7 Days in the Phi Phi Islands & Thailand — Beach & Snorkel Trip for Two

Arrive at Phuket International Airport (HKT)

Clear customs and immigration at Phuket — Thailand gives Canadian passport holders 30 days visa-free on arrival. Grab a SIM card from DTAC or AIS in the arrivals hall; a 7-day data plan costs about 300 THB.

Taxi or minivan transfer to Patong or Kata Beach

Take a metered taxi or pre-booked minivan to your hotel — it's about 45 minutes to Patong or Kata Beach. Avoid tuk-tuks for this transfer; they're slow and overpriced for airport runs.

Check in and decompress at the hotel

After a 20+ hour journey from Canada, keep Day 1 simple — check in, shower, and walk down to the beach at sunset. Kata Beach is quieter and more scenic than Patong for a gentle first evening.

Stroll along Kata Beach at night

The beach road near Kata and Karon lights up in the evening with small restaurants and bars facing the ocean — low-key, breezy, and perfect for two jet-lagged friends unwinding over cold Singha beers.

Morning swim at Kata Noi Beach

Kata Noi (Little Kata) is a smaller, calmer beach just south of Kata — fewer crowds, cleaner water, and great for a relaxed morning swim to reset your body clock.

Visit the Big Buddha (Phra Phutthamingmongkol Akenakkiri)

This 45-meter white marble Buddha sits on Nakkerd Hill and offers panoramic views across Phuket, Kata, and Karon beaches. It's a 10-minute drive from Kata Beach — rent a scooter or grab a songthaew (shared taxi truck).

Karon Viewpoint

On the way back down from Big Buddha, stop at the Karon Viewpoint for a classic three-bay vista overlooking Kata Noi, Kata, and Karon beaches — one of the best photo spots on the island.

Afternoon at Karon Beach

Karon is one of Phuket's longest and least crowded beaches — wide, white sand with a calm shorebreak. Rent a beach chair, read a book, and soak in the afternoon sun before tomorrow's big move.

Sunset drinks at Promthep Cape

Promthep Cape is the southernmost tip of Phuket and arguably the best sunset spot on the island. It gets crowded — arrive by 6:15 PM to grab a spot on the rocks. Worth every minute.

Morning checkout and transfer to Rassada Pier

Check out and take a taxi or Grab (Thailand's Uber) to Rassada Pier in Phuket Town — about 40 minutes from Kata Beach. This is the main departure point for Phi Phi ferries.

Ferry to Phi Phi Don

Board the ferry to Phi Phi Don — the journey takes about 90 minutes and cuts through stunning Andaman Sea scenery. Several operators run this route; Phi Phi Cruiser and Tigerline are reliable.

Arrive at Tonsai Bay, Phi Phi Don

The ferry docks at Tonsai Bay — the main village on Phi Phi Don. The island has no roads, so you'll walk to your hotel with your bags. Most mid-range hotels are a 5–15 minute walk through the village.

Explore Tonsai Village and the twin bays viewpoint walk

After checking in, walk up to the iconic Phi Phi Viewpoint — it's a steep 20-minute climb from Tonsai, but the panorama of the twin bays is arguably the best view in all of Thailand. Go before the heat peaks.

First swim at Long Beach (Hat Yao)

Long Beach on the southeast side of Phi Phi Don is calmer, clearer, and far less crowded than Tonsai Beach. Take a longtail boat from Tonsai Pier (10 minutes) or walk the 30-minute jungle trail.

Full-day snorkeling island hop by longtail or speedboat

Book a shared or private longtail tour from Tonsai Pier covering Maya Bay (Phi Phi Leh), Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, and the coral reefs at Shark Point. Shared tours run about 600–800 THB per person and include snorkel gear.

Snorkel at Pileh Lagoon

Pileh is a stunning enclosed emerald lagoon on the east coast of Phi Phi Leh — towering limestone cliffs all around and gin-clear water above reef fish. Snorkeling here is excellent; look for parrotfish, angelfish, and the occasional reef shark.

Visit Maya Bay

Maya Bay (The Beach) reopened in 2022 after a multi-year ecological restoration — swimming is now restricted to designated zones, but the bay is more beautiful than ever. Go early to beat the crowd of day-trippers arriving from Phuket.

Snorkel at Hin Klang (midway reef)

A shallow reef between Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh — good visibility, lots of hard coral, and a regular spot for black-tip reef sharks in the shallows. Your longtail captain will know it.

Return to Tonsai and afternoon rest

A full morning of sun and snorkeling is genuinely tiring. Return to your hotel, rinse off, and rest for a couple of hours before the evening. Your skin will thank you.

Loh Dalum Bay sunset and fire show

Loh Dalum Bay's crescent of white sand faces west and catches perfect sunsets. Many beach bars on the bay put on fire-jumping and limbo shows after dark — touristy but genuinely fun.

Longtail boat to Bamboo Island (Koh Mai Phai)

Bamboo Island is a 20-minute longtail ride north of Phi Phi Don and has some of the finest white sand and turquoise water in the Andaman. Hire a longtail for the morning — the driver will wait on the beach.

Snorkeling around Bamboo Island's reef

The reef wrapping around the southeast tip of Bamboo Island is healthy and shallow — ideal for snorkeling even for beginners. Look for turtles, clownfish in anemones, and giant clams.

Beach time on Bamboo Island

Bamboo Island has almost no tourist infrastructure — a few vendors, one small beach bar, no hotels. That's the point. Lie on genuinely pristine sand for a couple of hours.

Return to Phi Phi Don — afternoon freedive or scuba intro

Several dive shops in Tonsai (Phi Phi Diving Center, Hippocampus) offer afternoon discover scuba dives or freediving intro sessions — excellent for mid-range travelers who want more than snorkeling. Book on arrival.

Sunset walk across the island neck

Walk the narrow land strip between Tonsai Bay and Loh Dalum Bay — it takes 10 minutes and you can catch the last light over Loh Dalum facing west. Simple, free, and beautiful.

Ferry from Phi Phi Don to Krabi Town (Nopparat Thara Pier)

Take the morning ferry from Tonsai Pier to Krabi — about 90 minutes. This is a great detour for the final stretch of the trip and gives you one of Thailand's most dramatic coastal settings.

Longtail from Krabi to Railay Beach

Railay Beach is only accessible by longtail boat from Ao Nang or Krabi Town — it's surrounded by sheer karst cliffs. The 15-minute longtail ride from Ao Nang costs 100 THB per person and runs until 11 PM.

Explore Railay East and Railay West beaches

Railay has two beaches connected by a short path through the jungle — Railay West is the postcard shot with clear water and dramatic cliffs; Railay East has mangroves and a more local feel. Walk between them and soak it in.

Hike to the Railay Viewpoint and Phranang Cave

The steep 45-minute jungle hike to Railay Viewpoint gives jaw-dropping views of the peninsula and Andaman Sea. Afterward, walk to Phranang Cave Beach — the most beautiful beach in the Krabi area, lined with a sacred spirit shrine.

Check in at Ao Nang or Krabi Town hotel

Return by longtail to Ao Nang for your final night in Thailand — Ao Nang has a wider range of mid-range hotels and restaurants than Railay, and it's close to Krabi Airport for your departure.

Walking street and night market in Ao Nang

Ao Nang's beach road comes alive at night — seafood BBQ grills, clothing stalls, smoothie carts, and low-key bars. It's a mellower vibe than Phi Phi's party scene, perfect for a last evening in Thailand.

Morning walk on Ao Nang Beach

Ao Nang Beach itself is backed by cliffs and has a beautiful morning atmosphere before the tourist boats start running. Walk south toward the headland for views back toward the karst towers.

Last snorkel or kayak at Ao Nang

Several operators along Ao Nang Beach offer 2-hour kayaking or snorkel trips to the nearby sea caves and small islands — a great final morning activity if you have an afternoon flight.

Final Thai lunch and checkout

Check out of your hotel, store bags, and grab a final Thai meal before heading to the airport. Krabi Airport is small and easy — arrive 90 minutes before a domestic connection or 2 hours for an international departure.

Transfer to Krabi Airport (KBV)

Take a Grab or metered taxi to Krabi Airport — 20–25 minutes from Ao Nang. Fly to Bangkok (BKK or DMK) to connect onward to your hub city (Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong) and then home to Canada.