Phi Phi Islands Exclusive Tour by Speedboat from Koh Yao Yai

The best part of this trip is its small-group speedboat format. From Koh Yao Yai, you reach the famous Phi Phi sights while still getting time for quieter stops, including Koh Bida Nok, Wang Long Bay, and Ao Nui. At Koh Bida Nok, the crew points out coral, fish, and the chance of seeing black tip reef sharks.

I like the included snorkeling gear and lunchbox, since you do not need to arrange the basics yourself. I also like the personal feel of a group capped at 14 people, with Igor praised for creating a friendly atmosphere and serving good food on board. The main consideration is the extra cost: hotel transfers and the national park fee are not included, and rough weather can change the plan.

Key points to know before you book

• Black tip reef shark possibility: Koh Bida Nok is the main snorkeling stop, with the chance to spot these small reef sharks.
• Maya Bay without a full resort-style tour: You get time for photos and an optional walk on the beach made famous by The Beach.
• Maximum group size of 14: This is a more personal setup than a large excursion boat.
• Lunch with a view: Your meal is served on board, with Pileh Bay’s emerald water around you.
• Six hours of concentrated sightseeing: The 9 am departure covers several Phi Phi highlights in one outing.
• Extra fees matter: Add 100 to 400 THB per person for pickup, plus 400 THB for each adult national park admission and 200 THB for children ages 3 to 12.

Why this Phi Phi trip works well from Koh Yao Yai

Phi Phi is known for dramatic cliffs, bright water, narrow coves, and beaches that look almost too neat to be real. A speedboat lets you see a lot in a short time, which is useful if your base is Koh Yao Yai and you do not want to spend a full day arranging separate boats, food, and snorkeling equipment.

This is advertised as an approximately six-hour outing, beginning at 9 am and ending back at the Elixir Divers meeting point. That shorter schedule gives the day a brisk pace. You will not linger for hours at one beach, but you can reach several of the islands’ signature locations before returning to Koh Yao Yai.

The group size is one of the strongest practical features. With a maximum of 14 people, boarding and getting instructions should be easier than on a large shared boat. It also gives the guide more room to help with snorkeling gear, point out marine life, and adjust the timing when conditions change.

Elixir Divers runs the trip from its Koh Yao Yai base at 2/3 Moo 3, Phru Nai. Hotel pickup is available for an additional 100 to 400 THB per person, but it is not included in the advertised price of $113.74 per person. Check the pickup charge before booking, especially if you are staying far from the meeting point.

Maya Bay: famous scenery and a short beach stop

Maya Bay is the natural opening act. Its steep cliffs and pale sand made it famous as the setting for The Beach, and it remains one of the most photographed corners of the Phi Phi area.

The stop is designed for photos and an optional walk on the beach. That wording matters. You should not assume you will have a long, quiet beach session here. Maya Bay is a major attraction, so the value comes from seeing the setting and taking in the cliffs, not from expecting an untouched beach.

Bring a phone or camera with a secure case if you want photos from the water. You may also want footwear that is easy to remove if the group goes ashore. The supplied details do not promise beach towels, so pack your own if you want to dry off between stops.

Koh Bida Nok brings the best snorkeling potential

Koh Bida Nok is the most appealing stop for anyone booking this trip mainly for marine life. The tour supplies snorkeling equipment, and the area is highlighted for coral, fish, and the chance to see black tip reef sharks.

The shark sighting is a possibility, not a guarantee. Still, Koh Bida Nok gives the outing a clearer purpose than a simple sightseeing cruise. You get into the water, look along the reef, and spend time watching what is below the surface rather than only taking photos from the boat.

The phrase only with us appears in the tour details, but you should treat that as promotional language rather than a promise of exclusive shark access. The useful fact is that black tip reef sharks may be seen at Koh Bida Nok, while conditions and wildlife sightings can never be fully controlled.

Snorkeling gear is included, which improves the value of the $113.74 price. You will not need to rent a mask and snorkel separately for this trip. The activity information says most people can participate, but children must be accompanied by an adult. If you are not comfortable in open water, tell the guide before entering.

Viking Cave gives you a cliffside view

Viking Cave is visited by boat, with the possibility of a snorkeling stop. This part of the route is more about unusual rock scenery and the view from the water than about walking through a cave.

The name can create the wrong expectation. The supplied details do not say that you enter the cave, so plan on cruising past it or stopping nearby. That is still worthwhile if you enjoy Phi Phi’s tall limestone walls and water-level views, but it is not a cave tour in the usual sense.

The flexible itinerary is useful here. If snorkeling conditions are better at another location, the crew may adjust the timing. You should think of the published stops as the day’s main targets, not a guarantee that every stop will receive the same amount of time.

Pileh Bay is the best lunch setting

Pileh Bay is where the day shifts from sightseeing to scenery. The bay is known for emerald-colored water surrounded by high cliffs, and the plan includes a swim and a cruise through the bay.

Lunch is served on board, rather than requiring you to leave the route for a restaurant. That saves time and lets you eat while looking across the water. Beverages are also included. One especially positive detail is the food itself: the meal was praised as delicious, and the small group atmosphere made lunch feel like part of the experience rather than a rushed break.

You should keep your expectations practical. This is a lunchbox on a speedboat, not a restaurant meal with a wide menu. Its value is convenience and the setting. If you have dietary needs, confirm them with Elixir Divers before booking because the supplied information does not list menu choices.

Pileh Bay is also a good reason to bring a dry bag or waterproof pouch. You may be switching between swimming, sitting on the boat, and handling a phone for photos. The operator supplies a restroom on board, another useful feature on a six-hour trip.

Wang Long Bay and Monkey Beach add variety

Wang Long Bay is a narrow, scenic inlet with cliffside monkeys. The appeal is the combination of tight rock walls, calm-looking water, and wildlife near the shore. It gives you a different view of Phi Phi than the open beach scenery at Maya Bay.

Monkeys are wild animals, so keep food and loose belongings secure. The supplied details do not promise a landing at Wang Long Bay, and the route may focus on cruising through the narrow bay or viewing the animals from the boat. That can be preferable, since it lets you observe without crowding the shore.

Monkey Beach brings another chance to see wild monkeys, along with soft white sand. It is a classic short-stop location, but wildlife is unpredictable. Do not treat the monkeys as tame or reach toward them for a photo. The beach is likely to be more useful for a quick look and pictures than for a long period of quiet relaxation.

The inclusion of these two bays makes the trip more than a Maya Bay transfer. You see narrow coves, cliffs, beaches, and marine life in one compact route. The tradeoff is time. Six hours is enough for variety, but not enough to explore every location slowly.

Ao Nui and the flexible route

Ao Nui is listed among the trip’s highlights as a place for snorkeling and time on a tiny beach. The formal stop sequence names Maya Bay, Koh Bida Nok, Viking Cave, Pileh Bay, Wang Long Bay, and Monkey Beach, while Ao Nui appears in the broader highlights.

That difference suggests Ao Nui may depend on the day’s conditions and timing. Ask the crew at the start whether it is planned for your departure. If you want a small beach and a less structured pause, Ao Nui could be one of the nicest additions. If it is not possible, the core Phi Phi route still includes several swimming and beach stops.

This flexible approach is sensible in the Andaman Sea. Weather, sea conditions, crowd levels, and snorkeling visibility can affect which location works best. A fixed checklist sounds reassuring, but a good boat crew needs room to make practical changes.

What the $113.74 price really includes

At $113.74 per person, the trip is not the cheapest way to see Phi Phi, but the price covers several items that can add up separately. You receive speedboat transport during the excursion, snorkeling equipment, lunch, beverages, and access to a restroom on board.

The small group also affects the value. A maximum of 14 people means you are paying for a more personal outing, not just a seat on a large boat. That matters if you want easier communication with the guide or dislike waiting for a big group to board and move between stops.

Budget for the following extras:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off: 100 to 400 THB per person
• National park fee: 400 THB per adult
• National park fee: 200 THB per child ages 3 to 12
• Beach towels: not included

The national park fee must be paid in cash. Bring enough Thai baht for that charge and any pickup payment. Since towels are excluded, take your own rather than assuming one will be provided.

The best value comes if you want a single organized day with snorkeling, lunch, and the main Phi Phi sights. It is less compelling if your priority is spending a long time on one beach, avoiding all extra fees, or traveling at a slow pace.

Who should book this speedboat outing

I would recommend it to you if you are staying on Koh Yao Yai and want to see Phi Phi without organizing several separate pieces. It suits people who like a full route, enjoy snorkeling, and are happy to move between locations during a six-hour window.

It also works well for small parties who value personal service. The group limit of 14 is low enough to keep the boat from feeling like a mass outing, while still giving you the social energy of a shared trip. Igor is specifically praised for his guiding and for helping create a friendly atmosphere, though the guide for every departure is not guaranteed to be him.

Families can book, since most people can participate and children are allowed when accompanied by an adult. Still, this is a water-based day with several boat and swimming stops. Parents should be comfortable supervising children closely, and anyone with limited swimming confidence should discuss it with the operator in advance.

You should think twice if you dislike speedboats, need a long beach break, or want a guaranteed wildlife encounter. Black tip reef sharks and monkeys are possible sights, not scheduled performances. The weather policy also matters: poor conditions can lead to a different date or a full refund.

Timing, cancellation, and practical preparation

The meeting point is Elixir Divers and Speedboat Tours Operator in Phru Nai, Koh Yao Yai. The tour begins at 9 am and returns to that same meeting point. Confirmation is provided when you book, and the activity requires at least six passengers to operate.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather cancels the outing, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. The same choice applies if the minimum number of passengers is not reached.

Pack a swimsuit, sun protection, cash for the park fee, and a beach towel. A waterproof pouch is sensible for your phone. Since lunch and beverages are included, you do not need to plan a separate meal, though the supplied details do not specify the full menu.

I would also confirm the pickup arrangement before the day of departure. The meeting point is clear, but hotel transport costs extra and the charge varies from 100 to 400 THB per person.

Should you book the Phi Phi Islands Exclusive Tour?

Book this tour if you want a compact, well-filled Phi Phi day from Koh Yao Yai, especially if snorkeling and the chance to see black tip reef sharks matter to you. The small group, included gear, onboard lunch, and restroom make the $113.74 fare easier to justify.

Skip it if you want a quiet, slow beach day or dislike paying separate park and pickup fees. The route is active and varied, with several stops packed into about six hours. For the right kind of day, that is the point: you get Maya Bay, Pileh Bay, snorkeling, wildlife, and dramatic cliffs without having to arrange the details yourself.

FAQ

Where does the Phi Phi Islands tour start?

The tour starts at Elixir Divers and Speedboat Tours Operator, 2/3 Moo 3, Phru Nai, Ko Yao District, Phang Nga 82160, Thailand.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 9 am.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately six hours and returns to the original meeting point.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are available for an additional 100 to 400 THB per person.

Is the national park fee included?

No. The fee is 400 THB for each adult and 200 THB for each child ages 3 to 12. Payment must be made in cash.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with lunch, beverages, and use of a restroom on board.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can select a different date or receive a full refund. If the minimum number of passengers is not reached, you receive the same options.