The direct ferry from Koh Phi Phi to Krabi runs 1 hour on speedboat or 2 hours on scheduled ferry. Three operators cover the route year round at 62 weekly sailings total. The schedule clusters between 09:00 and 15:00 from Tonsai Pier.
This guide tests each operator on schedule reliability, total transit time, the booking-window math, and the high-season seat scarcity that catches travelers on tight return-flight connections.
Koh Phi Phi to Krabi at a glance
- Speedboat duration: 59 minutes to 1 hour 5 minutes on Andaman Wave Master speedboat tier
- Scheduled ferry duration: 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours on the standard ferry
- Foot-passenger fare: $14 to $35 online for scheduled ferry, $50 to $128 for premium speedboat
- Weekly sailings: 62 across three operators per Direct Ferries data, May 2026
- First sailing: 09:00 from Tonsai Pier
- Last sailing: 15:00 from Tonsai Pier
- Origin pier: Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don, the only commercial pier on the island
- Destination pier: Klong Jilad Pier, 5 km south of Krabi Town
- Booking window: 48 hours minimum in high season, 72 hours for guaranteed seats
Three operators on the Phi Phi to Krabi route
Three operators run the Koh Phi Phi to Krabi route year round. Andaman Wave Master leads on frequency. Seatran Discovery and Songserm cover the remainder. Each operator has a different speed tier and a different cancellation profile.
Andaman Wave Master, the highest-frequency operator
Andaman Wave Master runs 5 daily sailings, 31 weekly. The fleet includes both scheduled ferries and speedboats on the same route. The speedboat tier covers Tonsai to Klong Jilad in 59 minutes to 1 hour 5 minutes. The scheduled ferry covers the route in 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours.
- Speedboat fare: $50 to $90 one way
- Scheduled ferry fare: $14 to $25 one way
- Weekly sailings: 31 across both tiers
- Best for: travelers who need schedule depth or want both ferry and speedboat options on the same operator
Seatran Discovery, the dependable mid-tier
Seatran Discovery runs 4 daily sailings, 27 weekly on scheduled ferry equipment. Crossing time runs 1 hour 45 minutes consistently. Foot-passenger fare runs $18 to $32 one way. The operator has a strong on-time record on the route, with cancellation rate below 5 percent across the year.
Songserm, the older operator at thinner frequency
Songserm runs 2 daily sailings, 14 weekly. The 9 am and the early afternoon departures cover the day. Foot-passenger fare matches Seatran at $15 to $28. The schedule is thinner, but Songserm is a long-running Andaman operator with reliable service on the routes it covers.
Photographer: Fabio Achilli. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY 2.0.Speedboat or scheduled ferry, the decision that defines most bookings
The route’s main trade-off sits between the speedboat and scheduled ferry tiers. Both depart Tonsai Pier and arrive Klong Jilad Pier. The differences live in time, comfort, and fare.
- Speedboat: 59 to 65 minutes crossing time, fares $50 to $128, rides the chop harder, no cabin shelter on the upper rows
- Scheduled ferry: 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours crossing time, fares $14 to $35, AC interior and open upper deck, smoother ride in moderate swell
The speedboat wins on time for travelers with a tight onward connection. The scheduled ferry wins on cost and comfort for any traveler without a hard deadline. For a 2-hour buffer to a Krabi airport flight, either works. For a 60-minute connection, only the speedboat fits.
Tonsai Pier on departure and the Phi Phi resort transfer math
Tonsai is the only commercial pier on Phi Phi Don. Resorts on the island connect to Tonsai by long-tail boat shuttle (most include in the room rate) or by foot for the central Tonsai Village hotels.
Transfer times from popular Phi Phi resort zones:
- Tonsai Village hotels: 2 to 5 minutes walking
- Loh Dalum Bay: 8 to 12 minutes walking through Tonsai village
- Long Beach (Hat Yao): 15 to 25 minutes by long-tail boat to Tonsai, hotel-arranged
- Koh Phi Phi resorts on Maya Bay or Phi Phi Leh: not commercially accessible, no ferry service from Tonsai
Travelers staying at Long Beach should target the 10:30 or 11:30 departure rather than the 09:00 to allow time for the long-tail transfer plus check-in at Tonsai.
Klong Jilad Pier on arrival in Krabi
Klong Jilad Pier sits 5 km south of Krabi Town center and 8 km from the Krabi Bus Station. The pier opens onto a small road with songthaews and taxis waiting for ferry arrivals.
Transfer options from Klong Jilad to popular Krabi-side destinations:
- Krabi Town: 5 km$0 100 to 200 tuk-tuk, 15 minutes
- Ao Nang Beach: 25 km$0 350 to 450 taxi, 30 to 45 minutes
- Krabi Bus Station: 8 km$0 150 to 250 tuk-tuk, 20 minutes
- Krabi airport (KBV): 15 km$0 300 to 400 taxi, 20 to 25 minutes
For travelers connecting to a Krabi airport flight the same day, the ferry-plus-airport transfer math runs 2 hour 30 minutes to 3 hours total from Tonsai. Plan a 4-hour buffer between the ferry arrival and the flight departure.
Best booking window and high-season seat scarcity
The route prices on lead time. Online booking holds the fare floor 20 to 30 percent below pier counter walk-up. High season (November to April) sees the cheaper scheduled ferry tier sell out 3 to 5 days ahead, especially the 09:00 and 11:00 departures.
The 48-hour booking window is the practical minimum for confirmed seats. The 72-hour booking window is the safe floor for guaranteed seats on the cheapest fare tier. Speedboat tier holds more inventory inside 24 hours but at higher fares.
Monsoon (May to October) brings rough afternoon seas. Morning sailings (09:00, 10:30) cancel less than 5 percent of the time. Afternoon sailings (13:30, 15:00) cancel 15 to 25 percent in August and September. Book the morning departure online when traveling in monsoon months.
Frequently asked questions about Koh Phi Phi to Krabi
How long does the Koh Phi Phi to Krabi ferry take?
How much does the Koh Phi Phi to Krabi ferry cost?
Which Phi Phi pier does the Krabi ferry leave from?
Where does the ferry arrive in Krabi?
Should I take the speedboat or scheduled ferry?
How far ahead should I book?
Does the ferry cancel often in monsoon?
Where to stay in Krabi after the ferry
Three SHA-certified picks across Krabi Town and Ao Nang to anchor the first night after arrival.
For all 27 Thailand ferry routes plus operator reliability, seasonal cancellation patterns, and booking strategy, see our complete Thailand ferry guide.
