Phi Phi from Krabi: Which Day Trip, and What Maya Bay Is Like Now
8 min read
Phi Phi is the trip people book before they arrive. It is also the one where the gap between the photograph and the day is widest — a sea crossing, a beach where the operators prohibit swimming, and a national park fee on top of the tour price.
None of that makes it a bad day out. It makes it a day worth understanding before you hand over the money.
Maya Bay’s seasonal closure
The Early Bird operator describes a yearly Maya Bay closure in August and September; the buffet speedboat specifies 1 August–30 September 2027, with sightseeing around the bay instead of a beach landing. The boat-choice tour describes closure from 1 August until 1 October and substitutes another island; confirm its programme for your date. TAT confirms Maya Bay reopened on 1 October 2026. Confirm access for your travel date.
If you travel in those two months, that is the single most useful thing on this page. The itinerary you read may still list Maya Bay. Ask before you book, and ask what replaces it.
And when it is open, you cannot swim in it
This surprises almost everybody. The Early Bird operator states no swimming in Maya Bay and no drones without permission. Follow the park staff’s instructions on site.
The buffet operator describes arrival at Loh Samah Bay, followed by a walk to Maya Bay. The Early Bird itinerary allows one hour at Maya Bay; follow the guide’s return time.
So Maya Bay is a look, not a swim. The swimming happens at Pileh Lagoon, round the headland: an enclosed sheet of green water under vertical cliffs, and honestly the better half of the two. The early bird gives it 40 minutes.
The four ways to get there
The early bird. Phi Phi Early Bird & 4 Islands by Speedboat runs 9 hours from €70.71, with 4.9/5 stars from 3,591 reviews. Pick-up in Ao Nang, Klong Muang and Tubkaek is between 5:50 am and 6:30 am, Railay around 7:00 am, and you are back at the pier between 3:45 pm and 4:00 pm. It stitches the Phi Phi circuit onto the Four Islands one: the Ko Mor–Ko Tup sandbar, Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave from the boat, Monkey Bay, Bamboo Island for lunch, then Ko Kai and Ko Poda on the way home. Boat capacity is 30.
The straightforward one. Phi Phi Islands Speedboat Tour with Buffet Lunch is 7 hours 30 minutes from €42.08, 4.6/5 stars from 1,065 reviews. Two snorkel stops on the way over, Loh Samah, Maya Bay on foot, Pileh, Viking Cave, buffet lunch on Phi Phi Don with halal food provided, another snorkel stop, then Bamboo Island. Seasickness tablets are on the list of things they carry.
The boat-choice option. Phi Phi by speedboat or catamaran costs from €44.74 per person, with 4.7/5 from 1,894 reviews. The header says 7–7.5 hours, but the description gives 9:00 am–5:00 pm and describes a speedboat despite the catamaran title. Confirm the vessel and return time for your selected option. Pickup covers Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Klong Muang and Ao Nam Mao. The same page also instructs guests to check in at its main office beside Burger King in Ao Nang; confirm how that instruction applies to your hotel transfer.
The evening version. Phi Phi Islands Sunset Tour with BBQ and plankton advertises sunset, BBQ dinner and plankton in its title, but its booking page could not be accessed. Check the current itinerary, duration, meals, fees, pickup arrangements and participation limits on a working booking page before choosing it.
The linked one-way ferry to Koh Phi Phi currently redirects to an overview and is not bookable. Its title describes a one-way ferry transfer; wait for a working page before planning an overnight stay around it.
The park fee is extra
The Early Bird, buffet speedboat and boat-choice prices above are per person. The accessible booking pages list the following national park charges; the sunset listing’s fee details remain unverified:
| Tour | Adult | Child | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Bird | 400 THB | 200 THB | Cash on the day |
| Buffet speedboat | 400 THB | 200 THB | Cash at check-in |
| Boat-choice tour | 400 THB | 200 THB, ages 4–11 | Confirm payment when booking |
| Sunset BBQ | Unverified | Unverified | Check a working booking page |
For two adults and two children charged the child rate, the Early Bird or buffet trip adds 1,200 THB in cash. Confirm the child fee category separately from eligibility to board; the age and height restrictions below still apply.
For nearby island alternatives, see our Four Islands or Hong Islands guide.
Who these trips are not for
Read the exclusion list for the tour you are buying: the operators set different limits. The Early Bird excludes children under 3, travellers over 70, wheelchair users, pregnant travellers, people with back or heart conditions, anyone over 130 kg and anyone with a low fitness level; its notes also exclude other serious medical conditions. The buffet speedboat excludes children under 2, travellers over 60, anyone under 120 cm tall, pregnant travellers and people with heart or respiratory problems. It also advises against joining after surgery within the last year.
The buffet speedboat’s notes also mention accompanied children under 2, contradicting its exclusion list. Resolve that conflict before booking a child in that category. Apply age, height and health limits together when choosing a boat.
Is it worth it
Yes, if you have four days or more in Krabi and Phi Phi is on your list for its own sake. Pileh Lagoon and the crossing itself are genuinely worth a day.
No, if you have two days and prefer shorter island outings. Compare the nearer options on the island tours page, which starts at €13.05.
Not with a toddler. A 9-hour day with a 5:50 am pick-up and several boat legs is a lot to ask of a small child — and the early bird, the trip that covers both circuits, does not take children under 3 at all, according to its booking page.
Not for the snorkelling alone. The published itineraries give snorkelling timed stops within a wider sightseeing route. If that is what you came for, the honest answer is closer to shore, and the snorkelling page starts at €19.18.
Three small things
The buffet speedboat operator advises against sitting at the bow. Take a waterproof bag to protect your belongings from spray. Tell the operator about dietary requirements when booking: the Early Bird offers vegetarian lunch on request, while the buffet tour lists halal food.
Weather and tides can change these routes.
The boat-choice tour excludes pregnancy, back or mobility problems, pre-existing medical conditions and high blood pressure. The Early Bird, buffet and boat-choice tours offer English guiding; the boat-choice tour also lists Thai and Malay. The buffet tour uses Railay East Floating Pier for Railay guests.
