Phuket to Phi Phi is about an hour by speedboat or two hours by big ferry from Rassada Pier, with tickets from roughly ฿270 for a standard ferry and ฿437 for a speedboat. There is no bridge and no airport on the island, so a boat is the only way across, and the right one depends on how fast you want to arrive, how much luggage you carry and how rough the sea looks.
This guide covers the timetable, operators, prices, how to reach Rassada Pier from the airport and the beaches, what changes in the rainy season and what to do about seasickness. Times and fares come from the 12Go timetable checked on 26 October 2026 and from Phuket 101, last updated in April 2026. Schedules shift with the season, so confirm your departure when you book.
- Departs from
- Rassada Pier
- Arrives at
- Tonsai Pier
- Big ferry
- About 2 h · from ฿270
- Speedboat
- About 1–1¾ h · from ฿437
- Check in
- 30–45 min early
- Pier fee
- ฿20, cash
What is the best boat from Phuket to Phi Phi?
For most travelers, a morning speedboat from Rassada Pier is the best balance, with listed crossings of about an hour to 1 h 45 and fares of ฿437 to ฿500. Take the big ferry instead if you get seasick, carry heavy bags or travel in the rainy season.
Phuket to Phi Phi: Boats and Operators Compared
Several companies run boats on this route, and they differ more in speed than in price. The table shows a sample departure for each operator from 12Go's timetable, with the arrival time it lists. Those arrival times are the quickest way to see how different the crossings are.
| Operator | Boat | Sample departure | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bundhaya Speed Boat | Speedboat | 07:35 → 09:20 | ฿437–฿460 |
| PP Cabana Express | Speedboat | 08:45 → 09:45 | ฿500 |
| Phi Phi Logistic and Tour | Speedboat | 09:30 → 10:30 | ฿471 |
| PP Sabai Marine | Speedboat | 12:15 → 14:00 | ฿650 |
| Chaokoh Travel Center | Big ferry | 11:00 → 13:00 | ฿270 |
| Andaman Wave Master | Standard-class ferry | 13:30 → 15:30 | ฿400 |
| Phi Phi Cruiser | Big ferry | 12:45 → 15:30 | ฿400 |
| Seatran Phuket | Van plus speedboat | 11:45 → 14:00 | ฿1,200 |
Operators in the timetable score between 4.0 and 5.0 out of 5. The route as a whole holds 4.6 out of 5 across more than 4,600 reviews, and 69% of them are five stars. The slowest listed crossing, Phi Phi Cruiser, takes nearly three hours, while the fastest speedboats take about an hour.
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Phuket to Phi Phi Ferry Times: When Do Boats Leave?
The earliest boat in the 12Go timetable leaves Rassada Pier at 06:30, and the list shows at least 18 departures between then and 13:30 before you press its show more button. Bundhaya Speed Boat runs most of them, followed by PP Sabai Marine and the ferry operators. Phuket 101 lists the big ferry at 08:30, 11:00, 13:30, 13:45 and 15:00, and speedboats between 08:30 and 11:00, adding that the high season brings more speedboat departures.
Treat any timetable as a snapshot. Operators add and drop sailings between the dry season from November to April and the rainy season from May to October, and an older guide may quote a schedule that no longer runs. The practical advice is to pick a morning boat. You reach Phi Phi with the whole day ahead, you have a margin if a crossing is delayed, and the morning sea is often calmer.
Arrival time depends on the tide as well as the boat. One reviewer who arrived at low tide on 25 October 2026 described a smooth changeover to a smaller boat that took passengers to shore. That is normal at some states of the tide, so keep your bags together when you transfer.
Phuket to Phi Phi by Speedboat or Ferry: Which Should You Pick?
Both boats land at Tonsai Pier, so the choice comes down to time, comfort and risk of seasickness. Phuket 101 puts the speedboat at 50 minutes to an hour and the big ferry at about two hours, and says the ferry is the smoother of the two. The Andaman Sea is not always calm, so this matters more than the price difference.
Choose the speedboat if…
- You want the shortest crossing, roughly an hour on the faster departures.
- The weather is settled, which usually means the dry season from November to April.
- You are travelling light and are comfortable with a snug seat and limited luggage space.
Choose the big ferry if…
- You get seasick or the forecast is rough, since the larger boat rides more steadily.
- You have a lot of luggage, because ferries take more of it than speedboats.
- You are travelling in the rainy season, when speedboats are the first sailings to be cancelled.
Phuket Ferry advises pregnant women, small children and anyone prone to back pain to avoid speedboats. Phuket 101 suggests sitting in the middle of the lower deck, away from the back where engine vibration is strongest, and taking seasickness tablets before you board rather than after.
Phuket to Phi Phi Operators: What Travelers Say
Reviews on 12Go give a feel for each boat, though a handful of comments is a signal and not a verdict. These are the patterns that stood out in recent reviews.
- Bundhaya Speed Boat. The busiest operator, with sailings rated 4.7 to 5.0. Reviewers mention on-time departures, a clean boat, an onboard toilet and bags stored under seats or in a closed area.
- Andaman Wave Master. The standard-class ferry is rated 4.5. One traveler caught an earlier boat by arriving early, and another had a 2 h 45 crossing because the boat looped around Phi Phi Leh.
- Chaokoh Travel Center. The 11:00 ferry is rated 4.7 and the cheapest listed at ฿270. Comments range from easy and efficient to a complaint about hard selling on board.
- PP Sabai Marine. The priciest speedboat in the list at ฿650, with fewer reviews to go on.
- Phi Phi Cruiser. A ฿400 ferry rated 5.0, and the slowest listed crossing at close to three hours.
How to Get to Rassada Pier for Phuket to Phi Phi
Rassada Pier is on Phuket's east coast, a few minutes south of Phuket Town, according to Phuket 101. It is not near the airport or the west-coast beaches, so allow time for the road. Phuket Ferry says the piers have parking at roughly ฿100 to ฿200 a day, which fills quickly in peak season.
| Starting point | Typical time | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phuket Airport | About 45 min | ฿867 for a 3-seat EV taxi | 12Go taxi listing; a driver can meet you at arrivals |
| Patong | 35–45 min | ฿700–฿1,000 | Phuket 101 estimate; 12Go lists ฿854 |
| Kata or Karon | 30–40 min | Varies | Phuket 101 estimate |
| Hotel pickup with your ticket | Collected 1.5–2 h before departure | Included in the ticket | Shared minivan; confirm the meeting point |
Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before departure. Phuket 101 says at least 30 minutes for check-in and boarding passes, while a reviewer advised 45 minutes to find the right counter. The same reviewer noted that the pier toilets sell paper, so carry tissues and small change.
Phuket to Phi Phi Step by Step: From Booking to Tonsai Pier
Pick a departure
Use the search form at the top of this page. Choose a morning boat if you can, and leave a margin if you have a flight.
Book the boat
Most listings on 12Go confirm instantly, and many show free cancellation. 12Go flagged late-October dates as selling out quickly, so book ahead in busy weeks.
Plan the transfer to Rassada
Take a taxi, a shared minivan or a combined ticket that includes pickup. Combined hotel-to-Tonsai tickets were listed from ฿1,650.
Check in at the pier
Arrive 30 to 45 minutes early and swap your voucher for a boarding pass. Staff load luggage, so keep valuables and medicine in a small bag.
Cross and arrive
Sit mid-deck, take seasickness tablets early and watch for your pier. At Tonsai you pay a ฿20 clean-up fee in cash.
Phuket to Phi Phi Prices: What the Trip Really Costs
Online fares are lower than the walk-up prices some guides quote. Phuket 101 gives ฿850 to ฿950 for a speedboat and about ฿600 for the big ferry, while 12Go listed speedboats from ฿437 and ferries from ฿270. Compare before you pay at the pier.
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Big ferry ticket | ฿270–฿600 | ฿270–฿400 on 12Go; about ฿600 quoted by Phuket 101 |
| Speedboat ticket | ฿437–฿650 | Phuket 101 quotes ฿850–฿950 for walk-up fares |
| Taxi to Rassada Pier | ฿700–฿1,000 | Roughly ฿867 from the airport on 12Go |
| Tonsai Pier clean-up fee | ฿20 | Paid in cash on arrival |
| National park fee | ฿200–฿400 | Only on trips to Maya Bay or Bamboo Island; sources differ |
The park fee is a common source of confusion. Thai National Parks lists ฿200 for adults and ฿100 for children, while Phuket 101 gives ฿400 and ฿200 for Maya Bay or Bamboo Island visits. Ask your hotel or tour operator what is charged on the day.
Phuket to Phi Phi Day Trip: Is It Worth It?
A day trip is possible, because Phi Phi lies about 40 km from Phuket, according to 12Go's route guide. The catch is time on the island. A 07:35 speedboat arrives at 09:20, and the return boats Phuket 101 lists leave Tonsai at 15:30, which leaves roughly six hours.
If you want snorkeling, Maya Bay and lunch in one go, a guided Phi Phi island tour is usually easier than doing it independently, because the boat handles the stops. If you would rather see the village and beaches at your own pace, stay at least one night. Our Phi Phi day trip guide shows how to plan the hours.
Phuket to Phi Phi in the Rainy Season
Boats run all year, but the monsoon from May to October brings rougher water. Phuket 101 warns that some departures may be cancelled in the low season, speedboats first, and recommends the big ferry. A reviewer who crossed by speedboat in early October still described the ride as easy and safe, despite rain, so rough weather does not always stop sailings.
Plan with a cushion. Avoid tight connections with international flights, choose a ticket you can change and check for a cancellation message on the morning you travel. 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.
Phuket to Phi Phi Tips: Luggage, Pickups and Onboard Sales
- Luggage. Phuket 101 allows one checked bag and one hand bag, up to 25 kg in total. Reviewers say crew members load and unload bags for you.
- Extra stops. One traveler on a standard-class ferry reported 2 h 45 instead of two hours because the boat looped around Phi Phi Leh. Ask about the route if time matters.
- Onboard offers. A reviewer called the trips and transfers sold during one crossing poor value. You can decline politely and book later with someone you trust.
- Pickups. A traveler on a van-plus-ferry ticket was sent to a transfer station instead of being collected at the hotel. Confirm the meeting point the day before.
- Pier choice. Most boats arrive at Tonsai Pier, but Andaman Wave Master also calls at Laem Thong in the north, with a shuttle boat between the two. Check which pier your ticket names.
Once you land, our Koh Phi Phi guide and the list of things to do in Phi Phi help you plan the stay. For the wider picture of boats to the island, see our Phi Phi island ferry guide.
Phi Phi to Phuket: Getting Back After Your Phuket to Phi Phi Trip
Book the way back before you need it, especially if you have a flight. Phuket 101 lists return ferries from Tonsai Pier at 09:00, 11:00, 14:30, 15:00 and 15:30, and speedboats at 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:30 and 15:30. Afternoon boats fill first in the dry season, and the last departure changes with the season, so confirm it before you plan a late check-out.
Leave a generous buffer between your arrival at Rassada and any flight, because you still need a taxi to the airport. If you would rather not go back the way you came, boats also run from Phi Phi to Krabi and Koh Lanta. Our guides to Krabi to Phi Phi and Koh Lanta to Phi Phi cover those routes.
Phuket to Phi Phi FAQ
How long does it take to get from Phuket to Phi Phi?
A speedboat takes roughly an hour on the faster departures and up to about 1 h 45, while the big ferry takes about two hours. A few sailings take close to three hours because of extra stops.
How much is the ferry from Phuket to Phi Phi?
On 12Go in October 2026, big ferries started at ฿270 and speedboats at ฿437, with faster or premium boats up to ฿650. Some guides quote higher walk-up fares, so compare before you buy.
Which pier do boats leave from in Phuket?
Most leave from Rassada Pier on the east coast, a few minutes south of Phuket Town. Check your ticket, because a few operators use other piers.
What time is the first boat from Phuket to Phi Phi?
The earliest departure in the 12Go timetable is 06:30. Other guides list the first sailings at about 08:30, so the first boat of the day depends on the season and operator.
Can I go from Phuket airport straight to Phi Phi?
Not by boat, because there is no pier at the airport. A taxi to Rassada takes about 45 minutes, and 12Go also lists combined airport-to-Tonsai tickets from ฿1,650.
Is the speedboat or the ferry better in the rainy season?
The big ferry. Speedboats are bumpier and are the first sailings cancelled when the sea is rough.
Is Phi Phi a good day trip from Phuket?
It works if you start early, but you will have only about six hours on the island. A guided tour or an overnight stay gives you more time.
Do I need to book the boat in advance?
It is safer to book ahead in busy weeks. 12Go showed a high-demand notice for late-October dates, and morning departures sell out first.
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Photo credits: Speedboat wake by Christophe95 (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Phuket airport by Athikhun.suw (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Speedboats on the beach by Michael Spencer (CC BY 2.0, 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 26 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.