Is the Phi Phi Sunrise Tour from Phuket Worth It?

What does the early start actually buy?

The bay, mostly. On the Phi Phi sunrise tour the pickup is between 04:00 and 04:30, breakfast boxes are handed out at the pier at 05:25 and the boat leaves at 05:50. The sun comes up at about 06:15 while you're in open water, and from 07:00 to 08:00 you're at Maya Bay with a handful of people on the sand instead of several hundred.

After that the day is the full archipelago at a calmer pace than usual: Bida Nai and Bida Nok from the boat, a swim in Pileh Lagoon, the Viking Cave, a snorkelling stop, Monkey Beach, then Phi Phi Don with the viewpoint climb (optional), lunch and beach time. Bamboo island in the early afternoon, and you're back at the pier around 15:30.

How does it compare with the standard Phi Phi day?

The Phi Phi and Khai islands speedboat is the classic day: pickup from 07:30, Khai island first for the easiest snorkelling there's, Phi Phi Don at lunch, Phi Phi Leh and Maya Bay in the afternoon, back around 16:15. It costs less, and the national park fee on it's paid separately in cash on the day (on the sunrise trip the park fees are in the price).

The difference is the crowd. At three in the afternoon Maya Bay is busy; at seven in the morning it isn't. Swimming at Maya follows park rules on both, and access can change through the year.

• →Photographs of an empty Maya Bay: sunrise
• →The easiest first snorkel (Khai island): the standard day
• →A later alarm and a smaller bill: the standard day

Who should pick something else?

The sunrise speedboat isn't recommended during pregnancy or with back problems, because the ride is bumpy. Children are fine on it more often than parents expect (they usually sleep through the transfer and the first leg), but the early start is hard on everyone else. Bring a hoodie: it's cold in open water before sunrise, and by eight you'll have forgotten.

If the boat matters more than the hour, look at the Phi Phi and Racha Yai catamaran. It does the reverse trick: Racha Yai early, Maya Bay late in the afternoon after the day boats have left, then a sunset stop on the water at Maiton. A two-deck catamaran with a slide and SUP boards, and a longer day.

Is it good value?

For what is included, we think so: hotel transfer both ways, breakfast boxes, lunch on Phi Phi Don, drinks, park fees, snorkelling gear, insurance and an English-speaking guide. The current price sits in the table on this page. If you're going to Phi Phi once in your life, the extra over the standard day is the cheapest way to see the bay the way it looks in photographs.

Want to spend a night there instead? Our day trip or overnight page compares that option.

What should I bring for a 4 am start?

Get everything ready the night before, honestly. Swimwear on under your clothes, a hoodie or light jacket for the dark part of the crossing, sunscreen, a towel and a dry change for the ride home. Breakfast boxes (sandwiches, fruit, juice) are handed out at the pier and there's tea and coffee on the boat, so you don't need to eat at the hotel.

The viewpoint climb on Phi Phi Don is optional; if you skip it there's the village, souvenirs and the beach. Snorkelling gear and life jackets are on board.

Children aged 4 to 9 pay the child price on the sunrise trip, from ten it's the adult price, and under-fours travel free without a seat or meals. The table on this page shows what that comes to today.

How do I book it?

Send the date, your hotel and everyone's ages in the chat. The manager confirms the pickup time (four to half past, depending on your area) and the total, and payment by card online is agreed in the chat after the booking is confirmed. If boats make you queasy, read which sunrise tour is gentlest if you get seasick first: of our three early trips, this one has the most open sea.

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