Phi Phi Islands Exclusive Tour by Speedboat from Koh Yao Yai

The best part of this tour is the chance to see Phi Phi’s famous bays without joining a large boat party. From Koh Yao Yai, you’ll spend about six hours by speedboat, moving between Maya Bay, Pileh Bay, and Koh Bida Nok, with time for swimming, snorkeling, and shore visits.

I like the small maximum group of 14, which should make boarding, swimming, and getting help with gear easier. I also like that lunch, drinks, snorkeling equipment, and an onboard restroom are included, while guide Igor has earned special praise for creating a friendly atmosphere and serving good food.

The main point to consider is the extra cost beyond the advertised price. Hotel pickup costs 100 to 400 THB per person, and the national park fee is another 400 THB for adults or 200 THB for children ages 3 to 12. The tour also needs at least six passengers and good weather to operate.

Key points to know before booking

• Maya Bay and Pileh Bay bring the classic Phi Phi scenery, with a beach visit at Maya Bay and swimming in Pileh’s green water.
• Koh Bida Nok is the main snorkeling stop, with included equipment and a chance to look for black tip reef sharks.
• A maximum of 14 people keeps this more personal than a large sightseeing boat.
• Lunch, drinks, and an onboard restroom are included, useful on a six-hour trip with several water stops.
• The national park fee is extra, and you must pay 400 THB in cash per adult or 200 THB per child ages 3 to 12.
• The route can change with conditions, and the trip requires good weather plus a minimum of six passengers.

Why this Phi Phi trip feels more personal

Phi Phi is famous for its steep cliffs, white beaches, and clear water, but the way you see it matters. A large group can turn a pretty bay into a queue for the ladder. This tour limits the boat to 14 people, giving you a better chance to get quick help with your mask, find a place to sit, and enjoy the scenery without a crowd filling every corner.

You’ll meet at Elixir Divers & Speedboat Tours at 9 a.m. in Phru Nai on Koh Yao Yai. The speedboat then carries you across the Andaman Sea toward Phi Phi. Exact travel times between stops are not provided, so you should expect the day to be built around short visits and boat travel rather than long stays at one beach.

That balance suits you if you want a broad look at Phi Phi in one outing. You’ll see the famous places, swim at several points, and spend much of the day on the water. If your ideal beach day means staying in one quiet cove for hours, this is probably too active.

The small group also helps with the social side of the trip. One particularly positive account names Igor as an excellent guide and describes a good atmosphere and delicious food onboard. That suggests a warm, hands-on style, though guide assignments can vary.

Maya Bay: famous, beautiful, and worth a short stop

Maya Bay is the star of the day. The bay became widely known after appearing in the film The Beach, and its pale sand and high limestone cliffs make it easy to understand the appeal.

You’ll have time to take photographs and an optional walk on the beach. That option is useful because not everyone wants the same thing. You can step ashore for the view, stay near the boat, or use the stop to take photographs rather than treat it as a swimming session.

Keep your expectations practical. Maya Bay is a headline stop, not a private beach. Its fame means it is one of the busiest places on this route, and your visit is likely to feel more like a scenic call than a quiet escape. The advantage of reaching it by a small speedboat is not solitude, but a more manageable group once you arrive.

Bring a dry bag or another way to protect your phone. You’ll be moving between boat, beach, and water, and much of the day is built around being close to the sea.

Koh Bida Nok: the main snorkeling appointment

Koh Bida Nok is where the tour puts its strongest snorkeling focus. Equipment is supplied, and the stated marine-life highlight is the chance to look for black tip reef sharks.

That does not mean a shark sighting is guaranteed. Marine life moves freely, and conditions can affect visibility. Still, this is the stop to prioritize if snorkeling matters most to you. The trip specifically calls attention to Koh Bida Nok, rather than treating snorkeling as a quick extra between photographs.

You should be comfortable entering the sea and following the guide’s instructions. The tour is open to most people, but children must be accompanied by an adult. The supplied information does not give water depth, current conditions, or exact snorkeling duration, so anyone who needs detailed swimming support should ask before booking.

Snorkeling gear is included, which improves the value of the trip. You do not need to arrange a separate rental, although the tour does not include beach towels. Pack your own towel, sun protection, and dry clothing.

Pileh Bay: the best place to enjoy the boat ride

Pileh Bay is one of the most scenic water stops on the route. You’ll cruise into its emerald-colored waters and have the chance to swim. The cliffs make the bay especially striking from the boat, so this is a place where the ride itself is part of the experience.

Lunch is served onboard, allowing you to eat while looking across Pileh Bay rather than losing time searching for a restaurant. That arrangement makes sense on a six-hour trip. You keep moving, avoid another transfer, and get a meal with a view.

The food is not described in detail, but a direct account of the experience calls it delicious. Drinks are included as well. If you have dietary needs, ask Elixir Divers before departure because no special meal information is provided.

Pileh Bay is also a good example of why this tour works best for people who enjoy changing scenes. You might be photographing cliffs one moment, swimming the next, and eating lunch on the boat shortly afterward.

Viking Cave and Wang Long Bay from the water

Viking Cave is included as a cruise-by point or possible snorkeling stop. The cave is part of Phi Phi’s dramatic coastal scenery, so even a short look from the boat adds variety to the day. Because the supplied details allow for either a pass-by or a snorkeling stop, you should not assume you will spend a fixed amount of time there.

Wang Long Bay is described as a narrow, scenic bay with cliffside monkeys. Its shape should make the boat approach memorable, and the monkeys add a wildlife element to the route. Keep your distance and follow the guide’s instructions. Wild animals are best viewed without feeding or trying to approach them.

The route also highlights Monkey Beach, with soft white sand and wild monkeys, and Ao Nui, a tiny beach with a possible snorkeling and rest stop. The formal stop list names Monkey Beach but does not give a fixed schedule for Ao Nui, so the day’s final route may depend on sea conditions and the guide’s judgment.

That flexibility can be useful. If weather or water conditions change, the guide can adjust the order or choice of stops. The trade-off is that you cannot treat every named location as a guaranteed, equal-length visit.

Speedboat travel and the six-hour schedule

A speedboat lets you cover several Phi Phi locations in roughly six hours. You’ll spend less time traveling between bays than you would on a slower boat, leaving room for swimming, snorkeling, and beach visits.

The ride can also be part of the fun. You’ll see the islands from offshore, including cliffs and beaches that are most impressive from the water. On the other hand, speedboat travel can feel lively and exposed, especially for anyone who is sensitive to motion. The provided information does not specify seating arrangements or sea conditions, so pack light and secure anything loose.

The tour begins at 9 a.m. and returns to the same meeting point at Elixir Divers & Speedboat Tours. Hotel pickup and drop-off are available for an extra 100 to 400 THB per person, but the base experience does not include that service. Confirm the pickup cost and location if you are staying elsewhere on Koh Yao Yai.

The advertised duration is about six hours. That makes it easier to fit into a short stay, but it is not a slow, all-day island retreat. You will see a lot in a limited window.

What the $113.74 price really covers

At $113.74 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Phi Phi, but the price includes several useful items: the speedboat outing, lunch, beverages, snorkeling equipment, and a restroom onboard.

The small group changes the value calculation. You are paying not only for access to the islands, but also for a maximum of 14 people rather than a packed boat. That can matter when you need help with equipment or want a less crowded feeling between stops.

You still need to budget for the national park fee. Adults pay 400 THB, while children ages 3 to 12 pay 200 THB, and the fee must be paid in cash. Hotel transportation is also extra, at 100 to 400 THB per person.

Beach towels are not supplied. That is a minor omission, but an easy one to handle if you know about it. Bring your own towel, cash for the park fee, sun protection, and a waterproof way to carry your phone.

The tour needs a minimum of six passengers. If that number is not reached, the provider may offer another date or experience, or give you a full refund. Since the trip depends on good weather as well, keep some flexibility in your holiday schedule.

Who will enjoy this outing most

I would choose this tour if you want a compact Phi Phi introduction from Koh Yao Yai, especially if you care about snorkeling and prefer a small group. The route gives you famous scenery, beach time, wildlife viewing, and several chances to enter the water.

It also suits couples, friends, and families with children who can stay with an adult. The included equipment and food remove some of the usual planning work. The onboard restroom is another practical benefit, particularly for a mixed-age group.

You may want a different kind of trip if your priority is a quiet beach with almost no other people. Maya Bay and Monkey Beach are popular attractions, and the tour covers many stops in a short time. You should also think carefully if you dislike speedboat travel or need a guaranteed, detailed schedule for every stop.

The 95 percent recommendation rate and 4.9 rating from 21 ratings point to a strong overall record, but the sample is small. The most specific praise centers on the small group, Igor’s guiding, the friendly mood, and lunch onboard. Those are the aspects I would give the most weight to when deciding.

Practical details to settle before you go

The meeting point is Elixir Divers & Speedboat Tours, Operator Koh Yao Yai, 2/3 Moo 3, Phru Nai, Ko Yao District, Phang Nga 82160, Thailand. The tour starts at 9 a.m. and ends back there.

Confirmation is issued when you book. The activity can accept most people, but children must be accompanied by an adult. The boat holds no more than 14 people, and at least six passengers are required for departure.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather cancels the tour, you can receive another date or a full refund.

I would also confirm the day’s expected route before leaving. Viking Cave may be a cruise-by or snorkeling stop, Ao Nui is presented as a possible highlight, and the guide may adjust the order to suit sea conditions. That is normal for a water-based trip, but it helps to know that the plan has some flexibility.

Should you book the Phi Phi Islands speedboat tour?

Book it if you want to cover the major Phi Phi sights from Koh Yao Yai in one well-packed outing. The strongest reasons are the 14-person limit, included snorkeling gear, lunch and drinks, the chance to look for black tip reef sharks at Koh Bida Nok, and the range of stops from Maya Bay to Pileh Bay and Monkey Beach.

Think twice if you want long, quiet beach time or a fixed schedule with equal time at every location. Add the national park fee, possible hotel transport, and your own towel to the budget.

For an active first look at Phi Phi with a small group, this is a good-value choice. Go prepared for a busy day on the water, and leave room for the sea and weather to shape the final route.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

The tour starts at Elixir Divers & Speedboat Tours, 2/3 Moo 3, Phru Nai, Koh Yao Yai, at 9 a.m. It ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the Phi Phi tour last?

The experience lasts approximately six hours.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are available for an additional 100 to 400 THB per person.

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes beverages, lunch, snorkeling equipment, and use of a restroom onboard.

How much is the national park fee?

The fee is 400 THB per adult and 200 THB per child ages 3 to 12. Payment must be made in cash.

What happens if the weather is poor or too few people book?

The tour requires good weather and a minimum of six passengers. If it is canceled for either reason, you can receive a different date or experience, or a full refund.