About this tour
When Tom from our BugBitten team took the Ao Nang Princess ferry from Koh Phi Phi to Ao Nang, it was a straightforward two-hour crossing of the Andaman Sea. The boat handles the daily run between Ton Sai Pier on Phi Phi Don and Nopparat Thara Pier in Ao Nang, with a complimentary hotel drop-off included to your accommodation in Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Ao Nam Mao, Klong Muang, or Tubkaek Beach. It's the practical link between two of Thailand's busier beach hubs — packed with backpackers and families, rarely quiet, but the ferry does the job without fuss.
Highlights
- Two-hour sea crossing between Phi Phi and Ao Nang without hassle.
- Free hotel drop-off covers five zones, saves sorting a tuk-tuk.
- Basic travel insurance bundled into the ticket price.
- All fitness levels welcome — no hiking or physical demands.
- Nopparat Thara Pier arrival puts you steps from town.
- Infants sit on laps; family-friendly boarding process straightforward.
- Full refund if weather or conditions force cancellation.
What to expect
The ferry departs from Ton Sai Pier on the eastern side of Phi Phi Don. You'll rock up, check in at the kiosk, and wait among the crowd of other travellers heading mainland. The crossing itself is two hours of open sea — expect the motion if swell picks up, and the boat fills quickly during peak season, so don't expect peace and quiet. Once you dock at Nopparat Thara in Ao Nang, a shuttle collects passengers heading to hotels. Tom's pickup took about 15 minutes from pier to hotel; the driver knew the local spots but the route wound through every zone they service, so if you're last on, budget a bit longer.
The ferry runs daily, but weather and sea state genuinely do affect schedules — this isn't a gripe, it's just maritime reality in the Andaman. The crossing itself is uneventful in the best way; most travellers nap or stare at the water. No thrills, no drama, just the in-between journey.
What travellers say
- Included hotel drop-off saves tuk-tuk negotiation and confusion.
- Daily service keeps schedules predictable and bookings easy.
- No physical demands — suits families, older travellers, anyone.
- Weather cancellations come with full refund, low financial risk.
- Basic insurance built in, removes one admin task.
- Ferry gets crowded during peak season; shoulder time for peace.
- Seasickness likely in rough conditions; medication worth packing.
- Weather delays and cancellations do occur; plan buffer time.
- Drop-off limited to five zones; outside areas need own transport.
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This is the only realistic way to get from Phi Phi to the mainland without flying or spending eight hours on buses. The included hotel drop-off is actually valuable — it saves you negotiating with tuk-tuk drivers or Googling transport from the pier. Basic insurance is nice to have. Suitable for families, couples, and solo travellers; no fitness barrier at all.
The ferry gets rammed, especially July to September and December to January. Seasickness is real if the Gulf is choppy — bring ginger tabs or patches. Infants must sit on your lap the whole way; no allocated seats for prams. The drop-off service only covers those five zones; if your hotel is outside them, you'll need your own ride from the pier. Hotel pickup is not included, so you'll arrange that separately from Koh Phi Phi. Weather cancellations do happen — not often, but accept it's possible and plan buffer days if your onward bookings are tight.
Arrive 30 minutes early; the pier gets packed. Bring water and a light snack — the boat doesn't sell much. Provide your exact hotel name when you book so the shuttle finds you. The crossing is roughly 2 hours, but with boarding and drop-offs, budget 3–3.5 hours total.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.