Snorkeling Phuket: Phi Phi Islands & Maya Bay by Speedboat

Four snorkel stops and a speedboat ride through turquoise water.

This speedboat snorkeling tour from Phuket visits the Phi Phi Islands, Maya Bay, Pileh Cove, Monkey Beach and Khai Island in a single day, with a guide, lunch, snorkel gear and hotel pickup included. The tour runs about seven hours and departs at 7:30 am from your hotel or the Sea Angel pier. Maya Bay closes annually from August 1 to September 30 for recovery, during which you'll see it from the boat instead of landing on the beach.

Step-by-step itinerary

Phi Phi Islands speedboat adventure

• Pick up from hotel or meeting point
• Register and get snorkel equipment
• Speedboat ride to Phi Phi Islands
• Relax and sightsee at Maya Bay
• Swim or paddle board at Pileh Lagoon
• Visit Monkey Beach and see monkeys
• Snorkel or have lunch at Phi Phi Don
• Relax and snorkel at Khai Nai Island
• Return to pier and transfer to hotel

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in the free transfer zone, or you can meet the group at Sea Angel pier by 7:30 am. At the pier you'll collect snorkel equipment, a life jacket, and light breakfast with coffee, tea and seasickness pills before the speedboat departs for the Phi Phi Islands—about an hour across open water. The boat moves fast enough to cover ground but stays stable enough that the ride itself is part of the draw, not a trial.

Your first stop is Maya Bay, the white-sand beach famous from the film "The Beach." You'll have time to swim and walk the beach, though the bay closes every year from August through September for environmental recovery; during those months you'll view it from the water instead. Next is Pileh Cove, where the water turns a shade of turquoise that photographs don't quite capture—you'll snorkel here among coral and fish, or paddle on a board if you prefer to stay on the surface. Monkey Beach comes next, a small strip where wild monkeys live along the shore; if the tide is high the beach disappears, and the guide will show you the monkeys from the boat. The snorkeling at Pileh Cove and later at Khai Island is the core of the day: you're in the water for two separate stretches, each long enough to move past the initial cold and actually settle into watching the reef.

Lunch happens at Phi Phi Don after the snorkeling—a buffet with Thai, Indian and international options, plus bottled water and seasonal fruit. You'll have time to rest on the beach before the boat heads to Khai Island, one of the most popular islands in the area, where you snorkel again among different coral formations and fish. The return to the pier takes about 30 minutes, and you'll be back at your hotel by 5:30 or 6 pm. The guide speaks English throughout, and all snorkel equipment is included; you bring only a towel and sunscreen.

What’s included

• Snorkel gear, life jacket and English-speaking guide.
• light breakfast at the pier with coffee, tea and snacks.
• buffet lunch with Thai, Indian and international options plus bottled water and seasonal fruit.
• seasickness pills.
• accident insurance.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in the free transfer zone (With Transfer option only).

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Thailand Tours

Is this one for you?Book the "With Transfer" option if your hotel is in the free pickup zone and you'd rather not navigate to the pier yourself; choose "Without Transfer" if you're staying outside the zone or prefer to meet the group at Sea Angel pier at 7:30 am. Either way, the snorkeling stops and the day's structure stay the same—the choice is only about how you get to the boat.

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Top questions

What's the water like for snorkeling at Pileh Cove and Khai Island?

Pileh Cove and Khai Island both have coral reefs and fish populations that make them popular snorkel sites. The water is clear and shallow enough to see the reef from the surface, though depth varies by tide and season.

Can I skip the snorkeling and just swim or relax on the beaches?

Yes. At Phi Phi Don, guests who don't want to snorkel can head straight to lunch at Alida Restaurant while others are in the water, then rejoin the group on the beach afterward. Snorkeling is optional at each stop.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included if you book the "With Transfer" option and your hotel is in the free pickup zone. If your hotel is outside that zone or you prefer to meet the group, you can start at Sea Angel pier at 7:30 am instead.

What happens if I visit during Maya Bay's closure?

Maya Bay closes from August 1 to September 30 each year for environmental recovery. During this period you'll see the bay from the boat instead of landing on the beach, but the rest of the itinerary—Pileh Cove, Monkey Beach and Khai Island—remains unchanged.

Is the speedboat ride rough?

The speedboat covers the distance to the islands in about an hour across open water. Seasickness pills are provided free at the pier if you need them, and the boat is stable enough for all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries.

What's included in the lunch?

Lunch is a buffet with Thai, Indian and international food options, plus bottled water and seasonal fruit. It's served at Phi Phi Don after the morning snorkeling and before the final stop at Khai Island.