Phi Phi, Maya, Khai Island by Speed Boat – Smile Tour

The Smile Tour Phi Phi – Maya – Khai speedboat trip is an early-start full-day tour from Phuket: hotel pickup 07:00–07:30, departure at 09:00, and — crucially — Maya Bay as the very first stop around 09:50, before the buffet lunch on Phi Phi Don, Monkey Beach and a swim stop at Khai Island, returning about 16:30. Booked through Chang Thai Tour & Travel, a TAT-licensed agency in Chalong, Phuket.

Why does the early start matter so much?

Here is the arithmetic nobody prints on the brochure: dozens of speedboats leave Phuket for Phi Phi every morning, and most of them save Maya Bay for early afternoon. Smile Tour does the opposite — you are at Maya Bay around 09:50, when the boardwalk is quiet and the sand still has yesterday’s tide lines instead of a thousand footprints. Guests tell us this single routing decision changes the whole day.

The cost of that magic is a 07:00–07:30 hotel pickup. If an early alarm on holiday sounds like punishment, the SeaStar trip with its 10:00 departure is the relaxed alternative — you trade empty-beach Maya for a slow breakfast.

How does the day run?

• 07:00–07:30 — Pickup from your hotel.
• 08:00–08:30 — Pier check-in with coffee, tea and biscuits.
• 09:00 — Speedboat departure to the Phi Phi islands.
• 09:50 — Maya Bay, the cove made famous by “The Beach”, followed by Pileh-side fun: swimming, paddleboarding and snorkelling around Phi Phi Leh.
• 12:30 — Buffet lunch on Phi Phi Don, then free beach time.
• 14:00 — Monkey Beach.
• 14:45 — Khai Island: snorkel, swim, or try the local seafood barbecue stands.
• 16:30 — Return to Phuket and transfer to your hotel.

Times are approximate; the sea, not the brochure, has the final word.

What are the Maya Bay rules you should expect?

Since its restoration, Maya Bay is a walk-in, no-swim beach. Boats moor at the back of Phi Phi Leh, you follow the short boardwalk over, take your photos, and enjoy the sand. The swimming part of your morning happens on the lagoon side — Pileh’s emerald water is where guests actually get wet, and most tell us afterwards it beat Maya anyway. Also budget cash for the national park fee: it is collected on the day, on top of the tour price, on every operator’s boat. Full details in our 2026 Phi Phi price guide.

Is this tour right for you?

We send early risers, photographers and Maya-Bay-or-bust travellers on this one. Backpackers like that the seafood barbecue stands at Khai add a cheap, authentic snack stop.

Skip it if mornings are sacred, or if anyone in your group struggles with boat motion — it is a speedboat with about an hour of open water each way, and the June-to-October monsoon can add real chop. For a gentler ride on those months, the Phi Phi Cruiser big boat handles swell far better. All options live on our Phi Phi Islands tours page.

What should you bring?

Swimwear under your clothes, towel, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, dry bag for phones, motion-sickness tablets if you need them (take one 30 minutes before boarding), and cash for the park fee plus any barbecue snacks at Khai. Our family-run shop near Chalong Circle can answer anything else — drop in or message us.

Frequently asked questions

Why visit Maya Bay first thing in the morning?

Because most Phuket speedboats arrive there in the afternoon. Arriving around 09:50 means fewer boats, fewer people and cleaner photos — the main advantage of this tour’s early start.

Can you swim at Maya Bay?

No. Since the reopening, swimming inside Maya Bay is prohibited — you visit the beach on foot. Swimming, paddleboarding and snorkelling happen around Pileh Lagoon and later at Khai Island.

Is the national park fee included?

No — the Phi Phi national park fee is paid in cash on the day, on top of the tour price. This applies to every operator. Message us on WhatsApp for the current amount.

What time do I need to be ready?

Hotel pickup runs 07:00–07:30 depending on your location, with pier check-in from 08:00 and a 09:00 departure. You are back at your hotel around 17:00.

How do I book?

Message us on WhatsApp at +66 93 687 1999 with your date and hotel. We confirm today’s price and your pickup window — no online payment, and a real person from our Chalong shop replies.