The Phuket to Koh Phi Phi crossing is the busiest and most frequent tourist ferry on the Andaman, the default way most travelers reach the islands, big passenger boats running from Rassada Pier to Tonsai Bay. The direct ferry runs year round at 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on operator. A private speedboat charter cuts that to 45 to 60 minutes for groups willing to pay the premium. Day-tour speedboats run a third option that returns the same evening.
The schedule barely changes the day. The boat you pick does. Check current schedules and fares as the starting point.
Phuket to Koh Phi Phi at a glance
- Direct ferry duration: 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours, Phi Phi Cruiser or Andaman Wave Master
- Direct ferry fare: from about $14 foot passenger booked online, pier counter 20 to 30 percent above
- Speedboat charter duration: 45 to 60 minutes for a private speedboat from Chalong or Rassada
- Speedboat charter fare: several hundred dollars for the whole boat, lower per head split across 6 to 8 passengers
- Day-tour speedboat: return same evening, Maya Bay package bundled, $48 to $68 per person
- Origin pier: Rassada Pier on the east side of Phuket island
- Destination pier: Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don, the only commercial pier on the island
Sunset over the Andaman Sea off Phuket. Photo: Phuketian.S via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).Three routes from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi
Each route has a different total cost and a different failure mode. Pick on the trip shape, not on the headline price.
Scheduled direct ferry (Rassada to Tonsai)
Phi Phi Cruiser runs the dominant direct service. Andaman Wave Master and Sea Angel cover the rest. The 9am sailing runs every day of the year. Afternoon departures fill out the schedule in high season and cut to one a day from May through October.
Online booking holds the fare floor at about $14. The pier counter walk up runs 25 to 50 percent above the online rate, and hotel desk bookings push that further.
Lock the morning departure if you’re traveling in monsoon months when afternoon runs cancel for sea state.
Private speedboat charter
Private speedboat charters cover the 45 km in 45 to 60 minutes from Chalong or Rassada Pier. The full boat books at several hundred dollars regardless of passenger count. Split across 6 to 8 passengers the per head cost lands below a high season scheduled ferry premium ticket.
The charter math only works for groups of 5 plus, families with kids who can’t sit through a 2-hour ferry, or travelers who need a specific arrival time at Tonsai.
Maya Bay day tour (return same evening)
Speedboat day tours bundle the crossing with Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Beach, and Bamboo Island stops. Total day cost runs $48 to $68 per person. Return to Phuket between 4pm and 5pm.
The day tour is the wrong choice for travelers planning an overnight on Phi Phi Don. Book the scheduled ferry instead, and save the day-tour fare for a Phi Phi-based excursion the next day.
Photographer: Vincent. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: Public domain.Direct ferry schedules, fares, and operator notes
Phi Phi Cruiser runs about 1 hour 45 minutes in calm seas. Foot-passenger fare runs $14 cheapest at the online window, about $20 at the Rassada Pier counter the morning of departure. The boat is a 200-seat twin-hull with AC interior and an open upper deck.
Andaman Wave Master and Sea Angel run similar 2-hour services with slightly different timetables. Some routings continue from Phi Phi Don to Krabi after the Tonsai stop, which suits travelers planning Phi Phi as a midpoint instead of an overnight.
Online booking beats the pier counter by 20 to 30 percent on every operator. Book the seat online before the morning of departure for the cleanest pricing.
Getting to Rassada Pier from across Phuket
Rassada Pier sits 4 km east of Phuket Town on the east coast of the island. Travel time depends on where you’re starting and how the airport-departure traffic on Highway 402 is moving that morning.
From Patong: 22 km, allow 60 minutes for a Grab pickup or hotel transfer. The morning ferry leaves at 9am, so plan a 7:30am departure from Patong to clear the queue at the Rassada parking lot. From Kata and Karon: 28 km, allow 75 minutes from the same departure window. From Bang Tao, Layan, and the northwest beaches: 35 km, allow 90 minutes and budget for the airport-area construction zone on Highway 402.
From Phuket Old Town: 4 km to Rassada, 15 minutes by Grab or songthaew. This is the only Phuket area where you can reach Rassada Pier without a fixed transfer booking. Book the ferry seat first, then sort the pier transfer the night before.
What to watch for on the Phuket to Koh Phi Phi route
The four common Phuket to Koh Phi Phi things to confirm are the Maya Bay day-tour ticket sold as a one-way ferry to overnight visitors, the Tonsai walk-up counter markup on return tickets, the May to October afternoon-cancellation pattern, and the national park entry fee collected separately on arrival. Confirm the ticket type (one-way ferry vs day tour) and that the return is locked before paying.
Onward from Koh Phi Phi
Tonsai Pier is the only commercial pier on Phi Phi Don. Onward connections run to Krabi, back to Phuket, and to Koh Lanta in high season. Most overnight visitors stay 2 to 3 nights before continuing.
Photographer: Christophe95. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 4.0.For Krabi: the ferry from Tonsai to Klong Jilad runs 90 minutes (check Phi Phi to Krabi schedules). For Koh Lanta: high season ferries run twice daily from Tonsai to Saladan (compare Phi Phi to Koh Lanta options). For return to Phuket: the same operators reverse the morning sailing in the afternoon. From the same coast, see the ferry between Phuket and Krabi and the quieter ferry between Phuket and Koh Yao Noi.
Practicalities for the Phuket to Koh Phi Phi trip
- The route itself. Check live schedules and lock a seat. Online beats the pier counter on price across all operators.
- Return Phi Phi to Phuket leg. Pre-book the return seat before reaching the island. Tonsai walk up tickets carry a 20 to 30 percent markup.
For onward island connections after Phi Phi:
- Phi Phi to Krabi. Compare Phi Phi to Krabi options. 90 minutes to Klong Jilad Pier.
- Phi Phi to Koh Lanta. Compare Phi Phi to Koh Lanta options. Twice daily in high season.
- Maya Bay day tour from Phi Phi. Pre book a Maya Bay day tour. Timed entry required, advance booking only.
- Travel insurance. Compare Thailand travel insurance plans. Low daily rates. Covers ferry cancellations and the speedboat day tour scrub risk in monsoon months.
For SHA-certified hotels at the Phi Phi end of the route, see our Phuket SHA hotel guide. The best beaches near Phuket guide covers Phi Phi day stop options in detail. Staying out on the islands? See where to stay in Koh Phi Phi, and our 3 days in Phuket itinerary for the mainland side.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Phuket to Koh Phi Phi ferry take?
How much does the Phuket to Koh Phi Phi ferry cost?
Does the Phuket to Koh Phi Phi ferry run in monsoon?
Which Phuket pier does the Phi Phi ferry leave from?
Where does the Phuket to Koh Phi Phi ferry arrive?
Is the national park fee included in the ferry ticket?
Is the day-tour ticket the same as the one-way ferry?
For all 27 Thailand ferry routes plus operator reliability, seasonal cancellation patterns, and booking strategy, see our complete Thailand ferry guide.
