Self-Launched: Sailing Thailand — Ko Phi Phi to Phuket (4 Days)
4 days · Thailand
G Adventures charges £900
No-markup version: ~£217 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the G Adventures Ko Phi Phi–Phuket sailing trip: same Andaman Sea islands (Ko Phi Phi Don & Le, Ko Racha Noi, Ko Yao Yai) but done independently using public ferries, shared longtail boats and island-hopping speedboats instead of a chartered catamaran. You'll snorkel, kayak and beach-hop your way north through Phang Nga Bay, staying in guesthouses and budget bungalows and eating cheap Thai food at beachside kitchens. Roughly 4-5x cheaper than the original tour, and you can bend the route however you like. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Ko Phi Phi Don — sunset at the viewpoint, swim & beach bar
Ko Phi Phi Don
Take the public ferry from Phuket's Ratsada Pier to Phi Phi Don (Andaman Wave, Phi Phi Cruiser, Sea Angel and others; ~1h30, 500–700 THB / £12–17 — book at the pier or via your guesthouse a day ahead). Check into a budget guesthouse in the Ton Sai or Loh Dalum area, then walk the island: hike to the Phi Phi Viewpoint (30 THB entry) for sunset over the twin bays, swim at Loh Dalum, and finish with a beachfront barbecue or pad thai at a beach bar. Book an afternoon/evening snorkel trip for Day 2 tonight rather than trying to charter a boat last-minute.
🚌Public ferry Phuket (Ratsada Pier) → Phi Phi Don ~£14 one way; everything else on foot
🛏Budget guesthouse or fan bungalow, Ton Sai / Loh Dalum (approx £15–20/night)
- →Public ferry to Phi Phi Don
- →Phi Phi Viewpoint sunset hike
- →Loh Dalum beach swim
- →Beach bar evening
Ko Phi Phi Le & Maya Bay by shared longtail — snorkel and kayak
Ko Phi Phi Le / Ko Racha Noi area
Rather than a catamaran, join a shared longtail boat or a small-group speedboat day trip to Ko Phi Phi Le (Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave) — book direct with a boatman on Loh Dalum beach or via Klook/GetYourGuide for around £20–32 including snorkel gear and sometimes lunch. Kayaks can be rented on the beach for ~£5/hour. Note Maya Bay closes seasonally for coral recovery (usually Aug–Sep) — check before you book and swap in Bamboo Island if needed. If you prefer a quieter scene, take a shared speedboat south to Ko Racha Noi instead (private longtail full-day charter ~£80–110 split between 4–6 people).
🚌Shared longtail or speedboat day trip from Phi Phi Don (~£25 return, gear included)
🛏Budget guesthouse or fan bungalow, Ton Sai / Loh Dalum (approx £15–20/night)
- →Maya Bay & Pileh Lagoon boat trip
- →Snorkelling at Phi Phi Le
- →Kayak rental on Loh Dalum
- →Viking Cave viewpoint
Ferry to Phuket, boat out to Ko Yao Yai — island dinner
Ko Yao Yai
Take the morning ferry or speedboat from Phi Phi to Bang Rong Pier on Phuket (~1h30–2h, ~£15–20), then the local ferry or longtail across to Ko Yao Yai (~30 min, £3–5) — or check whether a Phi Phi–Yao Yai speedboat runs that day. Hire a scooter on the island (~£5–6/day) and cruise to the empty west-coast beaches of Hat Lo Pared and Ao Sai, and the fishing village of Chong Lard. Stay in a simple beach bungalow and eat at a family-run Thai kitchen — Yao Yai is a Muslim-majority island, so expect excellent seafood and roti.
🚌Ferry Phi Phi → Bang Rong (Phuket) ~£18; longtail/ferry Bang Rong → Ko Yao Yai ~£4; scooter hire ~£6
🛏Beach bungalow or guesthouse on Ko Yao Yai (approx £18–25/night)
- →Island ferry hopping
- →Scooter loop of Ko Yao Yai
- →Hat Lo Pared & Ao Sai beaches
- →Chong Lard fishing village
- →Seafood dinner with locals
Morning swim on Yao Yai, boat to Phuket — trip ends
Ko Yao Yai → Phuket
Sunrise swim and breakfast at the bungalow, then the morning longtail/ferry back to Bang Rong Pier (~30 min, £4). From Bang Rong, a local songthaew or Grab to Phuket Town, the airport or a Phuket beach of your choice (~£5–8). If you have time, add a stop at the Phuket Old Town Sunday walking street or a Phang Nga Bay kayak trip from Ao Po. This is where the commercial tour finishes too — but you can extend onto Krabi, Ko Lanta or Railay for a few pounds more in ferry fares.
🚌Longtail/ferry Ko Yao Yai → Bang Rong Pier ~£4; songthaew/Grab to Phuket Town or airport ~£6
🛏Not included — onward travel or add a Phuket guesthouse night (approx £15–25)
- →Sunrise beach swim
- →Longtail back to Phuket
- →Optional Phuket Old Town walk
- →Optional Phang Nga Bay kayaking
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£217 | £900 |
| Duration | 4 days | 4 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £683 per person (76%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£217
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 Self-Launched: Sailing Thailand — Ko Phi Phi to Phuket (4 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £217 per person for 4 days in 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 £900 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £217 — a saving of roughly £683 (76%) per person.
How long is the Thailand trip?+
This itinerary runs 4 days, covering 4 day-by-day stops through 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, budget trip through 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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