Phi Phi Islands and Maya Bay Day Tour from Koh Lanta

From Saladan Pier to the Phi Phi Islands

The day starts at Saladan Pier at the northern tip of Koh Lanta Yai, the main harbour of the island. Our driver brings you from your hotel for check-in, and after a short briefing the speedboat heads west across the Andaman Sea. The crossing takes about an hour, and soon the jagged limestone silhouettes of the Phi Phi Islands rise from the horizon.

Many travellers ask how to get to Phi Phi from Koh Lanta without staying overnight. A speedboat day trip is the easiest answer: it covers the main sights in one day and brings you back in time for dinner. The islands belong to a national park, so a park fee is collected in cash on the day. The open sea can be choppy, especially from May to October, so seats at the back of the boat are best if you are sensitive to motion.

Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Leh

Maya Bay is the most celebrated beach in Thailand: a curve of fine white sand framed by limestone cliffs over 100 metres high, on the uninhabited island of Koh Phi Phi Leh. After years of heavy tourism, the beach was closed so its coral and marine life could recover, and it reopened with new rules that protect it today.

Boats now drop visitors at a floating pier on the far side of the island, and you follow a wooden boardwalk through the forest to the beach. Swimming is not allowed, but you can walk on the sand, take photos and watch young blacktip reef sharks patrolling the shallows. Maya Bay is closed every year for a period in the monsoon season, usually August and September, when the tour visits other viewpoints of Phi Phi Leh instead.

Pileh Lagoon and the cliffs of Phi Phi Leh

On the east side of Koh Phi Phi Leh lies Pileh Lagoon, a narrow inlet almost completely enclosed by sheer limestone walls. The water inside is a vivid emerald green, calm and warm, and the boat slips in through a gap in the cliffs before stopping so you can jump in and swim. It is one of the most photographed spots on any Phi Phi Islands tour.

Around the island, your guide points out the dramatic scenery: overhanging rock faces covered with tropical plants, hidden coves and the entrance to the Viking Cave, where swiftlets build their nests high on the walls. The time in the lagoon is usually about 20 to 30 minutes, enough for a refreshing swim and photos with the cliffs reflected in the water.

Coral snorkelling and lunch

The tour includes a snorkelling stop on one of the coral reefs around the Phi Phi Islands, chosen by the crew according to the day's conditions. In the clear water you can see hard and soft corals, parrotfish, angelfish, sergeant majors and sometimes turtles. Snorkel masks and life jackets are provided, and your guide stays close to the group.

Lunch is a buffet of Thai dishes with vegetarian and halal choices, served on Phi Phi during the middle of the day; let us know your needs when booking. It is a good moment to rest, take in the views of the islands and refill your water bottle before the afternoon. The best time to visit Phi Phi for snorkelling is from November to April, when visibility is highest and the sea is calm.

Bamboo Island

The last stop is Bamboo Island, a small, flat island north-east of Koh Phi Phi Don, protected as part of the national park. It is ringed by a beach of soft white sand and shallow turquoise water, with casuarina trees offering shade inland, and it is one of the most relaxing beaches in the Phi Phi area.

Here you have free time to swim, snorkel near the shore or simply rest on the sand before the ride back. The shallow water is ideal for children and less confident swimmers. Is a Phi Phi day trip from Koh Lanta worth it? With Maya Bay, the lagoon and Bamboo Island in one day, it is the most complete way to see these islands. The boat returns to Saladan Pier around 4 pm, and our driver takes you back to your hotel.