Phi Phi Islands and Khai Islands Snorkeling Tour By Speedboat From Phuket

Phi Phi’s famous limestone cliffs, bright water, and Maya Bay make this a full day of big scenery. You’ll move quickly by speedboat, stopping at Pi Leh Bay, Monkey Beach, Maya Bay, and Khai Nai before lunch and swimming time at several coves.

I like the practical package: hotel pickup, lunch, fruit, drinks, insurance, life jackets, and snorkel gear are included. I also like the crew’s friendly energy, with guides such as Kit, Delia, Sunny, and Alex often praised for keeping a large group informed and entertained. The catch is simple: this is a sightseeing tour with some snorkeling, not a dedicated reef expedition, and the boat can feel crowded.

Key points at a glance

• Eight island stops in one long day: You’ll see Phi Phi Lee, Phi Phi Don, Ton Sai Beach, Pi Leh Bay, Maya Bay, Monkey Beach, and Koh Khai Nai.
• Fast transport from Phuket: The speedboat cuts down travel time, but rough water can make the ride uncomfortable.
• Snorkeling is limited: Expect short swim and snorkel sessions rather than hours in one reef area.
• Food and drinks are covered: Lunch, fresh fruit, water, soft drinks, tea, and coffee are supplied.
• Guides make a difference: Kit, Delia, Sunny, and Alex are among the guides praised for humor, care, and clear explanations.
• Budget for the park fee: The national park charge is extra, listed as 400 baht per adult and 200 baht per child.

A fast route through the Andaman Sea

This tour is built around variety. Instead of spending most of the day on one beach, you’ll make a circuit through the Phi Phi islands and finish at Koh Khai Nai. The reward is a steady stream of cliffs, bays, beaches, monkeys, and blue water.

The price is listed at $84.47 per person. For that amount, you get round-trip hotel transfers, a professional English-speaking guide, lunch, fruit, drinks, snorkel equipment, life jackets, and travel insurance. You still pay the national park fee separately.

That makes the tour reasonable for someone who wants a simple, all-in-one island day. The value is less convincing if your main goal is serious snorkeling. Several stops are brief, and some swimming areas can be crowded with other boats.

The advertised duration is eight to nine hours. Pickup begins at 7:00 am at the Royal Phuket Marina, or earlier from some hotels depending on the transfer arrangement. One practical warning: a hotel pickup may get you to the marina well before the boat leaves. Bring breakfast or a snack if you do not want to start the day hungry.

The speedboat ride from Royal Phuket Marina

The meeting point is Royal Phuket Marina on Thep Krasattri Road. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, which saves you the trouble of arranging a taxi before sunrise. The vehicle used for transfers is described in one account as a comfortable air-conditioned minibus.

Once on the boat, you’ll spend long stretches crossing open water. That is the trade-off for seeing several islands in one day. A speedboat gets you there faster than a ferry, but it also rises and drops sharply on rough seas.

Sit near the back if you are prone to motion sickness. The front can be the most exciting place when the sea is calm, but it takes the hardest hits over waves. One cheerful guide reportedly suggested the front for anyone who enjoys a roller-coaster ride. That is useful advice, but not for everyone.

The boat’s maximum group size is 45 people. Some departures feel manageable, while others may feel packed, with little room to move or store bags. Keep your belongings small and secure. A dry bag is useful for phones, wallets, and cameras, although the tour does not list one as included.

Phi Phi Lee, Monkey Beach, and the first swim

The first major stop is Ko Phi Phi Lee, where you’ll have about 30 minutes for swimming and snorkeling. This is your first chance to get into the water, so use it to test the provided mask and snorkel before the day gets busy.

The water conditions control how good this stop feels. On a calm, sunny day, the cliffs and clear water create the classic Phi Phi view. In rough weather, the crossing and the swim can feel much less pleasant.

Monkey Beach follows, with about 30 minutes planned for sightseeing. The name suggests a walk on the sand, but you may only view the beach from the boat. That distinction matters if you are expecting to step ashore and see monkeys up close.

The monkeys are wild animals, and you should not feed them or encourage close contact. One reported concern involved crew members feeding monkeys, so I would treat this as a viewing stop, not an animal encounter. Keep your hands, food, and loose items secure.

Phi Phi Don and lunch at Ton Sai Beach

Ko Phi Phi Don provides about an hour for swimming and snorkeling. This is one of the more useful water stops because you have longer than the quick 30-minute sessions elsewhere.

Still, do not picture an empty cove. Phi Phi is one of Thailand’s most popular island destinations, and several boats may share the same water. A good guide can help organize the group, but no guide can remove the crowds or guarantee clear water.

Ton Sai Beach is the lunch stop, also scheduled for about an hour. Lunch and fresh fruit are included, along with water, soft drinks, tea, and coffee. Several accounts praise the steady supply of drinks, which is welcome in the heat and during the long boat rides.

Vegetarian food can be arranged if you tell the crew in the morning. Ask about ingredients if you have allergies, since food labels and allergen information are not clearly provided. The meal is best viewed as practical fuel rather than a special culinary event.

Ton Sai is also a useful place to stretch your legs. Much of the day is spent sitting on a speedboat, so an hour on land can make the later stops more comfortable.

Pi Leh Bay and Maya Bay

After lunch, the route returns to Ko Phi Phi Lee for more sightseeing and swimming. Pi Leh Bay gets its own 30-minute stop and is one of the most photogenic parts of the trip.

The enclosed bay is surrounded by steep limestone cliffs. From the boat, you get the strongest view of the scale of the cliffs and the narrow entrance to the bay. If conditions allow, you can swim here, but the water may be shared with many other boats.

Maya Bay is scheduled for another 30 minutes. This is the spot made famous by the film The Beach, and the name alone draws large crowds. You’ll have time for photographs and a view of the bay, followed by swimming in a nearby area rather than necessarily in the main bay itself.

Maya Bay can be beautiful and frustrating at the same time. The beach and cliffs are worth seeing, but the heavy visitor traffic can make the stop feel more like a quick photo call than a quiet island escape. If you want peaceful beaches, this tour’s schedule and famous stops may not suit you.

Koh Khai Nai, the final beach stop

The final stop is Koh Khai Nai, where you’ll have about an hour to relax on white sand, swim, and snorkel. This gives you a proper beach break after the boat-based stops.

Khai Island is also the part of the tour that divides opinions most sharply. Some people enjoy the sand and the chance to rest. Others find it heavily commercial, with repeated offers for food, drinks, souvenirs, and jet ski rides. One complaint also concerned charges for basic facilities such as toilets.

You should arrive here knowing that this is a developed day-trip beach, not an untouched island. If you want a quiet final hour, the sales activity and crowds may wear you down. If you mainly want a sandy place to sit before returning to Phuket, it can do the job.

The itinerary lists snorkeling and swimming at several locations, but the actual time in the water can be short. Some stops may be sightseeing from the boat, and one account described only a brief snorkel followed by a swim in open water. I would book this for a taste of island snorkeling, not for a full day among coral gardens.

Guides, crew, and the human side of the trip

The crew is one of the strongest parts of the experience. Kit is repeatedly praised for being funny, polite, energetic, and attentive. Delia is described as entertaining and well informed, while Sunny is credited with telling interesting stories and helping keep the group engaged. Alex is also praised for his humor and clear explanations.

That matters on a long excursion. You’ll spend hours in close quarters, and a good guide can explain the stops, organize boarding, check on swimmers, and keep the mood up when the sea gets rough.

The crew has also helped people who are not confident swimmers. One account says a guide offered free swimming instruction. Life jackets are available on board, but you should still tell the crew if you feel uneasy in the water.

Safety depends heavily on weather. Rough seas have caused motion sickness on some outings, and one severe account described frightening conditions. The operator may cancel for poor weather and offer another date or a refund, but conditions can still change during a day that goes ahead.

What the tour includes, and what it does not

The inclusions are generous for a day trip:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• English-speaking guide
• Lunch and fresh fruit
• Water, soft drinks, tea, and coffee
• Snorkeling equipment
• Life jackets
• Travel insurance

The national park fee is not included. The listed charge is 400 baht per adult and 200 baht per child. Bring cash or confirm the payment method before departure.

Photos may also cost extra. One account reported paying about AUD 56 for a photo package and feeling disappointed by the price. You are not required to buy photos, so decide in advance what you are willing to spend.

Children aged 4 to 11 receive the child ticket. A family account describes staff helping with a four-year-old during snorkeling, and the included drinks and fruit can make a long day easier with young children. However, the speedboat and rough water are still worth considering carefully for any child.

Pregnant people cannot join, and no refund is given for that restriction after booking. The activity is not suitable for people arriving by large boat or ferry. People with heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, or seizure disorders are advised not to participate.

Who will enjoy this Phi Phi day trip

I would choose this tour if you have one free day in Phuket and want to see many famous island sights without arranging separate transport, meals, equipment, and transfers.

It suits you best if you:

• Want a fast introduction to Phi Phi and Khai Islands
• Enjoy scenery and photographs as much as swimming
• Prefer a planned day with a guide
• Like having food and drinks supplied
• Are comfortable sharing a boat with a large group
• Can manage a long day and possible rough water

I would look elsewhere if you want quiet beaches, a small private group, or several long snorkel sessions. A dedicated snorkeling trip would be a better match for someone focused on coral, fish, and time in the water.

Pack reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, swimwear, a change of clothes, and a waterproof pouch. Apply sunscreen often. The sun on the boat and beaches is intense, and one particularly practical tip from the trip is to use far more sunscreen than you think you need.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your priority is maximum scenery in one organized day. You’ll see the famous Phi Phi cliffs, Maya Bay, Pi Leh Bay, Monkey Beach, Ton Sai Beach, and Koh Khai Nai, with transport, lunch, drinks, and equipment handled for you.

Skip it if you dislike crowds, long speedboat rides, commercial beaches, or limited snorkeling time. At $84.47, the package offers fair value when you use the transfers, food, drinks, and gear. Its real strength is convenience and variety, not solitude or serious reef time.

FAQ

How long is the Phi Phi and Khai Islands tour?

The tour lasts approximately eight to nine hours.

Where does the tour start?

The listed meeting point is Royal Phuket Marina, 68 Thep Krasattri Road, Ko Kaeo, Phuket. The scheduled start time is 7:00 am.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

What islands and beaches are visited?

The route includes Ko Phi Phi Lee, Monkey Beach, Ko Phi Phi Don, Ton Sai Beach, Pi Leh Bay, Maya Bay, and Koh Khai Nai.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and life jackets are available to borrow.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch and fresh fruit are included. Vegetarian arrangements can be requested from the crew in the morning.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Water, soft drinks, tea, and coffee are included during the tour.

Is the national park fee included?

No. The listed fee is 400 baht per adult and 200 baht per child.

Can children join the tour?

Yes. The child ticket applies to children aged 4 to 11. The tour is not suitable for pregnant people, and certain medical conditions are not recommended for participation.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you’ll be offered another date or a full refund. Free cancellation is also available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time.