TL;DR: The most common way from Krabi to Koh Phi Phi is a ferry from Ao Nang’s Nopparat Thara Pier, taking about 2 hours for ฿615-650 (~US$19-20), or a speedboat from the same pier in 50 minutes to 1 hour for ฿830-900 (~US$25-27). From Krabi Town’s Klong Jilad Pier, ferries run about 1.5-2 hours for roughly ฿350-500 (~US$11-15), with three main operators (Andaman Wave Master, Songserm, Seatran Discovery) running around 8 sailings a day. Speedboats are faster and pricier; ferries are slower and cheaper, and both dock at Tonsai Pier on Koh Phi Phi. A full-day speedboat tour with snorkelling and lunch works for a day trip, while a one-way ticket suits travellers planning to stay overnight. All prices ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026).
If you’re searching “Krabi to Phi Phi,” the first thing to sort out is which pier you’re leaving from, since Krabi has two, and they’re not interchangeable. Ao Nang’s Nopparat Thara Pier and Krabi Town’s Klong Jilad Pier both run boats to Koh Phi Phi, but at different prices, speeds and frequencies. This guide compares ferry versus speedboat, breaks down both departure points, and covers whether a day trip or an overnight stay makes more sense. Every price and time below is checked against current 2026 operator listings, cited at the end.
Krabi to Phi Phi route comparison at a glance
| Departure point | Mode | Duration | Price (one-way) | Operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ao Nang (Nopparat Thara Pier) | Ferry | ~2 hours | ฿615-650 (~$19-20) | Ao Nang Travel and Tour |
| Ao Nang (Nopparat Thara Pier) | Speedboat | 50 min-1 hour | ฿830-900 (~$25-27) | Bundhaya, Wang Sai, Koh Yao Sun Smile |
| Krabi Town (Klong Jilad Pier) | Ferry | ~1.5-2 hours | ฿350-500 (~$11-15) | Andaman Wave Master, Songserm, Seatran Discovery |
| Krabi Town (Klong Jilad Pier) | Faster ferry class / add-on | ~1 hour | Andaman Wave Master |
All routes arrive at Tonsai Pier, Koh Phi Phi (some later Krabi Town departures continue to Laemtong Bay). Figures compiled from Ao Nang Travel and Tour, Direct Ferries and Phuket Ferry 2026 listings; see Sources.
Which pier should you leave from: Ao Nang or Krabi Town?
Leave from whichever pier is closer to your hotel; the boats themselves cover the same island either way. Ao Nang’s Nopparat Thara Pier is the natural choice if you’re staying in Ao Nang, Klong Muang or Tubkaek, and most tickets from here include free hotel pickup if booked before 5pm the day before. Krabi Town’s Klong Jilad Pier serves Krabi Town and is generally the cheaper departure point of the two, but it sits a short taxi ride outside the town centre itself, so factor that into your morning if you’re not staying within walking distance. Neither pier is objectively “better”; it comes down to where you’ve already booked a bed.
Ferry or speedboat: which should you book?
Speedboat if you want speed, ferry if you want to save money. From Ao Nang, the ferry takes about 2 hours for ฿615-650 (~US$19-20), while the speedboat covers the same route in 50 minutes to 1 hour for ฿830-900 (~US$25-27), a roughly ฿250-300 premium for cutting an hour or more off the crossing. From Krabi Town, standard ferries run ฿350-500 (~US$11-15) over about 1.5-2 hours, with a faster ferry class available for around ฿850 (~US$26) if you want to shave the journey down closer to an hour. If you’re prone to seasickness, note that the ferries tend to be larger and steadier in chop than the smaller speedboats.
What’s the schedule like?
Between the two piers, there are roughly 8 daily sailings from Klong Jilad Pier and up to 11 a day from Nopparat Thara Pier once every operator is counted. Ao Nang’s ferry has a standard 09:30 departure, arriving around 11:30, while its speedboats spread across the morning and early afternoon, with departures around 10:10, 11:00, 11:40 and 14:40. Krabi Town’s Klong Jilad Pier sailings cluster around 09:00, 10:30, 12:30 and 13:30. In high season, book at least a couple of days ahead, since the faster, more popular departures sell out first while ferries generally hold more capacity and more same-day availability.
Getting to Klong Jilad Pier if you’re staying in Krabi Town
Klong Jilad Pier isn’t walkable from most of Krabi Town, so budget a short taxi ride to get there. A taxi from the pier back into Krabi Town centre runs about ฿400 (~US$12), and to the Krabi bus terminal about ฿450 (~US$14), so expect a similar fare heading out to catch your boat. Some ferry operators bundle hotel pickup into the ticket price if you book ahead, which is worth checking before you arrange your own transport and pay twice for the same short trip.
Day trip or staying overnight?
A guided day-trip package suits a quick look at Phi Phi; a one-way ticket suits anyone staying over. Full-day speedboat tours that combine the crossing with snorkelling stops around the surrounding bays and a lunch break are sold as standalone packages, typically for under ฿1,650 (~US$50) including gear and food, and have you back in Krabi by evening. If you’re staying on Koh Phi Phi for a night or more, a straightforward one-way ferry or speedboat ticket is cheaper and gives you the whole day on the island rather than a packed itinerary, with a separate return ticket booked for whenever you’re ready to head back.
What about arriving from Krabi Airport?
Krabi Airport (KBV) has no pier of its own, so if you’re flying straight in, you’ll need a taxi or minivan to either Nopparat Thara or Klong Jilad Pier before boarding a boat to Phi Phi. A number of travel agents and hotels sell combined airport-to-Phi Phi packages that bundle the land transfer with the boat ticket in one booking, which can simplify the day if you land close to a departure time and don’t want to arrange two separate legs yourself.
Honest downsides
- The two piers genuinely aren’t interchangeable on price. Booking the Ao Nang ferry when Klong Jilad Pier would have been just as convenient can cost you an extra ฿150-250 for the same crossing.
- Speedboats are smaller and rougher in chop. If the sea’s up, that faster crossing gets noticeably bumpier than the larger ferries.
- Klong Jilad Pier isn’t in central Krabi Town. Budget the taxi fare and the time, especially for an early departure.
- High-season demand hits the fast options first. If you specifically want an early speedboat slot, book it a few days out rather than the night before.
Bottom line
For most travellers, the choice comes down to where you’re staying and how much you value speed over price. Ao Nang residents take the Nopparat Thara Pier ferry or speedboat; Krabi Town residents get the cheaper Klong Jilad Pier ferry. Either way, book a couple of days ahead in high season, and decide upfront whether you’re doing a day trip (book the guided package) or staying over (book a one-way ticket). Once you’re set on the crossing, check the Phi Phi Islands guide for what to do once you land, or read up on Ao Nang if that’s your base for the rest of the trip. Browse what’s on to see if anything’s worth timing your visit around.
Sources
- Ao Nang to Koh Phi Phi ferry | Tickets, Prices Schedules - Direct Ferries: Ao Nang ferry and speedboat operators, schedule
- Ferry ticket from Ao Nang to Koh Phi Phi - Ao Nang Travel and Tour: Ao Nang ferry price (฿650 adult/฿450 child), schedule, hotel pickup terms
- Ao Nang to Phi Phi Ferry | Schedules, Prices & Ferry Tickets - Phuket Ferry: Ao Nang ferry and speedboat times, prices, operators
- Krabi to Phi Phi Island | Schedule & Price - Phuket Ferry: Klong Jilad Pier departure times, prices, operators
- Krabi (Klong Jilad Pier) to Koh Phi Phi (Tonsai Pier) ferry - Direct Ferries: Klong Jilad Pier operators, sailing frequency, price range
- Klong Jilad Pier, Krabi Town - Surat Thani Airport Hotels: Klong Jilad Pier taxi fares to Krabi Town and bus terminal
- Krabi To Koh Phi Phi: BEST & EASIEST Transport 2026 - Backpackers Wanderlust: ferry vs speedboat comparison, day trip vs overnight advice, booking tips