Phi Phi Islands

By boat only: ferries and speedboats from Phuket (Rassada pier, ~2 hours) and Krabi (~1.5–2 hours) run several times daily year-round, plus Bundhaya's speedboat from Koh Lanta all year, one a day from May to mid-October. Most boats arrive at Tonsai pier on Phi Phi Don (some continue to Laem Tong), and there's a ฿20 fee on arrival. Monsoon crossings (May–October) can be rough or canceled, so book flexible tickets then.

No. Since the 2018–2022 closure and restoration, boats can't enter or anchor in the bay and swimming is prohibited. Visitors arrive at a pontoon on the island's back side, walk through, and photograph from the sand. Visits are capped and the bay closes annually (usually August–September) for recovery. The rules are enforced, and the returning blacktip sharks are the proof they work.

Day tours from Phuket and Krabi cover the greatest-hits loop, but they all arrive together, and Maya Bay at 10am is a crowd scene. Staying a night or two flips the experience: the viewpoint at sunrise, Long Beach before the boats, and Tonsai after the last ferry leaves are different islands. Divers and nightlife-seekers should stay. If you only want the photos, an early-start day tour does it.

Tonsai's beachfront is genuinely loud until late (fire shows, buckets, beach clubs) and light sleepers should book away from it. Laem Tong and Long Beach resorts are boat-taxi quiet, and anything up the hill escapes the bass. The party is concentrated, though: most of Phi Phi Don and all of Phi Phi Leh are cliffs, jungle, and water.