The large ferry from Rassada Pier is usually the cheapest and steadier way to travel from Phuket to Phi Phi. Published crossings to Tonsai Pier take around two hours. Scheduled speedboats generally take about one hour and cost more; their smaller hulls can make the ride noticeably bumpier. There is no bridge or scheduled flight to Phi Phi, so the final journey is by boat.
Book for your actual travel date, especially during the May–October rainy season, when some services run less frequently and weather can disrupt departures. Choose your arrival pier before paying: Tonsai serves the main village on Phi Phi Don, while northern resorts may need a different boat or an additional transfer.
Phuket to Phi Phi: quick comparison
These are published adult one-way examples, except tours and private charters. Hotel transfers and park fees are not automatically included.
| Option | Journey time | Typical price | Departs from | Arrives at | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large ferry | About 2 hours | THB 599–700 in the operator examples below | Rassada Pier | Tonsai Pier | Budget and a steadier crossing |
| Speedboat (scheduled) | About 1 hour | From THB 800–850 in published operator tariffs | Rassada Pier | Tonsai Pier | Less time at sea |
| Private speedboat charter | Varies with boat, route and conditions | Request a whole-boat quote | Agreed Phuket pier | Agreed landing point | Groups wanting a tailored trip |
| Day tour | Full-day itinerary; check pickup and return | Varies by season and inclusions | Operator’s specified pier | Multiple island stops; returns to Phuket | Sightseeing without changing hotels |
| Ferry from Krabi | 2–2.5 hours on the published timetable | THB 450, boat only | Klong Jilad | Tonsai Pier | Staying in Krabi Town |
| Ferry from Ao Nang | About 2 hours | THB 650 on the morning service | Nopparat Thara | Phi Phi Don | Staying around Ao Nang |
Times and prices checked on 2 November 2026. Schedules change between high and low season, so confirm your date before travelling.
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Phuket to Phi Phi by ferry
Departure times and journey time
The following are operator-published departures from Rassada to Tonsai, not hotel pickup times. All times are local. Allow additional time for check-in, boarding and collecting your bags.
| Operator | Rassada departure | Tonsai arrival | Published adult fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andaman Wave Master | 08:30 / 13:45 | 10:30 / 15:45 | THB 700 standard |
| Phi Phi Cruiser | 08:30 / 13:30 | About 2 hours later | THB 700 |
| Chaokoh | 11:00 / 15:00 | 13:00 / 17:00 | THB 599 |
Sources: Andaman Wave Master, Phi Phi Cruiser and Chaokoh. Their websites advertise these services, but a published timetable is not a guarantee against weather cancellations.
12Go also lists these operators alongside speedboats and transfer packages. Check the boarding point carefully: an earlier departure may be a van pickup, not another sailing. When times differ, use the confirmed ticket and operator’s instructions.
Ticket prices and what’s included
Compare the total checkout price, not just a headline fare. A pier-to-pier ticket can exclude your journey across Phuket, luggage supplements and onward transport to a remote Phi Phi hotel. Child-age rules also differ between companies.
Phi Phi Cruiser advertises pickup from areas including Patong, Kata and Karon, but confirm that your selected ticket includes your exact hotel. A discounted reseller fare may have different inclusions from the operator’s package. Keep the voucher and pickup instructions available offline.
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Rassada Pier: how to get there
From Patong, Kata or Karon, arrange an included shared transfer or a separate taxi to Rassada. Shared vans may collect other passengers, so the pickup time can be much earlier than departure. Phuket Town is closer to the pier, but you still need time for traffic and check-in.
From Phuket Airport, plan a separate road journey rather than treating the ferry as an airport connection. Phi Phi Relax Resort’s arrival guidance estimates roughly 1–1.5 hours by taxi to Rassada. Immigration, baggage collection and traffic come on top of that; avoid booking the last boat against a tight flight arrival.
If arriving from the capital, plan the Bangkok to Phuket leg first. A working Thailand eSIM can help you contact the driver and hotel, but save essential directions before leaving.
Arriving at Tonsai Pier
On arrival at Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don, pay the small local arrival fee in cash: THB 20 per person, according to Phi Phi Relax Resort’s current arrival guidance. Keep small baht notes ready and check the posted amount at the collection point.
This local arrival charge is separate from national park admission, which applies when visiting areas of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, such as Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh; it is not the fee for simply arriving at Tonsai village. Thailand’s tourism authority lists the park fee at THB 400 for foreign adults and THB 200 for foreign children. On day tours, this fee is usually either included in the package or charged separately, so check the inclusions before paying.
There are no ordinary car taxis around Tonsai village: walk to nearby accommodation or arrange a porter for luggage. Remote beaches may require a longtail or hotel boat. Send the hotel your arrival details, and carry cash for small charges; our guide to ATM fees in Thailand explains withdrawal costs.
Phuket to Phi Phi by speedboat
Bundhaya advertises Rassada–Tonsai at about one hour, from THB 800. Andaman Wave Master’s route tariff lists one hour and THB 850. Its booking page also displayed THB 790, so treat these as published examples and check the final fare for your date.
A scheduled speedboat sells individual seats and follows a set route. A private charter hires the boat for your group; confirm the total price, pier, fuel, waiting time, park fees and cancellation terms. A transfer charter and a sightseeing charter are different purchases.
Speedboats can strike waves sharply, especially in a swell, and spray may reach passengers. Keep electronics protected and follow crew instructions about seating and life jackets. Faster does not necessarily mean more comfortable; if the forecast is poor, postpone rather than assuming another boat type solves it.
Day trip or overnight on Phi Phi?
A day tour suits travellers who want organised sightseeing and to return to the same Phuket hotel. Check that Maya Bay is an actual landing stop when open, rather than simply a view from the boat. Confirm meals, transfers, snorkelling stops and park admission before comparing prices.
A scheduled ferry takes you to Phi Phi Don, not directly to Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh. Staying overnight gives you time for the village, beaches and a separately booked excursion. Compare Phuket vs Krabi before choosing your mainland base.
The Department of National Parks confirms Maya Bay’s 2026 closure ran from 1 August to 30 September. Operator updates report its reopening in October. Future closure dates and weather restrictions should be checked before booking; do not assume next year will follow identical dates.
Swimming in Maya Bay is prohibited. Official Krabi public-information guidance sets out the rule and access via Loh Samah. Follow rangers’ directions; swimming or snorkelling elsewhere on a tour does not make it permitted inside Maya Bay.
Krabi and Ao Nang to Phi Phi
Andaman Wave Master’s Klong Jilad timetable lists daily departures at 09:00–11:00 and 13:00–15:30, priced at THB 450 per adult. These are boat-only fares; the afternoon listing allows 2.5 hours, so do not assume every crossing takes exactly two.
From Ao Nang, Ao Nang Travel’s morning ferry leaves Nopparat Thara at 09:30 and arrives at 11:30, advertised daily at THB 650. Listed shared pickup areas include Ao Nang, Klong Muang, Tubkaek and Krabi Town; late bookings have restrictions.
Additional Ao Nang departures vary by season. Its afternoon product pages contain seasonal and older date restrictions, so check the current timetable rather than assuming all listed sailings run daily. If travelling between mainland bases, compare the separate Phuket to Krabi options before adding an island stop.
Phi Phi to Phuket or Krabi (return trip)
Published afternoon examples include Chaokoh’s 14:00–16:00 Tonsai–Rassada ferry and Phi Phi Cruiser’s 14:30–16:30 return. For Krabi, Andaman Wave Master lists 15:30–17:30 to Klong Jilad. Confirm your chosen service before planning the rest of the day.
For a flight from Phuket, the safest planning choice is to return to Phuket the previous day. If travelling the same day, take an early boat and leave several hours beyond the scheduled pier arrival for disembarking, road travel, delays and airline check-in. No fixed buffer can protect a separately booked flight from a cancelled sailing.
Best time to take the ferry to Phi Phi
November–April is generally the drier Andaman season; May–October brings more rain and a greater chance of rough crossings. These are seasonal tendencies, not a weather guarantee. Check the marine forecast and operator messages close to departure.
Compare the best time to visit Phuket with your priorities, and leave flexibility in your Thailand itinerary. Keep a mainland backup night and read refund or rebooking terms before buying a non-refundable connection.
Which option should you choose?
- Budget: choose a standard large ferry and compare the total including hotel pickup.
- Time: choose a scheduled speedboat when its confirmed departure fits your day.
- Seasickness: prefer the steadier large ferry in suitable conditions, while recognising that any boat can move in rough seas.
- Group or family: compare shared tickets with a written charter quote, considering luggage, comfort and everyone’s needs.
FAQ
How long is the ferry from Phuket to Phi Phi?
The large ferry usually takes around two hours from Rassada to Tonsai. Scheduled speedboats commonly list one hour; hotel pickup, boarding and onward resort transfers add time.
How much is the ferry from Phuket to Phi Phi?
The checked operator examples range from THB 599 with Chaokoh to THB 700 with Phi Phi Cruiser or Andaman Wave Master standard class. Confirm your date and whether transfers, luggage and fees are included.
Is there an entrance fee for Phi Phi Island?
Yes: the small local arrival fee at Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don is THB 20 per person, payable in cash, according to current resort guidance. The separate national park fee—THB 400 for foreign adults and THB 200 for foreign children, according to TAT—applies to visits to park areas such as Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh, rather than simply arriving at Tonsai village. Day tours usually include it in the price or add it as a separate charge; check your package’s inclusions.
Is the speedboat or ferry better for Phi Phi?
A speedboat is faster, while a large ferry generally costs less and offers a steadier ride. Choose around sea conditions, comfort and your actual departure time.
Can you do Phi Phi as a day trip from Phuket?
Yes, either on an organised tour or with carefully matched return transport. For Maya Bay and several sightseeing stops, check a tour’s itinerary rather than expecting a standard ferry ticket to include them.
Where does the Phi Phi ferry leave from in Phuket?
The services compared here leave Rassada Pier for Tonsai Pier. Other tour products can use different Phuket piers, so follow your ticket’s meeting point.
For more routes, costs and practical planning, explore all our Thailand travel guides.
