by Sailing Phuket
Thailand's most famous island group, 25 nautical miles out - with Maya Bay before the crowds, not in the middle of them.
Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh deliver the postcard: vertical limestone cliffs, turquoise lagoons and white sand. Maya Bay (from "The Beach") is on Phi Phi Leh; monkeys, snorkel stops and the view from the boat do the rest. The group is six islands between Phuket and Krabi, about 25 nautical miles from Phuket.
Phi Phi Don has the village, the beach bars and the famous viewpoint over the hourglass bays; Phi Phi Leh is uninhabited, with Maya Bay enclosed by karst walls and Pileh Lagoon just behind. Smaller stops - the reef shallows of Bamboo Island, the painted walls of Viking Cave - fill out the day.
How it usually runs: a private full-day trip of 8-9 hours, from ฿24,900 for the whole boat. Speedboats and power catamarans make it comfortably in a day; sailing boats usually pair Phi Phi with an overnight.
Phi Phi is Phuket's most visited day trip, and group tours all run the same loop at the same hours - Maya Bay can see hundreds of visitors between 10:00 and 14:00. On a private charter you leave early and walk onto Maya Bay before the rush, swim Pileh Lagoon while it is still quiet, and time lunch and snorkel stops around the tide and the light. The boat, the crew and the day are yours.
Every charter is private, so this is a starting point, not a fixed schedule - your captain adjusts it to the tide, the sea state and your pace.
As a guide for a private full-day charter to Phi Phi:
Prices are for the whole boat, not per person, and include the crew, fuel for the standard route, soft drinks and snorkelling gear. National park fees (a few hundred baht per person) are paid on the day. Send us your date and group size on WhatsApp and we reply personally with the exact price for your trip, usually within a few hours.
November to April gives the calmest crossings and the clearest snorkelling. Phi Phi works all year, but low-season swell can make the open-water crossing bumpy - guests who feel the sea should pick a power catamaran or choose Phang Nga Bay instead. Note that Maya Bay can close for a few weeks in low season for reef recovery; the rest of the islands stay open.
How much does a private boat tour to Phi Phi cost?
A private sailing catamaran starts from ฿24,900 for the day, for your group only. Power catamarans and speedboats cost more depending on size and season. Every quote is confirmed personally on WhatsApp before you book.
How long is the trip?
A private full-day charter runs 8 to 9 hours. Sailing boats are slower on the crossing, so many guests pair Phi Phi with an overnight.
Can a sailing boat do Phi Phi in one day?
It is possible but long: 25 nautical miles of open water each way. For a single day we recommend a power catamaran or speedboat; for sailing, an overnight charter is the comfortable way.
How do you avoid the crowds at Maya Bay?
We leave early and reach Maya Bay before the group tours, or visit late afternoon once they have gone.
When is the best time to visit?
November to April for calm seas and clear snorkelling. Low season is possible but bumpier, and Maya Bay can close a few weeks for reef recovery.
Power catamarans and speedboats are the comfortable day-trip choice; sailing catamarans are best with an overnight.
Sailing Catamarans · Power Catamarans · Speedboats · Motor Yachts
Also see: Phang Nga Bay by private yacht · Racha Islands by private yacht · Day trips from Phuket · Overnight charters
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