Boats to Koh Phi Phi run all year from Rassada pier in Phuket, from Ao Nang and Railay, and from Krabi town. A speedboat from Phuket takes about an hour and from Ao Nang under an hour; the large ferries are cheaper and take roughly twice as long. Every boat arrives at Tonsai pier on Phi Phi Don, where operators report a small cleaning fee collected in cash.
Phi Phi has no airport and no bridge, so the boat is the only way in. The choice is mainly between a speedboat, which is fast, cramped and bumpy, and a larger ferry, which is slower and steadier and has room for luggage. This page covers the practical side: piers, times, fares and fees. For the islands themselves, see our Phi Phi Islands guide.
Boats to Phi Phi in brief
- Arrival pier
- Tonsai pier, Koh Phi Phi Don
- From Phuket
- Rassada pier, near Phuket Town; speedboat about 45–60 minutes, all year
- From Krabi
- Nopparat Thara pier (Ao Nang) about 50 minutes; East Railay about 30 minutes by speedboat; ferries from Krabi town
- To Koh Lanta
- Speedboat to Saladan pier about 30–40 minutes, all year
- Operating hours
- Daytime only; Tigerline gives 07:00–18:30 for its network
- On arrival
- A small island cleaning fee in cash at Tonsai pier (amount not officially published)
Routes, times and sample fares
The table below uses the published route list of Bundhaya Speed Boat, a long-established Andaman operator, as of October 2026. Its fares are the lowest "from" price per person for a one-way speedboat seat; other operators, larger ferries and packages with hotel transfers cost different amounts.
| Route | Speedboat time | Season | Fare from (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phuket (Rassada) – Phi Phi | 1 hr | All year | ฿800 |
| Ao Nang (Nopparat Thara) – Phi Phi | 50 min (40 min back) | All year | ฿1,000 |
| Railay (East Railay floating pier) – Phi Phi | 30 min | All year | ฿1,000 |
| Phi Phi – Koh Lanta (Saladan) | 30–40 min | All year | ฿700 |
| Phi Phi – Koh Lipe | About 4 hr | About 15 Oct – May | ฿2,350 |
Tigerline, another big operator, quotes about 45 minutes between Phuket and Phi Phi with up to 14 trips a day, about 45 minutes between Phi Phi and Krabi with up to six, and about 30 minutes between Phi Phi and Koh Lanta, with indicative fares of 500 to 1,000 baht on these short routes. Larger passenger ferries also run from Rassada and from Krabi town; booking platforms list their crossings at around two hours. Times on the water can stretch in rough weather.
From Phuket: Rassada pier
Rassada pier is on the east coast of Phuket, just outside Phuket Town, and it is the departure point for almost all public boats to Phi Phi. Most tickets sold through hotels and tour desks include a minivan pickup from Patong, Kata, Karon and the other west-coast beaches; if yours does not, allow plenty of time for the drive across the island in morning traffic and take a taxi or Grab rather than relying on a bus. Our guide to getting from Phuket airport to the beaches covers transport on the island, and the Phuket guide covers everything else.
If you are flying into Phuket and heading straight to Phi Phi, check the last boat of the day before you book your flight. Boats only run in daylight, and an afternoon flight delay can leave you spending a night in Phuket Town.
From Krabi: Ao Nang, Railay and Krabi town
From the Krabi side you have three starting points. Speedboats leave Nopparat Thara pier at the western end of Ao Nang, and some stop at the floating pier off East Railay; both are quick. The larger ferries leave from Krabi town's passenger port, which is convenient if you are coming from Krabi airport or the bus station. Our guides to Ao Nang and Railay Beach explain how to reach those piers, and the Krabi guide covers the area as a whole.
Arriving at Tonsai pier: fees and luggage
All public boats land at Tonsai pier, in the middle of Phi Phi Don's village. Many ferry and tour operators tell passengers that a small island cleaning fee is collected separately, in cash, at the pier. We could not find the amount on an official page, so carry small notes and pay what is posted.
Phi Phi Don also lies within Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. The Department of National Parks lists Koh Phi Phi Don, Koh Phi Phi Le and Bamboo Island (Koh Mai Phai) as a special zone where the fee for foreign visitors is 400 baht for adults and 200 baht for children aged 3 to 14 (October 2026). Day tours include it in their price. Whether and where the park collects it from people who simply take the ferry to stay in Tonsai village is not stated in any official source we could read, so ask your boat operator when you book.
There are no cars on Phi Phi Don. From Tonsai pier you walk, or hire one of the porters with push carts to take heavy bags to your guesthouse. If you are staying at a resort on another beach, it will usually collect you by longtail boat; arrange this before you arrive.
Speedboat or ferry?
A speedboat saves time and gets you to Phi Phi early in the day, which matters if you want to check in and still enjoy an afternoon. The ride is noisy and, in any swell, rough, especially in the front seats; sit at the back, keep valuables in a waterproof bag and take seasickness tablets beforehand if you need them. Larger ferries have indoor seating, open decks and a luggage area, and they move less in waves. They suit families, people with big suitcases and anyone prone to seasickness.
In the southwest monsoon, from about May to October, the sea between Phuket and Phi Phi can be rough, and any boat may be cancelled on a stormy day. The routes in the table run all year, but build a spare day into your plans before an international flight. Our guide to ferries in Thailand covers operators and safety in more detail.
Booking your ticket
You can book directly on an operator's website, at a travel desk in Phuket or Krabi, or through a booking platform. Our article on 12Go.asia explains how combined tickets and vouchers work if you want to book from abroad. Whatever you choose, check the pier name on your ticket: "Krabi" can mean Ao Nang, Railay or Krabi town, and "Phuket" almost always means Rassada. In the peak season around Christmas and New Year, book a few days ahead.
Moving on: Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe and back to the mainland
Phi Phi is a natural stop on a trip down the Andaman coast. Koh Lanta is the closest next island, under an hour by speedboat to Saladan pier at its northern tip, with boats all year; our guides to Koh Lanta and the page on getting from Krabi to Koh Lanta cover the island and its other links. From about mid-October to May, speedboats continue south to the Trang islands and to Koh Lipe, about four hours from Phi Phi; see our Koh Lipe guide and the Andaman island-hopping route.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the ferry from Phuket to Phi Phi?
A speedboat from Rassada pier takes about 45 minutes to an hour, according to the operators' own timetables. Large ferries are slower, around two hours. Rough seas can add time, particularly between May and October.
Is there an entry fee for Koh Phi Phi?
Operators report a small island cleaning fee collected in cash at Tonsai pier; carry small notes. The islands are also in a national park whose special-zone fee for foreigners is 400 baht per adult; day tours include it, so ask your operator how it applies to your trip.
Do ferries to Phi Phi run in the rainy season?
Yes. Boats from Phuket, Ao Nang, Railay and Koh Lanta are listed as running all year. Individual sailings can be cancelled in bad weather during the southwest monsoon, so leave a spare day before an onward flight.
Which is better, the boat from Phuket or from Krabi?
Choose the pier closest to where you are. From Ao Nang or Railay the speedboat is under an hour; from Phuket it is about an hour plus the transfer to Rassada pier. If you are flying in, compare the time from Phuket and Krabi airports to their piers.
Sources
- Bundhaya Speed Boat – Routes, seasons and fares (checked October 2026)
- Tigerline Ferry – Official timetables and pricing structure (checked October 2026)
- Tigerline Ferry – Koh Phi Phi (check-in at Tonsai pier) (checked October 2026)
- Kapook – National park entrance fees and special zones, citing the Department of National Parks (Thai) (checked October 2026)
- Department of National Parks – Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park: e-tickets and zero waste (Thai) (checked October 2026)