From Koh Phi Phi island and 7 Islands Long Tail Boat Trip

The most unusual part of this eight-hour Phi Phi trip comes after sunset, when you may snorkel among bioluminescent plankton that glow as the water moves. By day, the classic longtail boat visits Shark Point, Bamboo Island, Monkey Beach, Viking Cave, Pi Leh Lagoon, Loh Samah Bay, and Maya Bay.

I like the strong mix of swimming, reef snorkeling, beach time, and famous scenery. I also like the practical value: at $35, you get lunch, fruit, water, mask, snorkel, and a life jacket. The main concern is the busy schedule, plus one important catch: you must arrange your own way to Phi Phi and stay overnight after the trip.

Key points to know before booking

• Bioluminescent plankton after dark: This is the tour’s most unusual feature, but it may not operate every time.
• Nine major stops in eight hours: You see a lot, though some stops may feel short.
• Traditional longtail boat: Expect an open, scenic ride rather than a fast, quiet transfer.
• Maya Bay and Bamboo Island: You get beach time at two of the area’s best-known sandy spots.
• Food and gear included: Lunch, fruit, drinking water, mask, snorkel, and life jacket are supplied.
• Phi Phi logistics matter: You meet at McDonald’s on Phi Phi, and the tour ends there, so transport to the island and an overnight stay are your responsibility.

A full day around Phi Phi by longtail boat

This is a busy island-hopping day, not a slow cruise. The traditional longtail boat carries you from one famous Phi Phi view to the next, with regular chances to swim, snorkel, walk, and take photographs.

The $35 price is good value if you use the included equipment and food. You do not need to rent a mask or snorkel separately, and lunch, fruit, and water reduce the usual extra costs of a full day on the sea. You will still need cash for the 400-baht national park fee, sunscreen, and any snacks you want beyond the supplied food.

The boat style is part of the appeal. A longtail puts you close to the water and gives you open views of the limestone cliffs. It also means more engine noise, less shelter from the sun, and a ride that can feel rough when the sea is unsettled. If you want a polished, quiet boat with lots of indoor space, this is not that sort of trip.

Meet the guide at McDonald’s on Phi Phi, beside the Pantawan Tour company, 30 minutes before departure. Keep the meeting simple: arrive early, find the company name, and do not wander off to the pier at the last minute. The end point is the same place.

Shark Point starts the water time

The first stop is Shark Point, where you have about 30 minutes to snorkel. The attraction is the chance to see blacktip reef sharks along with coral and smaller sea life.

The word shark can sound more dramatic than the actual stop. These are wild animals, and sightings are never guaranteed, but the area is known for them. Your guide gives safety instructions and explains how to behave in the water. Keep your movements calm, stay with the group, and listen carefully before entering.

Thirty minutes is enough for a first look at the reef, but it is not a long snorkeling session. If you are new to snorkeling, use the time to check your mask fit and breathing rather than rushing after fish. The supplied mask, snorkel, and life jacket make this easy, though bringing your own mask can help if you are particular about fit.

Bamboo Island gives you a proper beach break

After Shark Point, the boat heads to Bamboo Island for around an hour. This is one of the more relaxed parts of the day, with time for a walk, photographs, swimming, beachcombing, or simply lying on the sand.

Bamboo Island is known for pale sand and clear turquoise water. After several stops in the boat, an hour on land matters. You can stretch your legs, eat some of the provided food, and take photographs without balancing on a moving deck.

The same popularity that makes Bamboo Island appealing can also make it feel crowded. Do not expect a private beach. Bring sunscreen and a towel, and keep your personal items small. Backpacks and bags are not allowed, so pack only what you can carry comfortably in a compact way.

A picnic lunch is included, along with fruit and drinking water. One useful detail from the food arrangement is that the day may include a morning orange juice, rice with vegetables for lunch, pineapple, and water. Exact food service can vary, but this is more substantial than a tour that supplies only a bottle of water.

Monkey Beach is brief and best for photographs

Monkey Beach is a 30-minute stop for photographs and a short walk. The setting combines a narrow strip of sand, forest, limestone cliffs, and wild monkeys.

Treat the monkeys as wild animals, not as pets. Keep food out of sight, do not approach them, and follow the guide’s directions. The visit is short, which is sensible. You get the coastal view and a chance to see the animals without spending a large part of the day on one small beach.

This is also a good place to keep your camera ready. The boat may not remain in exactly the same position for long, and the stop is more about seeing the scene than taking a long swim.

Viking Cave is a cliff-side photo stop

The boat continues to Viking Cave, where you have about 20 minutes for photographs and swimming. You see the cave from the water, with swift nests high in the cliffs.

Do not expect a museum visit or a long walk inside the cave. This is a boat-based look at one of Phi Phi’s distinctive rock formations. The cave’s swift nests are linked to the local bird’s nest industry, but the practical focus here is the cliff face, the water, and the view from the boat.

The stop is short, so it works best if you are ready when the guide gives the signal. Have your camera handy and do not leave your towel or sunscreen buried under other belongings.

Pi Leh Lagoon is the day’s great swimming stop

Pi Leh Lagoon receives about 40 minutes for swimming and snorkeling. Tall limestone walls surround the narrow entrance and give the water a sheltered, enclosed feel.

This is one of the places where the longtail boat makes sense. You approach through dramatic rock scenery, then swim in water that looks like a natural pool. Bring your camera only if it is waterproof or securely protected. The combination of pale rock, clear water, and swimmers makes this a natural highlight.

Forty minutes is enough to enjoy the lagoon, but it passes quickly if you want both a swim and a snorkel. I would get into the water first, then take photographs. The boat schedule favors activity over lingering, so do not spend the entire stop posing at the edge.

Water conditions can change the order or length of stops. The operator may adjust the route for safety, particularly during the monsoon period from May through December. Rain does not automatically cancel the tour, and you should expect the trip to continue in wet weather when conditions are considered safe.

Loh Samah Bay adds another reef stop

Loh Samah Bay is a short visit, with about 10 minutes listed for walking and a chance to see coral and marine life in a calmer setting.

This is not a long beach stop. Think of it as a quick look at another side of the Phi Phi island group, possibly paired with a short walk or a brief water visit depending on conditions. The tight timing is worth knowing if you are choosing this trip mainly for snorkeling. You see several locations, but no single reef stop receives a very long session.

The benefit is variety. Shark Point, Pi Leh Lagoon, and Loh Samah Bay offer different settings, so the day is not built around one water activity alone.

Maya Bay brings the famous scenery

Maya Bay is the final major daytime stop, with about an hour for visiting, walking, photographs, and free time. It became famous through the film The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, but the real draw is the enclosed bay, pale sand, and steep limestone surroundings.

You should expect a popular place, not a secret corner of Thailand. The hour gives you time to walk and take in the view, but it may not feel leisurely if the beach is busy. Follow local rules and protect the area by staying where visitors are permitted.

Maya Bay closes every August and September for annual conservation. During those months, the tour gives you more time at other locations instead. That change is worth accepting if you are visiting then, but do not book this trip specifically for Maya Bay during the closure.

The itinerary lists Maya Bay late in the day, though the order can change. Sea conditions, local rules, and crowd management may affect timing. If the exact sequence matters to you, treat the published route as a plan rather than a promise.

Sunset and glowing plankton finish the day

The tour then looks for a good place to watch the sunset over the Andaman Sea. This is a quiet pause after a full day of stops, and it gives you a chance to put the camera away for a few minutes and simply watch the sky change color.

The final activity is snorkeling with bioluminescent plankton after dark. These tiny organisms produce a natural blue glow when disturbed, creating pinpoints of light around your movements in the water.

This is a memorable idea, but keep expectations sensible. The amount of visible glow depends on darkness, water conditions, and the timing of the trip. One specific account describes the boat not providing this part of the itinerary, so I would treat it as a possible feature rather than a guarantee. Ask the guide early in the day if the night swim is planned and what conditions are required.

You also need to be comfortable swimming in dark water. A life jacket is supplied, and the guide oversees the activity, but anyone uneasy at night should feel free to watch from the boat rather than enter.

What is included, and what you still need

The tour includes a mask and snorkel, life jacket, drinking water, fruit, and lunch. That package keeps the price down and makes the day easier, especially if you are traveling light.

Bring a towel, camera, sunscreen, cash, and snacks. Do not bring a backpack or large bag. The restriction is practical on a longtail boat, where deck space is limited, but it means you should plan your belongings carefully.

The 400-baht national park fee is not included. You should also remember that the $35 price does not cover getting to Phi Phi. There is no hotel pickup from Krabi in the information provided.

Timing, comfort, and the practical catches

The tour lasts eight hours, but the day can feel longer because you are outside, moving between many stops, swimming, and walking on sand. Sun protection is not optional. Reapply sunscreen, drink water regularly, and use the shade when you find it.

The published schedule gives you a useful idea of the pace:

• Shark Point: 30 minutes of snorkeling
• Bamboo Island: one hour
• Monkey Beach: 30 minutes
• Viking Cave: 20 minutes
• Pi Leh Lagoon: 40 minutes
• Loh Samah Bay: about 10 minutes
• Maya Bay: one hour
• Sunset and plankton viewing after dark

Some people will love this variety. Others will wish for longer at fewer places. A common practical issue is that the boat can feel crowded, and the schedule may shift. One account also described a slow boat and a missing plankton session. These are not reasons to reject the tour automatically, but they show why you should book it for a broad Phi Phi day rather than a tightly controlled luxury outing.

The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, children under the listed height limits, or people with visual impairments. The supplied information gives both 110 centimeters and 100 centimeters as height restrictions, so families should confirm the applicable limit before paying.

The Phi Phi overnight requirement

This is the most important logistical point. You must arrange your own transportation to Koh Phi Phi, and an overnight stay on the island is required after the tour because transfer options are limited.

That makes the trip a better fit for someone already planning at least two days on Phi Phi. It is not a simple day trip from a Krabi hotel. If you are staying on the mainland, calculate the ferry or other transport, accommodation, and return travel before comparing the $35 tour price with mainland alternatives.

Meeting at McDonald’s on Phi Phi is straightforward once you are on the island. Arriving 30 minutes early gives you time to locate Pantawan Tour and avoid a rushed start.

Who should book this tour

I would choose this trip if you want to see the major Phi Phi sights in one day and prefer a traditional boat to a large organized vessel. It suits active visitors who enjoy short swims, snorkeling, beach walks, photographs, and a full schedule.

It is also a good choice for a two-day Phi Phi stay. You can use the first day to settle in, take this tour on the next day, and remain on the island afterward instead of worrying about a late transfer.

I would hesitate if you need long, quiet beach time, dislike crowded stops, have mobility or back concerns, or want a guaranteed plankton swim. The tour covers a lot, but it does so at a quick pace, and the sea decides much of the day.

The free cancellation policy allows cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your island plans are still taking shape. Weather cancellations are different: if conditions are unsafe, you can reschedule or receive a full refund, but rain alone does not qualify for a refund.

Should you book it?

Book it if the main goal is maximum Phi Phi variety for a modest price. You get the classic longtail, major beaches and lagoons, several snorkeling opportunities, food, equipment, sunset, and the possibility of glowing plankton.

Skip it if your schedule allows only a mainland day trip, or if you want a slow and private boat outing. The overnight requirement and fast pace are the real deciding factors. For someone already spending two days on Phi Phi, this is a useful way to pack the island’s headline sights into one well-filled day.

FAQ

How much does the Phi Phi longtail boat tour cost?

The tour costs $35 per person. A 400-baht national park fee is not included.

Where do I meet the guide?

Meet the guide at McDonald’s on Phi Phi, beside the Pantawan Tour company, 30 minutes before the boat departs.

What does the tour include?

The price includes a mask and snorkel, life jacket, drinking water, fruit, and lunch.

Is Maya Bay open all year?

No. Maya Bay closes every August and September for nature conservation. During the closure, the tour provides extra time at other locations.

Do I need to stay overnight on Phi Phi?

Yes. You must arrange your own transport to Phi Phi, and an overnight stay on the island is required after the tour because transfer options are limited.

What happens if the weather is rainy?

The tour can continue in the rain if sea conditions are considered safe, and rain alone does not qualify for a refund. If conditions are unsafe, you can reschedule or receive a full refund.