About this tour
When Em from our BugBitten team ran this early-morning speedboat tour from Phuket, it was a solid way to see the Phi Phi Islands without fighting crowds. Phuket Sail Tours caps their boats at 18 adults—well under the licensed 30-plus—which meant proper breathing room and decent time at each spot. Nine hours covers Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Beach, snorkeling at coral reefs, and a beachside lunch on Phi Phi Don. The early start is the real drawcard: you're in the water before the massive tour operators arrive with their cattle-call ferries.
Highlights
- Early departure means fewer people at major snorkeling spots
- 18-person cap keeps the boat feeling intimate, not packed
- Turquoise water and coral reefs genuinely colourful and teeming with fish
- Beachside lunch on Phi Phi Don beats eating on the boat
- Snorkelling gear, water, and coffee included—no nickel-and-diming
- Stops at both famous (Maya Bay) and quieter spots (Bamboo Island)
- Experienced crew handled navigation and safety without fuss
What to expect
You'll meet the group pre-dawn for a speedboat dash to the islands. The ride's quick but wet—sit toward the back if you mind spray. Once you hit the first snorkeling site, the water is genuinely clear and fish are abundant; Em saw parrotfish, wrasse, and anemone clusters within metres. The crew drops you in, keeps an eye on swimmers, and moves on after 45 minutes or so. You'll visit three to four snorkel spots, cruise past Monkey Beach (less controlled than it sounds), and pause at Viking Cave for the mandatory photo. By midday you're anchored at Phi Phi Don for a proper sit-down lunch—Thai curries and grilled fish, nothing fancy but fresh. The afternoon is slower: more snorkelling, maybe a spin past Bamboo Island, and a drift back to Phuket as the sun drops. It's not exhausting, but there's a lot of boat time.
What travellers say
- Early departure lets you beat the Phi Phi crowd surge
- 18-person limit feels genuinely small, not a cattle call
- Clear, fish-rich reefs; good snorkelling without expertise needed
- Lunch and gear included; no surprise add-ons
- Crew attentive and calm; knows the best quiet anchorages
- Early start not for late risers or sore heads
- Speedboat spray and motion; mild seasickness risk
- Nine hours cumulative boat time tires some travellers
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 want to snorkel without arriving at Maya Bay alongside 500 other tourists, this early-bird approach works. The small group size means the crew actually know your name and can point out reef features. Lunch is included and on dry land, which beats most operators. Gear, snacks, water, and hot drinks are all supplied. It suits most fitness levels—you're snorkelling, not swimming marathons—and families with older kids will be fine.
It's an early start (likely 6 or 7 a.m.), so not ideal if you're nursing a hangover. The speedboat ride is bouncy and splashy; if you're prone to seasickness, take precaution. Infants must sit on an adult's lap throughout. Nine hours on a boat means exposure—bring sunscreen and a rashguard. Peak season (November–February) will still feel busy, just less insane than midday tours. Expect to pay moderate tour prices for this class of operator.
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.