Krabi: Phi Phi Islands Full-Day Private Speedboat Charter

Phi Phi’s best-known sights arrive in one fast-moving day here: Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, Monkey Beach, and Bamboo Island. You travel privately, so your group can spend more time swimming, less time waiting, and adjust the day with help from your guide.

I like the flexible setup and the simple math for a full group. At $707 for up to 10 people, the boat costs about $71 per person before lunch and park fees. I also like the care built into the service. Guides such as Payu and Tangmo have been praised for helpful explanations, while Beauty, Mimi, and Nee are noted for warm, attentive treatment.

The main catch is the pace. Eight hours covers a lot of water, but it also means early pickup, a bumpy speedboat ride, short stops, and limited time at several famous places. You should also expect extra charges for the national park and lunch.

Key points to know before booking

• Private boat for up to 10 people: The price becomes much better when shared by a full family or friend group.
• Maya Bay comes early: You reach the famous beach near the start of the day, with about 50 minutes for walking and photos.
• Loh Samah is the main snorkeling stop: Expect clear water, tropical fish, and about 30 minutes in the sea.
• Monkey Beach is a pass-by stop: You cruise close enough for photos, but the boat does not stop on the beach.
• Bamboo Island gets the longest beach time: Plan on roughly 75 minutes for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing.
• Extra costs matter: The park fee is 400 THB per adult and 200 THB per child, with lunch listed at 280 THB per person.

A private Phi Phi day from Krabi

This is an ambitious island-hopping day rather than a slow beach outing. You leave from the Krabi area, ride out by speedboat, move between several Phi Phi sights, stop for lunch, and return in the afternoon.

Pickup is available from Nong Thale, Krabi, or Ao Nang. The operator contacts you at least one day before departure with the pickup time, and you should wait in your hotel lobby 15 minutes early. Look for staff wearing a Blue Sea Eagle Tour shirt.

The boat checks in at Nopparattara Beach before setting out. The listed schedule begins around 8:00 AM for pickup, with the main island visits starting around 9:00 AM. The return journey leaves the Ao Nang area at about 2:40 PM, though weather and sea conditions can change the plan.

The private format is the big advantage. You are not locked into the exact rhythm of a large shared boat. Your guide can help shape the time at each stop, though the published route still gives you a useful outline of what the day is designed to cover.

The 45-minute ride toward Phi Phi

After a brief hop-on and hop-off stop at Railay Beach, the speedboat runs for about 45 minutes toward the Phi Phi Islands. This is not a quiet ferry ride. Speedboats cover the distance quickly, but the ride can feel lively on open water.

Pack light. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, and a small day bag is the sensible choice. Bring a towel, swimwear, water shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, breathable clothing, biodegradable sunscreen, and cash for the fees and food.

The boat has life jackets and snorkel equipment. Transfers and insurance are included, as is an English-speaking guide. Thai language guiding is also available.

Maya Bay and the walk to Loh Samah

Maya Bay is the first major stop, with about 50 minutes for sightseeing and walking. This is the beach made famous by the film The Beach, and its setting is easy to understand even before you reach the sand: steep limestone cliffs, bright water, and a narrow beach framed by tropical greenery.

The fame brings crowds, so keep your expectations sensible. Maya Bay is a place for scenery and photos, not a peaceful private beach. The early position in the route helps, and the private boat gives you some control over how long you linger, but you cannot control the number of other boats or the official access rules.

From Maya Bay, you can walk across the island toward Loh Sama Bay. The crossing gives you a different view from the usual boat approach, with a small green island set in the Andaman Sea. Wear shoes that can handle a short walk and wet ground, rather than relying only on flip-flops.

Maya Bay closes for about two months each low season, usually in August and September. If this stop is the reason you are booking, check the operating dates before paying.

Loh Samah Bay snorkeling

The trip then shifts from famous scenery to time in the water. Loh Samah Bay provides about 30 minutes for swimming and snorkeling, with tropical fish in yellow and blue tones moving around the reef.

Thirty minutes is enough for a good look, but it is not a full marine outing. If you love snorkeling, use your time carefully. Listen for the guide’s instructions, get your mask fitted before entering the water, and keep your attention on the reef rather than spending the whole stop taking photos.

Snorkel equipment and life jackets are supplied. You still need to bring your own towel and swimwear. Biodegradable sunscreen is specifically requested, a sensible choice around coral and shallow coastal water.

The conditions can change with wind, rain, and waves. The operator may alter the route during bad weather or other unexpected events. That is normal for an open-water trip, but it is worth accepting before you book.

Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, and the Phi Phi cliffs

Pileh Lagoon is a short cruising stop of about 15 minutes. The boat moves through the lagoon for views of its enclosed water and tall limestone walls. This is primarily a scenic cruise, not a long beach stop.

The route then passes Viking Cave, with about 15 minutes listed for a photo stop. The cave is associated with the collection of edible bird nests, and the boat lets you see the opening from the water.

The schedule also includes a 30-minute long-tail boat ride around Ko Phi Phi Le. Taken together, these stops give you changing views of the island: open sea, narrow cave openings, vertical rock walls, and water enclosed by cliffs. They are visually strong, but you should not confuse them with extended time ashore.

This part of the day is useful for people who want to see several Phi Phi landmarks in one outing. It is less satisfying for anyone who prefers to sit in one place with a book and a quiet stretch of sand.

Monkey Beach from the water

Monkey Beach is a short photo stop on the southwestern side of Tonsai Bay. The beach is about 150 meters long, backed by thick vegetation and cliffs, with monkeys sometimes visible near the shore at low tide.

The important detail is that this is a pass-by visit. You cruise close to the beach, but the boat does not stop there. That makes it a quick wildlife and scenery moment, not an opportunity to walk on the sand.

Keep your hands and food inside the boat if monkeys are nearby. The appeal is seeing them in their coastal setting, not feeding them or trying to get close. Your guide can help you spot activity along the beach, but wildlife is never guaranteed at a precise moment.

Lunch and a short look at Phi Phi Don

The route includes a stop at Ao Tonsai Pier, followed by lunch at Arida Restaurant 2. Lunch is not included in the charter price, and the listed buffet cost is 280 THB per person.

The scheduled lunch period is about 30 minutes, so this is a practical meal stop rather than a long restaurant break. If you have children or dietary needs, bring cash and confirm the arrangements with the operator before departure.

After lunch, you have about 15 minutes for sightseeing and walking on Ko Phi Phi Don. That is enough to stretch your legs and get a quick sense of the island, but not enough for a full exploration of its shops, paths, or beaches.

Bamboo Island is the day’s best beach stop

Bamboo Island gets the most unhurried time, about 75 minutes. That makes it the place to swim, snorkel, and simply sit on the sand without watching the clock every few minutes.

The island is uninhabited, covered with low tropical growth, and ringed by white sand. A reef extends up to about 500 meters from shore, giving swimmers a large area to see fish in shallow water. The island lies roughly 5 kilometers north of Phi Phi Don.

For families, this may be the most satisfying stop. Children can play in the water, and adults get a proper break after the morning’s succession of short visits. One family group with four children especially enjoyed this part of the day, with the children reluctant to leave the water.

The boat heads back after Bamboo Island, with the final speedboat ride listed at about 30 minutes. Drop-off is available in Ao Nang, Krabi, or Nong Thale.

What the $707 price really buys

The $707 rate covers a private speedboat for up to 10 people. For 10 passengers, that works out to about $71 each before the additional costs. For a couple, the same boat becomes expensive, even though the private space and flexible timing remain attractive.

Add the compulsory Phi Phi National Park fee: 400 THB for each adult and 200 THB for each child aged 3 to 10. Lunch is another 280 THB per person if you choose the listed buffet.

The value is strongest for a family or friend group that would otherwise need several seats on a shared tour. You pay for control, privacy, hotel transfer, a guide, snorkel gear, and a route covering many major Phi Phi sights in one day.

The value is weaker if your priority is solitude. Private does not mean empty. Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, and Bamboo Island are popular places, and the route still operates in a busy island-hopping region.

Guides and the human side of the trip

The crew matters on a long day at sea. The names associated with especially warm service include Nee, Payu, Tangmo, Beauty, and Mimi. Payu is described as giving useful information while allowing a group to shape its day, and Tangmo is noted for careful family service.

You can expect an English-speaking guide, with Thai also available. The crew may offer drinks, snacks, and fresh fruit during the day, based on the service described for one family outing. Do not treat this as a substitute for bringing water, but it is a welcome touch on a hot boat trip.

The best guides on this kind of outing do more than point at a beach. They help with timing, snorkeling equipment, safe movement on and off the boat, and the practical choices that keep a large group moving. That is particularly useful when your group includes children.

Who should book this Phi Phi charter?

I would choose this trip for a group of friends or a family of up to 10 people that wants to see the main Phi Phi sights without joining a large boat. It also suits people who want a guide but prefer some say in how long they spend at each stop.

It is less suitable for anyone with back problems, heart problems, serious medical conditions, or anyone who is pregnant. Children under 3 are not permitted, and the boat is not wheelchair accessible.

The speedboat also makes this a poor fit for people who dislike fast or rough rides. The boat travels close to shore to make getting on and off easier, but the open-water sections can still be lively.

Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those policies help if your Krabi plans are still shifting, but they do not remove the need to check Maya Bay’s seasonal closure and the weather forecast.

Should you book it?

Book this charter if you want a full Phi Phi sampler, have enough people to share the cost, and value a private boat more than a slow pace. The route gives you Maya Bay, snorkeling, lagoon scenery, Viking Cave, Monkey Beach, lunch, and a proper swim at Bamboo Island in one well-packed day.

Skip it if you want long, quiet hours on one beach, need wheelchair access, or find speedboat rides uncomfortable. For the right group, the strongest selling point is not simply the number of stops. It is the combination of private space, helpful crew, and a longer Bamboo Island break after the busier morning.

FAQ

How long does the Phi Phi private charter last?

The experience lasts about 8 hours, including hotel pickup, the speedboat journeys, island stops, lunch, and the return transfer.

How many people can join the private boat?

The price covers a private group of up to 10 people.

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes the private speedboat charter, hotel transfer, an English-speaking guide, snorkel equipment, life jackets, and insurance.

How much is the Phi Phi National Park fee?

The compulsory fee is 400 THB per adult and 200 THB per child aged 3 to 10.

Is lunch included?

No. The listed lunch buffet costs 280 THB per person.

Is Maya Bay open all year?

No. Maya Bay usually closes for about two months during the low season, commonly in August and September.