Phi Phi Islands: Private Longtail Boat 6-hour Trip

Phi Phi is best enjoyed from a small wooden boat, not behind a tour guide waving a flag. This private trip lets you linger at Maya Bay or move on when the beach gets busy, then stop to snorkel at Pileh Lagoon or Shark Point. I especially like the flexible timing and the chance to avoid repeating stops you have already seen on another boat trip.

I also like the simple comforts: fresh fruit, water, masks, and life jackets are included. The catch is that the boat leaves from Phi Phi Island, not Krabi or Phuket, and the national park fee costs another 400 baht in cash. Sea conditions can also change the route, so this is not a fully fixed sightseeing program.

Key points to know before booking

• Private boat for up to two people: You get your own longtail boat and can shape the route with the captain.
• Four hours skips Bamboo Island: The shorter option covers Phi Phi Ley highlights such as Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Beach, and Viking Cave.
• Six hours gives you more choices: Add Bamboo Island or Phi Phi Don, depending on weather and sea conditions.
• Early starts are smart: A morning departure can help you reach Maya Bay before the larger crowds.
• Snorkeling is a real highlight: Shark Point and other areas may offer blacktip reef sharks, octopus, and plenty of fish.
• Bring cash and water shoes: The park fee is not included, and rocks around snorkeling spots can be sharp.

Why a private longtail works so well around Phi Phi

Phi Phi’s famous sights are close enough to visit in one outing, but not so close that a rigid schedule feels sensible. One stop may call for a swim, another for ten minutes of photographs, and another for simply sitting in the boat and admiring the cliffs.

That is the main value here. You are not tied to the pace of a large group. If you want to spend longer at Pileh Lagoon, you can ask. If Monkey Beach is crowded or the monkeys look troublesome, you can move on. The captain can also adjust the route when waves or tides make a planned stop unpleasant.

The boat is private for a group of up to two people at the advertised base price of $144. That makes the cost easier to justify for a couple, honeymooners, or two friends who want control over the day. It is less attractive if you are happy to follow a standard group schedule or if you are traveling alone and cannot share the cost.

The basic package includes a snorkeling mask, life jacket, fruit, and drinking water. A premium option adds decoration, seat cushions, coconut, more fruit, water, and lunch. Check the exact option when booking, because lunch is not included in the standard package.

Starting from McDonald’s on Phi Phi Island

The meeting point is McDonald’s on Phi Phi Island. This matters more than it may first appear: transport from Krabi or Phuket is not included. You need to arrange your own ferry or other connection to Phi Phi before the boat trip.

If you stay at Long Beach, Loh Lana, Loh Bakao, or Laem Tong, hotel pickup may be possible for an extra charge. Contact the operator in advance rather than assuming it is included. There may also be an extra captain charge for some pickup arrangements.

The operator asks for a photograph and a phone number before the trip. That helps the captain recognize you quickly at the meeting point. Bring the practical kit: sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, towel, camera, waterproof bag, spare clothes, and cash.

A longtail boat is open to the elements. You will get sun, spray, and the full sound of the engine. Wear clothes that dry quickly, and use a waterproof bag for phones and passports. Water shoes are a good idea around rocky snorkeling areas.

Four hours: the compact Phi Phi Ley route

The four-hour option is designed around Phi Phi Ley, the island group’s most famous cluster of sights. It does not include Bamboo Island, so do not choose this version if that white-sand stop is your priority.

A typical route can include Monkey Beach, Viking Cave, Pileh Lagoon, and Maya Bay. The order can change with the tide, weather, and the captain’s judgment.

Monkey Beach

Monkey Beach is a quick, memorable stop where you may see macaques close to the shore. The appeal is easy to understand, especially if you have a camera ready, but this is wildlife, not a petting zoo.

Do not feed or touch the animals. Keep food packed away and follow the captain’s instructions. The beach can also be busy, and the monkeys may not appear in the exact spot you expect, so treat this as a short wildlife stop rather than the main event.

Viking Cave

The boat pauses outside Viking Cave for about 10 to 15 minutes. You generally view the cave from the water rather than walk inside. Its steep rock walls make a good photograph, and the short stop fits neatly into the four-hour route.

This is a sightseeing pause, not a long exploration. If you would rather swim or snorkel, tell the captain how you want to use your time.

Pileh Lagoon

Pileh Lagoon is one of the strongest parts of the trip. The boat enters a narrow limestone inlet filled with clear water, and you get around 30 minutes for swimming and snorkeling.

The lagoon is beautiful from the boat, but getting into the water is what makes the stop worthwhile. You can see fish and enjoy the enclosed setting, though the water may be busy with other boats. Bring a waterproof phone pouch if you want photographs while swimming.

Maya Bay

Maya Bay is the headline stop, with bright sand and the famous setting made popular by film and social media. You may have about an hour here, including time to relax and take photographs.

The beach can be crowded, especially later in the day. An early morning departure is one of the best practical choices. Several bookings praised reaching Maya Bay near opening time, before the larger rush arrived. The private boat gives you control over the rest of the day, but it cannot remove the crowds once they are there.

Maya Bay closes for natural restoration in August and September. During those months, you may be able to view the bay from the front of the boat if weather permits, then relax at Loh Moo Dee Beach instead. This seasonal closure is not a minor detail, so check the date before booking if Maya Bay is your main reason for coming.

Six hours: add Bamboo Island or Phi Phi Don

The six-hour version gives the day more breathing room. You can visit Phi Phi Ley and add Bamboo Island, or go toward Phi Phi Don if weather makes Bamboo Island unsuitable.

Bamboo Island

Bamboo Island is the classic extra stop: soft white sand, clear water, swimming, and snorkeling. It gives you a different mood from Pileh Lagoon. The lagoon is enclosed by cliffs, while Bamboo offers an open beach setting where you can stretch out and relax.

Bamboo Island is weather-dependent. Rough seas may make the crossing uncomfortable or prevent the stop altogether. In that case, the captain may replace it with Phi Phi Don or another suitable location.

Remember that the 400-baht national park fee can apply for entry to Maya Bay or Bamboo Island. It is not included in the tour price and must be paid in cash.

Phi Phi Don and Loh Samah Bay

The longer route may include Phi Phi Don, the inhabited island where your trip begins, along with Loh Samah Bay. Loh Samah is useful for swimming, snorkeling, or a scenic pause away from the main beach at Maya Bay.

The exact six-hour route is not locked. You can discuss your priorities with the captain, but the captain has the final say when sea conditions affect safety. That is a fair trade for traveling in an open longtail boat.

Shark Point

Shark Point is aimed at the adventurous side of the trip. It is a snorkeling stop where blacktip reef sharks may be seen. Recent outings also encountered small reef sharks, a larger reef shark around 80 to 100 centimeters, and an octopus.

Wildlife is never guaranteed, and you should not expect a private aquarium. Still, if you want more than a beach visit, this stop adds real interest. Swim calmly, keep your distance, and do not touch animals or coral.

What the captain adds to the day

The captain is both driver and practical guide. You can ask for recommendations, change the order of stops, or spend more time in the places that matter most to you.

Captains named Arun, Baht, Fad, and Lee have handled recent departures, though the person assigned depends on the date. The strongest part of the service is usually the captain’s willingness to adjust the pace. One captain even recovered a dropped GoPro from the water, while another changed course to find calmer places during rough conditions.

English ability may vary. Some captains communicate easily, while others may use short phrases or a phone translation app. That is worth keeping in mind if you want detailed explanations about geology, wildlife, or local history. This is better understood as a flexible private boat trip than as a formal educational tour.

The captain may also take photographs for you. Bring an underwater phone pouch or waterproof camera case if you want to record the snorkeling. Do not rely on the boat crew to protect an unsealed phone.

Water, waves, and comfort on a longtail boat

The open boat is part of the charm, but it is also the main physical drawback. Rough water can make the ride bouncy, particularly when traveling between islands. One captain may reroute to calmer locations, but no captain can promise flat seas.

The experience is not suitable for pregnant women, wheelchair users, people with back problems, people prone to seasickness, people over 95, or people over 70. These restrictions are clearly stated and should be taken seriously.

If you are prone to motion sickness, ask a medical professional about suitable precautions before the trip. Eat lightly, bring water, and sit where the movement feels manageable. A towel and change of clothes are useful after swimming, even on a sunny day.

The premium option adds seat cushions, which may be worth the extra cost for a full six-hour trip. The standard boat is more basic, so compare the comfort upgrade with your own needs rather than paying for decoration alone.

Is $144 good value?

At $144 for a private group of up to two, the value depends on how much you care about control. You are paying for privacy, a flexible route, and the ability to set the pace, not for a luxury yacht or a full meal in the standard package.

For a couple who wants an early start, private snorkeling time, and freedom to avoid a repeat stop, the price can make sense. The cost is harder to defend if you only want to photograph Maya Bay and spend a few minutes at each sight.

There are extra costs to remember. The 400-baht park fee is payable in cash, food is not part of the basic option, and transfers from Krabi or Phuket are excluded. Pickup from some Phi Phi hotels may cost extra, and an additional captain charge may apply in certain arrangements.

The premium option includes lunch, coconut, extra fruit, water, decoration, and seat cushions. If you prefer a more comfortable day and do not want to arrange food, it may be the better choice. Ask what is included in your exact package before paying.

Who will enjoy this trip most?

I would choose this tour for a couple, honeymooners, or two friends who want to snorkel without being hurried. It is also useful if you have already taken a standard Phi Phi tour and want to avoid visiting the same sites again.

Families may appreciate the private format because you can shorten a swim or change plans without holding up a busload of people. Still, the open boat, sun, and rough water require sensible judgment.

I would be more cautious if you dislike seasickness, need step-free access, want long explanations from a guide, or expect a luxury boat. The private label does not mean every part of the day is quiet. Maya Bay and Bamboo Island can still be crowded, and the boat itself is a working longtail.

The best request to make is simple: leave early, explain your must-see stops, and tell the captain which places you have already visited. That gives the captain useful information before the engine starts.

Should you book the private Phi Phi boat?

Book it if you want flexibility more than a fixed program. The ability to choose between four and six hours, adjust the route, linger at Pileh Lagoon, and search for snorkeling at Shark Point is the real advantage.

The four-hour trip is enough for the main Phi Phi Ley sights, but six hours is the better choice if Bamboo Island matters to you. Go early if Maya Bay is important, bring cash for the park fee, and accept that weather may change the route.

I would skip it if you need transport from Krabi or Phuket included, want a guaranteed Maya Bay visit in August or September, or prefer a polished guide-led tour with constant commentary. For everyone else, this is a practical way to see Phi Phi at your own pace, with enough structure to make the day easy and enough freedom to make it feel personal.

FAQ

Where does the private Phi Phi boat trip start?

The trip starts at McDonald’s on Phi Phi Island. Transport from Krabi or Phuket is not included.

How long does the boat trip last?

You can choose a four-hour or six-hour trip, depending on availability and your selected option.

Is Bamboo Island included in the four-hour trip?

No. The four-hour route includes Phi Phi Ley sights such as Monkey Beach, Viking Cave, Pileh Lagoon, and Maya Bay. Bamboo Island is included only in the longer option when conditions allow.

What is included in the standard price?

The standard package includes a snorkeling mask, life jacket, fresh fruit, and drinking water.

Is lunch included?

Food is not included in the standard package. The premium option includes lunch, along with decoration, seat cushions, coconut, fruit, and water.

How much is the national park fee?

The national park fee is 400 baht. It is not included and must be paid in cash for entry to Maya Bay or Bamboo Island.

Can I choose where to go and how long to stay?

Yes. The private format lets you discuss the route and spend more or less time at each stop within the four-hour or six-hour limit. Weather, tides, and safety may require changes.

Is Maya Bay open all year?

Maya Bay is closed for natural restoration during August and September. During that period, you may view the bay from the boat if weather allows and visit Loh Moo Dee Beach instead.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, a towel, a camera, cash, a waterproof bag, and a change of clothes. Comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for water activities are recommended.