About this tour
When Em from our team caught the Ao Nang Princess ferry from Railay to Phuket, it was a straightforward 2-hour hop across the Andaman Sea. You'll meet at either Railay West or East depending on the swell, then cruise to central Phuket with a hotel drop-off included. It's the no-fuss way to shift between these two spots without backtracking through Krabi, though you'll need to sort your own way to the ferry meeting point beforehand.
Highlights
- Direct sea crossing avoids the long road detour through Krabi town
- Basic travel insurance bundled in — covers you for the journey
- Hotel drop-off at major Phuket zones: Patong, Kata, Karon, Chalong
- Flexible meeting point based on actual sea state, not a fixed schedule
- Speedboat swap possible if numbers are light — faster ride either way
- Works for all fitness levels, even littlies on laps
- Full refund if weather or conditions force a cancellation
What to expect
The ferry departs from whichever Railay beach has the calmer conditions that day — the crew will let you know. You'll board with a mixed bunch of tourists and locals, grab a spot on the open-air deck or inside, and settle in for a 2-hour ride. The Andaman can be a bit choppy depending on season, so if you're prone to seasickness, take a tablet beforehand. Em found the crossing smooth enough, though the boat does bounce around if there's any swell running.
You'll arrive at Phuket Town pier and get driven to your nominated hotel drop-off zone — Patong, Kata, Karon, or Chalong. The driver won't navigate deep into resort areas, so if you're staying somewhere remote or tucked up a soi, you might need to sort a local grab for the last leg. The whole thing moves at a decent clip; no hanging about.
What travellers say
- Skips the long road route — straight sea crossing saves time
- Included hotel drop-off at Phuket's main tourist beaches
- Flexible meeting point adapts to actual sea conditions daily
- Travel insurance and full cancellation refund built in
- Suitable for families, young kids, and all fitness levels
- No hotel pickup — you arrange your own transport to Railay
- Drop-off limited to major zones; remote hotels need extra taxi
- Weather and sea state can cancel with short notice
- Choppy waters possible; seasickness-prone should take precaution
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This beats the 3–4 hour minibus crawl through Krabi's backroads, especially if you're heading straight to Patong or another main beach. The insurance cover is handy peace-of-mind. If rough seas mean they switch you to a speedboat, you'll actually arrive faster. Works for families with babies (they sit on your lap) and won't leave anyone gasping.
You'll need your own transport to Railay beach for the meeting point — no hotel pickup included. If your Phuket hotel sits outside the main tourist zones (Patong, Kata, Karon, Chalong, or town), you're looking at an extra taxi or grab from wherever they drop you. Bad weather or swells can delay or cancel the whole trip with no warning, though you do get a full refund. Crowds peak in high season; arrive early to secure a decent seat. The open-deck seating means sun exposure — bring a hat and sunscreen.
Bring a light layer or rain jacket in case it's breezy. The ferry is covered but the experience is fairly exposed. Have your hotel name ready for the drop-off. Journey time is 2 hours standard, longer if seas are rough. Groups range from a handful to maybe 50 people depending on the day.
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.