About this tour
When Noah from our team ran this speedboat tour out of Phuket, it ticked off the Phi Phi Islands checklist in one hit — Maya Bay (yes, that Beach location), Bamboo Island's golden sand, Monkey Beach, and the quieter northern bays. The boat caps at 30 people, which keeps it from feeling like a floating cattle market, and the whole thing runs 9 hours with hotel pickups and a beachfront lunch thrown in. It's the kind of tour that works if you want the postcard shots without spending three days island-hopping.
Highlights
- Golden sand and clear water at lesser-known Bamboo Island
- Maya Bay without the worst of the tour-boat crush (timing helps)
- Snorkelling at Loh Samah Bay — small group meant actual fish visibility
- Monkey Beach live sightings, not just Instagram posts
- Beachfront lunch restaurant beat the typical boat-deck sandwich
- Hotel door-to-door service, no early-morning scramble to a pier
- Speedboat speed meant island-hopping felt brisk, not sluggish
What to expect
You'll be picked up from your Phuket hotel in the morning and ferried to a speedboat that's smaller than the bloated tour-group vessels. The ride to the islands takes a fair while — you'll feel it in your lower back if you're sensitive — but you're covering real distance. First stop is usually Maya Bay, which does get crowded midday, so the timing of your departure matters. From there, the boat island-hops: Bamboo Island's the standout, with proper snorkelling and a genuine sandy-beach feel. Monkey Beach is worth the stop if you're keen on wildlife (locals are cheeky and quick). By midday you'll beach at a restaurant for a set lunch — nothing fancy, but hot and filling. The second half hits Loh Samah Bay and Viking Cave, where you can see rock formations and spot the occasional rock climber. The boat moves around a lot, which keeps things lively but can wear on your knees if you're bracing yourself the whole time.
What travellers say
- Small group cap (30) keeps tour from feeling like a floating resort
- Speedboat pace covers multiple islands in a single day
- Hotel pickup and drop removes logistical friction
- Snorkel kit and insurance bundled into the price
- Bamboo Island less touristy than the main Phi Phi beaches
- Speedboat motion rough for anyone with back or cardiac concerns
- Maya Bay still crowded — tour operator can't control other boats
- Long sea journey means significant time gripping railings
- Not suitable for pregnant travellers or poor swimmers
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 works brilliantly if you want the Phi Phi hits without committing to overnight island stays. The 30-person cap is real and makes a tangible difference — you're not elbowing through 200 strangers at Maya Bay. The speedboat gets you around fast, so you see more in a day than you would on a slower ferry. Hotel pickups save faff. Snorkelling gear and basic accident insurance are included, which takes the guesswork out of hiring separately.
Speedboats are rough on the spine if you've got any back issues — the tour operator explicitly flags this, and they're right. Pregnant travellers and anyone with dodgy cardiovascular fitness should sit this one out; it's legitimately physical. The boat rocks, and seasickness meds are a good call. Crowds at Maya Bay still happen regardless of tour size — it's just the nature of that beach. Expect a lot of standing and gripping railings. Peak season (November to February) means bookings fill fast. Bring sunscreen; you're on water all day with nowhere to hide. The buffet lunch is adequate, not gourmet.
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.