Getting to Phi Phi: Every Route, Every Ferry, No Surprises.
There is no airport on Phi Phi. No bridge. No road. Every single person who visits the Phi Phi Islands arrives by boat — ferry, speedboat, or longtail. Your starting point determines your route: Phuket’s Rassada Pier on the west, Krabi’s Klong Jilad Pier on the east, or Koh Lanta from the south. The crossing takes 90 minutes to 2 hours by ferry, about an hour by speedboat. Once you understand which pier, which operator, and what to expect when you land at Tonsai, it’s straightforward. Here’s exactly what happens at every step.
From Phuket: Ferry from Rassada Pier, 2 hours, from ฿450. Speedboat 1 hour, from ฿1,200. From Krabi: Ferry from Klong Jilad Pier, 90 min, from ฿350. From Koh Lanta: Ferry or speedboat, 1 hour, from ฿400. All boats arrive at Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don. Best booking: Compare operators and book on 12Go — real-time schedules, all operators, cancellation protection.
Route 1: From Phuket (Rassada Pier)
The most popular route to Phi Phi. Rassada Pier is in Phuket Town, about 45 minutes from Phuket Airport and 20 minutes from Patong Beach. Multiple operators run this crossing: Andaman Wave Master, Chaokoh Ferry, Tiger Line, and Phi Phi Cruiser. First departure around 8:30 AM, last around 3:00 PM in high season.
Ferry vs Speedboat
Standard ferries are large air-conditioned vessels carrying 200–400 passengers. Crossing takes 2 hours, costs ฿450–700 one way. Speedboats take 1 hour but cost ฿1,200–1,800 and can be rough in choppy conditions. If you’re prone to seasickness, take motion sickness tablets 30 minutes before boarding and sit near the centre of the boat.
High season (November–April) has 5+ departures daily. Low season (May–October) drops to 2–3 and some speedboat services suspend entirely. The sea can be rough during monsoon months (September–November). Ferries run regardless, but speedboats may cancel on bad weather days.
Getting to Rassada Pier
From Phuket Airport: Taxi 45–60 minutes, ฿600–800. Budget option: airport bus to Phuket Town (฿100) then tuk-tuk to pier (฿100–200). From Patong: 20–30 minutes, ฿400–600. Many operators offer hotel pickup — check 12Go for combo tickets that bundle hotel transfer + ferry.
Arrive 30–40 minutes before departure. Check in at your operator’s counter, get your boarding pass, and go through bag check. In December–January, check-in queues take 15 minutes alone. They don’t wait for latecomers.
Compare Phi Phi Ferry Routes & Schedules on 12Go
Phuket–Phi Phi, Krabi–Phi Phi, Koh Lanta–Phi Phi — compare operators, real-time schedules, and book with free cancellation on many routes. Instant e-tickets.
Browse Routes →Route 2: From Krabi (Klong Jilad Pier)
Klong Jilad Pier is the main departure from the Krabi side, 4 km from Krabi Town and 30 minutes from Krabi Airport. Shorter crossing: 90 minutes by ferry, about 1 hour by speedboat, and usually cheaper than Phuket.
Schedules and Operators
High-season ferries at 9:00, 10:30, 13:00, and 15:00. Chaokoh Ferry, Tiger Line, and Andaman Wave Master share the route. One-way fares from ฿350–500. Speedboats ฿900–1,500. Low season: typically 9:00 and 13:00 only.
From Krabi Airport
Easiest option: joint ticket with airport transfer + ferry, from ฿600–800. Available from travel counters in arrivals or pre-book on 12Go. Independent: airport bus to Krabi Town (฿150, 30 min), then taxi to pier (฿100–200).
Krabi advantages: shorter crossing, cheaper fares, smaller airport. Disadvantage: fewer international flights than Phuket. For domestic Bangkok flights, Krabi is the better starting point. For international arrivals, Phuket likely has better connections. Read our first-timer guide for more on planning the logistics.
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Open a Wise Account →Phuket vs Krabi — Which Side?
| Factor | From Phuket | From Krabi |
|---|---|---|
| Crossing time (ferry) | 2 hours | 90 minutes |
| Crossing time (speedboat) | 1 hour | 45 min–1 hour |
| Ferry cost (one way) | ฿450–700 | ฿350–500 |
| Daily departures (high season) | 5+ | 4 |
| Airport to pier | 45–60 min drive | 30 min drive |
| International flights | Many (Europe, Australia, Asia) | Fewer (mainly Asia) |
| Best for | International arrivals, Phuket combos | Domestic flights, budget, Railay combos |
Our recommendation: Flying in internationally? Phuket has better connections and you can combine a few days there first. Domestic from Bangkok? Krabi is shorter, cheaper, and connects to Railay and Ao Nang. Either way, you arrive at the same pier on Phi Phi.
Route 3: From Koh Lanta
The shortest crossing in the Andaman circuit. 1 hour by ferry or speedboat, from ฿400. Bundhaya Speed Boat and Tiger Line operate. High season only (November–April) — monsoon months, this route suspends and you’d go via Krabi. Limited to 1–2 departures per day (typically morning). Book ahead — sells out faster than other routes.
May to October, the Andaman Sea gets rough. The Koh Lanta–Phi Phi direct route typically suspends. Phuket and Krabi routes continue with fewer sailings. Speedboats may cancel on short notice. Travel with flexible dates and refundable tickets.
Route 4: From Ao Nang
Ferries from Nopparat Thara Pier in Ao Nang. Standard 9:30 AM departure, 1 hour 45 minutes, from ฿450. Convenient if you’re staying in Ao Nang or Railay. Return: typically 3:30 PM from Phi Phi.
The Ao Nang pier is a beach launch — you wade into knee-deep water to board a longtail that takes you to the ferry offshore. Wear water shoes and keep your dry bag handy.
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Get a Quote →Arriving at Tonsai Pier
All ferries arrive at Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don, the main inhabited island. Tonsai Village — the only town — is right there.
What Happens When You Step Off
Phi Phi has no cars, no motorbikes, no tuk-tuks. The island is walkable. Most Tonsai accommodation is 5–10 minutes on foot from the pier. For Long Beach: 25–30 min walk over a jungle path, or longtail boat ฿100–150 (5 min). For Laem Tong at the far north: longtail only, ฿300–500, 45 minutes. Check our where to stay guide before booking.
National Park Fee
Phi Phi is part of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. Foreign visitors: ฿400 (Thai nationals ฿40). Usually collected at the pier or included in tour prices. Keep your receipt.
Pack Smart for the Crossing — Travel Essentials on Amazon
Dry bag for electronics, reef shoes for beach piers, motion sickness tablets for speedboats, waterproof phone case for spray.
Browse Travel Essentials →Leaving Phi Phi
Return ferries follow the same routes. Typical high-season departures from Tonsai Pier:
- To Phuket: 9:00, 10:30, 14:00, 15:30 (2 hours)
- To Krabi: 9:00, 10:30, 14:00, 15:30 (90 min)
- To Koh Lanta: 11:30, 13:30 (1 hour, high season only)
- To Ao Nang: 15:30 (1 hr 45 min)
Buy return tickets from travel agents in Tonsai or pre-book on 12Go. Christmas/New Year week genuinely sells out. Other times, 1–2 days ahead is fine.
Book Your Return Ferry on 12Go
Peak season sells out. Compare Phi Phi–Phuket, Phi Phi–Krabi, and Phi Phi–Koh Lanta departures side by side. Free cancellation on many routes.
Compare Return Routes →Booking Tips — What Nobody Else Tells You
1. Book at Least a Week Ahead in Peak Season
December through February, morning ferries sell out. The Koh Lanta route is worst for this — fewer sailings, smaller boats. Off-peak: day-before booking is usually fine.
2. Morning Crossings Are Calmer
The Andaman Sea is calmest in the morning. Afternoon speedboats can be bouncy. If you’re prone to seasickness, take the earliest departure.
3. Protect Your Phone
Even on large ferries, spray happens near the stern. On speedboats, you will get wet. A cheap waterproof phone case means you can still take photos without worry.
4. Joint Tickets Save Hassle, Not Always Money
Combo tickets (hotel pickup + transfer + ferry) cost ฿100–200 more than buying each leg separately. But they remove taxi negotiations and pier queuing. Worth it for first-timers. Experienced travellers can save buying independently.
5. Have Cash Ready
Phi Phi has limited ATMs (Tonsai only), charging ฿220 withdrawal fee on top of your bank’s charges. Withdraw in Phuket or Krabi before crossing. A Wise card gives you the best rate at Thai ATMs.
6. Pack a Rain Jacket
Even in high season, passing showers on open water are possible. A lightweight packable jacket takes up nothing and keeps you dry. Even more useful on the island — tropical downpours come fast.
7. Connecting to Koh Lipe
No direct ferry from Phi Phi to Koh Lipe. Route: Phi Phi → Krabi or Koh Lanta → connection to Koh Lipe via Pak Bara Pier. 12Go shows multi-leg routes combining these into one booking.
Useful Thai Phrases for the Journey
Most ferry staff speak basic English, but a few Thai words go a long way:
- Koh Phi Phi — pronounced “Koh Pee Pee” (locals find the English pronunciation amusing)
- Rassada — say “Ra-sa-da” to your taxi driver in Phuket
- Tha Reua (ท่าเรือ) — means “pier” — useful if your driver doesn’t speak English
- Pai Phi Phi (ไปพีพี) — “going to Phi Phi”
- Tao rai? (เท่าไหร่) — “how much?”