Koh Phi Phi is a beautiful island in South Thailand. It is known for its beautiful beaches, party atmosphere, and lots of hiking opportunities. In this article, we will be looking at how to get to Koh Phi Phi and the best ways to get around the island.
There is no airport on Koh Phi Phi, the only way to reach this island is by water. You can easily reach Koh Phi Phi from nearby islands such as Phuket, Koh Yao, Koh Lanta, as well as from popular destinations on the mainland such as Krabi Town and Ao Nang.
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How to get to Koh Phi Phi from Koh Lanta
It is around a 30 minutes to one hour boat ride between Koh Lanta and Koh Phi Phi. The boat departs from Saladan Pier on North Koh Lanta and arrives at TonSai Pier of Koh Phi Phi.
You can easily book tickets at a travel agency, at the office of a boat operator on Koh Lanta, at the pier, or online in advance. I booked my ticket right at Saladan pier. The company I was with is Satun PakBara Speed Boat. The boat departed at 9am and around Koh Phi Phi around 9.45 am.
If you stay further from Saladan Pier, I recommend booking a ferry ticket that includes a transfer from your hotel to the pier. Several companies such as Lanta Petpailin, Chaokoh Travel Center, Satun Pakbara, and Bundhaya Speed Boat provide this service.
When you get off the boat to the pier, you need to pay a 20 baht fee for island waste management. From TonSai Pier on Koh Phi Phi, you can walk to your hotel if it’s located on the main village.
If you stay in places like Long Beach, Laem Tong Beach, or Loh Bakao beach, you can book a long tail boat taxi from Tonsai Pier to get to your destination. Many resorts in these areas offer free transfer from the pier to their hotels.
How to get to Koh Phi Phi from Koh Yao (Yai & Noi)
It is around 1.5 hours to travel from either Koh Yap Yai or Koh Yao Noi to Koh Phi Phi. You can book your ticket online in advance with Koh Yao Sun Smile. They offer pick up from your hotel to the pier.
The boat departs from Chong Lard Pier on Koh Yao Yai or Manoh Pier on Koh Yao Noi, arriving at TonSai Pier on Koh Phi Phi. When I took a boat from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Yao Yao, the boat stopped at Railay and Ao Nang to pick up and drop off passengers before heading to Koh Yao Noi, then Koh Yao Yai.
How to get to Koh Phi Phi from Phuket
The boat ride from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi is around 2 hours on a ferry and 1 hour on a speedboat. The ferry is slightly cheaper than speed boats. Most boats depart from Rassada Pier on Phuket and arrive at Ton Sai Pier on Koh Phi Phi.
As both Phuket and Koh Phi Phi are popular islands, there are many boats running this route daily. Some companies offer speed boats are Bundhaya, Satun Pakbara, and Andaman Wave Master. You can also book a ferry from Andaman Wave Master and Phi Phi Cruiser.
You can easily book the ticket at tour agencies or online on 12go.asia. I recommend booking a ferry ticket that includes a van transfer from your hotel on Phuket to The pier. On Koh Phi Phi, you can walk to your hotel if it’s located within walking distance to the pier, or another long tail boat to get to your hotel.
How to get to Koh Phi Phi from Krabi Town
The ferries depart from various locations near Krabi Town, especially during the high season. Some piers near Krabi Town include Klong Jilad Pier, Kong Ka Pier, and Chao Fah Park Pier.
The ferry ride from Klong Jilad Pier in Krabi to TonSai Pier on Koh Phi Phi is around 2 hours. If you stay in Laem Tong Beach, you can use the ferry of Andaman Wave Master. They offer this route from Klong Jilad Pier to Laem Tong Beach. The journey is around 1.5 hours.
You can check the pier closest to your hotel, buy a ferry ticket, then use Grab/ taxi to get to the pier. Lots of travel agencies such as Phantip Travel offer pick up from your hotel in Krabi Town, so you can consider using this combined ticket.
How to get to Koh Phi Phi from Ao Nang
It is around 1 ferry journey from The ferry from either Ao Nam Mao pier or Wangsai Pier in Ao Nang to TonSai Pier on Koh Phi Phi. You book a taxi/ Grab to get to the pier for ferry or book a combined ticket that includes a van transfer from your hotel in Ao Nang to the pier and the boat ride from this pier to Phi Phi.
You can book this combo ticket with Ao Nang Travel & Tour, Koh Yao Sun Smile, Railay Eco Tour, or Phantip Travel. Check all the ticket options, schedule, and book the ticket here.
How to get to Koh Phi Phi from Bangkok
Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi by air + boat
Phi Phi islands does not have an airport. The closest airport to Koh Phi Phi is either Phuket Airport or Krabi Airport. The flight from Bangkok to these airports is around 1.5 hours. The journey from each airport to Koh Phi Phi is similar in duration, taking about 3 hours.
From Both Phuket Airport and Krabi Airport, you can easily book combined tickets (bus to the pier + ferry) to Koh Phi Phi. You can do it yourself by booking a different ticket from the airport to the pier, and another ticket for a boat to Phi Phi islands.
Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi by bus + boat
Traveling by bus is a budget-friendly option to get from Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi. There are several bus companies that offer combo tickets including bus and ferry. The bus departs from Khao San Road, and takes around 17 hours to reach Koh Phi Phi. Most buses are overnight buses.
How to get to Koh Phi Phi from Koh Samui
It usually takes a whole day to travel from Koh Samui to Koh Phi Phi. It involves many forms of transportation. It includes a transfer from your hotel to the pier on Koh Samui, ferry from Koh Samui to Don Sak Pier, bus transfer from this pier to pier on either Krabi or Phuket, and another ferry to Koh Phi Phi.
I recommend booking combined tickets and leaving early in the morning to catch all types of transport on time. Some travel companies and boat operators offer this tour including Phantip Travel, Sapthaweephol Tour & Travel, Lomlahkkhirin, and Raja Ferry.
If you buy the combined ticket, when you first check in with the travel companies, they will give you lots of tickets. Each ticket for each journey, and you need to check in again with each operator when getting on one form of transport.
For example, I was with Phantip travel. First, their driver picked me up at my hotel to their office in Nathon Pier (my ticket included pick up from my hotel, if you’re not, you need to book a taxi to their office). The staff here gave me different tickets for ferries and buses.
Next, they took me to Nathon Pier. I needed to check in at the pier with the Seatran operator again, by showing them the ferry ticket. When I arrived at Don Sak Pier, I found the way to get to the PhanTip bus to get to the next destination and show the driver the bus ticket, etc..
Remember to keep all of these tickets and take photos of them.
Best ways to get around Koh Phi Phi
Walking
The main island of Koh Phi Phi is Koh Phi Phi Don. It is a small island and can be easily explored on foot. All tourist amenities such as restaurants, travel agencies, bars, and shops in the main village are located within walking distance from each other.
You can easily walk from Tonsai Beach to Loh Dalum Beach within a few minutes through the main village. Lots of beaches that are only accessible by long tail boats can be accessed by foot on low tide.
I explored the town center, the viewpoints and most beaches on the island on foot. I walked all the way from Ton Sai to Long Beach, Loh Moo Dee Beach, Nui Beach, Loh Lana Bay, Laem Tong Beach, and Loh Bakao beach.
Just remember that walking in Koh Phi Phi evolves lots of walking up and down the hill. So be sure, bring good walking shoes with you.
See more detail at How to Walk Around Koh Phi Phi Don
Long tail boats
It is possible to explore most beaches on Koh Phi Phi on foot but it’s easier to use a long tail boat to get to these destinations. If walking takes around 1 hour, the long tail boat ride is around 10 minutes. Of course, walking is free and long tail boats are quite expensive for one ride.
Long tails boats can be easily found at all popular beaches and piers areas. You need to negotiate price with the boat driver. The boat ride at night is also more expensive than during the daytime.
You can also book a private long tail boat to get to Koh Phi Phi Leh to visit famous Maya Bay. This is a great option if you want to go early in the morning to avoid crowds. I booked a private boat for me, and it cost around 2000 baht for 3 hours. You need to pay an additional 400 baht national park fee if you want to put your foot at Maya Bay.
Guided tours
There are many tour agencies in the main village of Koh Phi Phi. You can easily book a shared boat tour to Maya Bay. Many of them offer early morning tours to avoid crowds.
Don’t need to book these tours online in advance. You just need to arrive at the island and book one day before the trip. You can shop around at different stores for the best price.
Tuk Tuk (motobike driver)
Visitors are not allowed to ride motorbikes and cars on Koh Phi Phi. I didn’t see any motorbikes on the main village, but there were more motorbikes and tuk tuks in the north Koh Phi Phi and Long Beach area.
I used tuk tuk to get from Laem Tong Beach to Loh bakao village. If you are tired of walking and on the North part of the island, you can try the tuk tuk too.
See more:
- Where to stay in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand
- How to Spend 2-3 Days In Koh Phi Phi Itinerary
- 24 Amazing Things to Do in Koh Phi Phi
There you have it, some of the best ways to get around Koh Phi Phi, including walking and taking long tail boats. I have also shared ways to reach Koh Phi Phi from various locations in Thailand. I hope you know how to get to the island by now. Have a wonderful trip on Koh Phi Phi!