It feels like the days of budget travel in Thailand are nearing an end, especially in the The Phi Phi Islands. The Phi Phi’s are easily the most expensive place in Thailand for a number of reasons, including insane rent prices for local business, the cost of importing all goods to the island and the fact that majority of the people on the island are foreign tourists.
But with costs soaring higher and higher in Koh Phi Phi, is it still possible to book a cheap tour of the islands?
The answer is yes, this is the cheapest tour in Koh Phi Phi. For just 600 Thai Baht, around 16 USD, you can book a spot on one of the traditional Longtail Boat Tours and explore the islands for an entire day! And this is the tour I’ll share more about, in this post. If you want to book a place yourself you can do so here: https://phiphiisland.tours.
What To Watch Out For To Save Money
There is one major factor to consider when searching for a cheap tour of the Phi Phi Islands, and that is the National Park admission fees. The true cost to enter the National Park in Koh Phi Phi is 40 Baht, although there is a 1000% cost increase for foreign tourists! (Yes I’m serious, one thousand percent higher). That means you need to pay an additional 400 Baht per person on top of the tour price when you arrive at the National Parks which are located in Maya Bay, and on Bamboo Island.
When looking at tour options in Koh Phi Phi, it’s a good idea to find one with the National Park Fees already included, unless of course, the tour cost is so cheap that it’s worth paying the Admission Fee on top of the tour price.
Is it Better to Start in Phuket or at Phi Phi Don
Another factor to consider when looking for cheap tours of Koh Phi Phi is the starting location, if you’re staying in Phuket or Krabi you’re limiting yourself to only speedboat tours. Whereas if you decided to travel to the Phi Phi Islands by yourself, on the ferry you’ll have many more tour options, and you’ll find prices are considerably lower too. This is because tour operators on the island are able to utilise the traditional Thai Longtail Boats, which are not only more affordable but they hold a charm that the speedboats do not.
A List of The Cheapest Tours in Phi Phi Island
Full Day Longtail Boat Tour From Phi Phi (600 Baht) (Park Fees Not Included)
Early Bird Speedboat Tour From Phi Phi (1,200 Baht) (Includes Park Fees)
Full Day Speedboat Tour From Phi Phi (1,600 Baht) (Includes Park Fees)
Private Longtail Boat Tour From Phi Phi 4 Hours (2,000 Baht) (Park Fees Not Included)
Full Day Speedboat Tour From Phuket (2,500 Baht) (Includes Park Fees)
The Cheapest Tour in Koh Phi Phi
So is the Cheapest Tour in Koh Phi Phi actually worth it? Hell yes! For 600 Bahts there is nothing really to lose. If your goal is to get around all the different islands on a backpackers budget, meet new friends, snorkel, and see Maya Bay, then you can’t go wrong.
Surely there is a catch; mmm, the downside is that there will be a lot of people on the boat, often there can be around 15 people or more in a longtail boat, depending on the size. You also won’t have a tour guide to explain the places to you, although for most people that isn’t really necessary. Other than that, there aren’t really any downsides to choosing the absolute cheapest tour.
In fact, there are actually a lot of benefits of taking the cheaper tour. Lunch is even included too!
You also get a lot of time on the boat, an entire day. These tours usually start around 9-10 am and last right through until after the sunset, and often a night swim too! That’s’ almost 8-9-10 hours on the tour, and that amount of time is plenty to visit all the spots you can think of in Koh Phi Phi, Maya Bay; Monkey Beach, Nui Beach, Bamboo Island, Pilleh Lagoon, Loh Samah Bay, Viking Cave, Wang Long Cove, Shark Point – basically everything.
Can a Private Boat Be Cheaper
You may have noticed one of the cheap tours I listed was actually a private boat charter, so can a private boat actually be considered as a cheap tour in Koh Phi Phi, surprisingly, yes. As I mentioned, the biggest downside to the cheapest shared tour was the number of other people you’d be sharing the boat with. But if you’re travelling in a group of 3 or more people, and splitting the costs, then it actually works out cheaper to charter a private longtail boat yourself! Here is where you can go to check the latest prices of chartering Thai Longtail Boats in the Phi Phi Islands. Of course, the duration will be a little shorter (4 Hours as opposed to 8 hours) but you’ll have full flexibility over the tour.
Where To Book
Where should you book Phi Phi Island Tours, and when, to get the lowest price? There is often debate between whether it’s cheaper to book tours online or in person, but as the years have gone on it has become increasingly clearer that the best prices, and the best service, is found online. Nowadays those selling tickets and services in person are often chancing their luck trying to get the highest price- because they will likely only make a few sales per day and need to maximize profits on each sale. Plus the haggling can often become frustrating and often leads to people being dissatisfied with their tours. However if you book online, you know what to expect and the captain/operator knows what to expect- when both parties have agreed on the same cost and details, things tend to run smoother with no tension. Phi Phi Island Tours also have a low-cost guarantee so you know you’re getting the lowest price.
Another thing to consider is when to book a tour, and really this comes down to the season. If you’re visiting the Phi Phi Islands during the rainy season, it’s often ok to book things a day in advance. There is less demand for services and more availability, plus it can be nice to get a sense of how the weather is going to be before you book. However if you’re planning to visit the Phi Phi Islands during the peak season, that’s totally different, tours will be full at 100% capacity, captains will have pre-bookings and it becomes near impossible to book anything a day before. If you’re travelling in the peak season, and you want to guarantee a decent tour, it’s best to make a reservation as far in advance as possible, often 3-5 days before is recommended.
Conclusion
So there you have it. There are still cheap and affordable tours to be booked in Koh Phi Phi. If you want to save yourself money, book a tour online , at least a few days ahead of time. Try to book a tour which starts on Koh Phi Phi rather that one which starts in Phuket, try to find a tour which includes National Park fees if possible, consider the type of boat you’ll be travelling on, and don’t rule out chartering a Private Longtail Boat- these tours might be more affordable than you thought. Have you booked a budget tour of Koh Phi Phi? Leave a comment and share your experience!
