About this tour
When Mia from our BugBitten team took this speedboat tour, she headed out from Krabi to the Phi Phi Islands — those limestone cliffs and turquoise bays you've probably seen in travel mags. The day hits the famous spots: Maya Beach (yep, the one from The Beach film), then Monkey Bay for snorkelling among coral gardens teeming with fish. It's a solid hit-and-run approach to Thailand's Andaman coast, pitched at the classic tour-group crowd. Seven to eight hours total, lunch and kit included, pickup from your Ao Nang hotel.
Highlights
- Maya Beach delivers the postcard view — dramatic cliffs, white sand, busy but undeniably striking
- Snorkelling at Monkey Bay; coral gardens thick with colour and small reef fish
- Lunch on the water with ocean views beats eating back at your hotel
- Speedboat cuts travel time — less tedious cruising, more actual island time
- Life jacket and mask supplied; no need to pack or rent separately
- Hotel pickup removes the Krabi logistics headache for Ao Nang guests
- Sea breeze and changing water colours on the return leg make decent photo ops
What to expect
You'll meet your group early — the boat leaves Krabi and motors out to Phi Phi in maybe 45 minutes. Maya Beach is the headline stop: turquoise water, steep karst cliffs, and plenty of other tourists. Mia noted the beach itself gets crowded midday, so early arrivals help. You swim and sunbathe for a couple of hours, then the boat shifts to Monkey Bay (the name's a bit of a misnomer — you won't see many monkeys, but the coral is the real draw). Snorkelling gear is provided and functional; the reef teems with parrotfish and damselfish if you venture beyond the shallows. Lunch is a casual affair — usually pad Thai or curry served on deck with fruit and water. The return trip is leisurely, cruising past limestone formations and open water. It's not rugged or off-the-beaten-track; it's the classic Krabi day tour.
What travellers say
- Maya Beach is genuinely photogenic — worth seeing once
- Coral and snorkelling at Monkey Bay delivers colourful reef life
- Lunch and drinking water included; one less thing to organize
- Speedboat cuts transfer time versus slower ferries
- Hotel pickup from Ao Nang removes transport headache
- Maya Beach crowded midday; arrive early for breathing room
- National park fee (400 baht) excluded; budget this separately
- Speedboat motion rules out pregnant, cardiac, or spinal-injury travellers
- Snorkelling is shallow and casual; not for serious divers
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
If you're based in Krabi and want a straightforward island day without planning a ferry yourself, this ticks the box. The snorkelling is decent for casual swimmers; you'll see real coral and fish. Lunch included means no hunting for a restaurant. Hotel pickup from Ao Nang is a genuine convenience.
Maya Beach is beautiful but rammed — expect 50+ other visitors. The national park entry fee (400 baht per adult) isn't included and catches people off guard. Extra transfer charges apply if you're not in Ao Nang (100 baht from other Krabi areas). The tour isn't suitable for pregnant travellers, those with heart conditions, spinal injuries, or poor cardiovascular fitness — speedboat motion matters. Not ideal for cruise-ship passengers (limited time). Snorkelling depth is shallow; serious divers will find it basic. Midday heat on the boat is intense; bring sunscreen and a hat. Group size isn't specified, so you may be crammed in. Public transport to the departure point is available if you skip the hotel pickup.
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.