Although the city of Krabi is a coastal city, the city itself is not a beach destination in Thailand. This popular getaway town is best known for its temples and proximity to the Phi Phi Islands. While you can fly to Krabi, you cannot fly to Phi Phi as the six small islands in the archipelago do not have an airport, so they can only be reached by boat. Despite this, Ko Phi Phi is easily accessible by ferry from Krabi, less than 50 kilometers away. Ferries run quite frequently and usually the journey takes 90-105 minutes. If you are flying to Krabi, the ferry terminal is approximately a 30-minute drive from Krabi Airport.
Find out more:
• From Krabi to Phi Phi by ferry
• From Krabi to Phi Phi by speedboat
• From Ao Nang to Koh Phi Phi
Ferries from Krabi to Phi Phi used to run from the port in the city center, but now there is a new passenger port about 3 km south of the city center. It is officially called Klong Jilad Pier, but is usually known as Phi Phi Island Pier. Your ticket should include a free taxi ride from the ticket office in the city center to the port, so we advise you to ask before paying for a taxi. Read on to find out more about the Krabi to Phi Phi ferries and the speedboat trip.
Ferry from Krabi to Phi Phi
Travelers walking towards the ferry at Tonsai Port, Ko Phi Phi Don © SIHASAKPRACHUM / Shutterstock.com
Traveling by ferry from Krabi to Phi Phi is convenient and cheap. As we said before, the ferries leave from the new passenger port in the south of the city and have four departures a day, making the journey quite easy if you are coming to Krabi from another part of the country. At the time of writing, ferries depart from Klong Jilad Port in Krabi at 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:00 PM. The only exception is that the ferry leaves at 3:00 PM on Fridays at 4:00 PM.
The ferry takes approximately 1.5 hours to reach Tonsai Harbor on Ko Phi Phi Don, the largest island of the Phi Phi Archipelago. There are plenty of places to stay and eat from the port.
Ferries have the advantage of being a very cheap way to travel from Krabi to Phi Phi, and if you book your tickets in advance you will get an extra discount on the price advertised at the ferry office. The standard price is around 450 baht, and with a discount you can save up to 100 baht per ticket.
Fast boat from Krabi to Phi Phi
Von einem Schnellboot in Südthailand schnorcheln © Vassamon Anansukkasem / Shutterstock.com
If you’re not on a budget, a speedboat or speedboat cruise is a great way to enjoy the scenery. Fast boats are more expensive than ferries, but if you book an all-inclusive tour, you can visit several islands in a short amount of time. If you’re staying in Krabi and just want to see the Phi Phi Islands on a day trip, a speedboat tour might be a good option.
As an all-inclusive package, the speedboat trip from Krabi to Phi Phi includes many services in the ticket, so all things considered, we can say that it is worth the cost if you are not traveling with the right money. Please note that there is an additional fee to enter the National Park, which is paid by the park ranger and cannot be included in the tour price. The agency will provide you with the latest information on this when you book your tour.
With the exception of the national park entrance, the price of the tour usually includes transfers to and from the hotel, food, fruit and water, snorkeling mask, life jacket, guide throughout the tour, and insurance. This full-day tour will take you to the best of the Phi Phi Islands, but you’ll also have time to eat (meals included) and relax on the beach and/or snorkel.
While they are great fun, fast boats are not for everyone. If you are prone to seasickness, the ferry is a more stable and perhaps more comfortable option for you. If you have back problems, the jerks that can occur when rafting in slightly choppy water may be a problem.