An absolute must-do tour when visiting Phuket! The Phi Phi Island day trip by speedboat. We opted for a private boat, and we explain below why it was the best option.

Andaman Leisure Phuket (ALP) is the company we selected when we booked through our hotel tour desk during our stay at the Thavorn Palm Beach Resort. I feel like we hit the jackpot, and it was one of the best decisions of the trip! Take a look at our highlights video below.

Where is Phi Phi Island

Phi Phi Island is located southeast of Phuket in the Andaman Sea. The journey typically takes 1 hour by speedboat (or a little longer pending weather!) to get from mainland Phuket to Phi Phi Island.

Private speedboat or group tour?

We were holidaying with another family so were a total of 8, consisting of 4 adults and 4 children. When we were looking at the tour options, we chose the private speedboat tour option and we split the cost between the two families.

Is a Private speedboat worth the extra money?

In short – YES! And these are our main reasons why we found the private tour much more enjoyable:

• We didn’t have to squish into the boat, sliding up against someone else’s sunscreened, sweaty body!
• There was ample opportunity to relax and sit at the front of the boat, instead of having to take turns to enjoy the fresh air!
• So much space to spread out and relax, especially with the hour long journey to and from the mainland.
• We were able to dictate how long we stayed at each location – no set timing!

We saw many group tours, and the crowded boats didn’t look super enjoyable! We’ve done them before, but travelling with a child has changed the way in which we travel and having that extra space is important for us.

All entry to national parks were included in our booking, so that is something to consider when looking at pricing, as some of the group tours add on the entry to the price.

Itinerary

Swim: After an enjoyable, relaxing journey by speedboat, our first stop was for a swim in some stunning water! We jumped off the boat, cooled off, and then jumped back onto the boat for our next stop.

Maya Bay: The famous Maya Bay is spectacular! You are no longer allowed to swim at the beach, and staff are on site to ensure no one does. But, in my opinion, it makes it even more beautiful! Surrounded by stunning cliffs and crystal-clear water, it is breathtaking. We also saw a group of baby sharks chasing some fish, so part of me is glad there is no swimming! Entry to Maya Bay was included in our private tour.

Monkey Island: Our tour company is eco-friendly and does not stop at the beach for tourists to disembark. We saw a monkey from the boat, perched on the rocks. I have been told they are pretty aggressive, so it’s probably best to stay on the boat anyway!

Phi Phi Island: We then stopped in at Phi Phi Island for a buffet lunch, which was included in the tour price. We then had free time to walk around the island, enjoy the markets and were able to depart when we were ready for one last swim before heading back to Phuket!

Snorkel spot: We stopped for snorkelling and enjoyed seeing beautiful marine life below us.

Swim: We had one final swim before heading back to Phuket. It was nice that we were able to decide how long we stayed at the swimming spot for – a benefit of a private tour! Life vests are mandatory at this beach.

What is included

It is important to understand what is included in your package and any additional costs you may incur (e.g., entry to national parks).

For us, the following was included in our tour price

• Certified Tour Guide (who was amazing!!)
• Transfers to and from our hotel (at a time that we chose, again, that is a benefit of a private tour)
• Buffet Lunch
• Snorkeling gear
• Drinks (soft drinks and water), snacks and a fresh fruit platter
• Travel Insurance (very important, this is included regardless of the tour you choose!)
• National Park Fees

What to bring

• Wear your swimwear!
• Towel
• Sunscreen (you’ll want to be reapplying throughout the day)
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Local currency
• Ensure the company has a copy of your passport for travel insurance purposes
• Dry clothes if you want to get changed at the port before heading back to the hotel. They have showers available if you want to clean up prior to departing (this may only be possible if you have booked a private tour and you’re not keeping others waiting)

Overall recommendation

We enjoyed our day so much that when we returned to the port, we asked if we could book the same crew and boat for the James Bond Sea Canoe Tour the following day.

Planning a trip to Thailand?

If you want to get ideas on other amazing things to do in Thailand, or options on where to stay, take a look at all of our Thailand posts here.