Sunrise or Sunset Tour from Phuket: Which to Choose

What does the early start actually buy?

Empty places. On Phi Phi at sunrise you are in Maya Bay from seven to eight, before the day boats. On Racha at sunrise you land at 06:40 on a beach that is still yours. The early Similan boat reaches Miang island at eight, ahead of the main groups. And on the skywalk trip you watch the sun come up from a glass bridge over Phang Nga Bay. Whether that early Similan start is worth the extra cost is on is the early bird Similan tour worth the extra cost. On the Racha sunrise trip the early start buys almost four hours on Racha Yai from 06:40; Racha or Coral island for snorkelling compares it with the later trips.

The price is the alarm: pickups from 03:45 to 05:00, and a cold boat before the sun is up. Bring a warm layer.

And the sunset trips?

A full day with the best light at the end. The Phi Phi catamaran spends the day on Racha Yai, Phi Phi Don and Maya Bay (after four, when the crowds have gone), then stops on the water by Maiton island from 17:45 to 19:00. Krabi tropical paradise starts at 09:00 and ends on a sandbar at 17:50. The Avatar world day finishes in hot springs on Natai beach. If the hot springs at Natai are tempting, is the Avatar world tour worth it says who the long day suits and who it doesn't.

No dark start on any of them. You come back to the pier after dark instead, and the drive to the hotel adds to it.

Which is better for photos?

Both, differently. Sunrise gives empty beaches and soft, clean light over the sea. Sunset gives colour — and from a boat the horizon is open all the way round. It gets dark fast here, with only about forty minutes from first colour to night, so a late group can lose the sunset.

Clouds decide both. A grey evening is just a grey evening; a grey dawn still gives you the empty bay.

Which suits families?

Sunset, usually — or rather, the no-early-start trips. Krabi tropical paradise with its 09:00 pier call and calm water between islands is the gentle one. The early Similan boat is not recommended for children under four, and a four-in-the-morning pickup is hard on small children in general.

With teenagers, the sunrise trips are worth a look: the dark boat, the first light, Maya Bay nearly to yourselves. For Racha Yai, the sunrise speedboat and the two daytime boats are compared on Racha and Coral islands: speedboat or catamaran.

How early is early, trip by trip?

Earliest of all is the skywalk: the van comes at 03:45, you are on the glass bridge for sunrise around 06:15, and — the nice part — back at the hotel by about one. Phi Phi at sunrise collects between four and half past four; you walk into Maya Bay at seven and are back on the pier at 15:30. Racha at sunrise is half an hour later, lands at 06:40 and also returns at 15:30. That bridge is Beyond Skywalk; how it differs from Samet Nangshe is on Samet Nangshe or Beyond Skywalk. The Cheow Lan day's 06:00 start for Samet Nangshe is compared with the later trips on Samet Nangshe at sunrise or in the afternoon. For what the Cheow Lan lake day gives you and what it costs in driving time, see is the Cheow Lan lake day trip from Phuket worth it.

The early Similan boat (pickup 04:00–05:00) reaches Miang island at eight and ends with dinner at the pier. The fishing boat is almost civilised by comparison: pickup from 05:30, away at seven, back at three. Breakfast is sorted on all of them — boxes, a buffet at the top of the skywalk, or on board. Whether the fishing day is worth that pickup is on is the sunrise fishing trip worth it.

And how late is late?

Not that late, really. The catamaran is back on Phuket at seven in the evening (ice cream on the pier, a nice touch). Krabi tropical paradise docks at half past six. The Avatar world day leaves the hot springs at Natai at seven. Then the drive to your hotel — so dinner reservations at eight are optimistic. If you can't decide between an elephant ride on the safari and the hot springs on the Avatar day, read Khao Lak safari or Avatar world.

What does each cost?

The table below shows current prices, straight from our booking system. As a rough guide, the sunrise trips to Racha and Phi Phi sit close to their daytime versions, the catamaran costs more than the classic Phi Phi speedboat, and Krabi tropical paradise sits in the middle. Whether the catamaran's extra cost pays off is the subject of is the Phi Phi and Racha Yai catamaran worth it. For Maya Bay specifically, Maya Bay at sunrise or after 4 pm puts the two side by side.

Children aged 4 to 9 pay the child price on all of them; under fours travel free on the catamaran.

Can I do both in one holiday?

Yes, and it is a nice pair: a sunrise trip early in the stay while you are still jet-lagged and awake at four anyway, a sunset trip later. See sunrise tours and sunset boat trips for all the options, and send your dates in the chat. Whether the 04:30 pickup for Racha Yai and Coral island is worth it is answered on is the Racha and Coral sunrise tour worth it.

Ask in the chat if you cannot decide; tell us who is coming and how early you can face. Booking the sunset catamaran is set out on how to book the Phi Phi and Racha Yai catamaran. Two other early starts with a rod in your hand: sunrise fishing or the Phi Phi, Bamboo and fishing day. Prone to seasickness? The early trips are ranked from calmest to roughest on sunrise tours and seasickness.

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