Half-Day Maya Bay Longtail Boat Tour with Snorkelling Phi Phi

Tonsai village and the longtail ride

The tour starts in Tonsai, the lively village on the narrow isthmus of Koh Phi Phi Don, where most hotels, shops and the main pier are found. You meet your guide at the marlin statue in the centre of the village, a short walk from most accommodation, and board a traditional longtail boat, the narrow wooden boat with a long-shafted engine typical of southern Thailand.

The ride south to Koh Phi Phi Leh takes only about 15 to 20 minutes, hugging the limestone cliffs along the way. Longtails sit low on the water, so you feel close to the sea and the scenery, and they can reach spots where larger boats cannot go. If you are wondering how to get to Maya Bay from Phi Phi Don, this short half-day trip is the simplest way.

Maya Bay

Maya Bay, on the west side of the uninhabited island of Koh Phi Phi Leh, is a perfect curve of white sand enclosed by limestone cliffs over 100 metres high. After years of over-tourism, the beach was closed so its coral and marine life could recover, and it reopened with strict rules: boats no longer enter the bay, and visitor numbers are controlled.

The longtail drops you at a floating pier on the island's far side, and a wooden boardwalk leads through the forest to the beach. Swimming is not allowed, but you can walk on the sand, take photos and look for young blacktip reef sharks in the shallows. The national park fee is paid in cash here. Maya Bay closes every year for a period, usually August and September, when the tour visits other spots instead.

Pileh Lagoon

On the eastern side of Koh Phi Phi Leh, Pileh Lagoon is a narrow inlet almost entirely enclosed by sheer limestone walls draped in tropical plants. The longtail slips through a gap in the cliffs and stops in the middle of the lagoon, where the water is calm, warm and a vivid emerald green, perfect for a swim straight from the boat.

It feels like a natural swimming pool surrounded by cliffs, and it is one of the most photographed places in the Phi Phi Islands. Life jackets are provided for anyone who prefers to float. Is Pileh Lagoon worth visiting? For most guests, this swim is the most memorable moment of the trip, especially in the softer light of the morning or late afternoon.

Snorkelling and choosing your departure

The tour also includes snorkelling stops around Phi Phi Leh, chosen by the crew according to the tide and the sea. In the clear water you can see corals, parrotfish, sergeant majors, butterflyfish and sometimes small reef sharks. Masks and life jackets are provided, and the guide keeps an eye on the group.

Several departures are available, from morning to mid-afternoon, so the trip fits easily around a beach day on Phi Phi Don. The early-morning option leaves at dawn to reach Maya Bay right when it opens, before the day boats arrive. The best time to visit Phi Phi is from November to April, when the sea is calm and the water clearest; from May to October, the route may be adjusted to sheltered spots.