From Phi Phi to Phuket

Once you’ve visited the spectacular beaches and seen Thailand’s most beautiful landscapes on the Phi Phi Islands, it’s time to head back to Phuket. While Koh Phi Phi still has a relatively laid-back atmosphere, Phuket is bustling with resorts, markets, restaurants and nightclubs, a significant change from the relaxed atmosphere of Phi Phi. Still, Phi Phi is quickly becoming one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting hundreds of people for a day or longer trip, and there are plenty of ways to get between Phi Phi and Phuket to accommodate transportation for everyone.

Read about:
• Travel options from Phi Phi to Phuket
• Ferries from Phi Phi to Phuket
• Speedboats from Phi Phi to Phuket
• Taxi and ferry from Phi Phi to Phuket
• Ferry from Phi Phi and van to Phuket airport

Phi Phi Island

Travel options from Phi Phi to Phuket

The Phi Phi Islands consist of six islands located in the Andaman Sea, approximately halfway between the eastern coast of Phuket and mainland Thailand. Koh Phi Phi Don is the largest and most populated of the islands and therefore attracts many tourists, although the beaches of Koh Phi Phi Le, the second largest island, are so spectacular that this island also attracts many tourists. Since the six islands are very small, transportation and general infrastructure are somewhat poor. There are no airports or many roads on any of the islands, but that doesn’t matter because there are no vehicles on Phi Phi either! If you want to travel from Phi Phi to Phuket, the only way to do it is by boat. But the boat service is very good, with many options for traveling by water. There are ferries that offer the best value for money, and speedboats are the fastest way to travel. The third option is to purchase a ticket, which also includes transfer to a hotel in Phuket or to the airport.

Ferries from Phi Phi to Phuket

Phi Phi Cruiser ferry between Phi Phi and Phuket

There are a lot of ferries from Phi Phi to Phuket, i.e. regular ferries, not motorboats. There is not just one ferry company, but several, and the times and lengths of cruises vary, so there are many things to take into account when booking ferry tickets! The good news is that you can see timetables and ticket prices for all carriers using the 12Go travel website. We recommend this site as it makes it very easy to compare and book online, rather than having to search through countless websites that only offer options for one of the ferries.

The first thing you should remember is that schedules may change. During periods of increased ferry traffic there will be more ferry services, but in the off-season ferries will be limited and, for safety reasons, sailings may be canceled due to bad weather.

The cheapest ferries

The most basic ferries are those from Chaokoh Travel Center and Phi Phi Cruiser. These two companies offer the cheapest ferry from Phi Phi to Phuket and are usually full of passengers because they offer the best value for money. Chaokoh Travel Center ferries depart daily at 9:00 from Ton Sai Pier with an estimated journey time of 1 hour and 45 minutes, arriving at Rassada Pier in Phuket at 10:00:4.5. Phi Phi Cruiser departs twice at 9:00 AM and 2:30 PM from Ton Sai Pier and arrives 2 hours later at Rassada Pier. Currently, these two ferries pay almost the same price per ticket. About 12 euros (450 THB).

Andaman Wave Master Ferry

Andaman Wave Master Ferry

Andaman Wave Master offers a third type of ferry from Phi Phi to Phuket. They depart from Ton Sai Pier, but also from the other pier on Phi Phi, Laem Tong Beach, on the other end of the island. Their ferries seem a bit more modern than the previous two mentioned and are slightly larger, although surprisingly it takes longer to travel from Phi Phi to Phuket. The advantage of traveling on a larger ferry is that the journey will be more stable and not as bumpy as on smaller ferries, which is great for someone who may be a little seasick. From Ton Sai Pier, the estimated journey time is 2 hours, leaving at 11:00, plus another ferry leaving at 14:30. Their standard class tickets cost only a few dollars more than Chaokoh and Phi Phi Cruiser, but they also offer upgraded seats for a higher price in first class and premium class. The difference with these boat sections is that they are smaller, but have less space and are much more comfortable than those in the Standard version.

Speedboats from Phi Phi to Phuket

PP Sabai Marine motor boat

The fastest way to get from Phi Phi to Phuket is by speedboat. Instead of several hours, a speedboat ride only takes an hour, making it a great option for those who don’t have a lot of time. Of course, speed comes with a higher price, but the cost of a speedboat compared to a ferry is not significantly higher, so unless you are traveling on a very tight budget, speedboats may be an option.

When we say “motorboat”, we do not mean a small boat that can accommodate a few passengers, but large, fast boats that can accommodate several passengers and can be traveled safely. As they travel at higher speeds, the ride can be quite bumpy at times, so not a good option for those suffering from motion sickness! If the water is very rough on the day of the cruise, the cruise will sail at a slower speed or may even be canceled. This is not usually a problem during the season, but outside of the season it can be more of a problem.

From Ton Sai Pier to Rassada Pier in Phuket

There are several companies operating speedboats from Phi Phi to Phuket. Most run from Ton Sai Pier to Rassada Pier in Phuket and take about an hour. Companies operating speedboats from Phi Phi to Phuket include PP Sabai Marine, Seatran Phuket, Satun Pakbara Speed ​​Boat Club, Phi Phi Kanichta Tour and Andaman Wave Master. There are several departures available throughout the day, and ticket prices between different carriers are quite comparable. Tickets for all these speedboats can be booked online through 12Go. It is strongly recommended that you book your tickets in advance to ensure your seat, and please note that some companies do not accept reservations on the day of your trip.

Departures from North Phi Phi with Andaman Wave Master

Andaman Wave Master also has speedboats departing from Laem Tong Beach Pier to Phi Phi at 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM. It takes 1.5 hours to reach Phuket Rassada Pier. This route is perfect if you are staying in the northern part of Phi Phi as it avoids having to traverse the entire island to get to Ton Sai Pier. So it’s convenient for anyone staying on this end of the island, but other than that it’s probably not worth the hassle and price of a slightly longer drive.

Taxi and ferry from Phi Phi to Phuket

Seatran Phuket ferry and taxi combination

If you want everything to be taken care of for you so you have more time to rest and relax, combining a ferry and taxi from Phi Phi to Phuket may be the solution. If you book through 12Go and are assured of all connections for peace of mind, you can take a ferry or speedboat from Ton Sai Pier or Laem Tong Pier and be picked up on arrival in Phuket for transfer to your chosen hotel. This is a very convenient option that will save you time and hassle, perfect if you have already booked a hotel in Phuket and know where you are going. The cost of this door-to-door transfer is of course higher than the ferry ticket, and you may be able to find cheaper taxis or songthaews to take you to your hotel, but it doesn’t get any better than this option in terms of convenience.

For a cheaper option of this service, you can opt for a transfer to your hotel in Phuket. Instead of going directly to your chosen hotel, you will share a minibus with other passengers and will be dropped off at your hotel. This option takes a little more time because it’s not direct, but it saves you money. Before booking, please check that your chosen hotel is in the area you will be dropped off to, otherwise an additional fee will apply.

Phi Phi ferry and minibus to Phuket airport

A Thai Airways plane flying over Mai Khao Beach before landing at Phuket Airport. © Southtownboy / depositphotos.com

When your vacation is over and you need to head back to the airport, there is one more option to get from Phi Phi to Phuket. You can purchase a ticket that includes a ferry or speedboat ride, as well as a minibus transfer to Phuket Airport. This is very convenient if you can manage your travel times and arrive at the airport on time for your flight, saving you from having to look for public transport or another minibus or taxi transfer.

You can also book these services through 12Go and again, all connections are guaranteed. The price of this service is higher than a hotel transfer because the airport is further away and takes longer to get there, but it’s worth it for the convenience of this service and not having to worry about finding another way to get to the airport.

In summary, to get from Phi Phi to Phuket, there are many different options for different budget levels. If you want to save money and don’t mind the trip taking a little longer, choose a basic ferry service. Spend a little more and take a speedboat and you’ll get to Phuket faster, and there are more departure options during the day compared to ferries. For added convenience, you can purchase a combined ferry and taxi ticket that will take you directly to your hotel, and if you want to get to Phuket Airport, you can also purchase a combined ferry and minibus ticket.

Phi Phi – Phuket