Guides · Published 2026-09-12 · 3 min read · ไทย

Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta — A One-Hour Ferry in the Dry Season, and the Detour via Krabi When the Boats Stop

The most popular island-hopping leg in the Andaman. Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta by ferry or speedboat in 1–1.5 hours in the dry season, what to do when the boats stop in the monsoon, and how to plan onward from Lanta.

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Phi Phi and Lanta are only an hour or so apart by sea, which makes them the most common pair to combine in the Andaman: from the lively island to the quiet one. The single catch is that this leg depends entirely on boats, so in the rainy season you have to detour back to the mainland.

All options

Option	Time	When it runs
Ferry Tonsai pier → Saladan pier	About 1–1.5 hours	Roughly November to April
Speedboat	About 45 min–1 hour	Dry season
Boat back to Krabi + minivan + car ferry	About 5–6 hours	Rainy season (as long as the Phi Phi–Krabi ferry runs)

By boat (dry season)

Ferries on the Phuket–Phi Phi–Lanta line call at Tonsai pier in the late morning to noon, take on passengers from Phi Phi, and continue to Saladan pier on Lanta in about 1–1.5 hours. On some days an extra speedboat runs faster. Tickets are sold by the boat companies on the island a day ahead, or book online to be sure during holidays. Most Phi Phi accommodation stores luggage and will call a longtail to the pier if you stay on the northern beaches.

At Saladan, resort transfers and songthaews run down the west-coast beaches: Klong Dao, Long Beach, Klong Nin and on to the southern tip.

Book Koh Phi Phi–Koh Lanta boats: open 12Go

Rainy season: the detour via Krabi

From roughly May to October the Phi Phi–Lanta boats stop. What remains is the Phi Phi–Krabi ferry (still one or two sailings a day when the swell allows), about 1.5–2 hours to Klong Jilad pier, then a minivan south to cross the car ferry at Krabi's Hua Hin pier and reach Lanta in 2–2.5 hours. About 5–6 hours in total; combined boat-and-van tickets are sold.

See Krabi–Koh Lanta options for the overland leg: open 12Go

Planning onward from Lanta

Lanta is a good junction: continue to Koh Lipe on the speedboat that calls at Koh Ngai, Koh Mook and Koh Kradan, or return to the mainland at Krabi to fly to Bangkok. If your trip ends on Lanta, allow at least 3 hours for the minivan and car ferry to Krabi airport before your flight.

Seasons

Andaman: calm seas from November to April, monsoon from May to October. This leg is one of the first to be cut when the monsoon arrives and one of the last to resume afterwards; in some years there are still no boats in early November, so check the live schedule.

Common mistakes

Booking Lanta after Phi Phi in a monsoon month and assuming a boat exists. Check the season first and allow a day for the detour.
Buying the only sailing of the day and oversleeping. Boats leave Phi Phi in the late morning, usually one or two departures.
Dragging a wheeled suitcase to Tonsai pier as several boats arrive at once. The pier is narrow and chaotic; leave your accommodation at least 45 minutes before departure.

Flights

Compare fares across all airlines in one search (prices depend on the date; last-minute is the expensive way): Bangkok → Krabi · Bangkok → Phuket

Where to stay

Compare hotels and guesthouses along this route (prices change by season; check the live price on the booking page): Koh Lanta · Koh Phi Phi

Summary

In the dry season, buy a late-morning boat from Tonsai pier and reach Lanta by early afternoon. In the rainy season, go back through Krabi with a minivan and the car ferry. Use Lanta as your junction for Koh Lipe or for the return to Krabi airport.

Thailand Islands Koh Phi Phi Koh Lanta Ferries Island Hopping Krabi

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