Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi

The lure of Thailand’s capital and largest city is hard to resist! Busy Bangkok pulsates with energy and is an amazing place to visit. Whether you enjoy exploring temples and palaces, strolling through parks, or soaking in the atmosphere and wandering through the markets, Bangkok has something for everyone! But, after a few days in the city, it’s nice to escape to somewhere far more serene and scenic. Koh Phi Phi is one such place. Stunningly beautiful, the Phi Phi Islands feature some of the world’s most spectacular beaches and small bays surrounded by limestone cliffs. Tourism has impacted the islands, but it’s still a haven of tranquility compared to Bangkok!

Read about:
• Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi by Flight and Ferry
• Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi by Train, Bus and Ferry
• Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi by Bus and Ferry

Options for Travel from Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi

Getting from Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi is a long journey unless you’re flying! It’s about 830 kilometers (520 miles) between these two destinations. Flying makes the most sense if you want to get to Koh Phi Phi fast and start spending time relaxing on the beach. You cannot fly direct to Koh Phi Phi as there’s no airport on the island so you’d still need to take a ferry at some point. Other options for travel from Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi include taking several different forms of transport such as the train, bus, and ferry, or a bus and ferry. If this all seems like too much hassle, don’t worry, we have all the information you will need.

Flight and Ferry from Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi

As we mentioned above, you can’t get a flight from Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi, but you can get there with the help of a ferry. There are several flight options, depending on where you would like to interchange. The first option is to catch a flight from Bangkok to Krabi with airlines Bangkok Air, Thai Smile, Thai Airways, Thai Lion Air, or Nok Air. The flight will take around 90 minutes. Shop around across the different airlines, as some will be cheaper than others. Do be sure to check what’s included in the ticket price. Cheaper airlines often don’t include any checked baggage allowances.

Once you arrive at Krabi Airport you should make your way to Krabi Town by taxi or shared minivan. It’s only about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from Krabi Airport. The journey can take a little while if you’re in a shared taxi or minivan as they will make stops on the way. Finally, once in Krabi Town you can head to the pier and catch a ferry to Koh Phi Phi. This leg of the journey will take between 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on the company and whether it’s a high-speed ferry.

The second option is a flight to Phuket and then taking a ferry from there. The flight time is the same as to Krabi, but transferring from the airport and catching a ferry should be faster. You can get a transfer from the airport to the ferry pier. The ferry will take between 1.5 to 3 hours, again depending on which company you use.

While a flight does seem to be the fastest way to travel from Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi, you should consider it carefully as the trip time does add up with all the different sections, including getting to the airport in Bangkok in the first place. With flights being more expensive than other forms of transport, you’ll find this is also the case with traveling to Phi Phi.

From Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi by Train, Bus and Ferry

If you like having adventures on your travels from Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi, get a train, bus, and ferry! It’s a long trip with plenty of passing scenery and towns that you would have missed if you caught a flight. The downside is the time it will take to get to Koh Phi Phi – This is a significantly longer journey.

The good news is that you can book a combined ticket for all sections of the journey using a reputable online tour operator such as 12Go.asia. Their search engine will give you results of different transport combinations, allowing you to book a ticket that covers the entire trip. Great for peace of mind, have everything sorted out before leaving Bangkok.

You will catch a train from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Train Station and travel south to Surat Thani. Surat Thani Train Station is the closest railway station to Koh Phi Phi. The train ride takes around 11.5 hours with sleeper trains available. Options to book a sleeper cabin and get some deep sleep along the way. Once at Surat Thani, you will interchange with a bus that takes you to the pier. There is a wait of around 3.5 hours before catching the ferry crossing to Koh Phi Phi. Add this to the 4 hours it will take from Surat Thani to Koh Phi Phi – You have a long journey of approximately 19 hours.

From Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi by Bus and Ferry

A simpler journey from Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi involves catching a bus in Bangkok. From Bangkok, it drives straight to the ferry pier. The second leg is a ferry trip across to Koh Phi Phi. The combined journey time is less than the train, bus, and ferry combination. Depending on the travel company the trip duration is between 15.5 to 17.5 hours. You can book these combined tickets through 12Go. When you search, there are a few different companies to choose from. Songserm, for example, is a very reputable company with a couple of pick-up points in Bangkok, to make it more convenient. Including from Hua Lamphong Train Station, or their office on Khao San Road.

There are three main options for travel from Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi. Within those three options, there are several different choices you could make! Whichever way you choose to travel, getting from Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi is not the cheapest. Shop around to save money on your tickets with the help of a website like 12Go.

Leaving Phi Phi? Don’t miss our guides from Phi Phi to Krabi and Phi Phi to Phuket