Private Phi Phi Island Speed Boat Tour from Krabi

The best reason to book this tour is simple: you control the pace. Instead of being pushed on and off the boat with a large crowd, your group of up to 12 can spend longer snorkeling, leave a busy stop early, or ask the crew to seek a quieter bay. I especially like the private boat and the helpful guides, including Cookie, Beauty, Gina, Nee, and Nadia. The buffet lunch, drinks, fruit, and hotel transfers also remove much of the day’s fuss.

The main catch is the price: $367.67 per person is a serious splurge, especially for a small group. Phi Phi can also be very crowded, and some stops may feel more like a photo call than a peaceful island escape. Still, if you are sharing the cost with family or friends and value space and flexibility, this is one of the more sensible ways to see the area.

Key points at a glance

• Private boat for up to 12 people: You travel only with your own group, guide, and crew.
• Flexible time at the islands: Ask to spend longer snorkeling or leave crowded places sooner.
• Major Phi Phi sights included: Visit Phi Leh Bay, Maya Bay, Viking Cave, Monkey Beach, Ton Sai, and Bamboo Island.
• Buffet lunch on Phi Phi Don: Lunch, drinking water, seasonal fruit, snorkeling gear, and life jackets are included.
• Hotel pickup from several Krabi areas: Pickup is offered from Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Ao Nam Mao, Klong Muang, Tubkaek Beach, and Railay Beach.
• Expect extra national park fees: Adults pay THB400 and children pay THB200 for Hat Noppharat Thara and Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park.

Why a private Phi Phi boat changes the day

Phi Phi is famous for limestone cliffs, clear water, and bright beaches. It is also famous for crowds. Large boats may arrive at the same viewpoint, beach, or swimming area at nearly the same time, which can turn a beautiful place into a queue with a view.

A private boat gives you room to adjust. If your group wants more snorkeling than sightseeing, the guide can shape the day around that. If the first stop is packed, you can spend less time there and ask about a quieter swimming or snorkeling area. Several groups used this flexibility to enjoy places such as Loh Lana Bay, Phi Leh Lagoon, or Bamboo Island at a better pace.

That flexibility matters most for families and mixed-age groups. You can slow down for young children, spend extra time in the water with teenagers, or leave a beach before everyone gets tired. Guides such as Nee and Beauty were praised for paying close attention to families, while Cookie and Nadia were noted for organizing a relaxed, personalized day.

You should not mistake private for empty. Phi Phi is popular, particularly in December and other busy periods. The boat lets you avoid some of the worst crowding, but it cannot make Maya Bay or the national park private.

From Krabi hotels to Nopparat Thara Pier

The day begins with morning pickup from selected parts of Krabi. Included pickup areas are Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Ao Nam Mao, Klong Muang, and Tubkaek Beach. Railay Beach pickup is also available from its designated meeting point.

The exact pickup time is provided after confirmation. At Nopparat Thara Pier, you check in at a small booth, receive a short safety briefing, and hear about the day’s sea and weather conditions. The listed start time is 9:00 am, but hotel pickup naturally takes place earlier depending on where you stay.

The transfer is useful because it saves you from arranging a taxi to the pier. At the end of the day, the activity finishes back at the meeting point, with the tour information also including round-trip hotel transportation. Confirm the final pickup and return details when you book, especially if you are staying at Railay.

The speedboat ride to Phi Phi Leh

The boat is described as a comfortable speedboat with space for up to 45 seats, but your private booking is limited to your own group of no more than 12 people. That is a good middle ground: faster than a slow ferry, but less cramped than a full group excursion.

The crossing takes about 45 minutes once you are heading toward the Phi Phi islands. You should expect wind, spray, and a fairly lively ride. The crew supplies drinking water, seasonal fruit, snorkeling equipment, and life jackets. I would still bring sun protection, a dry bag for phones, and a change of clothes. Towels and waterproof bags are not included.

The crew places strong emphasis on wearing a life jacket during the ride and while snorkeling. Follow that advice. Conditions on the Andaman Sea can change, and the program may be altered if wind, waves, or weather make a planned stop unsuitable.

Loh Samah Bay and the walk toward Maya Bay

The first listed stop is Loh Samah Bay. From the floating pier, you can climb over the rocks and follow an elevated wooden path toward the beach at Maya Bay. This approach gives you a look at the dramatic cliffs before you reach one of Thailand’s most famous beaches.

The stop is listed at about 15 minutes, so do not expect a long beach visit here. The route may also require careful footing, particularly if surfaces are wet. If your group includes young children or anyone unsteady on rocks, ask the guide about conditions before setting off.

Loh Samah is a useful introduction to the area’s scenery, but the day improves once the boat reaches the lagoon and snorkeling spots.

Phi Leh Bay, where the water gets the attention

Phi Leh Bay is one of the trip’s strongest stops. Sheer limestone walls rise around the long lagoon, creating a dramatic setting for photos and swimming. The water is often the reason people choose this tour over a simple sightseeing cruise.

You have roughly 45 minutes here. An optional longtail boat ride into smaller coves may be available for an extra charge. That cost is not included, so ask before agreeing.

This is also a good place to let the private format earn its keep. You can prioritize swimming and take your time with photos instead of being rushed toward the next landmark. One memorable incident involved a boat driver retrieving a pair of glasses from deep water, but do not count on the crew recovering lost belongings. Use a secure strap or waterproof pouch.

Snorkeling near Phi Phi Leh

The east side of Phi Phi Leh is used for snorkeling over coral reefs. The listed water stop lasts around 40 minutes, with masks, snorkels, and life jackets supplied.

The quality of the experience depends on the day’s water clarity, weather, and boat traffic. You may see coral and marine life, but conditions are not guaranteed. Jellyfish can appear year-round in the Andaman Sea and are more often noticed during the monsoon period, roughly May through October, when water movement increases.

Ask your guide about current conditions before entering the water. The crew can also help you decide how long to swim. If snorkeling is your main reason for booking, tell the guide at the start. Private groups have used the extra control to spend less time on land and more time in the water.

Viking Cave and Maya Bay

The boat passes slowly by Viking Cave, where swiftlet nests used in bird’s nest soup are collected. You view the cave from the water rather than entering it. This is a short sightseeing stop, lasting about 15 minutes.

Maya Bay allows about 50 minutes, although the listed stop time is around 35 minutes, so the exact schedule can change. Here you can walk on the white sand and see the turquoise water made famous by film and photographs. It is a beautiful place, but it is also one of the busiest.

The Thai national parks department closes Maya Bay for about two months each year during the low season. If Maya Bay is important to you, confirm that it will be open on your date. Even when open, access rules and swimming conditions can change.

The private boat helps with timing, but it does not guarantee solitude. Go expecting a famous national park beach, not a secret cove.

Monkey Beach and Ton Sai

Monkey Beach is described as a 150-meter strip of sand along the southwestern side of Tonsai Bay. The boat may pass close enough for you to see monkeys when the tide is low, but this is not always a direct landing stop.

Do not feed the monkeys. Human food can make them aggressive and stop them from finding food naturally. Keep phones, snacks, and loose items secure if the boat approaches the shore.

Next comes Ao Ton Sai Pier and free time around Ton Sai. You have about 30 minutes to walk the island path and see the facilities around Ton Sai and Loh Dalum Bay. This is the most developed and tourist-focused part of the day, so I would keep expectations modest. It is useful for a short stretch of the legs, but most people will prefer the scenery and water stops.

Lunch on Phi Phi Don

Lunch is served at Phi Phi Arida restaurant on Phi Phi Don. The buffet includes Thai-style dishes, and you are asked to provide meal preferences in advance.

The meal has received mixed practical impressions. The food selection can be good, but the dining area may feel busy and disorganized at peak times. That matters because lunch is meant to be your quiet break in the middle of a long day, yet Phi Phi Don is a busy island rather than a peaceful resort hideaway.

Still, having lunch arranged is convenient. You do not need to search for a restaurant after swimming, and one of the strongest food impressions described the buffet as surprisingly good for such a busy island setting. If you have dietary needs or strong preferences, share them before departure.

Bamboo Island, the calmer finish

Bamboo Island, also called Koh Pai, is a small, flat island covered in vegetation and ringed by white sand and reef. The planned visit lasts about an hour, making it one of the better stops for simply sitting on the beach.

This is where the private schedule can work especially well. One group found the island became quieter later in the afternoon, around 3:30 pm. Timing will vary, but your guide can help decide whether to stay longer or move on.

Do not expect a large island to explore. Bamboo Island is mainly about sand, water, and a final rest before the ride back. Bring sun protection and keep your belongings close. The island’s appeal is its simplicity.

What the $367.67 price really buys

At $367.67 per person, this is not a budget boat trip. The value depends heavily on group size. For two people, the price is difficult to justify unless privacy and comfort matter more than cost. For a family or friend group of eight to 12, the cost buys a private boat, crew, guide, flexible timing, transfers, lunch, drinks, fruit, equipment, and a full day on the water.

The private format is the real product. You are paying to avoid the fixed rhythm of a large group, not simply to see Phi Phi. If you want to snorkel longer, leave a crowded beach quickly, or adapt the day for children, that control has real value.

The price does not include the national park fee, which is THB400 per adult and THB200 per child. Tips are also excluded. Longtail boat rides at Phi Leh Bay cost extra, and towels and waterproof bags are not supplied.

I would compare this with the cost of booking a private boat directly, but I would also compare what is included. A lower price may not include the same transfer, meal, equipment, or crew support.

Who should book this private tour

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Families with children who need a flexible pace
• Couples celebrating a special occasion
• Friends who can share the cost across a larger group
• Strong swimmers and snorkelers who want more water time
• People who dislike being hurried through famous sights
• Visitors staying in the listed Krabi pickup areas

I would think twice if you are traveling alone, watching every baht, or mainly want a quiet beach day. The boat ride is active, the day is long, and famous Phi Phi sites remain crowded.

This tour also suits people who are happy to speak up. Tell the guide early if you want more snorkeling, fewer beach stops, a slower lunch break, or less time around crowds. The private arrangement gives you choices, but the crew needs to know your priorities.

Practical details before you book

The tour lasts about eight hours and includes a professional English-speaking guide, basic accident insurance, life jackets, snorkeling gear, drinking water, seasonal fruit, buffet lunch, and round-trip hotel transfer.

The booking is private, so only your group participates. Most people can take part, but the schedule includes boat boarding, a floating pier, rocks, a wooden path, beach walking, and swimming. Ask the crew about sea conditions if anyone in your group has mobility concerns.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes made inside that window are not accepted, and poor weather can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want Phi Phi with space, control, and a private crew, and if you can spread the cost across several people. The strongest parts are the flexible timing, attentive guides, good snorkeling opportunities, and the ability to move away from the busiest areas.

Skip it if the price feels uncomfortable or if you expect untouched beaches. Phi Phi is heavily visited, lunch can be hectic, and the national park fee is extra. For a family group or friends who care more about a relaxed day than the lowest price, the private boat is worth serious consideration.

FAQ

How long does the private Phi Phi tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours, beginning in the morning and returning to the meeting point at Nopparat Thara Pier.

How many people can join the private boat?

The private activity is for your group only, with space for up to 12 people.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

Yes. Pickup is offered from Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Ao Nam Mao, Klong Muang, Tubkaek Beach, and Railay Beach from the designated meeting point.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch at Phi Phi Arida restaurant on Phi Phi Don is included. You should provide meal preferences in advance.

Are snorkeling equipment and life jackets provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and life jackets are included, along with drinking water and seasonal fruit.

Is the national park entrance fee included?

No. The adult fee is THB400 per person, and the child fee is THB200 per person.

Can the tour visit Maya Bay all year?

No. Maya Bay is closed by Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation for about two months each year during the low season.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The program can change because of sea or weather conditions. If the activity is canceled due to poor weather, you can receive a different date or a full refund.