Thai Island Hopping West — Self-Launched
8 days · Southern Thailand (Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Krabi)
Contiki charges £630
No-markup version: ~£620 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Contiki's 8-day "Thai Island Hopping West" loop: Phuket → Koh Phi Phi → Krabi/Ao Nang → Phuket. Instead of a guided group coach-and-ferry package with paid add-ons, you book everything yourself — budget guesthouses a short walk from the beach, the public ferry between islands, and the same boat trips, hikes and sanctuaries via GetYourGuide, Klook or local ticket desks. Same sun-soaked route, same islands, roughly a third of the price — with the freedom to skip the bar crawls and spend your money on the things you actually want to do. Costs are approximate per person and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Phuket — Patong base camp
Phuket (Patong)
Land at Phuket International Airport (HKT) and make your own way to Patong. The cheapest option is the Airport Bus (Phuket Smart Bus / public airport bus) to Patong for around 100–150 THB (~£2–3.50); a Grab or shared minivan is 600–900 THB (~£14–20) split between travellers. Check into a budget guesthouse a few streets back from the beach — expect a clean private double or a dorm bed in the 400–900 THB (~£9–20) range. Spend the late afternoon on Patong Beach, then walk Bangla Road after dark just to see it — you can have a beer and leave before the crowds peak. Eat at a street-food stall or a local shophouse rather than the beachfront restaurants.
🚌Airport bus to Patong ~£3 (or Grab ~£15 split)
🛏Budget guesthouse in Patong (e.g. Soi Nanai / Soi Sansabai area guesthouses or a Patong hostel private room), ~£18
- →Patong Beach sunset
- →Bangla Road evening stroll
- →Street-food dinner
Phuket — elephants, old town and a massage
Phuket (Patong / Phuket Town)
Book the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary (or Phuket Elephant Retirement Park) directly online — half-day ethical visits run around 2,500–3,300 THB (~£60–78) including hotel pickup, and are cheaper booked direct than via a tour add-on. Afternoon: local songthaew or Grab to Phuket Town (~200–300 THB / £5–7) to wander the Sino-Portuguese shophouses of Thalang Road, grab a coffee and browse the Sunday Walking Street market if your day lines up. Finish with a 1-hour Thai massage at a local shop (250–400 THB / £6–10) — far cheaper in town than on the beachfront.
🚌Songthaew/Grab to Phuket Town and back ~£8
🛏Budget guesthouse in Patong, ~£18
- →Phuket Elephant Sanctuary half-day (book direct, ~£65)
- →Phuket Old Town walk
- →Thai massage ~£8
Ferry to Koh Phi Phi — sunset viewpoint hike
Koh Phi Phi Don
Take the morning public ferry from Rassada Pier (Phuket Town) to Tonsai Pier on Koh Phi Phi Don. Book through a local agent or 12Go Asia the day before — around 400–600 THB (~£9–14) each way, roughly 1.5–2 hours. Get a minivan/Grab from Patong to Rassada Pier (about 40 minutes, ~£10 split). On Phi Phi, check into a budget bungalow or guesthouse back from the beach (Loh Dalum side is cheaper than Tonsai waterfront), 700–1,300 THB (~£15–28). Late afternoon, do the free-ish clifftop hike to Phi Phi Viewpoint — 30 THB (~£0.70) entry — for the classic double-bay sunset shot. Dinner at a beachside BBQ stall.
🚌Minivan to Rassada Pier ~£10 + ferry to Phi Phi ~£12
🛏Guesthouse/bungalow on Koh Phi Phi Don, ~£22
- →Phi Phi Viewpoint sunset hike (~£1 entry)
- →Loh Dalum Beach swim
Phi Phi island-hopping day — Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, snorkelling
Koh Phi Phi Don
Do the full-day longtail or speedboat island-hopping tour to Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, Monkey Beach and Bamboo Island. The Contiki add-on was 1,700–1,850 THB; booked locally in Tonsai village or via Klook you'll pay 900–1,500 THB (~£20–35) for a shared longtail with snorkel gear, or ~1,600–1,900 THB for a speedboat version that skips the slow ride. Book the evening before at any Tonsai agency and confirm park fees are included (Maya Bay entry is 400 THB / ~£9 and is sometimes extra). Bring reef-safe sunscreen, water and cash. Evening: cheap eats and a quiet beach bar rather than the fire-show crowds if you prefer.
🚌Walk to Tonsai pier
🛏Guesthouse/bungalow on Koh Phi Phi Don, ~£22
- →Full-day island-hopping boat trip (~£28)
- →Snorkelling at Pileh Lagoon & Bamboo Island
- →Maya Bay viewpoint
Ferry to Krabi — settle into Ao Nang
Krabi (Ao Nang)
Short public ferry from Phi Phi to Klong Jilad Pier in Krabi Town (about 400 THB / ~£9, 1–1.5 hours), then a shared songthaew or Grab to Ao Nang (roughly 150–250 THB / £3.50–6, or 60 THB by public bus). Check into a guesthouse a short walk off Ao Nang Beach Road — 700–1,200 THB (~£15–26) for a private room. Afternoon: walk the Ao Nang promenade, swim, and browse the night market for dinner. If you want a food tour, Ao Nang's night market plus a few local restaurants covers the same ground for a fraction of a paid tour price.
🚌Ferry to Krabi ~£9 + songthaew to Ao Nang ~£4
🛏Guesthouse in Ao Nang, ~£20
- →Ao Nang Beach & promenade
- →Ao Nang night market food crawl
Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island by shared longtail
Krabi (Ao Nang)
Head to Phang Nga Bay — the Contiki version cost 2,200 THB (~£52). Book a shared join-in day trip locally in Ao Nang or on Klook/GetYourGuide for 1,200–1,600 THB (~£28–38), including hotel pickup, longtail boat, sea-canoe stop, lunch and the James Bond Island (Koh Tapu) landing. Boats leave mid-morning and return late afternoon. Note the national park fee (~300 THB / £7) is often payable on the day. Evening: sunset cocktails at an Ao Nang beach bar or a 300 THB Thai massage.
🚌Included in day-trip pickup
🛏Guesthouse in Ao Nang, ~£20
- →Phang Nga Bay shared day trip (~£33)
- →James Bond Island & sea canoeing
- →National park fee ~£7
Railay Beach climbing or kayaking + Thai dinner
Railay / Ao Nang
Longtail boats run from Ao Nang Beach to Railay West all day for 150 THB (~£3.50) each way, 10 minutes. Walk to Phra Nang Beach and the lagoon, or take a beginner half-day rock-climbing course with one of the Railay schools — the Contiki add-on was 900 THB; walk-up beginner sessions with King Climbers or Basecamp Tonsai run around 1,000–1,400 THB (~£23–32) including gear and instructor. Alternatives: kayak rental around the limestone karsts (300–500 THB / £7–12) or a hike to the Railay Viewpoint. Return to Ao Nang for a proper Thai dinner — massaman curry, som tam and a beer for 250–400 THB (~£6–9).
🚌Longtail boat to Railay return ~£7
🛏Guesthouse in Ao Nang, ~£20
- →Half-day beginner rock climbing (~£27)
- →Phra Nang Beach & Railay lagoon
- →Thai dinner out
Krabi back to Phuket — depart
Krabi → Phuket
Take the public bus or shared minivan from Krabi/Ao Nang to Phuket. The direct minivan (book at any Ao Nang agency or 12Go) costs around 250–400 THB (~£6–9) and takes 3–3.5 hours to Phuket Town, with a small extra leg to Patong or the airport. Budget the full morning for the transfer and don't book a flight out of Phuket before mid-afternoon. If you have time before your flight, drop your bag at a café in Phuket Town and do one last lap of the old town.
🚌Shared minivan Krabi to Phuket ~£8, plus local transfer to airport ~£4
🛏—
- →Overland transfer to Phuket
- →Optional Phuket Old Town stop
Self-launched vs. Contiki
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Contiki | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£620 | £630 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £10 per person (2%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Contiki-style trips? Check them out here.~£620
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 Thai Island Hopping West — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £620 per person for 8 days in Southern Thailand (Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Krabi). 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 Contiki?+
Yes — Contiki charges around £630 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £620 — a saving of roughly £10 (2%) per person.
How long is the Southern Thailand (Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Krabi) trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Southern Thailand (Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Krabi).
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, island-hopping, backpacker trip through Southern Thailand (Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Krabi), 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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