Snorkeling Phi Phi Islands from Krabi: Maya Bay & Bamboo Island

Four snorkel stops, limestone cliffs, a troop of monkeys and Thai lunch on the boat

A full-day snorkeling trip from Krabi to the Phi Phi Islands aboard a speedboat, with hotel pickup, a live English-speaking guide, and stops at Maya Bay, Monkey Beach, Viking Cave and Bamboo Island. You snorkel the coral reefs on Phi Phi Leh's eastern coast and around Bamboo Island's 500-meter reef, see the limestone formations and bird's nest caves, and eat lunch on Phi Phi Don before the return to Krabi.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Maya Bay50m
2. Viking Cave15m
3. Monkey Beach

Phi Phi Islands speedboat tour

• Hotel pick-up in Krabi area
• Meet tour team at Nopparat Thara Pier
• Speedboat ride to Koh Phi Phi Leh
• Visit Maya Bay beach
• Explore Phileh Lagoon
• Snorkel eastern coast of Phi Phi Leh
• View Viking Cave from boat
• Pass by Monkey Beach
• Lunch and sightseeing on Ko Phi Phi Don
• Visit Bamboo Island for snorkeling

The experience

You're picked up from your Krabi hotel in the morning and taken to Nopparat Thara Pier, where the boat crew briefs you before the 45-minute speedboat ride to Koh Phi Phi Leh. The boat is small enough to move between stops quickly but carries enough people that you're never alone if something goes wrong. Once there, you climb a wooden path from a floating pier to Maya Bay's beach, the one from "The Beach" film, and get about 50 minutes to wade in the turquoise shallows (swimming is prohibited by park rules, but you can wade and photograph). Low tide sometimes brings black-tip reef sharks into the shallow areas, though they're harmless and usually keep their distance.

The snorkeling happens on Phi Phi Leh's eastern coast, where the coral reefs sit in clear water close enough to the surface that you see the fish and branching corals without diving. After that, the boat passes Viking Cave, where swallows nest in the cliff face and locals harvest bird's nest soup. You see it from the water, not up close. Monkey Beach comes next: a 150-meter stretch of white sand backed by thick jungle on the southwestern side of Tonsai Bay. The tour doesn't land there, but during low tide you can spot the resident monkey troop foraging along the shore from the boat. The final snorkel stop is Bamboo Island, a small flat island five kilometers north of Phi Phi Don, ringed by white sand and a reef that extends 500 meters out: the operator describes it as swimming in an aquarium, and the shallow reef is where most of the day's best coral and fish are.

Lunch is a Thai buffet served in a restaurant on Phi Phi Don after the morning stops, with vegetarian options available. You get 30 minutes to walk around the island after eating, then the speedboat returns you to Krabi. The whole day runs seven to eight hours from pickup to drop-off. The guide speaks English and provides snorkeling equipment, an underwater camera for photos, a life jacket and seasonal fruit and water on the boat. The national park entrance fee (400 THB for adults, 200 THB for children) is paid separately at the pier, not included in the tour price.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Krabi hotels.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• snorkeling equipment and life jacket.
• underwater photography by the guide.
• seasonal fruit and water on the boat.
• Thai buffet lunch with vegetarian options on Phi Phi Don.
• insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Thai

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Yo Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this shared-boat tour if you want four island stops and two snorkel sessions in one day, but prefer eating lunch ashore rather than onboard. The speedboat ride lasts 45 minutes, so very young children will need to sit on a lap.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Thai.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

Can I snorkel at Maya Bay on this tour?

No. Maya Bay prohibits swimming and snorkeling to protect the beach and marine environment. You wade in the shallows and photograph the bay, but the actual snorkeling happens on Phi Phi Leh's eastern coast and at Bamboo Island.

What's Bamboo Island like for snorkeling?

Bamboo Island sits five kilometers north of Phi Phi Don and is ringed by a reef extending 500 meters from shore. The shallow reef is where the day's best coral and fish are concentrated, and the operator describes the experience as swimming in an aquarium.

Will I see monkeys on this tour?

Monkey Beach is a stop on the itinerary, but the boat doesn't land there. During low tide you can spot the resident monkey troop from the water foraging along the 150-meter beach on the southwestern side of Tonsai Bay.

What snorkeling equipment is provided?

The tour includes free snorkeling gear, a life jacket, and an underwater camera so the guide can photograph you in the water. You bring your own if you prefer, but rentals are covered.

How long is the boat ride to the Phi Phi Islands?

The speedboat takes approximately 45 minutes to reach Koh Phi Phi Leh from Nopparat Thara Pier. The boat is small and moves between the four stops quickly once you arrive.