About this tour
When Sarah from our BugBitten team booked the Phi Phi Cruiser snorkeling tour, she got a solid day across the Andaman waters—a proper family outing that's been running since 1980. The setup's straightforward: you board a 50-metre vessel in Phuket, cruise past Maya Bay (yes, that Beach film location), hit Loh Samah Bay and Pileh Lagoon for sightseeing, then slip into Coral Bay to snorkel among the reef. Lunch lands you at a beachside hotel on Ton Sai Bay. It's eight to nine hours start to finish, with air-conditioned lounges onboard and gear included. The vibe is mixed-bag touristy—expect crowds and ferry queues—but the water's genuinely clear and the coral's worth the effort.
Highlights
- Snorkeling at Coral Bay—colourful reef fish in clear, swimmable water
- Sightseeing glide past Maya Bay; photo ops without the beach crush
- Large, stable vessel with air-con spaces; less cramped than speedboat alternatives
- Lunch, drinks, and fruit included; snorkel kit provided
- Round-trip transfers from Phuket suburbs included in price
- Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave stops break up the water time
- English-speaking guide with genuine ecotourism angle
- Suitable for mixed fitness levels; family-friendly pacing
What to expect
Sarah's morning started with a hotel pickup across Phuket (Patong, Kata, Karon all covered), then a drive to the pier. The ferry itself is modern and roomy—not a squeezed speedboat situation. First stop was cruising past Maya Bay; you don't land, but the views are postcard-ready and you dodge the thrashing crowds on the beach. Then Loh Samah Bay and Pileh Lagoon for more sightseeing from the deck or a quick swim.
The real action kicks in at Coral Bay, where the snorkelling happens. Sarah found the coral healthy and fish abundant—parrotfish, groupers, the lot—and the water clarity was excellent. Gear is solid: mask, snorkel, life jacket all supplied. Lunch was served back at a hotel on Ton Sai Bay (short walk from the pier), with proper meals, soft drinks, coffee, and seasonal fruit. By afternoon, you're back onboard heading home. It's leisurely rather than rushed, which works well if you've got kids or just want to soak it in without panic.
What travellers say
- Stable, spacious vessel with air-con lounges; less claustrophobic than speedboats
- Snorkelling at Coral Bay genuinely good—healthy reefs, visible fish life
- All-in pricing: transfers, meals, drinks, snorkel kit, guide included
- Mixed itinerary balances sightseeing cruising and water time
- Ecotourism-minded guide adds genuine local knowledge
- Family-friendly pacing and fitness accessibility
- Crowded boat and stops; touristy atmosphere inevitable at this scale
- National park fee extra; not always upfront in marketing
- Not medically suitable for spinal, cardiac, pregnancy, or bone conditions
- Early morning pickup may clash with holiday lie-ins
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This tour genuinely suits families and mixed fitness groups. The boat's stable, the snorkelling is decent quality (not a five-minute splash), and everything essential—transfers, gear, lunch, drinks—is baked into the price. The guides speak English and actually know the ecosystem. You get sightseeing and snorkelling in one day, which saves time.
It's popular, so expect crowds on the boat and at stops. The tour's not suitable if you've got spinal issues, heart problems, or are pregnant—worth noting upfront. There's a national park fee (400 baht adults, 200 baht kids) to pay separately at entry, which they don't always flag clearly. Early start (pickup around 7–8 a.m.), so late risers will feel it. Weather-dependent; rough seas occasionally cancel or delay. Ton Sai Bay itself gets busy with ferries and tour groups.
Bring sunscreen, a rash guard if you burn easily, and a waterproof bag for valuables. Kids aged 4–12 (under 120 cm) pay child rates. Transfers cover Phuket Town, Patong, Kata, Karon, Rawai, Naihan. Group size varies but typically 30–80 people. Peak season (November–February) fills up fast.
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.