Phi Phi Islands Day Tour: Snorkeling, Maya Bay, Monkey Beach

Multiple island stops, several hours in the water, one boat doing the navigation

A full-day Phi Phi Islands tour departing from Phuket hotels with snorkeling equipment, an international buffet lunch and national park entry included. The boat visits Monkey Beach (home to hundreds of wild monkeys), Maya Bay (a sheltered cove ringed by 100-metre cliffs), Bamboo Island (quieter than the main stops) and Phi Phi Leh's coral reefs. A live English or Thai-speaking guide leads the tour; the schedule departs later than most, giving you extra morning time before pickup.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Phi Phi Islands and Beaches

• Depart from Phuket
• Visit Maya Bay and explore beaches
• See Viking Cave
• Stop at Monkey Beach to see monkeys
• Enjoy buffet lunch at Phi Phi Don
• Relax and snorkel at Bamboo Island
• Visit Phi Phi Leh island
• Stop at a beach on return to Phuket
• Return to Phuket

The Experience

The tour picks you up from your Phuket hotel 30 to 90 minutes before departure, depending on where you're staying. Once aboard, you head out to the Phi Phi Islands with snorkeling equipment and a life jacket already provided. The boat makes four main stops: Monkey Beach first, where hundreds of monkeys roam the shoreline and wade into the shallows (they're accustomed to visitors but will approach if they spot food); then Maya Bay, a bay enclosed by vertical limestone cliffs on three sides with a 200-metre beach of white sand and a reef running across the whole bay; Bamboo Island after lunch, positioned five kilometres off the northern tip of Phi Phi Don and typically less crowded than the earlier stops; and Phi Phi Leh, an uninhabited island 1.5 kilometres south of Phi Phi Don with steep green-topped cliffs dropping to small sandy beaches and clear tropical water.

An international buffet lunch happens at Phi Phi Don, the largest island in the group. Refreshments are served onboard throughout the day. The tour runs about seven and a half hours total, with the boat returning you to your Phuket hotel by late afternoon. A live guide in English or Thai accompanies the group, which stays under 32 people per boat. Weather and sea conditions determine whether the tour operates on any given day; if conditions change, the operator may modify the itinerary for safety, and no refund is offered for those changes.

What you bring: swimming wear, a light shirt, sun protection, sunglasses, deck shoes and a small amount of cash for extras. Snorkeling gear and life jackets are supplied. Children from age 2 are welcome; children 11 and under must be accompanied by a paying adult. The tour requires a minimum of two people to operate; if that threshold is not met by your departure date, you'll be offered an alternative date or a refund. Passport copies are required at booking and must be shown again at the marina before departure, per Thai law.

What’s included

• Round-trip hotel pickup from your Phuket accommodation.
• full snorkeling equipment and life jacket.
• international buffet lunch at Phi Phi Don.
• refreshments served onboard.
• national park entry fee.
• live guide in English or Thai.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by I Asia Thailand

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to sleep a bit later than the standard early-morning island departures—the later start time is the trade-off that makes a full day of four stops possible without rushing the morning. The tour suits families with children from age 2, couples and solo travelers equally, though children under 11 need a paying adult with them, and anyone with back, neck or heart conditions should weigh the boat ride and water time carefully before booking.

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Top questions

What is Monkey Beach actually like when we get there?

Monkey Beach is a sandy shoreline full of hundreds of curious monkeys that aren't frightened of tourists—they're typically looking for food. The monkeys wade into the shallows and move freely across the beach, so you'll see them up close without any barrier between you and them.

Can we actually swim and snorkel at every stop, or is it just looking from the boat?

You stop to swim and snorkel at multiple locations. Snorkeling equipment and life jackets are provided, and you'll have time in the water at the reefs and beaches the boat visits, including Maya Bay where the whole bay is one big reef with colourful coral and exotic fish.

How early do we have to wake up to catch this tour?

The Phi Phi Islands Daytime Delight tour departs later than most island tours, so you get extra sleep-in time. Hotel pickup happens 30 to 90 minutes before the boat leaves, depending on your hotel's location in Phuket, so the exact wake-up time varies by where you're staying.

Is lunch included, or do we need to bring our own food?

An international buffet lunch is included at Phi Phi Don, the largest island. Refreshments are also served onboard throughout the day, so you don't need to pack meals.

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

Weather and sea conditions determine whether the tour operates. If conditions are unsafe, the operator may modify the itinerary or cancel the tour entirely for safety reasons. Changes made due to weather, tide or sea conditions do not qualify for a refund, though you'll be offered an alternative date.

Do we need to bring our own snorkeling gear?

No—full snorkeling equipment and life jackets are provided as part of the tour. You just need to bring swimwear and sun protection.