How a catamaran differs from a speedboat
A catamaran is a twin-hull boat that Phuket operators use for group trips to Phi Phi. The route is the same as in the overview of the Phi Phi day: Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Beach, lunch on Phi Phi Don and Bamboo or Khai Island. What changes is the boat, the group size and the timetable. This page is about the catamaran itself.
| Parameter | Catamaran | Speedboat |
|---|---|---|
| Decks | two, you can walk around on the crossings (Phuket Tour); open upper deck (Tisland Travel) | a cabin with benches, Love Andaman calls it a “safety speed boat” |
| Group | 40-55 people with Tisland Travel | up to 18 adults with Simba Sea Trips |
| Ride to Phi Phi Leh | about 75 minutes | 45-75 minutes (Phuket Tour, Love Andaman) |
| What is provided | life jackets, masks, and with Tisland Wi-Fi and phone charging on board | life jackets, masks |
| Pregnant travellers | Tisland does not accept them, no restriction stated by Phuket Tour on its premium catamaran pages | Love Andaman marks it as unsuitable, no restriction stated by Phuket Tour |
Four catamaran programmes (operator data on 18.10.2026):
- Phuket Tour, premium catamaran Phi Phi and Bamboo. Transfer at 7:00, departure at 9:00, at the islands at 10:15, lunch on Phi Phi Don at 13:00, Bamboo at 14:00, at the pier around 16:30
- Phuket Tour, premium catamaran Phi Phi and Khai. The same start, lunch at 12:30, Khai from 13:30 to 16:00, at the pier at 17:00
- Phuket Tour, late departure. Transfer at 9:00, Loh Samah around 11:30, lunch at 14:00, Monkey Beach at 15:00, Maiton Island with a water slide at 16:00, back around 18:00
- Tisland Travel, early departure. Meeting from 5:15, departure from Boat Lagoon pier at 6:30, Loh Samah at 7:45, back at the pier at 16:00
What you will see
The stops on a catamaran are the same as on other boats. Only the order of the stops differs:
- Maya Bay. On Tisland Travel’s early run the landing at Loh Samah is at 7:45, on Phuket Tour’s premium catamaran programmes around 10:15, on the late one around 11:30. Swimming in the bay is not allowed, details on the Maya Bay page
- Pileh Lagoon. Tisland Travel gives 30-40 minutes for swimming and photos and says you can jump from the upper deck
- Monkey Beach. A stop of about 10 minutes, rules about macaques on the Monkey Beach page
- Bamboo or Khai. Phuket Tour offers both, Tisland Travel goes to Bamboo Island for an hour
How long it takes and when to go
The day takes 8-10 hours including the hotel transfer: with Phuket Tour from 7:00 to 16:30 or 17:00, with Tisland Travel about 8 hours from the meeting, and the late run from 9:00 to 18:00. The Maya Bay closure from 1 August to 30 September applies to all boats, and in 2026 the bay reopened on 1 October (Time Out, 29.09.2026). For months by swell and rainfall see the Phi Phi overview, which also has the TMD chart.
Getting there and how long it takes
From the pier to Loh Samah the catamaran takes about 75 minutes. Tisland Travel’s pier is Boat Lagoon (on Phuket’s east coast), Phuket Tour and Love Andaman give no pier name, and Love Andaman works from a private pier. The hotel transfer is included with Phuket Tour and Tisland Travel, with a surcharge for remote areas at Tisland. In a straight line Rassada Pier is about 42 km from Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don (OpenStreetMap calculation).
National park fee and what is included
Phuket Tour and Tisland Travel include national park tickets in the programme. The fee itself for foreigners:
| Area | Foreign adult | Foreign child | Thai citizen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh, Bamboo | THB 400 | THB 200 | THB 40 / 20 |
Source: DNP table, revision of 02.06.2023, checked 18.10.2026. If an operator has not included the ticket, carry cash.
Options: catamaran, speedboat, private boat
| Option | Time | Best for | Downside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catamaran | 8-10 hours, about 75 minutes to the islands | families and groups | a large group of 40-55 |
| Speedboat | 8-9 hours, 45-75 minutes to the islands | people who want it faster and with fewer others | harder on the swell, Love Andaman marks it as unsuitable for pregnant travellers |
| Private boat | by arrangement | people who want their own route | the fee and fuel must be agreed |
More about private boats on the private boat to Phi Phi page.
What to do in rain and rough seas
The TMD forecast for the Andaman Sea on 18.10.2026 reads: waves about 1 m, above 2 m in thundershowers (TMD page). According to Tisland Travel, at 2-3 m waves speedboats to far islands are cancelled first and large boats keep running. The captain and the operator decide on the day. If a trip is cancelled, check the terms for rescheduling or a refund before you pay. In the months when Maya Bay is closed the bay is shown from the water and swimming moves to Pileh Lagoon and other places.
Safety
- Life jackets. Phuket Tour and Tisland Travel provide them, and under the 2018 rules everyone on a Phuket tourist boat must wear one (TAT Newsroom, 17.07.2018)
- Health. Tisland Travel does not accept pregnant women, children under 1 and people with back and neck problems
- Jumping from the deck. This is a separate activity at Pileh: do it only if you want to and on the guide’s command
- Seasickness. Take the tablet before the boat leaves and sit near the centre and the stern
Who it suits and who should skip it
- Suits. Families, groups and anyone who wants a deck, shade and room to move around
- Skip it. Pregnant women (with Tisland Travel), children under 1, people with back and neck problems, and anyone who wants empty bays: a catamaran carries dozens of people
FAQ
How is a catamaran to Phi Phi different from a speedboat?
Operators describe the catamaran as a two-deck boat: Phuket Tour says you can walk around it freely on the crossings, and Tisland Travel adds panoramic windows, an open upper deck and Wi-Fi. Groups are bigger: 40-55 with Tisland, while Simba Sea Trips takes at most 18 adults on a speedboat. The ride takes about 75 minutes against 45-75 minutes by speedboat.
How long is the catamaran ride to Phi Phi?
About 75 minutes in the Phuket Tour and Tisland Travel programmes: leave at 9:00 and arrive at 10:15 with Phuket Tour, leave at 6:30 and land at Loh Samah at 7:45 with Tisland Travel. Add the drive from your hotel to the pier. Tisland Travel collects guests from 5:15 and sails from Boat Lagoon pier.
Are pregnant women accepted on the catamaran?
It depends on the operator. Tisland Travel does not accept pregnant women. Phuket Tour states no restriction on its premium catamaran pages, and Love Andaman marks its speedboat as unsuitable. Ask the operator in writing before you pay and do not count on a general rule.
From what age can children go on the catamaran?
Phuket Tour and Tisland Travel use a child fare for ages 4-11. With Tisland Travel children up to 3 travel without a separate minivan seat, and children under 1 are not accepted. The day is long: you are collected from your hotel between 5:15 and 9:00 depending on the programme, and the crossing is about 75 minutes each way.
Is the national park fee included in a catamaran tour?
With Phuket Tour and Tisland Travel park tickets are included in the programme. The fee itself is THB 400 for a foreign adult and THB 200 for a child (DNP table, revision of 02.06.2023) for Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh and Bamboo. With other operators ask whether it is included and carry cash.
What happens if the catamaran is cancelled because of waves?
The captain and the operator decide on the day. The TMD forecast for the Andaman Sea on 18.10.2026 reads: waves about 1 m, above 2 m in thundershowers. According to Tisland Travel a reliable operator reschedules or refunds, so check the terms before you pay. At 2-3 m waves speedboats are cancelled first and large boats keep running.
Which departure should I choose: early catamaran or late start?
Tisland Travel's early boat lands at Loh Samah at 7:45, and Wikivoyage says speedboat crowds reach the bay from 9:00, so there are fewer groups. Phuket Tour's late programme starts with a transfer at 9:00 and reaches Loh Samah around 11:30; you get to sleep in, and the day ends around 18:00.
Sources
- DNP. Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park
- DNP. Opening/closing status of national parks on 18.10.2026
- DNP. National park entrance fees (dataset, CSV, revision of 02.06.2023)
- TMD. Shipping weather forecast, Andaman Sea on 18.10.2026
- TAT Newsroom. Phuket boat incidents: action plan to improve marine tourism safety (17.07.2018)
- Time Out Bangkok. Maya Bay reopens October 1 after annual closure (29.09.2026)
- Tisland Travel. Phi Phi Islands day trip by catamaran (Boat Lagoon, 40-55 guests)
- Tisland Travel. How to read the TMD forecast before a sea trip
- Phuket Tour (TAT licence 34/03743). Phi Phi and Bamboo by premium catamaran
- Phuket Tour. Phi Phi and Khai by premium catamaran
- Phuket Tour. Phi Phi with a late departure by speed catamaran (in Russian)
- Love Andaman. Phi Phi Islands and Bamboo Island: day trip itinerary (a speedboat for comparison)
- Simba Sea Trips. Join-in tours (up to 18 adults)
- Wikivoyage. Ko Phi Phi (when groups reach Maya Bay)
Found an error or outdated fact? Tell the editors, we will fix it and update the check date.
