Sailing Thailand: Phuket to Ko Phi Phi (Self-Launched)
4 days · Phuket, Phang Nga Bay & Ko Phi Phi, Thailand
G Adventures charges £1,200
No-markup version: ~£330 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 4-day Andaman sailing trip — you book your own island hopping using cheap local ferries, longtail boats and shared speedboats instead of a private 25m catamaran. Base yourself in Phuket, Krabi/Railay and Ko Phi Phi, join join-in day boat trips to Phang Nga Bay (James Bond Island, sea kayaking) and snorkel Ko Ha Yai and Monkey Bay on a local speedboat tour. Costs are approximate backpacker mid-range estimates.
Day-by-day
Phuket to Phang Nga Bay by join-in longtail boat
Phuket / Phang Nga Bay
Start your day in Phuket Town or Patong and get picked up for a join-in day trip to Phang Nga Bay (book via GetYourGuide or Klook, ~£30-40 including lunch, hotel pickup and kayaking at Hong Island). Alternatively, take a local songthaew to Bang Rong or Tha Dan pier and hire a longtail boat privately (~£50-60 per boat, split with other travellers). Explore the karst caves and lagoons, then sleep in Phuket Town where budget guesthouses run £10-15/night.
🚌Local songthaew/tuk-tuk to pier + join-in tour minibus; or shared longtail boat hire
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Phuket Town (~£14)
- →Join-in Phang Nga Bay day trip with sea kayaking
- →Karst cave and lagoon exploration
- →Evening street food in Phuket Old Town
James Bond Island & on to Railay Beach
Phang Nga Bay / Railay, Krabi
Visit Khao Phing Kan (James Bond Island) as part of a join-in canoeing tour from Phuket or Krabi — most operators include it in the standard Phang Nga itinerary. Afterwards make your way south: bus from Phuket Bus Terminal 2 to Krabi (~£6-8, 3-3.5 hrs) then a shared longtail boat from Ao Nam Mao or Ao Nang to Railay West (~£3-4). Check into a Railay or Ao Nang budget bungalow and eat dinner on the beach.
🚌Local bus Phuket–Krabi ~£7, shared longtail boat to Railay ~£4
🛏Budget bungalow in Railay East or Ao Nang (~£18)
- →Khao Phing Kan (James Bond Island) visit
- →Longtail boat ride to Railay
- →Sunset on Railay Beach
Ko Ha Yai snorkelling day trip
Railay / Ko Ha Yai
Book a join-in four-islands or Ko Ha Yai snorkelling speedboat tour from Ao Nang (~£25-35, includes lunch, snorkel gear and park fees). Ko Ha Yai sits in Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park with some of the clearest water in the Andaman. Return to Railay for the evening, or stay a night in Ao Nang where hostels are £8-14.
🚌Join-in speedboat tour pickup; shared longtail boat back to Railay
🛏Budget bungalow/guesthouse in Railay or Ao Nang (~£16)
- →Join-in speedboat snorkelling tour to Ko Ha Yai
- →Four Islands viewpoint stop
- →Free climbing or beach time at Railay
Snorkel Monkey Bay and finish on Ko Phi Phi
Ko Phi Phi Don
Take the public ferry from Krabi (Klong Jilad Pier) to Ko Phi Phi Don (~£10-12, 1.5-2 hrs) or a shared speedboat (~£15, 45 mins). On arrival, book a local half-day longtail boat tour around Phi Phi Leh with snorkelling stops including Monkey Bay and Maya Bay viewpoint (~£15-20 per person shared). Finish at Tonsai Bay, exactly where the G Adventures trip ends — then stay on for Phi Phi's viewpoints and nightlife or ferry onward to Phuket/Lanta.
🚌Public ferry Krabi–Phi Phi ~£11, shared longtail boat tour onboard
🛏Hostel or budget bungalow on Ko Phi Phi Don (~£15)
- →Public ferry to Ko Phi Phi Don
- →Shared longtail boat snorkelling at Monkey Bay
- →Phi Phi viewpoint hike
- →Maya Bay viewpoint stop
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£330 | £1,200 |
| Duration | 4 days | 4 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £870 per person (73%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£330
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Sailing Thailand: Phuket to Ko Phi Phi (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £330 per person for 4 days in Phuket, Phang Nga Bay & Ko Phi Phi, Thailand. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,200 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £330 — a saving of roughly £870 (73%) per person.
How long is the Phuket, Phang Nga Bay & Ko Phi Phi, Thailand trip?+
This itinerary runs 4 days, covering 4 day-by-day stops through Phuket, Phang Nga Bay & Ko Phi Phi, Thailand.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a beaches, adventure, backpacker trip through Phuket, Phang Nga Bay & Ko Phi Phi, Thailand, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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