Do You Need a Ticket for Phi Phi Islands from Krabi?
5 min read
There is no single Phi Phi Islands ticket that replaces your transport. For most Krabi visitors, book the Phi Phi Early Bird and 4 Islands speedboat: it packages a 9-hour boat route, Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, swimming, snorkelling and a Thai buffet for €70.71, with 4.9/5 stars from 3,591 reviews. For a shorter Phi Phi circuit, the Phi Phi speedboat with buffet lunch starts at €42.08 per person. Both speedboats exclude a national park fee of 400 THB per adult and 200 THB per child, payable in cash. These recommendations apply only if you meet the participation limits below.
What are you actually booking?
| Option | Duration | From, per person | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phi Phi Early Bird and 4 Islands by speedboat | 9 hours | €70.71 | 4.9/5 (3,591 reviews) | Phi Phi and Four Islands with an early start |
| Phi Phi speedboat with buffet lunch | 7.5 hours | €42.08 | 4.6/5 (1,065 reviews) | A shorter Phi Phi circuit |
| Phi Phi and 4 Islands sunset catamaran | 9–10 hours | €66.58 | 4.7/5 (287 reviews) | Sunset, beach and snorkel stops |
A tour reservation buys a defined boat day, not ownership of a universal island pass. The Early Bird links Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon with swim and snorkel stops, a Thai buffet lunch and the Four Islands.
Check dates and the current inclusions for the Early Bird trip
The 7.5-hour buffet speedboat also visits Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave and Bamboo Island, with snorkelling and lunch. Choose it for a shorter Phi Phi route when Four Islands are not your priority; compare €42.08 with €70.71 per person.
See availability for the Phi Phi speedboat with buffet lunch
The catamaran’s €66.58 per person pays for a 9–10-hour programme with snorkelling, beaches and a Thai buffet; sunset at Tup or Poda comes with BBQ snacks and fruit aboard. National park admission adds 400 THB per person. Hotel pickup and return are included only in the appropriate booking option.
Review the sunset catamaran inclusions
What must you check before checkout?
Open the section labelled inclusions and exclusions for the exact option and date. Look specifically for national-park or attraction fees, hotel transfer area, lunch and snorkelling equipment. A tour can visit the same named bays as another while handling those extras differently. Do not use a price from a different departure as proof of what yours includes.
The one-way ferry is a different purchase. It carries passengers between Krabi and Koh Phi Phi; it does not reproduce a Maya Bay sightseeing circuit. It suits an overnight stay, not somebody trying to turn one transport ticket into a complete island excursion.
Our recommendation
Choose the Early Bird for Phi Phi and Four Islands in one day, or the buffet speedboat for a shorter circuit. Both require the extra national park fee of 400 THB per adult and 200 THB per child in cash.
Book the Phi Phi Early Bird and 4 Islands speedboat
| Tour | Participation limits on the booking page |
|---|---|
| Early Bird | Excludes under 3s, over 70s, weight over 130 kg, low fitness, pregnancy, wheelchair use and back or heart problems |
| Buffet speedboat | Excludes under 2s, height below 120 cm, over 60s, pregnancy and heart or respiratory problems. Notes also allow accompanied under-twos: resolve this contradiction before booking |
| Catamaran | Excludes non-swimmers, people prone to seasickness or motion sickness, pregnancy and back, heart or mobility problems |
The operators state that Maya Bay closes in August and September; the buffet page specifies 1 August–30 September 2027. There is no beach landing during closure and no swimming in Maya Bay when open. TAT confirms the 2026 reopening on 1 October. Sea conditions can change any of these routes, so confirm the programme for your date.
The Early Bird and buffet tours guide in English. Early Bird pickup covers Ao Nang, Klong Muang, Tubkaek and Railay. The buffet tour describes Krabi hotel pickup and Railay East Floating Pier for Railay guests; confirm your hotel zone. The catamaran lists English guiding, with English/Thai under inclusions, and Railay East Blue Pier for Railay guests. Both the buffet and catamaran operators advise against speedboat travel within a year of surgery; the catamaran specifies back, leg or arm surgery. It charges 1,500 THB for a lost snorkelling mask. The Early Bird also excludes other serious medical conditions.
TAT also reports electronic national park tickets for Phi Phi. The speedboat operators above still instruct guests to pay the park fee in cash. Confirm how your operator arranges the park ticket and what passport details it needs before buying a separate ticket yourself.
