Koh Lanta to Koh Phi Phi

About the ride from Koh Lanta to Koh Phi Phi 

If you've enjoyed life on the Andaman island of Koh Lanta but don't fancy heading back to the mainland just yet, why not jump on board a ferry to Koh Phi Phi? This is what traveling in southern Thailand is all about: island hopping as you search for that elusive white sand beach that is still yet to be discovered. To be fair, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta are both fairly well known destinations.

Phi Phi is much smaller, however, and so provides a much more quintessential Thai island experience. One of the best things to do on Koh Phi Phi is to take a traditional long-boat ride out to sea and around the island. Stopping off for picnics on deserted stretches of coast or just swimming and snorkeling, offshore, are both great options if you've got time to spare.

The ferry ride from Koh Lanta to Koh Phi Phi is really straightforward and takes under an hour. As the distance between the islands is just 32 kilometers (19 miles) the crossing is almost instant but you'll still have time to sunbathe if there's room on the top deck. Down below you'll find seating with open sides or air conditioning and maybe a small washroom on board. There are plenty of departures throughout the day (about 10 in total) but be aware that some ferry services don't run from May to September as it's the monsoon season in southwest Thailand.

Once you arrive on Koh Phi Phi it's a good idea to have somewhere to head to as soon as you step foot on Ao Tonsai Pier. Some hotels and scuba diving schools will send a representative to meet you at the jetty. Alternatively, you can just set off on foot and look for a place to stay if you don't mind carrying your bags about as you look for a bargain. It's up to you to decide which sort of traveling experience is going to suit you the best. Sometimes fortune favors the brave and on other occasions being prepared alleviates a lot of unnecessary stress.

 

What to see when traveling from Koh Lanta to Koh Phi Phi

The ferry journey from Koh Lanta to Koh Phi Phi can be over as soon as it's begun. The distance between the islands is just 32 kilometers (19 miles) so you'll have just enough time to sunbathe for a bit if there's an open top deck or relax in the fully seated lower deck.

Whilst on board you should keep your eyes peeled for some of the tiny islets and islands surrounding the main island of Koh Phi Phi. These often make for great photo opportunities and some of them can also be reached by traditional long-tail boats once you get to the island. Other than that it's going to be blue skies and Andaman ocean waves all the way.

It's definitely a good idea to look out from the side of the top deck for the entire trip if you want to ramp up expectation levels. Alternatively, you can just use the hour to have a bite to eat if you brought anything with you, or you could chat to fellow passengers about where they've been in Koh Lanta and what they plan to do in Koh Phi Phi. Who knows what you might discover?

 

How to get from Koh Lanta to Koh Phi Phi

Taking a ferry 

The only way to travel from Koh Lanta to Koh Phi Phi is by ferry. There are basically three different types of ferry: Speed Boat, Standard and Tourist class. The speedboats are much smaller and only take about half an hour to get to Koh Phi Phi from Koh Lanta. There's sometimes a small outside area for sunbathing but mainly passengers are sitting safely down below. Speedboats also have windows and partially-open sides for fresh air rather than air conditioning.

High-Speed Tourist ferries are much larger than speedboats and include an upper deck for sunbathing and an air-conditioned lower deck with seating. You'll also find a bathroom on board. The trip usually takes an hour. Standard ferries, on the other hand, are slightly more rustic looking.

However, you'll still find an air-conditioned seating area on board and a bathroom, as well as space on the top deck for sunbathing and to look out over the Andaman Sea. Standard ferries also take an hour to reach Koh Phi Phi so plenty of time to get to know a few of your fellow passengers or just listen to some tunes before you arrive at Ao Tonsai Pier.