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Updated January 2026
You have had enough city life and need a bit of sea breeze and sand between your toes? When it is summer in Thailand it is just the right time to head from Bangkok to Phi Phi Island. Beautiful beaches, the incredible Maya Bay, nightlife, and some amazing diving await in Koh Phi Phi.
Depending on your budget and how much time you have, there are different ways how to get from Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi. The best options and what they entail in this post.
From Bangkok to Phi Phi Island – The best ways how to get there
I think the Phi Phi Islands are a great option if you are in the mood for a lively island break. True it is not really quiet around the main parts of the island but that is all part of the fun. Go scuba diving in Koh Phi Phi, enjoy a beach or pool party, take a trip to the surrounding islands to snorkel, visit the world-famous Maya Bay, and find seclusion at a beautiful resort like SAii.
Regardless of what you are in the mood for, the island is definitely worth a trip and here are the best ways how to get from Bangkok to Phi Phi:
Koh Phi Phi from Bangkok via Phuket
One of the fastest options to get from Bangkok to Phi Phi Island is to take a flight from Don Muang or Suvarnabhumi to Phuket. From here you will need to get a van or taxi transfer to the pier and then take the speedboat or ferry from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi.
There are currently no companies that offer a combo with flight & ferry so you will need to make your own bookings and find your own connections.
You will be able to find cheap flights from Bangkok to Phuket if you book early enough as there a plenty of low-cost local carriers. Obviously, things like check-in luggage, seat selection, and meals will cost you extra, and the sooner you book the cheaper your ticket.
Unlike with international flights, there is no difference whether you book a one-way or return ticket with airlines like Air Asia or Thai Vietjet.
If you plan on traveling from Phuket to Phi Phi island on the same day you will need to make sure that you are in time for the last ferry. Also, keep in mind that the drive from the airport to Rassada Pier where most boats depart takes about 1 hour.
If you can’t make that in time, don’t worry – there are plenty of nice options in Phuket where you can spend the night. Personally, I would head to Naiyang Beach which is not far from the airport, or make my way to Phuket Old Town, so you are already halfway to the pier.
You can check out my posts on where to sleep and of course where to eat in both places:
Which one I prefer is hard to say, I guess it depends if you are in the mood for the beach or a cute heritage town. I will say that Phuket Old Town has the better food while Naiyang Beach gets the better sunsets!
Once you have spent the night, you can take the first boat over to Phi Phi the next morning. Do yourself a favor – especially in summer – do take the first boat available otherwise it gets too hot. You will want to be in the shade on a Koh Phi Phi beach with a cold coconut by the time the midday heat comes along.
You can book your transfer from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi here:
Speedboats will take 1-1,5 hours and ferries 2-3 hours, depending on whether you go to the main pier, Ton Sai pier, or Laemtong. You can find all the details on how to get from Phuket to Phi Phi Island in this post.
Important: Taxis in Phuket are ridiculously expensive. Most boat operators offer a shared pick-up from many destinations in Phuket. If you are coming from the airport or Naiyang Beach choose Andaman Wave Master as the others don’t offer shared transfers from ‘far away’. A shared transfer will usually cost you an extra 200 baht.
How to get to Phi Phi island from Bangkok via Krabi
A slightly faster option if you want to go from Bangkok to Phi Phi Island is via Krabi. First, you will take a flight from Bangkok to Krabi and then a minibus to Klong Jilard Pier in Ao Nang.
If you are adding a few days in Ao Nang or Railay Beach you can also get a ferry from Ao Nam Mao Pier or the Floating Pier East Railay to get to Koh Phi Phi. I definitely recommend a few nights in Tonsai Beach, which makes for a great and super secluded stopover destination.
Afterward, it depends on whether you choose a speedboat or ferry for your trip from Krabi to Koh Phi Phi, but it will take 1-2 hours.
The cheapest way to get to Koh Phi Phi from Bangkok
If you are short on cash but not on time you can also take a bus, van & ferry combo to get from Bangkok to Phi Phi Island. To be honest, this is an undertaking I would only dare if you are really strapped for money and don’t mind a long bus trip.
The journey starts at 7 pm or 8 pm from Khao San Road and takes you through Surat Thani and Krabi. You won’t arrive until afternoon the following day. Considering that Thai buses are neither the safest nor the most comfortable, I’d recommend you rather spend a little more and fly. But if you are keen on an adventure and like to admire the scenery on the way, go for it!
Regardless of which mode of transport you choose, once you get to Koh Phi Phi you will need to pay an island tax of sorts of 20 baht. It seems that most people don’t expect that so make sure to have 20 baht in cash available so you won’t have to wait in line with all the other confused tourists.
What to do once you get to from Bangkok to Phi Phi Island? Here are some ideas:
And how to get from Koh Phi Phi to Bangkok?
Obviously, you can take the same route back! When I recently had to get from Koh Phi Phi to Bangkok, I took the ferry and booked a shared transfer to Phuket airport with Phi Phi Cruiser. This was inexpensive and went off without a hitch. From Phuket, I flew to Bangkok with Air Asia. My flight was a little more than I usually like to pay but I admittedly booked a bit late and I also had to add my 25 kg suitcase.
The ferry from Phi Phi to Phuket took 2 hours, the drive from Rassada Pier to Phuket Airport was 1 hour, and the flight another 1,5 hours. You may have to puzzle a bit with flight departures and ferry arrival times. When in doubt, rather spend some more time at the airport to have a buffer – I used my Priority Pass to get into the Royal Orchid Lounge where I got to have lunch and work.
