Phi Phi Island Big Boat Tour – Snorkeling, Beaches & Scenic Views

The best reason to choose this big boat trip is simple: you get room to sit, walk around, and watch the Andaman Sea without being packed into a small speedboat. The day includes snorkeling, lunch, fruit, drinks, and views of Maya Bay, Monkey Beach, Viking Cave, and the Phi Phi islands.

I like the included buffet lunch, especially because one meal is halal, and I like the slower cruise pace for families or anyone who dislikes a hard ride across open water. The main caution is time. You may spend much of the day aboard the boat, and the published schedule changes by season.

Key points to know before booking

• Big boat comfort: A June Bahtra vessel can carry up to 50 people, giving you more room than a speedboat but a less intimate outing.
• Snorkeling included: Mask, snorkel, and life jacket are provided, with a stop at Long Beach noted as a highlight.
• Maya Bay is mainly a passing view: The Phi Phi Lay sightseeing portion is listed for November through April, and the boat schedule may not give you beach time there.
• Lunch and drinks are covered: Expect lunch, seasonal fruit, coffee, tea, dessert, and cool soft drinks.
• Hotel pickup is limited: Transfers are included from Patong, Kata, and Karon only.
• Budget for THB 400: The national park fee is not included in the advertised $98.77 price.

A full day on the water from Phuket

Phi Phi is one of Thailand’s most famous island outings, and this tour takes the practical route from Phuket by larger boat. You leave early, spend roughly 10 hours on the road and sea, and return to the same general meeting point in the evening.

I see this as a sightseeing cruise with swimming and snorkeling added, not as a beach day with a little boat travel. That distinction matters. If you want the quickest possible trip to Phi Phi, a speedboat can save time. If you want a steadier ride, more space, and a supplied lunch, the big boat makes more sense.

The experience receives a mixed overall score of 3.4 from 46 ratings. That fits the product. The scenery and snorkeling can be excellent, while pickup communication, extra charges, and limited time ashore may frustrate you.

The 7:00 AM pickup requires patience

Pickup is scheduled around 7:00 AM. Hotel transfer is included only for addresses in Patong, Kata, and Karon. The stated starting point is Sun Leisure World at The Royal Paradise Hotel and Spa on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Road in Patong.

You are told to wait in the hotel lobby because traffic can make the driver early or late. I would take that seriously. One booking problem involved a missed bus and unclear instructions about whether pickup was at a hotel or Starbucks. Give the operator your hotel details before the night before, and keep your phone available in the morning.

Land transport is limited to a maximum of 15 people. The boat itself can hold more, depending on the vessel. The listed capacities are 35 for a speedboat, 12 for a longtail boat, and up to 50 for a June Bahtra boat. In other words, the small land group does not mean you will have a small boat group.

That may sound like a minor detail, but it shapes the day. You can get a fairly personal hotel transfer and still board a busy vessel with many other people.

Coffee and the first cruise to Phi Phi

The boat departs the pier at about 8:30 AM. Coffee, tea, and dessert are served on board, which is a welcome touch after the early pickup.

The ride to Phi Phi Don is part of the experience, not just dead time. The larger boat gives you a chance to sit inside or look out over the islands, depending on the available seating. The cruise is also less likely to feel like a jolting race than a speedboat transfer, though it takes longer.

Arrival times and routing vary in the supplied schedule. One version lists arrival at Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don around 9:50 AM. Another seasonal plan has the boat passing briefly by Tonsai and continuing to Laemtong Beach at about 11:15 AM. Treat the exact stop as seasonal rather than fixed.

Phi Phi Don, Long Beach, and the snorkeling stop

Phi Phi Don is the inhabited island in the group, and it is where the tour gives you its most useful mix of food, beach time, and water activities. The tour details identify Long Beach as a snorkeling location, and this is also the part most praised for its clear water, marine life, and attractive beach.

You receive a mask, snorkel, and life jacket. The description promises colorful marine life, but it does not promise a particular fish species or reef condition. Sea conditions and visibility can change, so keep your expectations sensible. You are visiting a popular island area, not joining a specialist marine biology trip.

I like that the gear is supplied. You do not need to pack a full snorkeling kit, although bringing your own mask can still be useful if you care about fit. The life jacket is especially helpful for less confident swimmers.

The tradeoff is duration. One unhappy account described only about two hours away from the boat, with roughly one hour of beach time. The exact schedule may shift, but you should not assume a leisurely half-day on the sand. This is a packed island circuit.

The lunch stop and what your $98.77 buys

Lunch is included, along with seasonal fruit and cool non-alcoholic drinks. Coffee, tea, and dessert are served earlier in the cruise. A buffet meal was praised as delicious and halal, which makes this tour more useful for families or groups with different dietary needs.

Still, food quality is not guaranteed to please everyone. Another account found the buffet ordinary for the price. That is a fair warning. Included lunch saves you the trouble of finding food on Phi Phi, where prices can be higher than in Patong, but it is not a reason by itself to book the trip.

At $98.77 per person, the value comes from the package: hotel pickup in the three covered resort areas, round-trip boat transport, guide service, insurance, snorkeling gear, lunch, fruit, and soft drinks. The national park fee is extra at THB 400 per person, so add that to your real budget.

I would compare the total against a ferry ticket before booking. A ferry can cost much less, but then you arrange your own meal, snorkeling, island sightseeing, and local transfers. If you want the simplest all-in-one day, the tour earns some of its price. If you are comfortable planning your own Phi Phi visit, the premium may feel high.

Maya Bay, Monkey Beach, and Viking Cave from the boat

The tour passes the famous sights of Phi Phi Lay. These include Maya Bay, Monkey Beach, and Viking Cave, all of which are major reasons people make the trip from Phuket.

The wording matters: these are sightseeing points on or from the boat. You should not assume you will step ashore at every one. The Phi Phi Lay sightseeing is specifically marked for November through April, the high season. The lower-season plan from May through October uses a cruise format and may follow a different route.

Maya Bay is the headline view, but the boat may only pause or pass by. Monkey Beach is known for its resident monkeys, though the schedule here does not promise a landing. Viking Cave is another striking stop to see from the water. These short views are worthwhile, but they are not the same as exploring each place on foot.

This is where the large boat helps and hurts. You get a broad view of the cliffs and coves, with room to sit back and take photographs. You also have less control over the pace than you would on a private charter or small boat.

High season and low season are not the same trip

November through April is listed as high season, with sightseeing around Phi Phi Lay. That is the period when the advertised Maya Bay, Monkey Beach, and Viking Cave circuit is most clearly part of the plan.

May through October is low season. The boat departs for Phi Phi by cruise, refreshments are served on board, and the notes say you remain on board during a short stop at Tonsai Pier. The itinerary then places the group at Laemtong Beach on Phi Phi Don.

This seasonal split is one of the most important booking details. Do not choose the trip based only on photographs of Maya Bay and expect the same shore access in every month. Ask the operator what route is running on your date, especially during the monsoon season.

The tour information does not promise weather refunds or a guaranteed view of every landmark. The cancellation terms allow a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before departure, but changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.

What the big boat is really like

The large vessel is best for people who value space over speed. Families can spread out more easily, and you can move between seats during the cruise. One particularly positive account called the views from the big boat beautiful and recommended the format for a small family.

You should also expect a group outing rather than a quiet private cruise. Depending on the boat, water transport may include up to 50 people. That can mean more noise, more people getting equipment, and less freedom during beach or snorkeling stops.

The boat is also the source of the main criticism. If you picture a day mostly on beaches, this may disappoint you. The itinerary covers a lot of water in one day, and the main sightseeing is often done from the deck.

I would choose the big boat if you get seasick in small craft, want a gentler ride, or prefer to avoid organizing separate ferries and meals. I would choose another format if your priority is maximum time in the water or a quiet, flexible schedule.

Pickup, fees, and practical planning

The tour includes insurance and round-trip boat transfer, but the THB 400 national park fee is not included. Confirm how and when that fee is collected. A complaint about being charged for included items suggests that payment details have not always felt clear to every customer.

The activity accepts mobile tickets, and confirmation is supplied when you book. It is near public transportation, though the advertised hotel transfer remains limited to Patong, Kata, and Karon.

Bring swimwear, sun protection, a towel, and a dry bag for your phone. Those items are practical suggestions for any snorkeling and beach outing, but only the mask, snorkel, and life jacket are specifically supplied. Non-alcoholic drinks are included, so you do not need to plan around buying those on the boat.

Most people can participate. The tour data does not provide a detailed accessibility statement, so contact the operator if you have mobility needs or require special assistance at the pier or on the boat.

Who should book this Phi Phi tour?

This outing suits you if you want the famous Phi Phi scenery without handling ferry schedules, restaurant choices, and local transport yourself. It is also a good fit for families who prefer a steadier large boat and appreciate included food and equipment.

It works for first-time visitors who want a broad sample of the islands in one day. You see Phi Phi Don, cruise around Phi Phi Lay, stop for snorkeling, and get the major coastal views.

I would be more cautious if you want long beach stays, private service, or a highly active water day. The schedule is busy, the vessel may carry many people, and the national park fee adds to the advertised price.

The strongest parts are Long Beach snorkeling, the roomy boat, the supplied lunch, and the chance to see several Phi Phi landmarks in one trip. The weak points are pickup reliability, seasonal changes, limited shore time, and unclear value if you only want a ferry ride.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if comfort, convenience, and a supplied lunch matter more to you than speed or privacy. The big boat gives you a calmer way to cover the islands, and the snorkeling and beach stop can be the day’s highlight.

Skip it if your main goal is to spend hours on Maya Bay or Phi Phi’s beaches. In that case, compare a smaller boat, a private charter, or a simple ferry plus your own island plan. Before paying, confirm your pickup location, the route for your travel month, and how the THB 400 park fee will be handled.

FAQ

How long does the Phi Phi big boat tour last?

The tour lasts about 10 hours, including hotel pickup, the boat journey, sightseeing, snorkeling, lunch, and the return trip.

What time does pickup begin?

Pickup starts around 7:00 AM. You should wait in the hotel lobby because traffic may make the driver early or late.

Which Phuket areas include hotel pickup?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included from Patong, Kata, and Karon only.

Where is the stated meeting point?

The listed meeting point is Sun Leisure World at The Royal Paradise Hotel and Spa, Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Road, Patong, Phuket.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. A mask, snorkel, and life jacket are included.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is provided, along with seasonal fresh fruit and cool soft drinks. Coffee, tea, and dessert are also served during the cruise.

Is the national park fee included?

No. The national park fee is listed separately at THB 400 per person.

Will the tour stop at Maya Bay?

The tour includes sightseeing around the Phi Phi Lay islands, including Maya Bay, Monkey Beach, and Viking Cave. This sightseeing is listed for November through April, and the schedule does not guarantee beach access at each site.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.