Koh Lanta to Phi Phi takes about 30 minutes by speedboat or around an hour by standard ferry, with tickets from roughly ฿600 per adult. Boats leave from Saladan Pier at the northern tip of Koh Lanta and arrive at Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don. Direct sailings run through the morning and early afternoon, and most sellers offer a version with hotel pickup if your resort is far from the pier.
This guide covers the timetable, operators, the pier, hotel transfers, prices, monsoon tips, day trips and the trip back. Times and fares come from the 12Go timetable checked on 30 October 2026, with detail from Ferryhopper, Direct Ferries and Phuket Ferry. Schedules change with the season and the weather, so confirm your sailing when you book.
- Main pier
- Saladan Pier
- Arrives at
- Tonsai Pier
- Standard ferry
- About 1 h · from ฿600
- Speedboat
- 30–45 min · from ฿740
- Departures
- 07:00 to 15:30
- With hotel pickup
- From ฿630
What is the best way to get from Koh Lanta to Phi Phi?
For most travelers, a morning speedboat from Saladan Pier is the best way across. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes and costs around ฿740 on 12Go for the Bundhaya boat, rated 4.6 out of 5. Choose the standard ferry, about an hour for ฿600, if you want air-conditioning, a deck and more room for bags, or a combined ticket if you need a hotel pickup.
Koh Lanta to Phi Phi Ferry Times and Operators
The 12Go timetable for 1 to 7 November 2026 listed 22 trips between ฿599 and ฿1,050, with a 4.4 out of 5 rating from 510 reviews, and 62% of those reviews gave five stars. 12Go counts 41 departures a day, made up of 17 ferry sailings and 24 combined van and ferry tickets. Direct Ferries counts about eight direct sailings a day, with the first around 09:00 and the last around 16:00, so the two sites are counting different things.
Direct Ferries lists five operators on the route: Bundhaya Speed Boat, Andaman Wave Master, Tigerline, Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Club and Chaokoh. Ferryhopper adds Jolly Travel, and 12Go also sells seats from Lanta Petpailin, Awaycation Trip and PP Cabana Express. Compare the boat type and departure time before the brand name, because a standard ferry and a speedboat are very different crossings.
| Operator | Boat | Sample departure | Crossing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chaokoh Travel Center | Ferry | 08:00 → 09:00 | 1 h |
| Lanta Petpailin | Standard ferry | 08:00 → 09:00 | 1 h |
| Bundhaya Speed Boat | Speedboat | 09:45 → 10:30 | 45 min |
| Chaokoh Travel Center | Truck plus ferry | 11:30 → 14:00 | 2 h 30 incl. road |
| Tigerline Travel | Speedboat | 12:45 → 13:15 | 30 min |
| Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Club | Speedboat | 14:30 → 15:00 | 30 min |
| Bundhaya Speed Boat | Speedboat | 15:30 → 16:00 | 30 min |
Work back from your plans. The 09:45 Bundhaya speedboat lands at 10:30 and leaves most of the day free, while the 15:30 boat reaches Phi Phi at 16:00 and only suits an overnight stay. Add a buffer, because a traveler on the Lanta Petpailin ferry between the two islands reported arriving about 20 minutes later than scheduled in late October 2026.
Compare every Koh Lanta to Phi Phi boat for your date
See live departures, fares and operators, then book the boat that fits your plans.
Koh Lanta to Phi Phi by Speedboat or Ferry: Which Is Better?
Both boats cross the same stretch of the Andaman Sea, so the choice is time against comfort. Go Ferry puts speedboats at about 30 to 45 minutes and standard ferries at about one hour to one hour 15. Phuket Ferry notes that ferries usually keep running in rain while speedboats are more often stopped by rough seas, and in the monsoon that matters more than the price gap.
Choose the speedboat if…
- You want the shortest crossing, about 30 to 45 minutes.
- The sea is calm, which usually means the dry season from November to April.
- You are making a connection on Phi Phi, since a late ferry can break one.
Choose the standard ferry if…
- You get seasick or the forecast is rough.
- You carry a lot of luggage and want more room for it.
- You are travelling between May and October, when speedboats are the first sailings stopped.
Reviews on 12Go show what to expect. Passengers on the larger Chaokoh ferry in March and April 2026 praised the cold air-conditioning and a deck for sun. Reviewers on the Lanta Petpailin ferry were mixed: older seats with little legroom, one complaint about missing air-conditioning in July 2026 and one traveler who called it comfortable but too long. Among the speedboats, Bundhaya scores 4.6 and Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Club 4.3 on the booking cards.
Saladan Pier for Koh Lanta to Phi Phi: Where Boats Leave
Every direct boat for Koh Lanta to Phi Phi leaves from Saladan Pier, at the northern tip of Koh Lanta Yai according to Ferryhopper. The pier sits beside Ban Saladan, a village of shops, ticket agents and stilt houses on the water, and boats arrive at Tonsai Pier on the other side. Plan to be there at least 30 minutes before departure, as Ferryhopper and Phuket Ferry both advise.
Check-in is simple but strict. Phuket Ferry says to show the QR code on your e-ticket at your operator's counter, and that a late passenger forfeits the ticket with no refund or change. Direct Ferries adds that you should bring your passport or another photo ID and your booking confirmation, and that these boats take foot passengers only, with no cars or pets.
Hotel Pickup for Koh Lanta to Phi Phi: Combined Tickets Explained
Saladan sits at the northern tip of a long island, so a hotel in the south can be a long ride from the boat. Most sellers on 12Go offer a combined ticket with a van from your hotel, and the page lists van and ferry tickets from ฿599 to ฿856 with pickups from 07:00 to 10:00. For a clean comparison, Bundhaya sold its pier-to-pier speedboat at ฿740 and the same speedboat with a hotel van from ฿845, so the pickup added about ฿105.
Pickups are where things go wrong. Reviewers in March 2026 reported a pickup time that was never communicated, a van 20 minutes late with no message and a ride in a pickup truck they called neither safe nor comfortable. One April 2026 traveler waited 45 minutes at a tour office after setting off, and a January 2026 reviewer said a ticket advertised with a van and a 45-minute crossing included no van and took two hours. Confirm the pickup time and a phone number the day before, or book pier to pier and arrange your own ride.
Koh Lanta to Phi Phi Step by Step: From Booking to Tonsai Pier
Pick a boat
Use the search form at the top of this page. Choose a morning departure and decide between the speedboat and the ferry using the sections above.
Book online
Most 12Go listings confirm instantly and several show free cancellation. 12Go flagged high demand for early November dates, and Ferryhopper advises booking one to two months ahead in the high season.
Sort out the ride to Saladan
Choose a combined ticket with hotel pickup, or arrange a taxi or your own transport to the pier named on your ticket.
Check in at the pier
Arrive 30 minutes early with your e-ticket QR code and passport. Keep valuables, medicine and a light layer in a small bag.
Cross to Tonsai Pier
Take travel-sickness tablets if you need them and sit mid-deck. A ฿20 pier fee may apply on arrival, so keep small notes handy.
Koh Lanta to Phi Phi Prices: What the Trip Really Costs
Prices depend on where you look, so budget from the booking cards and not the lowest figure on the page. On 12Go the standard ferry card showed ฿600 and the Bundhaya speedboat ฿740 for one adult, with combined hotel-pickup tickets from ฿630 to ฿845. Lower down the same page the schedule table listed ฿270 to ฿282 for standard ferries and ฿437 to ฿500 for speedboats, which looks like an older or base fare. Phuket Ferry's ฿600 for the Lanta Petpailin ferry matches the booking card.
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard ferry | ฿600 | Lanta Petpailin on 12Go and Phuket Ferry; the 12Go table lists ฿270–฿282 |
| Speedboat, pier to pier | ฿740 | Bundhaya card on 12Go; the table lists ฿437–฿500 |
| Van plus boat | ฿630–฿845 | Satun Pakbara from ฿630, Bundhaya from ฿845 |
| Highest fare listed | ฿1,050 | Top of the 12Go range for 1–7 November 2026 |
| Direct Ferries fares | About $18–$22 | Chaokoh from about $18, Andaman Wave Master from about $22 |
| Pier fee at Phi Phi | ฿20 | May apply if not already paid, per Go Ferry |
| Oversized luggage | ฿100–฿200 | Dive gear, surfboards; Go Ferry estimate |
Direct Ferries mentions a 5% student discount and flexi tickets that let you change the date or time subject to availability, and it says prices rise as seats sell out, especially in school holidays.
How to keep the cost down
- Pick the standard ferry. It costs ฿140 less than the Bundhaya speedboat on the booking cards, and the premium buys speed, not comfort.
- Skip the combined ticket if you can reach the pier. The Bundhaya hotel van added about ฿105.
- Book ahead in busy weeks. The cheapest seats for Koh Lanta to Phi Phi go first, and Direct Ferries says prices rise as availability falls.
Koh Lanta to Phi Phi in the Monsoon Season
Direct boats for Koh Lanta to Phi Phi run for most of the year, but service thins out in the monsoon from May to October. Amazing Lanta, a local travel site, says the Phi Phi link is possible only when the weather allows and warns it can be blocked for a week at a time. That page was last edited in 2024, so read it as a worst case. Go Ferry describes fewer sailings in the low season but still daily service, weather permitting.
Plan with a cushion. Avoid tight flight connections, choose a ticket you can change and check the sea on the morning you travel. If boats are cancelled, the backup is a minivan over Koh Lanta's car ferries to the mainland and a boat from Krabi, and Amazing Lanta says the car ferries run daily from 06:00 to 22:00. Our Krabi to Phi Phi guide covers that route.
Maya Bay also closes each year from 1 August to 30 September, and Time Out reported that it reopened on 1 October 2026. Our guide to the best time to visit Phi Phi covers the seasons month by month, and the Maya Bay guide has the current rules.
Koh Lanta to Phi Phi Day Trip: Is It Worth It?
A Koh Lanta to Phi Phi day trip works if you start early. The 09:45 Bundhaya speedboat reaches Tonsai at 10:30, and the 12Go return timetable lists boats from Phi Phi at 15:30 and 16:00, so you get about five hours on the island. That is enough for the village, a swim, a viewpoint walk and lunch, but nothing in that timetable includes a boat to Maya Bay.
If you want Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and snorkeling in one day, a guided speedboat tour from Koh Lanta is easier because it covers the stops. A Lanta agency itinerary edited in 2023 shows the format: hotel pickup at about 08:15, Viking Cave, snorkeling at Maya Bay, lunch, about two and a half hours on Phi Phi Don and a return around 16:00, with park fees included and about eight hours in all. Prices vary, so check the current one with your hotel or tour desk.
The alternative is to stay a night and join a boat from the island. Our guides to a Phi Phi island tour and the full Phi Phi day trip plan show what each option costs and covers.
Koh Lanta to Phi Phi and Onward to Phuket, Krabi or Samui
Phi Phi is also a hub for boats north to Phuket and east to Krabi. If you are continuing, book the next leg separately and leave a generous buffer. A March 2026 reviewer on a Chaokoh ferry said it left 20 minutes late and then waited in Phi Phi bay while Phuket-bound passengers changed boats, so they reached Tonsai an hour late and missed a connection to Laem Thong Beach. Their advice was to take a speedboat from Koh Lanta if you have a connection.
From Tonsai Pier you can continue by boat to Phuket or Krabi, as covered in our Phuket to Phi Phi guide and Krabi to Phi Phi guide, or on to Koh Samui via the mainland, which our Phi Phi to Koh Samui guide explains. For every way across, see the Phi Phi island ferry overview.
Phi Phi to Koh Lanta: Getting Back After Koh Lanta to Phi Phi
On 12Go the reverse route showed 20 trips from ฿550 to ฿1,230, with the first boat at 09:30 and the last at 16:00. Speedboats take about 30 minutes and standard ferries about an hour, all arriving at Saladan Pier. In the schedule table Satun Pakbara's 12:00 speedboat is rated 4.8, Bundhaya's 11:00 and 13:00 boats 4.5 and the 16:00 Lanta Petpailin ferry 4.5.
12Go flagged these dates as high demand, so book the way back early, especially if you have a flight. You can search Phi Phi to Koh Lanta boats on 12Go and compare them with the outbound sailings.
Koh Lanta to Phi Phi Tips: Luggage, ID and Seasickness
- Luggage. Phuket Ferry allows 20 kg per passenger on the Lanta Petpailin ferry, with a charge for excess. Go Ferry says 20 to 25 kg is typical and that oversized items such as dive gear or surfboards may cost ฿100 to ฿200.
- ID. Carry your passport or photo ID and your booking confirmation, as Direct Ferries advises.
- Timing. Arrive 30 minutes early. Phuket Ferry says a late passenger loses the ticket.
- Seasickness. Take tablets before boarding, sit mid-deck and watch the horizon. Speedboats pitch more than ferries in a swell.
- Layers. Reviewers on the big Chaokoh ferry mention strong air-conditioning, so keep a light top in your day bag.
- Pickups. Confirm the time and a phone number the day before.
- No cars or pets. These boats carry foot passengers only, per Direct Ferries.
Once you land, our Koh Phi Phi guide, the list of things to do in Phi Phi and our page on Long Beach help you plan the stay.
Koh Lanta to Phi Phi FAQ
How long does it take to get from Koh Lanta to Phi Phi?
A speedboat takes about 30 to 45 minutes and a standard ferry about an hour. Combined tickets with a hotel van add the road leg, and the 12Go timetable shows about two to two and a half hours door to door.
How much is the ferry from Koh Lanta to Phi Phi?
On 12Go in late October 2026 a standard ferry card showed ฿600 and the Bundhaya speedboat ฿740, with hotel-pickup tickets from ฿630 to ฿845. The schedule table lists lower fares, so check the live price.
Which pier does the Koh Lanta to Phi Phi boat leave from?
Saladan Pier, at the northern tip of Koh Lanta Yai. Boats arrive at Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don.
What time is the first boat from Koh Lanta to Phi Phi?
12Go lists combined van and ferry tickets from about 07:00 and direct ferries from 08:00. Direct Ferries puts the first sailing around 09:00 and the last around 16:00, so confirm yours.
Do boats from Koh Lanta to Phi Phi run in the monsoon season?
Yes, but with fewer sailings, and speedboats are stopped first when the sea is rough. A local travel site warns the link can be cut for days, so keep a backup by road and Krabi.
Is Phi Phi a good day trip from Koh Lanta?
It works on a morning boat, which gives about five hours on the island. For Maya Bay and snorkeling, a guided speedboat tour from Lanta is easier.
Is hotel pickup included in a Koh Lanta to Phi Phi ticket?
Only on combined tickets. Pier-to-pier tickets do not include it, and the Bundhaya hotel van added about ฿105 on 12Go.
How early should I arrive at Saladan Pier?
At least 30 minutes before departure, with your e-ticket and passport. Phuket Ferry says late passengers lose their ticket.
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Photo credits: Koh Lanta beach by Jens-Petter Salvesen (CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons); Ban Saladan waterfront by Maksim Ulitin (CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons); Tonsai Pier by Christophe95 (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Maya Bay by Vyacheslav Argenberg (CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons).
Disclosure: InsideSamui may earn a commission when you book through some of the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. This guide is compiled from published park, operator and traveler information, checked on 30 October 2026. We have not run these trips ourselves for this page. Prices, schedules, fees and rules around Koh Phi Phi change often, so confirm with your operator before you travel. Ticket sales are handled by 12Go.