Phuket Piers: Which Pier Your Island Tour Leaves From
By the PhuketGO tour desk on Phuket — we book and run these trips every week · Updated 12 October 2026
Almost every sea day from Phuket starts on the east coast, where the water is calm and the bays are sheltered — the west coast with its open swell has no tour piers. Knowing which pier is yours saves up to an hour of driving on an early morning.
Tours and prices in Thai baht
| Tour | Duration | Adult | Child 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai island by speedboat | One day | 2,000 ฿ | 1,800 ฿ |
| Racha and Coral islands by speedboat | Eight to nine hours | 1,400 ฿ | 1,300 ฿ |
| Sea fishing from sunrise | One day, 05:30–15:00 | 2,500 ฿ | 2,200 ฿ |
| Coral island from Rawai pier | Half a day, 08:30–14:00 | 1,400 ฿ | 1,300 ฿ |
| Eleven islands in one day: Phang Nga, Hong and Phi Phi | One day, twelve hours or more | 4,200 ฿ | 3,800 ฿ |
| Jet ski tour: nine islands in four hours | Four hours, 09:00–12:45 | 7,900 ฿ | 7,900 ฿ |
Prices come straight from our booking system. Children under four join free on most trips — each tour page says so.
Which piers matter for island tours?
Chalong, in the south, is the busiest for day trips: boats to Racha, Coral island, Phi Phi and the dive boats all start here. Our Phi Phi and Khai island day, the Racha and Coral speedboat and the sunrise fishing boat all leave from Chalong. Our own dive day leaves Chalong at 08:30; see beginner scuba diving day trip. Whether that early fishing boat is worth the alarm is on is the sunrise fishing trip from Phuket worth it.
Rassada, next to Phuket Town, is the main passenger hub, with the regular ferries to the southern islands. Ao Po, in the north-east, faces the bay and is closest to the limestone cliffs — morning trips in that direction start there. Bang Rong, further north, serves small islands in the bay and local boats; quieter, simpler, much less touristy.
Then the marinas. Royal Phuket Marina is where the eleven-islands day and Five pearls have breakfast before boarding. The jet ski tour starts from AA Marina pier at 09:00. There is no hotel transfer on that one; the meeting point and what beginners need are on can beginners do the jet ski island tour.
What about Rawai and the piers off the island?
Rawai, at the southern tip, is the pier for short hops. Coral island from Rawai meets there at 08:30 and is back by 14:00; more on that in our Rawai pier guide. Its snorkel stop is Hin Dam bay, compared with Racha Yai on Racha or Coral for snorkelling. The early Racha and Coral trip, with fishing and a beach lunch, is weighed up on is the Racha Yai and Coral island sunrise tour worth it.
Two trips leave from the mainland. The classic Similan day boards at Tablamu pier, about an hour and a half north by road. The classic James Bond island day uses a pier in Phang Nga after a similar drive. In both cases the bus takes you there — you never need to find those piers yourself. The Similan boats run from mid-October to mid-May; see are the Similan Islands open. One of the two Phang Nga days barely uses a boat; Samet Nangshe or James Bond island explains which, and what you get instead.
How far is each pier from my hotel?
From the south — Rawai, Nai Harn, Kata — Chalong is close and the northern piers are far. From Patong, Karon and Bang Tao you cross the hills whichever pier it is; the west coast is cut off from the east by a ridge. From the north — Mai Khao, Nai Yang, around the airport — Ao Po and Bang Rong are nearest, and Chalong is a drive across the whole island. Wherever you stay, hotel pickup is included on our Phi Phi speedboat days; how to book a Phi Phi speedboat tour lists the times.
The difference between a good and a bad match can be an hour each way. On a 5 am pickup, that is an hour of sleep. Our Chalong pier guide has the drive times from each area.
Which pier does each of your trips use?
Chalong: Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai island (boat 09:15), Racha and Coral by speedboat (09:00) and sea fishing from sunrise (07:00). Rawai: Coral island, meeting at 08:30. Royal Phuket Marina: breakfast and boarding for the eleven-islands day and for Five pearls. AA Marina: the jet ski tour at 09:00, with no transfer included. Whether that Chalong day is worth it is on is the Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai speedboat worth it. Every trip of ours that never goes out on the open sea is listed on land tours from Phuket.
Off the island: Tablamu pier for the classic Similan boat (07:30, after about an hour and a half by road) and a pier in Phang Nga for the James Bond island longtail (boarding from 09:30). On every trip except the jet ski, the minivan knows the way — you only need the name if you are getting there yourself. Whether that longtail beats the eleven-islands boat from Royal Phuket Marina, we cover in speedboat or longtail to James Bond island. Three of our trips reach Racha Yai, and Racha and Coral islands: speedboat or catamaran compares them stop by stop. For the Similan boats there's a separate guide to Tab Lamu pier near Khao Lak.
What happens at the pier?
At the big piers there is shade, water, toilets and kiosks; at the small ones, shade and not much else. You register at your operator's desk, get a wristband or a tick on the list, and wait for boarding. Most boats ask you to take off your shoes to board, so flip-flops beat trainers. Tablamu is the odd one out, a long drive from Phuket but close to Khao Lak; Similan Islands from Phuket or Khao Lak explains what that means for pickup.
Parking at the popular piers fills up fast, and the shaded spots go first. On one of our tours you skip all of it: the minivan collects you at the hotel and drops you exactly where your boat is waiting. Some Phi Phi boats on their way back to the pier stop at Rang Yai island; which trips do, and when, is on its page.
One practical tip from our side: when a friend recommends 'the pier', ask which one. Chalong and Rawai are ten minutes apart; Chalong and Ao Po are the width of the island apart. The Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai speedboat leaves Chalong at 09:15: the Khai islands from Phuket.
If your trip includes the transfer — and all our island trips except the jet ski do — you will never need to find any of these piers on your own. The driver knows which desk, which boat and which time. Your confirmation names the pier and the meeting time; how that confirmation reaches you is on how booking works. AA Marina is where the jet ski tour meets at 09:00, with no hotel transfer; is the jet ski island tour worth it explains what the price covers.
The tours on this page
Questions people ask
Which pier do Phi Phi tours leave from?
Many day tours leave from Chalong in the south; regular ferries use Rassada near Phuket Town. Our Phi Phi and Khai island day leaves from Chalong.
Why are there no tour piers on the west coast?
The west coast faces open sea and swell. Tour boats start from the sheltered east coast, so west-coast hotels drive across the island.
Where is Royal Phuket Marina used?
On our eleven-islands day and on Five pearls, which have breakfast at the marina before boarding.
Which pier is closest to Kata or Rawai?
Chalong and Rawai. From Rawai and Nai Harn the drive to either is short; the northern piers are far.
Do tours include the transfer to the pier?
Yes, on every island tour we sell except the jet ski tour, which meets at AA Marina pier.
Should I wear shoes to the pier?
Flip-flops. Most boats ask you to take shoes off to board, and sandals are easier than trainers.
Can I arrange my own transport and meet the group at the departure pier?
Ask when you book. Piers differ by tour and even by programme, so the pier and the meeting time come in your confirmation. As a guide, Similan boats gather around 5 to 6 am, early Phi Phi trips around 5 to 7, regular ones around 8 to 9.
Tell us your dates
Send the trip you like, your dates and your hotel. We confirm the pickup time and how the sea looks for that day. Payment is agreed in the chat after the booking is confirmed: by card, bank transfer or USDT.