The ferry from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta runs 30 minutes on speedboat or 45 minutes on the Andaman Wave Master scheduled ferry. Four operators cover the 38 km Andaman crossing with sailings clustered between 11:00 and 15:00 only, a 4-hour daily window that locks the same-day connection from Phuket morning arrivals.

This guide tests the operator choice on speed versus cost, the midday-only schedule risk, and the season reality on a route that cancels 10 to 15 percent of afternoon sailings during monsoon.

Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta at a glance

OperatorDeparturesDurationTypeFrom (one-way)Book
Tigerline Ferry Fastest 11:30, 13:00 (high season) 30 min High-speed catamaran $25-45 Check availability
Bundhaya Speed Boat 11:00, 13:30, 15:00 30 min Speedboat (premium) $30-60 Check availability
Andaman Wave Master 11:30, 14:00 45 min Scheduled ferry $13-26 Check availability
Satun Pakbara Speed Boat 13:30 (transit from Phuket) 30 min Speedboat $20-35 Check availability
  • Tigerline Ferry duration: 30 minutes (fastest)
  • Bundhaya Speed Boat duration: 30 minutes
  • Satun Pakbara Speed Boat duration: 30 minutes
  • Andaman Wave Master duration: 45 minutes
  • Andaman Wave Master fare: $13 to $26 one way foot-passenger
  • Satun Pakbara fare: $20 to $35 one way
  • Tigerline fare: $25 to $45 one way
  • Bundhaya fare: $30 to $60 one way
  • Daily sailings combined: 4 to 6 across all operators
  • First sailing: 11:00 from Tonsai Pier (Bundhaya)
  • Last sailing: 15:00 from Tonsai Pier (Bundhaya)
  • Daily window: 11:00 to 15:00 only
  • Distance: 38 km across the Andaman Sea
  • Origin pier: Tonsai Pier on Koh Phi Phi Don, walking distance to Tonsai Village
  • Destination pier: Saladan Pier on the north tip of Koh Lanta Yai

Four operators on the route and the speed-versus-cost trade

Four companies run direct service on the Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta route. Three are speedboats running the same 30-minute crossing time. One is a scheduled ferry running 45 minutes. Operator choice resolves on fare and schedule fit, not on speed.

Tigerline Ferry, the premium speedboat option

Tigerline runs the 11:30 and 13:00 sailings (with the 13:00 added in high season). Crossing time is 30 minutes. Foot-passenger fare runs $25 to $45 one way. Tigerline operates premium catamarans with reserved seating, cabin air conditioning, and luggage handling at both piers.

Bundhaya Speed Boat, the premium-priced option

Bundhaya runs three daily sailings at 11:00, 13:30, and 15:00. Crossing time is 30 minutes. Foot-passenger fare runs $30 to $60 one way. The premium pricing reflects cabin comfort and a larger luggage allowance, not faster transit. Bundhaya wins on the 15:00 latest-departure slot when no other operator runs.

Andaman Wave Master, the scheduled ferry cheapest option

Andaman Wave Master runs the 11:30 and 14:00 sailings on a 45-minute scheduled ferry. Foot-passenger fare runs $13 to $26 one way, the cheapest of the four operators. The boats are older with bench seating but reliable.

The 15-minute speed loss against the speedboat tier matters less than the fare gap for most travelers. AWM wins for any budget crossing.

Satun Pakbara Speed Boat, the Phuket transit option

Satun Pakbara runs the 13:30 sailing as a transit from Phuket Rassada Pier through Phi Phi onward to Lanta. Crossing time Phi Phi to Lanta is 30 minutes. Foot-passenger fare from Phi Phi to Lanta runs $20 to $35 one way. The Phuket-to-Lanta combined ticket is the better value for travelers starting from Phuket airport.

Andaman longtail boats anchored in shallow water the iconic vessels of Thailand southern islands including the Phi Phi to Koh Lanta regionPhotographer: Brandon Minieri. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 4.0.
Longtail boats in the shallow Andaman waters between Phi Phi and Lanta. The 38 km crossing is the same weather window as the Phi Phi to Phi Phi Leh tour boats extended an extra 30 km south. Photo: Brandon Minieri (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

The midday window and the Phuket connection lock

The most important fact about this route is the schedule shape. All sailings cluster between 11:00 and 15:00. There is no morning ferry. There is no late afternoon ferry. There is no evening ferry. Miss the 15:00 Bundhaya and you sleep on Phi Phi.

This matters for travelers arriving Phi Phi on the morning ferry from Phuket. The Phuket to Phi Phi sailings typically dock Tonsai by 10:30 (early speedboat) or 11:30 (scheduled). The 11:00 Bundhaya Lanta connection is impossible for the scheduled-ferry arrival. The 11:30 Tigerline and AWM connections need 30-minute transfer turnaround at Tonsai.

The safe Phuket-to-Lanta same-day option books the Satun Pakbara through-ticket from Phuket. The Tonsai stop is brief, the Lanta transfer is automatic, and there is no risk of missing the connection.

Season reality and the monsoon afternoon cancellation pattern

High season runs November to April. All four operators run full daily depth. Sailings rarely cancel. Booking 1 to 2 days ahead suffices for non-Christmas dates.

Monsoon season runs May to October. Tigerline drops the 13:00 sailing in May, June, September, and October. AWM runs the 11:30 sailing only. Bundhaya runs the 11:00 and 13:30 sailings (skipping 15:00 in heavy weather weeks). The 14:00 and 15:00 afternoon sailings cancel 10 to 15 percent of the time during peak monsoon (July, August, September) when Andaman afternoon seas turn rough.

The mitigation is simple. Book the earliest available sailing (11:00 or 11:30) in monsoon season. Morning Andaman crossings cancel less than 2 percent of the time year round. Afternoon sailings carry the cancellation risk.

Best booking window and the Phi Phi-to-Lanta strategy

The route prices on lead time and season. High season Tigerline and Bundhaya sell out 2 to 4 days ahead. AWM scheduled ferry has walk-up capacity year round.

For travelers ending a Phi Phi stay and continuing south to Lanta, the 11:30 Tigerline or AWM hits the sweet spot. Lanta arrival by 12:30 leaves the full afternoon for beach time at Long Beach or Klong Khong. The 13:30 Bundhaya and 14:00 AWM connections work for travelers who want a final Phi Phi morning swim before moving on.

The reverse direction (Lanta back to mainland Krabi) opens earlier at 08:15 from Saladan and runs through 14:30, a wider schedule than the Phi Phi route. Travelers building a multi-island itinerary should book Phi Phi to Lanta first, then Lanta to Krabi as the wider-window leg.

For the most current 2026 schedules, check current Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta ferry schedules across all four operators.

Frequently asked questions about Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta

How long does the Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta ferry take?
30 minutes on Tigerline, Bundhaya, or Satun Pakbara speedboats. 45 minutes on the Andaman Wave Master scheduled ferry. The crossing covers 38 km of the Andaman Sea between Tonsai Pier and Saladan Pier.
How much does the Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta ferry cost?
Andaman Wave Master scheduled ferry runs $13 to $26 one way, the cheapest. Satun Pakbara speedboat runs $20 to $35. Tigerline speedboat runs $25 to $45. Bundhaya premium speedboat runs $30 to $60.
When is the first Phi Phi to Lanta ferry?
11:00 from Tonsai Pier on Bundhaya Speed Boat. The 11:30 Tigerline and AWM sailings follow shortly after. There is no morning sailing before 11:00 on this route.
When is the last Phi Phi to Lanta ferry?
15:00 from Tonsai Pier on Bundhaya Speed Boat. Travelers missing the 15:00 sailing must sleep on Phi Phi and catch the 11:00 first sailing the next day.
Can I connect from Phuket to Lanta same day through Phi Phi?
Yes via Satun Pakbara through-ticket from Phuket Rassada Pier. The Phi Phi stop is brief and the Lanta transfer is automatic. Trying to connect from a separate Phuket-Phi Phi ferry to a separate Phi Phi-Lanta ticket risks missing the 11:30 connection.
Which operator should I choose, Tigerline or AWM?
Tigerline if you want the 30-minute speed and premium cabin comfort. AWM if budget is the priority and you accept 45 minutes on a scheduled ferry. The fare gap is $12 to $19 per ticket. Both operators are reliable.
Does the Phi Phi to Lanta ferry run in monsoon season?
Yes but with reduced sailings. Tigerline drops the 13:00 sailing May to October. AWM runs the 11:30 sailing only. Afternoon sailings cancel 10 to 15 percent of the time July to September. Book the earliest available morning sailing in monsoon.
How do I get from Saladan Pier to my Koh Lanta hotel?
Hotel transfer or shared taxi from Saladan Pier. Long Beach hotels run 15 minutes south. Klong Khong hotels run 20 minutes. Klong Nin hotels run 30 minutes. Hotel transfer runs THB 200 to 500. Shared taxi from Saladan runs THB 100 to 200 per person.

Where to stay on Koh Lanta after the ferry

Three SHA-certified picks across Long Beach, Klong Khong, and Klong Nin to anchor the first night on the island.

For all 27 Thailand ferry routes plus operator reliability, seasonal cancellation patterns, and booking strategy, see our complete Thailand ferry guide.

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