What you see on the Phi Phi day trip from Ao Nang
The Phi Phi islands lie in Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, about 40 km south of Ao Nang. The day trip is a speedboat run to the uninhabited island of Phi Phi Leh, with Bamboo Island and lunch on Phi Phi Don added. Operators name the same stops in a different order, and Krabitrek writes that the order depends on the tide and the sea.
Maya Bay. The bay from the film “The Beach”, squeezed between sheer cliffs. Krabitrek calls it a short stop and says it is always very crowded. Boats do not enter the bay: the only access is a jetty in Loh Samah Bay on the far side of the island (TAT Newsroom, 16.11.2021). Swimming is banned, and the rules and the closure are in the section below.
Loh Samah Bay. A bay with a small beach where the boats moor. Aonang Travel & Tour lists snorkelling over coral and fish here, and Krabitrek calls it a snorkelling spot.
Pileh Lagoon. A lagoon between the cliffs of Phi Phi Leh. Krabitrek and Aonang Travel & Tour list it as a lagoon stop.
Viking Cave. Photos from the boat. Krabitrek notes that the caves are not open to visitors.
Bamboo Island. A beach stop with white sand. Krabitrek puts it first and Aonang Travel & Tour last. From Ao Nang it is the nearest of the stops, 25.7 km in a straight line.
Monkey Beach and Phi Phi Don. Krabitrek may skip Monkey Beach, and Krabi Tourism shows the monkeys from the boat. Lunch at Krabitrek is at a beach restaurant on Phi Phi Don, and Krabitrek adds open-sea snorkelling at Hin Klang and in the sheltered Nui Bay.
Maya Bay: rules and closure by year
Maya Bay and Loh Samah are closed to landings for two months every year. What the sources say:
| Year | Closure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 August-30 September, reopened on 1 October | Thai PBS (park announcement of 1 August 2023), PRD (03.10.2023) |
| 2024 | 1 August-30 September, Lo Ko Bay also closed | DNP announcement reposted by ONEP (28.07.2024) |
| 2025 | 1 August-30 September | park notice citing the DNP announcement of 20.12.2024, as copied by a travel company |
| 2026 | closed in August and September, reopened on 1 October | Time Out Bangkok (29.09.2026) |
We did not find the DNP text of the 2025 and 2026 notices, so for those years the dates come from the secondary sources in the table. The 2027 dates are not announced yet, and the park confirms them each year. On 13.11.2026 the DNP status page does not list Maya Bay as closed.
What is allowed on the beach:
- No swimming. Time Out Bangkok, 29.09.2026: reopening the beach does not mean reopening it for swimming. The PRD reported a swimming ban in specified areas in October 2023
- No collecting sea creatures. The PRD, October 2023
- Reef-safe sunscreen only. The PRD, October 2023
- Landing at Loh Samah. Boats do not enter the bay (TAT Newsroom, 16.11.2021)
The longer story of the bay and its rules is on the page Maya Bay.
How long it takes and when to go
The whole day is about 8 hours: pickup at 8:00-8:45, the boat at 9:00-9:30, back at Ao Nang around 16:00. Krabi station is on the mainland, so the chart shows rain, not waves, and the open-sea crossing to Phi Phi depends on the swell too.
| Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| December-March | driest, 35.9 mm in February and 90-108 mm in the other months per TMD |
| April | hotter, 142.2 mm of rain |
| November | 198.6 mm of rain, wetter than December-March |
| May-October | 210-293 mm of rain a month, and Thai Holiday Guide notes that boats may be suspended in rough seas |
| August-September | Maya Bay is closed to landings |
More on the weather in Krabi in December and in the Krabi overview.
How to get there and how far it is
Boats leave from Nopparat Thara pier on the Ao Nang coast. Straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap coordinates:
| From Nopparat Thara pier | Straight line |
|---|---|
| To Bamboo Island | 25.7 km |
| To Monkey Beach | 33.9 km |
| To Pileh Lagoon | 40.7 km |
| To Maya Bay | 41.4 km |
| To Loh Samah | 41.7 km |
Aonang Travel & Tour gives about 45 minutes of sailing in good sea conditions, Krabitrek about an hour, in speedboats of 25 to 50 seats (a 25-seat boat on most days, a 40-seat boat often from December to March).
Prices at local operators on 13.11.2026
| Operator | Boat | Adult | Child | Park fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aonang Travel & Tour | speedboat | 1,700 baht | 1,500 baht (3-11) | not included, amount not given |
| Krabitrek | speedboat, 25-50 seats | 1,500 baht | 1,200 baht | not included, 400 and 200 baht |
| Krabi Tourism | speedboat | 1,595 baht | not shown (child 4-11) | included in the group tour per its page, confirm |
Prices are what the operators’ own pages show on 13.11.2026. The Krabitrek page carries no price date, the year 2022 in its footer and an old Maya Bay note about the 2018 closure, so confirm the sum before you pay. Krabi Tourism’s page says its group tour includes the park fee, but it gives the child age as 4-11 in one place and 4-12 in another, so check what the 1,595 baht covers. Booking sites such as GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator are not used here for prices.
Park fee and what is included
| What | Foreign adult | Foreign child | Thai citizen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi, Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh and Bamboo zone | 400 baht | 200 baht | 40 and 20 baht |
Source: DNP table (edition of 02.06.2023, the file was checked on 13.11.2026). The lower rate of 200 and 100 baht in the same table is for the rest of the park, such as Poda and Railay, and does not apply to Phi Phi. Krabitrek says you pay in baht to a ranger who gives a receipt, and that children aged 3 and under are free. Keep the receipt with you all day.
Options: group speedboat, private boat, ferry
| Option | Time and price | Who it suits | Downside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group speedboat | about 8 hours, 1,500-1,700 baht plus the park fee | anyone staying in Ao Nang | a short stop at Maya Bay |
| Private speedboat (Krabi Tourism) | 26,000 baht for up to 13 people | a group or family | the cost, the park fee is extra |
| Ferry or speedboat shuttle to Phi Phi Don | 50 minutes, from 1,000 baht (27.10.2026) | anyone staying on Phi Phi Don | no Maya Bay in the ticket |
Times and prices of the shuttle are on the page Krabi and Ao Nang to Phi Phi.
How this differs from Phi Phi from Phuket
| What | From Ao Nang | From Phuket |
|---|---|---|
| Day | about 8 hours, pickup 8:00-8:45, back about 16:00 | 9-10 hours, pickup around 7:00, back at the pier 16:15-17:00 |
| Time at sea to Phi Phi Leh | 45 minutes to an hour | 45-75 minutes |
| To Loh Samah in a straight line | 41.7 km from Nopparat Thara | 44.7 km from Rassada |
| To Bamboo Island in a straight line | 25.7 km | 42.4 km |
| Adult price | 1,500-1,700 baht, 1,900-2,100 with the park fee | 2,050 baht with the park fee, a programme with Bamboo, Khai and Maiton (Phuket Tour, 7 Nov 2026) |
| Park fee | 400 and 200 baht | 400 and 200 baht |
The sea crossing is almost the same, the saving is in the day: no early drive to a Phuket pier. The programmes are not identical, since the Phuket one adds Khai and Maiton, so compare the stops as well as the price. Details of the other trip are on the page Phi Phi from Phuket.
What to do in rain or heavy swell
- Changes to the programme. Krabitrek says locations may change with sea conditions, Aonang Travel & Tour says the itinerary may change for weather without notice, and Krabi Tourism reserves the right to change the programme subject to the weather
- Cancellation. Krabitrek gives free cancellation until 16:00 the day before, while Aonang Travel & Tour asks you to book at least a day ahead and writes that a no-show or same-day cancellation is charged “100%”, in unclear wording
- Maya Bay in August and September. The bay is closed, so ask what replaces it in your programme
- A plan B on land. Railay and Ao Nang
Safety
- Life jackets. All three operators list a life jacket in the price, and Krabitrek warns that they are not made in sizes for very small children or babies
- Pregnancy. Krabitrek does not accept pregnant travellers and Aonang Travel & Tour does not recommend the boat
- Small children and older travellers. Krabitrek does not accept infants under 1, and Aonang Travel & Tour does not recommend the boat for children under 2 and the elderly
- Seasickness and back. Krabitrek advises caution to anyone with seasickness or serious back problems
- Sunscreen. The PRD said in October 2023 that visitors must use reef-safe sunscreen only
- Litter. Take your rubbish with you, the islands are in a national park
Who it suits and who it does not
- Suits couples, friends and first-time visitors. Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Bamboo Island in one day from Ao Nang
- Suits families with children from 3. The child fare starts at 3 at Aonang Travel & Tour, but Krabitrek does not accept infants under 1
- Not for pregnant travellers. Operators do not accept them or do not recommend the boat
- Not for anyone who gets seasick easily. A speedboat rocks in waves
- Not for anyone who wants to swim in Maya Bay. Swimming there is banned
FAQ
How long is the Phi Phi tour from Ao Nang and when does it leave?
About 8 hours. Hotel pickup is at 8:00-8:45, the speedboat leaves Ao Nang at 9:00-9:30 and you are back around 16:00 (Aonang Travel & Tour, Krabitrek, Krabi Tourism). The crossing takes about 45 minutes in good sea conditions at Aonang Travel & Tour and about an hour at Krabitrek.
How much is the Phi Phi tour from Ao Nang on 13.11.2026?
Aonang Travel & Tour lists 1,700 baht for an adult and 1,500 baht for a child aged 3-11. Krabitrek lists 1,500 and 1,200 baht, and its page carries no price date. Krabi Tourism lists 1,595 baht for an adult. With the park fee added, an adult pays about 1,900-2,100 baht.
Is the national park fee included?
At Aonang Travel & Tour and Krabitrek it is not: Krabitrek says 400 baht per adult and 200 baht per child, children aged 3 and under are free, and you pay in baht to a ranger who gives a receipt. That matches the DNP table (edition of 02.06.2023) for the Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh and Bamboo zone. Krabi Tourism's page says the group tour includes the fee and the private tour does not, so confirm it when you book.
Can you swim at Maya Bay?
No. Time Out Bangkok wrote on 29.09.2026 that reopening the beach does not mean reopening it for swimming, and the government press office (PRD) reported a swimming ban in specified areas when the bay reopened in October 2023. Boats land at a jetty in Loh Samah Bay on the far side of the island. One operator page we read still lists a swim in Maya Bay, so do not rely on it.
When is Maya Bay closed?
Every year from 1 August to 30 September. Thai PBS reported it for 2023 (the park announcement of 1 August 2023), ONEP reposted the DNP announcement for 2024 on 28.07.2024, a park notice quoting a DNP announcement of 20.12.2024 gives the same dates for 2025, and Time Out Bangkok reported that the bay reopened on 1 October 2026. The 2027 dates are not announced yet. Ask your operator what replaces Maya Bay in the programme, because none of the operator pages we read says so.
What do you see on the day and how long do you stay at each stop?
The stops are Bamboo Island, Viking Cave, Loh Samah Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Maya Bay, Monkey Beach and lunch on Phi Phi Don. No operator gives times per stop: Krabitrek writes that the order depends on the tide and the sea, calls Maya Bay a short stop and says Monkey Beach may be skipped.
How is Phi Phi from Ao Nang different from Phi Phi from Phuket?
The day is shorter, 8 hours against 9-10, because you do not drive to a Phuket pier. In a straight line Loh Samah is 41.7 km from Nopparat Thara pier and 44.7 km from Rassada Pier, so the sea part is almost the same, while Bamboo Island is 25.7 km from Ao Nang against 42.4 km. The [tour from Phuket](/en/travel/phuket/excursions/phi-phi/) with Bamboo, Khai and Maiton is 2,050 baht for an adult with the park fee included (Phuket Tour, 7 Nov 2026).
Is the tour suitable for children and pregnant travellers?
Krabitrek does not accept pregnant travellers or infants under 1 and warns that life jackets are not made in sizes for very small children. Aonang Travel & Tour does not recommend the boat for children under 2, pregnant travellers and the elderly, with an exception for young children in close parental care. Child fares are for ages 3-11 at Aonang Travel & Tour and 4-11 at Krabi Tourism.
Should I take a day tour or a ferry to Phi Phi Don?
A tour gets you Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Bamboo in one day with a boat and lunch. A ferry or a speedboat shuttle only takes you to Tonsai on Phi Phi Don. For times and prices see [Krabi and Ao Nang to Phi Phi](/en/questions/krabi-to-phi-phi/).
Sources
- DNP. National park entrance fees for individuals, edition of 02.06.2023 (dataset, CSV)
- DNP. Opening and closing status of national parks (ข้อมูลท่องเที่ยวอุทยานแห่งชาติ): on 13.11.2026 Maya Bay is not listed as closed
- Thai PBS. The park announces the closure of Maya Bay and Loh Samah from 1 August to 30 September 2023 (02.08.2023, in Thai)
- Thailand PRD. Maya Bay reopens 1 October 2023 (03.10.2023)
- ONEP. Closure of Maya Bay, Loh Samah and Lo Ko for 2 months, 1 August-30 September 2024 (repost of the DNP announcement, 28.07.2024, in Thai)
- SmartEnPlus. Park notice on the closure of Maya Bay, Loh Samah and Lo Ko from 1 August to 30 September 2025, citing the DNP announcement of 20.12.2024 (a travel company's copy)
- Time Out Bangkok. Maya Bay reopens October 1 after annual closure (29.09.2026)
- TAT Newsroom. Krabi's world famous Maya Bay eyeing 1 January 2022 reopening (16.11.2021): access only via the Loh Samah jetty
- TMD. Climate normals 1991-2020, Krabi station (48 563)
- Thai Holiday Guide. Ao Nang (updated June 2026): boats may be suspended in rough seas from May to October
- Aonang Travel & Tour (TAT licence 34/00212). One day tour Phi Phi by speed boat
- Krabitrek. Phi Phi Islands by speedboat from Krabi (the page has no price date)
- Krabitrek. Tours and activities price list
- Krabi Tourism (TAT licence 34/03189). Phi Phi Islands tour by speedboat
- Phuket Tour. Phi Phi, Bamboo, Khai and Maiton by speedboat from Phuket (price for the comparison, checked 7 Nov 2026)
- OpenStreetMap. Nopparat Thara pier (node 2495732193), Rassada Pier (node 260742667), Loh Samah (node 2421130506), Ko Mai Phai (Bamboo Island)
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