorkeling stops, a Thai lunch, and hotel pickup included. The boat holds 20 or 30 passengers depending on the engine size. Maya Bay closes every August and September by Thai national park order. Children from age 3 are welcome; infants sit on an adult's lap.

Step-by-step itinerary

Phi Phi Island Hopping by Speedboat

• Hotel pickup and meet boat crew
• Speedboat cruise to Phi Phi Leh
• Explore Maya Bay lagoon
• Swim at Loh Sama
• Snorkel at Pi Leh Bay
• Stop at Viking Cave
• Visit Monkey Beach
• Lunch at Phi Phi Harbour View Hotel
• Afternoon visit to Bamboo Island or Koh Rang Yai
• Return to pier and hotel

The Experience

The day starts with hotel pickup in Phuket and a COVID-19 screening at Phuket Boat Lagoon before boarding a speedboat with 2 or 3 engines. After a 45-minute ride, you reach Phi Phi Leh, the uninhabited island where the first stop is Maya Bay—the lagoon where black-tip reef sharks patrol the shallow coral reef. You can spot them from the water without entering the bay if you prefer, or swim among them if the conditions feel right. The crew briefs you on what to expect, and snorkeling gear is provided.

From there the boat moves to Loh Sama, where you jump into the water to snorkel among tropical fish and corals, then continues to Pi Leh Bay on the west coast of Phi Phi Leh. The bay has 100-meter-high vertical cliffs rising straight from the water and excellent snorkeling at its entrance; most of the bay stays shaded except at midday. The boat then crosses to Koh Phi Phi Don, stopping briefly at Viking Cave—a working site where swiftlet birds' nests are harvested—and at Monkey Beach, a 150-meter strip of white sand. After landing at Ton Sai Pier, you walk to the ton sai tree marking the narrow isthmus between two bays and have a Thai-style buffet lunch at the Phi Phi Harbour View Hotel in Tonsai Village.

The afternoon takes you to Bamboo Island, about 5 km north of Koh Phi Phi Don, known for its coral reef called Hin Klang where the water is so clear it feels like swimming in an aquarium. If weather turns poor, the boat visits Koh Rang Yai instead, a quieter island off Phuket's east coast. The full day runs 7.5 hours from pickup to return. A professional English-speaking guide is with the group throughout; basic accident insurance and a life jacket are included. Soft drinks, drinking water and fresh fruit come with the lunch.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide.
• hotel round-trip transfer.
• snorkeling equipment.
• life jacket.
• basic accident insurance.
• Thai-style buffet lunch.
• soft drinks, drinking water and fresh fruit.

Good to know

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

Operated by Trip Store Krabi

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want active water time with multiple snorkel stops rather than extended beach time, and your group communicates comfortably in English.

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Top questions

What's the water like for snorkeling at the stops on this tour?

Loh Sama has tropical fish and corals in shallow water; Pi Leh Bay offers excellent snorkeling at the entrance where the water is deeper and clearer; Bamboo Island's Hin Klang reef is known for visibility so good it feels like an aquarium. All three stops include snorkeling gear.

Can I see the black-tip reef sharks at Maya Bay, or do I just hear about them?

Black-tip reef sharks circle the shallow coral reef at Maya Bay and are visible from the water. You can choose whether to swim in the bay or observe from the boat, depending on your comfort level.

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

A Thai-style buffet lunch is included at the Phi Phi Harbour View Hotel in Tonsai Village on Koh Phi Phi Don, served after the morning snorkeling stops. Soft drinks, drinking water and fresh fruit come with it.

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

If weather conditions are too poor to visit Bamboo Island safely, the boat goes to Koh Rang Yai instead, a quieter island off Phuket's east coast. The rest of the itinerary remains the same.

When is Maya Bay closed, and what happens if I book during that time?

Maya Bay closes every August and September by order of Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Tours booked during those months visit the other five islands and stops instead.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the boat, or is pickup included?

Hotel round-trip transfer from your accommodation in Phuket to Phuket Boat Lagoon is included. The crew meets you at the lagoon for a brief COVID-19 screening and trip briefing before boarding.