The ferry from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi takes one to two hours depending on the boat, and five operators run scheduled passenger boats from Rassada Pier to Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don. This guide covers the timetables, fares and rules for each, so you can pick a boat and book with confidence, whether you are going for a day trip or staying overnight.
Quick answers
- Cheapest: ferries take about 2 hours. On 16 November the Andaman Wave Master Standard seat was 500 THB for an adult and 450 THB for a child, Chao Koh was 599 and 500 THB, and Phi Phi Cruiser was 700 and 500 THB.
- Fastest: speedboats take about 1 hour, from 800 THB for an adult with Chao Koh or Bundhaya and 900 THB with Satun Pakbara.
- Pier: all of them sail from Rassada Pier on Phuket’s east coast to Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi. Chalong Pier is used by tour boats, not by these scheduled ferries.
- Comfort: the Andaman Wave Master ferry has sofa seats in First (850 THB) and Premium (1,200 THB), with drinks and a light snack.
Phuket to Phi Phi Ferries at a Glance
| Boat | Operator | Crossing | Adult fare (THB) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferry | Chao Koh | 2 h | 599 | Daily, 2 sailings each way. |
| Ferry | Andaman Wave Master (Royal Jet Cruiser) | 2 h | 500 Standard 850 First 1,200 Premium | Three seat classes. The timetable page lists 700, 1,000 and 1,300. |
| Ferry | Phi Phi Cruiser | about 2 h | 700 | Two sailings a day. |
| Speedboat | Chao Koh | 1 h | 800 | One afternoon sailing on 16 November. |
| Speedboat | Bundhaya | 1 h | 800 | Four sailings in its booking form. |
| Speedboat | Satun Pakbara | 1 h | 900 | Three sailings shown for 10 November. |
See the sailings and fares for your date.
Where Ferries to Koh Phi Phi Depart From
Scheduled ferries and speedboats to Phi Phi leave from Rassada Pier on Phuket’s east coast, the same pier used for boats to Krabi, and arrive at Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don, the main island in the group. Tour operators run day trips from other piers such as Chalong, but for a plain one-way ferry ticket Rassada is the pier to use. If you have booked through a hotel or tour agency, confirm the exact pier in advance.
Journey Time and Frequency
The ferries take about 2 hours and the speedboat takes about 1 hour. Chao Koh and Andaman Wave Master publish a daily timetable with no seasonal break announced, but any sailing can be delayed or cancelled when the sea is rough, most often between May and October, so if you have a flight or a hotel check-in to catch, do not plan the crossing for the last possible boat. Check conditions a day ahead if you are travelling outside the dry months.
Phuket (Rassada) to Phi Phi (Tonsai)
| Boat | Departs Rassada | Crossing | Adult / child (THB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chao Koh ferry | 11:00, 15:00 | 2 h | 599 / 500 |
| Chao Koh speedboat | 13:45 | 1 h | 800 / 700 |
| Andaman Wave Master ferry | 08:30, 13:30 | 2 h | 500 Standard / 450 |
| Phi Phi Cruiser ferry | 08:30, 13:30 | about 2 h | 700 / 500 |
| Bundhaya speedboat | 08:30, 10:00, 12:00, 14:30 | 1 h | 800 / child fare at booking |
| Satun Pakbara speedboat | 08:30, 11:00, 12:30 | 1 h | 900 / 800 |
| Andaman Wave Master speedboat | 08:30, 09:15, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 15:00 (none shown for 16 November) | 1 h | 790 / 650 |
Fares come from the operators’ booking forms for 16 November, except Satun Pakbara, which showed 10 November, and Bundhaya, whose result showed no date. Phi Phi Cruiser offers a round trip at 1,200 THB for an adult and 900 THB for a child and does not include the island fee. The Andaman Wave Master timetable page lists higher fares (700 THB for a Standard seat) and the second ferry at 13:45, and its form showed no speedboat sailings for 16 November, so confirm the sailing and the fare for your date at checkout.
Phi Phi (Tonsai) to Phuket (Rassada)
| Boat | Departs Tonsai | Crossing | Adult / child (THB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chao Koh ferry | 10:00, 14:00 | 2 h | 599 / 500 |
| Andaman Wave Master ferry | 11:00, 14:30 | 2 h | 550 Standard / child fare at booking |
| Andaman Wave Master speedboat | 09:00, 11:00, 11:45, 12:40, 14:30, 15:45 | 1 h | 825 to 850 / 650 |
Plan your return with the last boats in mind: the final ferry leaves Phi Phi at 14:30 and the last speedboat at 15:45. The booking form also shows a 09:00 ferry at 650 THB in Standard class, and speedboats at 11:45 and 12:40 that are not on the timetable page, so confirm them when you book.
Andaman Wave Master Ferry Classes
| Class | Seats | Adult | Child | Adult on timetable page | Return adult on timetable page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Lower deck | 500 | 450 | 700 | 1,200 |
| First | Sofa seats, middle deck, drinks and a light snack | 850 | 750 | 1,000 | 1,800 |
| Premium | Sofa seats, upper deck with access to the open upper deck, drinks and a light snack | 1,200 | 1,000 | 1,300 | 2,400 |
All three classes are on the same crossing, so the journey time does not change. We did not check the child fares for the 13:30 sailing. Standard is enough if all you need is a seat.
Children, Baggage and Check-In
| Operator | Children | Baggage | Check-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andaman Wave Master | Child fare from 4 to 11; 12 and over pay the adult fare; infants 0 to 3 pay 300 THB on the speedboat. Under 11 must travel with an adult aged 18 or over | Ferry: one suitcase up to 25 inches plus one small bag. Speedboat: one suitcase up to 18 inches plus one small bag. An extra bag up to 20 inches costs 300 THB | At least 30 minutes before; boarding closes 5 to 10 minutes before departure. Bring your passport and booking confirmation |
| Chao Koh | Child fare shown at booking. Age limits are not stated clearly, so confirm your child’s fare at checkout | Ordinary luggage is allowed, but the operator publishes no weight limit | See your ticket |
On the ferry you load and unload your own bags, while on the speedboat the crew handles them, so keep anything fragile or that must stay dry in a small bag you carry yourself.
Hotel Transfers and Pier Fees
The Andaman Wave Master ferry ticket does not include a transfer. It sells hotel and airport pickup separately. Chao Koh’s booking form lists a speedboat ticket with a shared minibus for 900 THB for an adult and 800 THB for a child without saying what the minibus covers, and some sellers bundle Chao Koh tickets with a minivan from Patong, Kata, Karon and Phuket Town, so compare either against the ticket-only fare plus your own taxi. A small pier fee of around 20 THB per person is also charged at Tonsai Pier and is not always included in the fare.
Changes and Cancellations
Andaman Wave Master refunds 70% of the fare if you cancel at least 48 hours before departure, and nothing if you cancel later or do not show up. You can move your booking to another date up to 72 hours before departure if seats are free, for a 200 THB fee plus any fare difference. If you have an international flight the same day, leave plenty of margin, because the company does not take responsibility for missed flights.
Phuket to Koh Lanta via Phi Phi
Chao Koh publishes a combined timetable from Phuket to Koh Lanta with a change of boat at Tonsai Pier: it leaves Rassada at 11:00, reaches Phi Phi at 13:00 and arrives at Lanta around 15:00. The published fare is 1,400 THB for an adult and 900 THB for a child. In the other direction it leaves Lanta at 09:00 or 12:30 and reaches Rassada at 12:00 or 16:00 for 1,000 THB for an adult and 800 THB for a child. Agents quote different prices for the same trip, so check the fare and the change time at Tonsai when you book. For the Lanta to Phi Phi leg and the Krabi side, see our Krabi to Phi Phi ferry guide.
Day Trip vs. Staying Overnight
Many visitors do Phi Phi as a long day trip from Phuket, especially if they’ve already found accommodation they like on the mainland — see our Where to Stay in Phuket guide if you’re still deciding on a base. A day trip usually means an early departure and a return by late afternoon, with several hours actually on Phi Phi’s beaches and viewpoints. Staying overnight lets you see the islands without the day-tripper crowds that arrive mid-morning and leave by early evening, though it does mean packing and moving your things for just one or two nights.
What to Expect on the Crossing
The ferries are the larger boats, with indoor seating and open deck space; the open deck gives better views but more sun and spray, so bring sunscreen and a hat if you plan to sit there. The speedboats are quicker but smaller, so you feel the sea more. The crossing can get choppy even when departures aren’t cancelled outright, so those prone to seasickness should sit toward the middle of the boat and consider taking motion sickness medication beforehand.
Comparison: Ferry vs. Speedboat
| Option | Duration | Typical Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard ferry | 2 hours | 500-700 THB one way | Budget travelers, overnight stays |
| First or Premium ferry | 2 hours | 850-1,200 THB one way | Sofa seats on the same crossing |
| Speedboat | 1 hour | 800-900 THB one way | Faster crossing, less time on the water |
Practical Tips for the Phuket to Koh Phi Phi Crossing
- Book morning departures if you have a choice — afternoon crossings are more likely to be affected by choppier seas as the day goes on.
- Keep valuables in a dry bag or waterproof phone pouch, since spray on the open deck can catch you off guard.
- If you’re prone to seasickness, sit low and toward the center of the boat and consider taking medication 30-60 minutes before departure.
- Confirm your exact departure pier when booking — these scheduled boats leave from Rassada, and Chalong is where tour boats leave from, so the two are not interchangeable.
- Pack reef-safe sunscreen, since some of Phi Phi’s marine areas have restrictions on regular sunscreen to protect the coral.
Combining Phi Phi with Other Day Trips
Many day-tour packages bundle Phi Phi with a stop at Maya Bay (the beach made famous by “The Beach”) and sometimes Bamboo Island or a snorkeling stop along the way, rather than selling a Phi Phi crossing on its own. If seeing multiple spots in one day appeals to you more than a slower, standalone visit, a bundled tour is usually better value than booking the ferry and separate island-hopping boats yourself.
Where to Stay for an Early Departure
If you’re doing Phi Phi as a day trip with an early morning departure, staying somewhere with easy access to Rassada Pier or a hotel that arranges reliable pickup saves real stress on tour-day mornings. Most hotels across the island, including those covered in our Phuket Hotel Prices guide, can arrange transport to the pier, so this matters less than it might seem — just confirm pickup timing the night before, since the first speedboat leaves at 08:30 and you are expected at the pier at least 30 minutes earlier.
Rassada Pier Also Serves Krabi-Bound Ferries
Rassada Pier isn’t exclusive to Phi Phi departures — it’s the same pier used for ferries to Krabi, covered in our Phuket to Krabi guide. If you’re island-hopping through this part of southern Thailand, it’s worth checking whether a combined multi-stop route (Phuket to Phi Phi to Krabi, for example) works out cheaper or more convenient than backtracking to Phuket between each leg.
Taking Kids on a Phi Phi Day Trip
The crossing itself is manageable for most children, though the choppier green-season conditions and a full day of boat time, sun, and swimming can be tiring for younger kids. Families based at resorts covered in our Best Family Resorts in Phuket guide should factor in a slower pace the day after a Phi Phi trip, since an early pickup followed by a full day on the water tends to wear kids out more than a typical beach day at the resort.
Find a Room Near Your Pier
Most boats land at Tonsai Pier, where much of Phi Phi’s accommodation is a short walk away. Move the map to the area you want and set your dates to see current room prices.
For the main boat routes across Thailand in one place, see our Thailand ferries guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the ferry from Phuket to Phi Phi take?
About 2 hours by ferry and about 1 hour by speedboat, from Rassada Pier to Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don.
Which pier do ferries to Phi Phi leave from?
Scheduled ferries and speedboats leave from Rassada Pier on Phuket’s east coast. Tour boats use other piers such as Chalong.
How much does the ferry to Phi Phi cost?
A one-way ferry ticket cost 500 THB in Standard class with Andaman Wave Master on 16 November, 599 THB with Chao Koh and 700 THB with Phi Phi Cruiser. Speedboats cost 800 to 900 THB. Child fares are 450 to 700 THB.
Is it better to do Phi Phi as a day trip or stay overnight?
Both work well — a day trip suits travelers who already have accommodation on Phuket, while staying overnight avoids the day-tripper crowds.
Do ferries to Phi Phi run year-round?
Chao Koh and Andaman Wave Master publish daily sailings and announce no seasonal break, but any sailing can be delayed or cancelled when the sea is rough.
Is the ferry crossing rough?
It can be choppy, especially outside the November-April dry season. Those prone to seasickness should sit toward the middle of the boat and consider medication beforehand.