Krabi to Koh Phi Phi Ferry

Ao Nang's boats leave Nopparat Thara pier, at the quiet western end of the beach, a short songthaew or tuk-tuk from the center. The Ao Nang Princess is the steady option, a big ferry with an open top deck that leaves at 09:30, calls at Railay East at 09:45 and reaches Tonsai around 11:30. The operator sells it for ฿650 including a van pickup from your hotel; 12Go sells the ticket alone for about ฿520. The operator lists it daily but warns it can skip days in low season, so book a day ahead. The speedboats are quicker. Bundhaya leaves at 10:10 and 14:40 and crosses in 50 minutes for about ฿900, and Koh Yao Sun Smile runs at 11:40 (more often in high season) for about ฿820–890.

Krabi Town has three piers with Phi Phi boats. Klong Jilad, a few kilometers south of the center, is the ferry port, and every ferry takes about two hours to Tonsai. The cheapest is the 10:30 for ฿450 (Andaman Wave Master's own site sells the crossing at the same price). Songserm leaves at 09:00 and Andaman Wave Master at 09:00 and 13:30, both ฿490 for a Standard seat to Tonsai. Andaman Wave Master also carries on to Laem Tong, the beach resort area in the north, for ฿750 (up to about ฿1,450 for Premium seats). In December an extra ferry leaves at 15:00.

The speedboats leave Kong Ka pier in town and Krabi River Marina, from about 09:15 to 16:00, taking 50 minutes to an hour for ฿790–1,300, with a couple of them running on to Laem Tong. That makes Krabi Town the place to start if you arrive late in the day. From Krabi airport, Klong Jilad is about 20 km and 30 minutes by taxi.

Railay has no road, but you don't need to go back to Ao Nang to reach Phi Phi. The boats call at the floating pier on Railay East. Bundhaya's speedboats leave at 10:30 and 15:00 and take about 30 minutes for about ฿900, Koh Yao Sun Smile leaves at 12:00, and the Ao Nang Princess calls at 09:45 on its way from Ao Nang. Buy the ticket from your hotel or online and be on the pier 15 minutes early.

Most boats land at Tonsai pier on Phi Phi Don, the main village, where everyone pays a ฿20 island fee in cash as they step off. There are no cars on this part of the island, so you walk to the hotels in Tonsai and Loh Dalum and take a longtail to the beaches beyond. If you're staying at Laem Tong in the north, pick a boat that continues there.

Maya Bay, on Phi Phi Leh, is part of the marine national park, and the park fee for foreign adults is ฿400 (฿200 for children), paid on the boat or at the park. Maya Bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September to let the reef recover, and when it's open you can wade at the shore but not swim. The viewpoint above Tonsai charges its own small fee.

If you only want Maya Bay and the snorkeling, a day tour from Ao Nang or Krabi Town is the efficient way. Speedboat tours with hotel pickup, lunch and four or five stops start at about $33 on the booking sites, plus the ฿400 park fee, and a private longtail for a group of six costs about ฿7,000. If you want the island itself, the viewpoint at sunset and the beaches after the day boats leave, take the scheduled ferry and stay at least a night. The ferries are cheaper than a tour and you can come back whenever you like.

The same operators sail back through the day. To Klong Jilad, Songserm and Andaman Wave Master leave Tonsai at 10:30 and 15:30 (฿490), the cheaper ferry leaves at 13:30 (฿450), and Andaman Wave Master leaves Laem Tong at 09:30 and 14:00 (฿750). The Ao Nang Princess leaves Tonsai at 14:30 and reaches Railay East at 16:15 and Ao Nang at 16:30 (฿650). Speedboats run back to Kong Ka, Ao Nang and Railay from 08:45 until about 17:00. Book the return at any agent along the Tonsai front the day before in high season, and leave a buffer if you're catching a flight, because rough seas can cancel boats in the monsoon months.

The Phi Phi to Krabi guide has every boat back by pier, the ferry-and-van tickets to Krabi airport, and which boat to take for a flight the same day.