Ao Nang to Phi Phi takes about 50 minutes by speedboat or about two hours by ferry, with tickets from roughly ฿520 per adult. Boats leave from Nopparat Thara Pier, a few kilometres west of central Ao Nang, and arrive at Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don. Speedboats, standard ferries and van-and-boat combinations all run through the morning and early afternoon, and several sellers include a hotel pickup if you are staying in town.
This guide covers the timetable, the pier, the choice between boats, prices, the rainy season, a day trip and the way back. Times and fares come from the 12Go timetable checked on 30 October 2026, with detail from Phuket Ferry, Direct Ferries and Thailand Boat Tickets. Schedules change with the season and the weather, so confirm your sailing when you book.
- Main pier
- Nopparat Thara Pier
- Arrives at
- Tonsai Pier
- Speedboat
- 50 min · from ฿900
- Ferry
- 2 h · from ฿520
- Van and ferry
- 3 h 15 · from ฿600
- Trips on 12Go
- 71 for 1–7 Nov
What is the best way to get from Ao Nang to Phi Phi?
For most travelers a morning speedboat from Nopparat Thara Pier is the best way across. It takes about 50 minutes and the Bundhaya boat, rated 4.6 out of 5 on 12Go, started at ฿900. The 09:30 ferry from Ao Nang Travel And Tour costs ฿520 and takes two hours, and a van-and-ferry ticket from ฿600 adds a hotel pickup.
Ao Nang to Phi Phi Ferry and Speedboat Times
The 12Go listing for 1 to 7 November 2026 showed 71 trips between ฿520 and ฿1,615 and a rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 1,073 reviews, with 67% giving five stars. The page flagged high demand for those dates and says it counts 266 departures a day across every kind of ticket, including 67 ferries, 157 ferry-and-van tickets and 12 taxi-and-ferry tickets. Those counts include connections from places such as Krabi Airport, so they overstate the number of boats that actually leave Ao Nang.
Direct Ferries, last updated on 29 October 2026, lists about 39 weekly sailings from Nopparat Thara Beach, with an average crossing of 1 hour 10 minutes, a fastest crossing of 50 minutes, a first boat at 08:00 and a last at 14:40. Phuket Ferry lists up to 11 trips a day. The sites count different things, so treat all of them as a guide and check the sailing you want.
| Operator | Boat | Sample departure | Crossing | 12Go table fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PP Cabana Express | Van and speedboat | 07:30 → 09:30 | 2 h | ฿650 |
| Tigerline Travel | Speedboat | 08:00 → 09:45 | 1 h 45 | ฿700 |
| Ao Nang Travel And Tour | Ferry | 09:30 → 11:30 | 2 h | ฿423 |
| Bundhaya Speed Boat | Speedboat | 10:10 → 11:00 | 50 min | ฿608 |
| Wangsai Speedboat | Standard | 11:00 → 12:00 | 1 h | ฿630 |
| Phantip 1970 | Express | 12:00 → 15:30 | 3 h 30 | ฿400 |
| Wangsai Speedboat | Standard | 14:30 → 15:30 | 1 h | ฿600 |
| Tigerline Travel | Speedboat | 15:00 → 16:15 | 1 h 15 | ฿1,250 |
| Ao Nang Travel And Tour | Ferry | 15:30 → 17:30 | 2 h | ฿421 |
Work back from your plans. The 10:10 Bundhaya speedboat lands at 11:00 and leaves most of the day free, while the 15:30 ferry reaches Phi Phi at 17:30 and only suits an overnight stay. Add a buffer, because a July 2026 traveler on a Wangsai speedboat said the operator was changed, the boat left 40 minutes later and it also stopped at Railay, which lengthened the trip.
Compare every Ao Nang to Phi Phi boat for your date
See live departures, fares and operators, then book the boat that fits your plans.
Ao Nang to Phi Phi by Speedboat, Ferry or Van: Which Is Better?
All three cross the same stretch of the Andaman Sea, so the choice is time against comfort and cost. Phuket Ferry lists 50 minutes to one hour for the speedboats and two hours for the Ao Nang Travel And Tour ferry, and says speedboats can take about half the time of the ferry but that waves and weather can change this. It also lists one stop on the speedboats.
Choose the speedboat if…
- You want the shortest crossing, about 50 minutes to one hour.
- The sea is calm, which usually means the dry season from November to April.
- You are connecting with another boat on Phi Phi and a late arrival would break the plan.
Choose the ferry if…
- You get seasick or the forecast is rough.
- You have a back problem or a heart condition. Phuket Ferry says speedboats are not recommended for these travelers, pregnant women, people with disabilities or children aged 3 or under.
- You want the lowest fare. The ferry cards started at ฿520 against ฿900 for the speedboat.
Reviews on 12Go show what to expect. Passengers on the Bundhaya speedboat in May and June 2026 called it fast and comfortable, though one said some seats had very little legroom and another was seasick, which they did not blame on the company. The only recent review of the Ao Nang Travel And Tour ferry, from October 2026, called it dirty and too cold, so pack a light layer. Van-and-ferry riders praised punctual drivers, with one noting four more pickup stops before the harbour.
Nopparat Thara Pier for Ao Nang to Phi Phi: Where Boats Leave
Most boats for Ao Nang to Phi Phi leave from Nopparat Thara Pier. Thailand Boat Tickets places it 2 to 3 km west of central Ao Nang, next to the national park headquarters, and gives a 20 to 30 minute walk along the beachfront. A songthaew costs ฿50 to ฿100 per person and a taxi or Grab ฿100 to ฿200, each taking 5 to 10 minutes. Wikipedia describes Ao Nang as a resort town built mainly along one main street, with many longtail boats serving other beaches and islands.
Facilities at the pier are basic. The same guide lists ticket counters that open from about 7am, a covered waiting area, toilets that sometimes cost ฿5 to ฿10 and small food and drink stalls. It also says there is no proper restaurant, no formal luggage storage and patchy ATM access, so bring cash and eat before you go. Parking is free or low-cost for cars and motorbikes, and many Ao Nang hotels offer a shuttle.
Two details can catch travelers out. The guide says boats loading from Ao Nang Beach itself depend on the tide, while the pier is a deep-water jetty that works at any state of the tide. And not every operator uses it: Phuket Ferry lists Wang Sai Pier for the Wangsai speedboats, and Amazing Lanta, on a page last edited on 30 December 2025, names Krabi Klong Jilad Pier, which no other source we checked mentions. Check the pier printed on your ticket.
Ao Nang 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, the ferry and a van combination using the sections above.
Book online
Most 12Go listings confirm instantly and several show free cancellation. 12Go flagged high demand for early November, so book early in busy weeks.
Plan the ride to the pier
Choose a ticket with hotel pickup, or take a songthaew or taxi to the pier named on your ticket. Leave time for it, because the pier is 2 to 3 km from the centre.
Check in
Arrive at least 45 minutes before departure, up to an hour in busy periods, says Direct Ferries. Swap your voucher for a boarding ticket at your operator's desk and show your passport or photo ID.
Cross to Tonsai Pier
Take travel-sickness tablets if you need them and sit mid-deck. On arrival, keep cash for any park or entry fee, which the prices section explains.
A February 2020 traveler on a Bookaway review describes the boarding in a way that still helps: the Ao Nang Travel ferry had an air-conditioned lower deck and an open upper deck reached by a steep ladder, and the boarding involved several gangways, one without a gangplank. The review is old, but it is a good reason to travel light.
Ao Nang 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 Ao Nang Travel And Tour ferry card showed ฿520 and the Bundhaya speedboat started at ฿900, while a van-and-ferry ticket from Phantip 1970 started at ฿600. Lower down the schedule table listed ฿423 for the same ferry and ฿608 for the same speedboat, which look like older or base fares, and the 12Go text quotes ferry tickets from ฿450 to ฿1,300.
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ferry, Ao Nang Travel And Tour | ฿520 | 12Go card; the schedule table lists ฿418–฿423 and Phuket Ferry lists ฿435 on sale |
| Speedboat, Bundhaya | From ฿900 | 12Go card; the table lists ฿608 and Phuket Ferry lists ฿700 on sale |
| Van and ferry, Phantip 1970 | From ฿600 | Includes pickup in Ao Nang, but not Krabi Town or Railay |
| Fare range, 1–7 November | ฿520–฿1,615 | 71 trips on 12Go |
| Private speedboat, 10 passengers | ฿12,000 | Green Planet, listed on 12Go |
| Taxi and boat | ฿1,438–฿1,610 | 12Go; a taxi alone is quoted up to ฿13,225 |
The Phi Phi entry fee
Sources disagree on the fee you may pay on arrival. Phuket Ferry says a ฿400 entry fee on arrival at Phi Phi is not included in any ticket price. The Thai National Parks site, “as of June 2026”, lists ฿200 for foreign adults and ฿100 for children aged 3 to 14, and a 2015 Thaiger report quoted ฿400 per foreign adult and ฿200 per child for marine areas such as Phi Phi. Keep ฿400 in cash for your first day and ask your boat operator what applies.
How to keep the cost down
- Pick the ferry. It is the cheapest direct boat on the cards, and the premium for a speedboat buys time, not comfort.
- Skip the combined ticket if you can reach the pier. A songthaew costs ฿50 to ฿100 and a taxi ฿100 to ฿200.
- Book ahead in busy weeks. 12Go flagged high demand for early November, and Direct Ferries says timetables often increase in high season.
Ao Nang to Phi Phi in the Rainy Season
Boats for Ao Nang to Phi Phi run all year, says Phuket Ferry, which describes November to April as the best period, with less rain and humidity. The same page notes that waves and weather can change travel times, and Direct Ferries adds that operators often add sailings in high season and may change schedules on public holidays and in peak periods.
Rough weather can stop boats altogether. The Thaiger reported on 13 January 2025 that officials temporarily banned swimming and tourist boats at Phi Phi and put up red flags during the northeast monsoon, and Smartraveller warns that ferry and speedboat travel can be dangerous. Choose a ticket you can change, check the sea on the morning you travel and avoid tight flight connections.
Our guide to the best time to visit Phi Phi explains the seasons month by month, and our Phi Phi tsunami safety guide covers the evacuation hill, the warning towers and the emergency numbers.
Ao Nang to Phi Phi Day Trip: Is It Worth It?
An Ao Nang to Phi Phi day trip works if you start early. The 08:00 Tigerline speedboat reaches Tonsai at 09:45, and the 12Go return timetable lists a Tigerline speedboat leaving Phi Phi at 17:00 and arriving at 18:00, so you get about seven hours on the island. That is enough for the village, a swim, a viewpoint walk and lunch, with a return fare of around ฿1,400 on those two boats plus any entry fee.
What the timetable does not include is a boat to Maya Bay or the snorkeling stops. If you want those, a guided tour is easier than arranging them yourself. Our guides to a Phi Phi island tour, the full Phi Phi day trip plan and the Maya Bay guide show what each option costs and covers, and our Phi Phi viewpoint guide describes the best walk on Phi Phi Don.
The alternative is to stay a night. Our guide on where to stay in Phi Phi compares the areas, and the Phi Phi Don guide describes the island.
Ao Nang to Phi Phi and Onward to Krabi, Lanta or Phuket
Ao Nang is also a good base for other islands. Thailand Boat Tickets lists speedboats from Nopparat Thara to Railay in 15 to 30 minutes, to Koh Lanta in 90 to 120 minutes and to Phuket's Rassada Pier in two to two and a half hours. From Krabi Airport it gives a shuttle van to Ao Nang at ฿150 to ฿200 per person and a private taxi at ฿600 to ฿800, in 40 to 50 minutes.
Phi Phi itself is a hub, so you can continue by boat to Phuket or Krabi. Our Phuket to Phi Phi guide, Krabi to Phi Phi guide and Koh Lanta to Phi Phi guide cover those crossings, and the Phi Phi island ferry overview compares every way across.
Phi Phi to Ao Nang: Getting Back After Ao Nang to Phi Phi
On 12Go the reverse route showed 65 trips from ฿600 to ฿1,651 for 1 to 7 November 2026. The cards listed the Bundhaya speedboat from ฿900 in about an hour, a Phantip 1970 van-and-ferry ticket from ฿600 and a Songserm express ferry and van from ฿635, both about three hours with a drop at your hotel.
| Operator | Boat | Sample departure | Crossing | 12Go table fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ao Nang Travel And Tour | Ferry | 09:30 → 11:30 | 2 h | ฿421 |
| Phantip 1970 | Express | 10:30 → 13:30 | 3 h | ฿400 |
| Koh Yao Sun Smile | Speedboat | 11:00 → 12:00 | 1 h | ฿650 |
| Tigerline Travel | Speedboat | 12:00 → 13:00 | 1 h | ฿700 |
| Koh Yao Sun Smile | Speedboat | 15:00 → 16:00 | 1 h | ฿650 |
| Tigerline Travel | Speedboat | 17:00 → 18:00 | 1 h | ฿700 |
The last speedboat in that table leaves at 17:00. If you have a flight the same day, take an earlier boat and do not rely on the final one. You can search Phi Phi to Ao Nang boats on 12Go and compare them with the outbound sailings.
Ao Nang to Phi Phi Tips: Luggage, ID and Seasickness
- Luggage. Direct Ferries lists one main bag up to 20 kg plus a small carry-on on Bundhaya, one suitcase up to 25 inches plus a handbag on the Andaman Wave Master ferry, and a surcharge of ฿300 per extra piece on that operator.
- ID. Carry your passport or photo ID and your booking confirmation.
- Timing. Arrive at least 45 minutes early, longer in busy periods.
- Seasickness. Take tablets before boarding, sit mid-deck and watch the horizon. The ferry is steadier than the speedboat in a swell.
- Layers. A recent reviewer found the ferry too cold, so keep a light top in your day bag.
- Pickups. Confirm the time and a phone number the day before. One August 2026 reviewer on a van pickup said they were never contacted.
- No cars, bicycles or pets. Direct Ferries says these boats carry foot passengers only and that pets are not allowed.
- Water. 12Go says tap water on Phi Phi is not safe to drink, so buy bottled water.
Once you land, our Koh Phi Phi guide helps you plan the stay.
Ao Nang to Phi Phi FAQ
How long does it take to get from Ao Nang to Phi Phi?
A speedboat takes about 50 minutes to one hour and a ferry about two hours. Combined tickets with a hotel van add the road leg, and the Phantip 1970 card on 12Go showed 3 hours 15 minutes door to door.
How much is the ferry from Ao Nang to Phi Phi?
On 12Go in late October 2026 the Ao Nang Travel And Tour ferry card showed ฿520, the Bundhaya speedboat started at ฿900 and a van-and-ferry ticket started at ฿600. The schedule table lists lower fares, so check the live price.
Which pier does the Ao Nang to Phi Phi boat leave from?
Most leave from Nopparat Thara Pier, 2 to 3 km west of central Ao Nang. Wangsai Speedboat uses Wang Sai Pier, so check your ticket. Boats arrive at Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don.
What time is the first boat from Ao Nang to Phi Phi?
The 12Go schedule lists a van-and-speedboat ticket at 07:30 and a Tigerline speedboat at 08:00. Direct Ferries puts the first sailing at 08:00 and the last at 14:40, and the 12Go table lists ferries at 15:30.
Is hotel pickup included in an Ao Nang to Phi Phi ticket?
Only on combined tickets. The Phantip 1970 van and ferry covers Ao Nang but not Krabi Town or Railay. Pier-to-pier tickets do not include a pickup.
Do boats from Ao Nang to Phi Phi run in the rainy season?
Phuket Ferry says the route runs all year, but waves and weather can change travel times and officials have banned boats at Phi Phi in rough seas. Keep your ticket flexible.
Is Phi Phi a good day trip from Ao Nang?
It works on an early boat. An 08:00 speedboat and a 17:00 return give about seven hours on the island. For Maya Bay and snorkeling, a guided tour is easier.
How early should I arrive at the pier?
At least 45 minutes before departure, says Direct Ferries, and up to an hour in busy periods. Thailand Boat Tickets suggests 45 to 60 minutes between December and February.
Ready to book Ao Nang to Phi Phi?
Compare live times, fares and operators, then reserve your seat.
Photo credits: Ao Nang beach by kallerna (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons); Nopparat Thara beach by Marcin Konsek (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Longtail boats at Ao Nang by Jpatokal (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons); Tonsai Pier by Christophe95 (CC BY-SA 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.