Phuket · Boats

Boat days from Phuket

One boat we can book for you, and the island days everybody comes here for.

Our top pick

Hype Luxury Boat Club

This is the one we deal with directly, and the reason we can actually get you on the water rather than pointing you at a booking page.

Our recommendation · full day

Hype Luxury Boat Club

Take it privately or join a group — same boat either way. Privately, the route and the hour are yours, which is how you reach Phi Phi or Phang Nga ahead of the day-trip fleet rather than with it. Joining a group is considerably cheaper and the sensible choice if there are only one or two of you, and we arrange those through our nightlife and events side, One More Night. Crew included on both.

Top pick
Private or join a group
Crew included
You set the route if it’s private

PriceWe’ll quote for your datesdepends on the date, the hours and how many of you there are

The island days

Where the boats actually go

These are the days out that run from Phuket, whoever takes you. You can do most of them on a scheduled ferry for a fraction of the price and your itinerary tells you how — or we put you on Hype and you do them properly.

Photo to come Maya Bay or Pileh Lagoon from the water

A full day

Phi Phi islands

Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and the limestone stacks. The longest crossing and the most photographed water in Thailand, which is exactly why the hour you leave matters more here than anywhere else.

Maya Bay & Pileh Lagoon
Ferries from Rassada Pier
Leave early or share it with everyone

Photo to come Limestone karsts rising out of flat green water

A full day

Phang Nga Bay

Limestone karsts rising straight out of flat green water, sea caves you go into by canoe, and the island the Bond film used. Calmer water than the Phi Phi run and, for a lot of people, the better day.

Karsts & sea caves
Flat water
Canoe into the caves

Photo to come Clear shallow water over reef, Racha or Coral

Half or full day

Coral, Racha & the southern islands

Much closer than Phi Phi and far quieter. The right answer if what you actually want is swimming and snorkelling rather than a long crossing and a famous beach.

Closest islands
Best snorkelling
Half day works

Photo to come The quiet east-coast crossing from Bang Rong

A full day

Koh Yao Noi & Yao Yai

From Bang Rong on the east coast rather than Rassada. Quieter than Phi Phi by a distance, and the closest thing to what Phuket felt like before Phuket.

From Bang Rong
Genuinely quiet
Short crossing

Photo to come Railay’s cliffs from the beach

A full day

Krabi & Railay

Across the bay to the mainland cliffs. Railay has no road in at all, which is why it still feels like it does.

Boat access only
Climbing & caves
Long day out

Photo to come A longtail on open water, nothing specific

We’ll advise

Not sure yet

Tell us who is coming and what sort of day you want and we will tell you which of these actually suits — including if the answer is none of them and you would be happier on a beach.

We pick with you
Conditions checked
No pressure

The Similans are shut to visitors from mid-May to mid-October every year — in season they are a long day and worth it, out of season nobody can take you whatever they sell you. Nothing is booked and nothing is charged until you say so.

Boat questions, answered

The things people email us about most.

Which boat do you book?

Hype Luxury Boat Club. You can take it privately, where the route and the hour are yours, or join a group, which is considerably cheaper and the sensible choice if there are only one or two of you. Crew is included either way.

Do I have to charter a boat to reach the islands?

No, and most people do not. Scheduled ferries run to all of them for a fraction of the price, and your free itinerary tells you which pier and roughly when. Chartering buys you the route and the hour, which mainly matters for reaching Phi Phi ahead of the day-trip fleet.

Which pier do I need?

Rassada for Phi Phi, Krabi and Koh Lanta. Bang Rong on the east coast for Koh Yao. Chalong for most of the southern island trips.

Which island day is best?

Phi Phi is the famous one and the longest crossing. Phang Nga has calmer water, the limestone karsts and the sea caves, and a lot of people prefer it. If what you actually want is snorkelling rather than a long crossing, Coral and Racha are much closer and far quieter.

When are the Similan Islands open?

They are shut to visitors from mid-May to mid-October every year. In season they are a long day and worth it; out of season nobody can take you, whatever they sell you.