Phi Phi Island Day Tour Itinerary: Best Stops, Activities & Complete Guide
Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and more in one day at sea
A Phi Phi day tour packs Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, the Viking Cave and several snorkelling stops into one day at sea. Here's a real, stop-by-stop guide to what you'll see, what you can do at each stop and how the day usually runs.
An honest note on routes and timing
Loh Samah Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh: where boats moor for Maya Bay
Where tours start
Phuket: the most popular starting point for Phi Phi day tours
| Starting point | Journey | Typical schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Phuket | About 50 minutes by speedboat, 60 to 90 minutes by speed catamaran | Pickups from about 7:00am to 7:30am. Some catamaran tours run 9:00am to 5:00pm |
| Krabi | Speedboat from the Krabi coast | One listed speedboat tour with buffet lunch runs 7.5 hours |
| Phi Phi Don | Short longtail or speedboat hop | Early tours leave about 6:30am to 7:00am, beating the day-trippers |
The main stops
Viking Cave, Koh Phi Phi Leh: viewed from the boat only
| Stop | Island | What you do | Can you swim? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maya Bay | Phi Phi Leh | Walk the path from Loh Samah, take photos on the beach | No, wading up to your knees only |
| Loh Samah Bay | Phi Phi Leh | Beginner-friendly snorkelling | Yes |
| Pileh Lagoon | Phi Phi Leh | Swim from the boat in calm, enclosed water | Yes |
| Viking Cave | Phi Phi Leh | View ancient wall paintings and bird's nest harvesting from the boat | No landing |
| Monkey Beach | Phi Phi Don | See the resident macaques, snorkel nearby | Yes, but keep away from the monkeys |
| Tonsai, Phi Phi Don | Phi Phi Don | Lunch stop on many tours | Not the focus |
| Bamboo Island | Near Phi Phi Don | White sand beach and snorkelling | Yes |
| Khai Island | Between Phuket and Phi Phi | Snorkelling or floating on the way back | Yes |
Sample day from Phuket
Tonsai, Koh Phi Phi Don: the lunch stop on many tours
This sample is based on a typical early departure. Exact times and stop order vary by operator.
- 7:00am to 7:30amHotel pickup and transfer to the pier.
- MorningSpeedboat to Phi Phi Leh, about 50 minutes.
- First stopMaya Bay via Loh Samah Bay, with a short walk to the beach.
- NextSnorkel at Loh Samah Bay, then swim in Pileh Lagoon.
- PassingThe Viking Cave, viewed from the boat.
- MiddayLunch on Phi Phi Don, often in Tonsai.
Bamboo Island, near Koh Phi Phi: a popular afternoon stop
- AfternoonMonkey Beach and Bamboo Island, with some tours adding Khai Island on the way back.
- Late afternoonReturn to Phuket and transfer to your hotel.
What to bring
Phi Phi day tour: a dry bag keeps your phone safe when wading ashore
- Cash for the national park fee if your tour doesn't include it. Most sources quote 400 THB for foreign adults, though one official guide lists 200 THB.
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
- A dry bag for your phone and camera.
- A towel and a change of clothes.
- Seasickness tablets if you're prone to motion sickness.
Sourced from getyourguide.com's Phi Phi Islands speed and jet boat tours 2026, phuketthailand-travel.com's Phi Phi Island day trip from Phuket by speedboat 2026, phiphitours.com's Phi Phi Islands and Khai Island one day tour, qbictravel.com's Phi Phi Island tours, tisland.travel's Maya Bay reopens on 1 October 2026, easy-go-thailand.com's Koh Phi Phi island guide 2026, holidaytribe.ai's Phi Phi Island tour guide 2026, idctravel.com's Phi Phi Island travel guide 2026 and thainationalparks.com's Hat Noppharat Thara Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park.
Practical tips
Pick the earliest departure you can. You'll reach Maya Bay before the biggest crowds.
Ask the operator for its exact route before booking. Some tours add Khai Island, Bamboo Island or a viewpoint stop.
Choose a catamaran if anyone in your group gets seasick. Speedboats can feel bouncy in choppy water.
Stay overnight on Phi Phi Don if you can. Tours from there leave earlier and feel less rushed.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Expecting a swim at Maya Bay. Only knee-deep wading is allowed.
- Assuming every tour visits the same stops. Routes vary between operators.
- Booking in August or September for Maya Bay. It's closed for coral recovery.
- Forgetting a dry bag. Boarding and landing often mean wading through shallow water.