How To Get To Koh Phi Phi

If you are planning to visit the stunning Koh Phi Phi islands from Bangkok Krabi and Phuket, you might be wondering how to get there in the most convenient and cost-effective way. In this blog post, we will explore the different options available to you, depending on your budget, time and preferences.

The Koh Phi Phi islands are located in the Andaman Sea, about 50 km south of Krabi province and 40 km east of Phuket island. They are part of the Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, which covers an area of 390 square kilometers and includes several other islands and marine habitats. The most famous and popular island is Koh Phi Phi Don, where most of the accommodation, restaurants and nightlife are located. The other main island is Koh Phi Phi Leh, which is uninhabited but offers stunning scenery and beaches, such as Maya Bay, where the movie The Beach was filmed.

There are three main ways to get to Koh Phi Phi from Bangkok: by plane, by bus or by train. Each option has its pros and cons, so let’s take a look at them in detail.

How to get to Koh Phi Phi By plane

The fastest and most comfortable way to get to Koh Phi Phi from Bangkok is by taking a flight to either Krabi or Phuket, and then taking a ferry to the island. There are several airlines that operate daily flights from Bangkok’s two airports: Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK). The flight time is about 1.5 hours to Krabi and 1 hour and 20 minutes to Phuket.

The cheapest flights are usually offered by low-cost carriers such as AirAsia, Nok Air and Thai Lion Air, which fly from Don Mueang airport. You can find one-way tickets for as low as ฿800 (about $24) if you book in advance and during low season. However, be aware that these airlines often charge extra fees for luggage, seat selection and other services.

The more expensive flights are operated by full-service airlines such as Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways and Thai Smile, which fly from Suvarnabhumi airport. These flights include checked baggage, meals and drinks, and sometimes lounge access. You can expect to pay around ฿2000-฿4000 (about $60-$120) for a one-way ticket.

Once you arrive at Krabi or Phuket airport, you will need to take a taxi or a shuttle bus to the pier where the ferries depart. The taxi fare is around ฿600-฿800 (about $18-$24) from Krabi airport to Klong Jilad pier, and around ฿700-฿1000 (about $21-$30) from Phuket airport to Rassada pier or Ao Po pier. The shuttle bus is cheaper but less frequent and convenient. It costs around ฿150-฿200 (about $4-$6) from Krabi airport to Krabi town, where you can catch another bus to the pier for ฿50-฿100 (about $1-$3). It costs around ฿200-฿300 (about $6-$9) from Phuket airport to Phuket town, where you can catch another bus to the pier for ฿30-฿50 (about $1-$1.5).

The ferry ride from Krabi or Phuket to Koh Phi Phi takes about 2 hours and costs around ฿400-฿600 (about $12-$18) per person. There are several ferry companies that operate daily trips between 8 am and 3 pm. You can buy your tickets online or at the pier. Some of the most popular ferry companies are Andaman Wave Master, Chaokoh Ferry and Phi Phi Cruiser.

The ferry will drop you off at Tonsai pier on Koh Phi Phi Don, where you can find many hotels, hostels and guesthouses within walking distance or a short longtail boat ride away.

How to get to Koh Phi Phi By bus

The second option to get to Koh Phi Phi from Bangkok is by taking a bus to Krabi or Phuket, and then taking a ferry to the island. This option is the cheapest but also the most uncomfortable and time-consuming.

There are several buses that depart daily from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) to Krabi Bus Terminal or Phuket Bus Terminal. The bus journey takes about 10-12 hours depending on the traffic and the type of bus. The cheapest buses are the standard ones, which cost around ฿500-฿600 (about $15-$18) for a seat with air-conditioning. The most expensive buses are the VIP ones, which cost around ฿900-฿1000 (about $27-$30) for a reclining seat with air-conditioning, snacks and drinks. The express buses are somewhere in between, costing around ฿700-฿800 (about $21-$24) for a seat with air-conditioning.

You can book your bus tickets online or at the terminal. It is advisable to book in advance, especially during high season and holidays, as the buses can get fully booked. Some of the most popular bus companies are Lignite Tour, Transport Co and Sombat Tour.

Once you arrive at Krabi Bus Terminal or Phuket Bus Terminal, you will need to take a taxi or a local bus to the pier where the ferries depart. The taxi fare is around ฿200-฿300 (about $6-$9) from Krabi Bus Terminal to Klong Jilad pier, and around ฿300-฿400 (about $9-$12) from Phuket Bus Terminal to Rassada pier or Ao Po pier. The local bus is cheaper but less frequent and convenient. It costs around ฿50-฿100 (about $1-$3) from Krabi Bus Terminal to Krabi town, where you can catch another bus to the pier for ฿50-฿100 (about $1-$3). It costs around ฿100-฿150 (about $3-$4.5) from Phuket Bus Terminal to Phuket town, where you can catch another bus to the pier for ฿30-฿50 (about $1-$1.5).

The ferry will drop you off at Tonsai pier on Koh Phi Phi Don, where you can find many hotels, hostels and guesthouses within walking distance or a short longtail boat ride away.

How to get to Koh Phi Phi By train

The third option to get to Koh Phi Phi from Bangkok is by taking a train to Surat Thani, and then taking a bus and a ferry to the island. This option is cheaper than flying but takes much longer and involves more transfers.

There are several trains that depart daily from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong railway station to Surat Thani railway station. The train journey takes about 9-12 hours depending on the type of train and the time of departure. The cheapest trains are the third-class ones, which cost around ฿300-฿400 (about $9-$12) for a seat without air-conditioning. The most expensive trains are the first-class ones, which cost around ฿1500-฿2000 (about $45-$60) for a sleeper with air-conditioning. The second-class trains are somewhere in between, costing around ฿600-฿1000 (about $18-$30) for a seat or a sleeper with air-conditioning.

You can book your train tickets online or at the station. It is advisable to book in advance, especially during high season and holidays, as the trains can get fully booked. Some of the most popular trains are the #85 and #43, which depart from Bangkok at 7:30 pm and 5:10 pm respectively and arrive in Surat Thani at 7:06 am and 10:22 am respectively.

Once you arrive at Surat Thani railway station, you will need to take a bus and a ferry to Koh Phi Phi. There are several companies that offer combined tickets for the bus and the ferry, such as Lomprayah, Phantip and Seatran. You can buy your tickets online or at the station. The bus ride takes about 2 hours and the ferry ride takes about 3 hours. The combined ticket costs around ฿600-฿800 (about $18-$24) per person.

The bus will take you to either Donsak pier or Tapee pier, where you will board the ferry to Koh Phi Phi. (The ferry will stop at Koh Samui and Koh Phangan along the way, so you can also visit these islands if you wish). The ferry will drop you off at Tonsai pier on Koh Phi Phi Don, where you can find your accommodation.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many ways to get to Koh Phi Phi from Bangkok, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The best option for you depends on your budget, time and preferences. Here is a summary of the main factors to consider