.jpg)
Boat trip
and Snorkeling in Koh Phi Phi
To fully enjoy the Koh Phi Phi Marine National Park, scuba diving is the most spectacular activity, and a longtail boat excursion is a must. The program includes visits to Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Bamboo Island, Monkey Beach, and snorkeling.
We invite you to discover the Koh Phi Phi archipelago and its marine life with mask and snorkel:
• On a private longtail boat… for more intimacy, flexibility, and authenticity.
• Half-day or full-day… to visit one, two, or all three of the Koh Phi Phi islands accessible for snorkeling.
Private Longtail boat
with crew
%20(2).jpg)
A tailor-made private tour
You choose:
– Your departure time
– The duration of the tour (3 hours, 4 hours, or 6 hours)
– Your destinations
– The length of each stop
3 hours trip
in longtail boat
Koh Phi Phi Leh
Koh Phi Phi Don
Monkey beach, Maya bay, Pileh lagoon, Viking cave + snorkeling*
2500 THB (for 1 to 4 passengers)
500 THB per additional passenger
6-hour tour
in a longtail boat
Koh Phi Phi Leh
Koh Phi Phi Don
Bamboo island
Monkey beach, Maya bay, Pileh lagoon, Viking cave, Shark point, Relax beach, Bamboo island + snorkeling*
4500 THB (for 1 to 4 passengers)
500 THB per additional passenger
4 hours trip
in longtail boat
Koh Phi Phi Leh
Koh Phi Phi Don
Monkey beach, Maya bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking cave, Wang Long bay or Shark point + snorkeling*
3000 THB (for 1 to 4 passengers)
500 THB per additional passenger
Included: masks and snorkels + water bottles
Not included: National park fee of 400 THB per person
The Koh Phi Phi Marine National Park fee grants access for one day to Maya Bay Beach and Bamboo Island Beach.
* Wind and waves can limit the choice of beaches and snorkeling sites.
However, it is extremely rare for boats to be unable to go out at all... it might happen once or twice a year on average. A full refund is obviously provided if the boat cannot go to sea.
Group Speedboat Snorkeling Tour in Koh Phi Phi
A group speedboat tour between Koh Phi Phi Don and Koh Phi Phi Leh, with several stops for snorkeling, marine life encounters and visits to some of the archipelago’s main attractions.
Itinerary includes:
-
Monkey Beach
-
A snorkeling spot where blacktip reef sharks are regularly seen
-
Viking Cave
-
Pileh Lagoon / Pileh Bay
-
Maya Bay
-
A second snorkeling spot along the karst limestone cliffs
-
Sunset
-
Bioluminescent plankton, when conditions allow
Included in the Tour
-
Speedboat excursion
-
Guide
-
Snorkeling equipment
-
Life jacket
-
Drinks and fruit
-
National park fee
Schedule and Price
Departure: 2:00 PM
Return: 7:30 PM
Duration: approximately 5 hours 30 minutes
from
1,200 THB per person
Koh Phi Phi Dive Sites and Marine Life
Private longtail boat tours and the group speedboat snorkeling tour allow you to explore several sites around Koh Phi Phi Don and Koh Phi Phi Leh.
The number of sites visited, the length of each stop and the itinerary depend on the tour you choose and the sea conditions on the day.
Pileh Lagoon, also known as Pileh Bay, is one of the two main bays of Koh Phi Phi Leh, together with Maya Bay.
Surrounded by towering limestone cliffs, it offers spectacular scenery and turquoise waters. The boat enters the bay so you can enjoy the landscape.
Maya Bay, also on Koh Phi Phi Leh, became famous after being featured in the movie The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
When beach access is permitted, you can leave the boat and walk on the sand, but swimming is not allowed.
Young blacktip reef sharks can sometimes be seen very close to the shore, in just a few centimetres of water.
It is permitted to put your feet in the water up to ankle depth, allowing you to observe the sharks while helping to protect the recovering coral.
From August 1 to September 30, access to Maya Bay beach is closed.
During this period, the tour continues and can include a visit to Loh Moo Dee Beach, a quieter beach.
At Monkey Beach, monkeys can be observed and photographed from the boat.
The boat also passes Viking Cave, located on Koh Phi Phi Leh, before continuing to other sites on the itinerary.
Some snorkeling sites offer the chance to see blacktip reef sharks, provided they are allowed to move freely and are not disturbed. Sightings depend on the location, the conditions on the day and the animals' natural behaviour.
With a little luck, sea turtles may also be spotted.
If you see a turtle coming to the surface to breathe, do not swim towards it and keep a relatively large distance.
A disturbed turtle may head back offshore and then be exposed to the risk of collision with a boat.
Always let the turtle decide the distance: if it wants to approach you, it should be the one to do so.
Sunset and Bioluminescent Plankton
The sunset can be part of both private longtail boat tours and the group speedboat snorkeling tour, depending on the itinerary and departure time.
The group speedboat snorkeling tour continues after sunset and may include, when conditions allow, a swim to observe bioluminescent plankton. The plankton produces small flashes of light when the water is disturbed.
Observing bioluminescent plankton after dark is specific to the group tour and is not offered on private longtail boat tours.
Plankton sightings depend on the conditions on the day and the natural behaviour of the plankton.
The islands
Bamboo Island (Koh Mai Phai):
This island is very different from the rest of the archipelago. It is relatively flat and almost completely surrounded by a beach. Bamboo Island is protected by coral reefs.
These reefs help stabilize the accumulation of sand and provide habitats for a whole ecosystem that can be observed with just a mask and snorkel.
Koh Phi Phi Leh:
This island is home to the stunning Pileh Bay, also known as Pileh Lagoon, as well as one of the most famous bays in the world: Maya Bay.
Maya Bay was made popular by the movie The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Virginie Ledoyen, and Guillaume Canet.
To protect newly restored corals and the population of blacktip reef sharks, swimming from Maya Bay’s beach is prohibited.
However, it is possible to observe marine life with mask and snorkel at the entrance of the bay from a boat.
Snorkeling sites are mainly located:
• On the east coast, between Viking Cave and the northern tip of Koh Phi Phi Leh.
• On the west coast, at Palong Bay, situated in the northern part of Koh Phi Phi Leh’s west coast.
Read our travel FAQ for same-day snorkeling trips.
It is possible to observe a great diversity of marine life while snorkeling in Koh Phi Phi:
-
Butterflyfish, with colorful patterns, often seen in small groups around coral reefs
-
Sergeant majors, curious fish that will come very close to you
-
Anemonefish, including several clownfish species, usually hiding among the tentacles of sea anemones
-
Surgeonfish, recognizable by their slender silhouette
-
Damselfish, some species may try to intimidate you—even bite—if you get too close to their sandy or reef territory… fortunately they only measure a few centimeters
-
Triggerfish, one species is very territorial and can be aggressive at certain dive sites, though not in Koh Phi Phi
-
Parrotfish, grazing algae on coral; unable to digest limestone, their excretions help create white sandy beaches
-
Needlefish, very slender and visible just below the surface
-
Blacktip reef sharks, rarely seen deeper than 5–6 meters
-
And many more…
