Small Groups of 20 people – Phi Phi & Bamboo Islands with Lunch

Just east of Phuket, this small-group speedboat tour packs the Andaman Sea’s headline sights into one long day: Bamboo Island’s pale beach, Phi Phi’s limestone cliffs, Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Beach, and Maya Bay. You’ll also get hotel transfers, snorkeling gear, snacks, fruit, drinks, and a buffet lunch at Phi Phi Holiday Resort.

I especially like the steady supply of water and snacks, and the guides’ hands-on care. Ray, Sonny, Goodies, Alan, Anton, and other named guides are praised for clear instructions, humor, and safety. The main caution is the ride itself: it can be loud and very bumpy, particularly when the sea turns rough. Take motion-sickness medicine if you need it.

Key points to know before booking

• A full island day: Plan on about 9 hours and 30 minutes from pickup to return.
• Small boat, with a caveat: The tour is advertised for a maximum of 20 people, although one booking had 28 aboard.
• Two strong water stops: Bamboo Island and Pileh Bay provide time for swimming and snorkeling.
• Lunch with a view: The buffet at Phi Phi Holiday Resort includes Thai and international dishes, with special diets available by request.
• Maya Bay depends on the rules: You can see the famous bay when it is open, but access and swimming rules are controlled.
• Budget for the national park fee: The price is $108.43 per person, excluding 400 THB for adults and 200 THB for children.

Royal Phuket Marina starts the day

The tour begins at Royal Phuket Marina, where you receive light refreshments and a short safety briefing. This first 15 minutes may feel like paperwork before the fun begins, but it matters. Speedboats cover open water quickly, and clear instructions help you understand where to sit, how to use the life jacket, and what to expect at each stop.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, a useful benefit in Phuket. The marina can take about an hour from Patong, depending on hotel pickups. One account describes an air-conditioned minibus and an orderly check-in, though the marina can feel confusing at first when more than 100 people gather for different boats.

Look for staff directing you to the right departure area. Tea, coffee, and water are available at the marina, and the tour provides a waterproof floating phone case. Bring your own phone fully charged, since you’ll have many chances to take pictures from the boat and in the water.

The speedboat ride: quick, useful, and sometimes rough

The speedboat is the practical reason this itinerary can cover so much ground in a single day. You are not spending most of your time puttering between islands. The boat gets you out to the Phi Phi area relatively quickly, then moves between the stops with little wasted time.

The trade-off is comfort. Several people found the ride bumpy, especially on the way back, and one description compared the motion to a rough ride at 40 to 50 miles per hour. Strong wind can make the sea choppy even when the sky looks inviting. The boat can also be loud at speed.

If you are prone to seasickness, take your usual medication before leaving. Sit where the crew recommends, keep water nearby, and avoid treating the speedboat like a calm sightseeing cruise. This is an active day on open water, not a gentle harbor boat trip.

The tour includes bottled water, soft drinks, coffee or tea, snacks, seasonal fruit, and a restroom on board. The crew also hangs wet towels to dry and folds them for you between swims, a small service that becomes quite valuable after several water stops.

Bamboo Island gives you the classic beach hour

Bamboo Island is the first major stop and usually gets about an hour. It is part of the marine national park, with a broad pale beach and clear water suited to swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing.

The island is described as relatively barren, which is part of its appeal. You come here for sand, sea, and open views rather than shops or a long cultural visit. If you want a quiet beach walk, this stop may feel too short. If you want to get in the water and make the most of the day, an hour is useful.

Snorkeling equipment is included: life jacket, mask, snorkel, fins, and a new snorkel mouthpiece. Beach towels are also supplied. Conditions can change the quality of the water. On a wet or windy day, the beach may still be attractive, but visibility and comfort can suffer.

The tour gives you a good balance here: enough time to swim and snorkel, but not so much that you lose the rest of the Phi Phi route. Remember that the national park fee is not part of the advertised tour price. Set aside 400 THB per adult or 200 THB per child.

Monkey Beach is a quick wildlife stop

At Monkey Beach, the boat slows for about 10 minutes so you can see macaques climbing, swimming, and jumping along the shore. This is a sightseeing stop from the speedboat only. You do not go ashore.

That limitation is sensible. These are wild animals, not trained performers, and keeping visitors on the boat reduces the chance of feeding, chasing, or crowding them. Have your camera ready before arrival because 10 minutes passes quickly.

You may see monkeys close to the waterline or higher on the rocks, but sightings and behavior cannot be guaranteed. The stop works best as a short break between beach and lagoon time, rather than as a major wildlife encounter.

Lunch at Phi Phi Holiday Resort

Lunch is served at Phi Phi Holiday Resort, with about an hour for the buffet and a sea view. The meal includes Thai and international food, and vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, gluten-free, and other dietary needs can be requested when booking.

Food is always a personal part of a tour. Some people found the buffet plentiful and very good, while another found it only average. I would treat lunch as a convenient, attractive break rather than the main reason to choose the trip. You can sit down, eat a proper meal, use facilities on land, and enjoy a view instead of balancing snacks on a moving boat.

This stop also gives the crew a chance to reset the boat and supplies while you eat. The timing is helpful because the day includes several swims, and the fruit and snacks alone would not make a satisfying lunch.

Pileh Bay is the water highlight

Pileh Bay is surrounded by tall limestone cliffs and filled with emerald-green water. You get about 30 minutes to swim in the lagoon, and this is likely to be one of the most memorable parts of the day.

The cliffs make the stop feel enclosed and dramatic. You are not simply looking at the Phi Phi coast from a distance. You are in the water, with the rock walls rising around you. The crew may help you enter the water and keep an eye on swimmers, but you still need to be comfortable in open water and follow the safety instructions.

Pileh is also used for snorkeling, and underwater conditions can be excellent. Fish are common, though the amount of live coral varies. One practical note: life jackets may be required in some areas under national park rules, even if you are a strong swimmer. That can make snorkeling less effortless, but it is part of the local safety requirements.

Thirty minutes is enough for a swim and a quick look below the surface, but you may wish you had longer. The itinerary favors variety over extended time at one site.

Viking Cave adds a short cultural and natural note

The boat also passes Viking Cave, where the guide explains the cave’s importance to the island’s swallow birds. Their nests are valued for bird’s nest soup, a specialty associated with Chinese cuisine.

This is a sightseeing and explanation stop, not a cave exploration. The boat does not turn the moment into a long visit, and you should think of it as context added to the scenery. It breaks up the swimming stops with a glimpse into an unusual local industry and the natural life of the islands.

The cave itself is not the sort of stop that fills an hour. Its value comes from hearing why the site matters and seeing how the cave fits into the broader Phi Phi environment.

Maya Bay brings the famous final view

Maya Bay is the most recognizable stop, made famous by the 2000 film The Beach. Expect white sand, bright blue water, and steep cliffs framing the bay. The tour allows about an hour for sightseeing when the bay is open.

Maya Bay is also the stop most affected by government conservation rules. It may close for seasonal recovery, and the supplied information states that an important closure begins August 1, 2025. Check the current status before booking because the itinerary can change, and access rules may limit swimming or other activities.

Even when you cannot enter the water, seeing the bay from the permitted area can be worthwhile. Do not book this trip solely for a guaranteed beach swim at Maya Bay. Choose it for the complete route, with Maya Bay as one part of a larger day.

Crowds are another consideration. Phi Phi is famous for good reason, and several boats can gather at the same scenic points. The small-group format helps on your own boat, but it cannot make the national park empty.

What the small group really changes

The advertised maximum is 20 people, and that size can make a real difference. You have more room to sit, fewer people competing for the guide’s attention, and less waiting when the crew hands out masks, towels, drinks, or fruit.

A few accounts praise the boat’s space and say the group felt comfortable rather than packed. One booking, however, reported 28 people on the boat, more than the stated maximum. I would confirm the expected group size at booking if personal space is a major reason you are choosing this tour.

The crew receives some of the strongest praise. Guides such as Ray, Sonny, Goodies, Alan, Anton, and P are singled out for humor, precise instructions, patience, and care around children. A photographer upgrade is also available according to one booking, and it may appeal to families or couples who want underwater pictures without asking another passenger to use a phone.

Still, the service cannot control sea conditions. A friendly guide makes a wet, rough day easier, but not smooth.

What is included, and what costs extra

At $108.43 per person, this is not the cheapest Phi Phi excursion you’ll find in Phuket. Its value comes from the bundle: hotel transfers, a professional guide, accident insurance, speedboat transport, snorkeling equipment, towels, lunch, drinks, snacks, fruit, a phone case, and an onboard restroom.

You also avoid arranging separate transport to the marina. That matters because the tour begins early enough and the return trip can take time after a full day on the water.

The main extra cost is the national park admission fee: 400 THB per adult and 200 THB per child. Alcoholic drinks are not included, though they can be purchased. A photography package, if offered for your departure, also costs extra.

Compared with cheaper local boat sales, the included transport, food, equipment, and smaller stated group can justify the higher price. The bargain options may carry more people and use more basic lunch arrangements. If your priority is the lowest possible price, this tour may not be the best fit. If you care about organization, supplies, and room on the boat, the added cost is easier to defend.

Who should book this Phi Phi day trip?

I would choose this tour if you want to see many of the Andaman Sea’s famous sites in one day and prefer a guided plan over arranging boats and transfers yourself. It suits families, first-time visitors to Phuket, couples, and active visitors who want swimming and snorkeling mixed with beach sightseeing.

It is also a good fit if you value steady support. The crew offers equipment, towels, drinks, and safety guidance throughout the day. Families may appreciate the attentive approach described by people who traveled with children.

I would think twice if you dislike speedboats, loud engines, or choppy water. The 9-hour-30-minute schedule is long, and the day includes repeated boarding, swimming, drying off, and moving on. If you want a slow beach day, choose a simpler outing.

Wear strong sun protection, bring a swimsuit, and use the supplied waterproof phone case. Keep valuables to a minimum, since you will spend much of the day moving between the boat, beaches, and water. Ask for dietary arrangements at booking rather than waiting until lunch.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want an efficient, well-supported introduction to Bamboo Island and Phi Phi, with the major bays and beaches covered in one day. The best reasons to choose it are the included hotel transport, the supply of drinks and snacks, the sea-view lunch, and the crew’s careful attention.

Skip it if you need calm water, long stays at each beach, or a guaranteed visit to Maya Bay under every season’s rules. For most active visitors, the $108.43 price is reasonable when you count the transfers, meals, equipment, and small-group setup, but check the actual group size and Maya Bay status before paying.

FAQ

How long does the Phi Phi and Bamboo Islands tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 9 hours and 30 minutes, including hotel pickup, the boat journey, island stops, lunch, and return transfer.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

How many people are in the group?

The tour is listed with a maximum of 20 travelers. One booking reported 28 people aboard, so confirm the expected group size if this is important to you.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. The tour includes a life jacket, mask, snorkel, fins, and a new snorkel mouthpiece. Beach towels are also complimentary.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is a buffet at Phi Phi Holiday Resort, with Thai and international dishes. Special dietary requests can be made for vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, gluten-free, and other restrictions.

Are drinks and snacks included?

Yes. Bottled water, coffee or tea, seasonal fruit, snacks, and soft drinks are included. Alcoholic drinks cost extra.

Is Maya Bay always open?

No. Maya Bay is subject to official closures and conservation rules. The supplied information states that it will be closed from August 1, 2025, so check the current status before booking.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time.