The Phi Phi islands of Thailand offer stunning scenery, gorgeous food, and a chance to let your hair down, this collection of six islands is a dream for pretty much everyone, no matter if you are catching some rays or the adventurous type who loves a hike. Exploring these islands should be on everyone’s bucket list and this article will explain how to get to Phi Phi Islands in 2022.
by Jessica DaleReading Time: 5minutes
The Phi Phi islands are located approximately 43km (26.7 miles) off the coast of Krabi in southern Thailand in the Andaman Sea. Koh Phi Phi Don is the largest island of this archipelago, it is also the only place that has accommodations, restaurants, bars, etc so will likely be the primary destination when visiting.
Want to see why the Phi Phi islands are so special? Read our article here.
So how exactly do you get to phi phi?
You may be thinking that getting to the Phi Phi islands could be quite a challenge, they do not have an airport and the only way to access is via boat but you can travel to these glorious islands very easily and the companies involved make it extremely easy to do. There are several locations in which the ferries operate and several ferries to choose from even in low season! Ferries run from Phuket, Krabi, and more recently Bundhaya Beach in Koh Lipe.
Arriving at Phi Phi by ferry can be such a relaxing experience
Phi Phi Entry Points
Koh Phi Phi Don has two main entry points. The main one is in the south of the island called Ton Sai Pier. This pier is located next to the main town and where the majority of accommodation is located. The second dock is located at Laem Tong Beach in the much quieter part of the island to the north. There is some accommodation at this point so be sure to check which entry point you need to arrive at. It is a very long walk from one end of the island to the other!
How to Get to Phi Phi From Phuket
Getting to Phi Phi islands from Phuket is relatively straightforward, there is only one main departure point which is Rassada Pier located to the south of Old Town, Phuket. There are two main options: Ferry and Speedboat. The speedboat is by far the quicker option taking just 1 hour whereas the ferry takes double that time, however, is usually a much cheaper cost than the speedboat and is a much gentler ride. As of the time of writing the one-way prices from Rassada Pier to Phi Phi Don are:
Boat Type
Approx Travel Time
From – To
Price
Ferry
2 Hours
Departure Pier : Phuket (Rassada Pier) Arrival Pier : Phi Phi Don (Ton Sai Pier) Phi Phi Don (Laem Tong Beach)
from 450 THB
Speedboat
1 Hour
Departure Pier : Phuket (Rassada Pier) Arrival Pier : Phi Phi Don (Ton Sai Pier) Phi Phi Don (Laem Tong Beach)
Get from Phuket International Airport to Rassada Pier, Phuket
Phuket airport is located quite a long way from Rassada pier and the trip takes approximately one hour. The best methods to get here will usually be via either a shared shuttle bus, private transfer, or taxi. If you look at the baggage claim area you will notice several tour operator booths. You can approach them on the day or it can sometimes be cheaper to pre-book your transfers. This can be done here.
How to Get to Phi Phi from Krabi
There are two main piers to choose from in Krabi town. The first one is called Klong Jilad Pier and is the most common departure point for the ferry which takes approx 2 hours to get to the Phi Phi islands. The second pier is the Krabi River Marina/Kong Ka Pier which is where most of the speedboats depart from although there are one or two speedboats that depart from Klong Jilad.
There is a third departure point although this is not from Krabi town however if you are already in the area of Railay Beach there is a floating pier at East Railay that has a speedboat that takes just 30 minutes. This is useful only if you are in the area as although East Railay is in the Krabi province it is actually 18km away from Krabi Town. Here are the rough prices for each one-way journey:
Boat Type
Approx Travel Time
From – To
Price
Ferry
2 Hours
Departure Pier : Krabi (Klong Jilad Pier) Arrival Pier : Phi Phi Don (Ton Sai Pier)
from 450 THB
Speedboat
1 Hour (East Railay- 30 mins)
Departure Pier : Krabi (Kong Ka Pier) East Railay Floating Pier Klong Jilad Pier
Arrival Pier : Phi Phi Don (Ton Sai Pier) Phi Phi Don (Laem Tong Beach from Klong Jilad Pier only)
Getting from Krabi International Airport to the correct pier
Shuttle Bus: When you first arrive at Krabi International Airport you will leave the baggage claim area and to your left will immediately notice a group of people trying to get your attention. I usually would suggest the company with the red shirts due to personal experience. The shuttle bus is cheap (Around 150 THB) for each person and is definitely an option if time is not critical. Note that the bus will wait outside until it is full so keep this in mind. If you are going to Klong Jilad Pier the shuttle bus will likely drop you at the tour office in Krabi Town where they will ask when your ferry time is.
My advice on this route is sometimes you may have to wait 1-2 hours at the tour office so you may as well kick back, get some food and enjoy. They will then take you in another shuttle bus to the pier in time (Usually they set off 30-45 mins before)
Private Taxi: If time is a critical factor and/or you want a private journey then a taxi is the way to go. It will cost you approx 500THB but will take you from point A to point B and can be the better option if you are traveling as a group.
How to get to Phi Phi from Koh Lipe
The best way to get to Koh Phi Phi from Koh Lipe is usually by ferry or speedboat. It is possible to get a ferry to the mainland and then travel by van to Krabi or Phuket but this will be a long journey involving multiple transfers.
Going via the water is more direct and takes approximately 4 hours. This can be slightly longer as some boats may stop at Koh Lanta.
Boat Type
Approx Travel Time
From – To
Price
Ferry / Speedboat
4 Hours – 4 Hours, 30 Min
Departure Pier : Koh Lipe (Bundhaya Beach) Arrival Pier : Phi Phi Don (Ton Sai Pier)
In this article, we have covered the main routes to get to Koh Phi Phi from Phuket, Krabi, and Koh Lipe. As you can see there are a variety of ways to travel to this beautiful location. Hopefully, this useful guide can help make your journey easier.
