Phuket Ferry Guide: Phi Phi, Lanta and What to Check Before You Book

Phuket is a starting point for scheduled boats to Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and other Andaman islands, and our Phuket ferry hub lists those routes with the figures the operators publish. This guide is the planning companion: which kind of boat you are buying, how an operator and a private booking site describe the pier and the airport link, and what to settle before you commit to a sailing.

Everything below was read on 29 October 2026. Tigerline Ferry & Siri Lanta Speedboat describes itself as a direct operator that runs its own fleet, so where we quote it, the operator is speaking about its own services. RassadaPier.Net, which we quote for the Phi Phi timetable and the airport link, says on its disclaimer page that it is a privately owned booking platform and not the official website of the port, which it calls Rassada Harbour. We could not open the Marine Department or Tourism Authority of Thailand pages (the tourism site refused automated access and the Marine Department site did not load), so nothing here comes from the port or tourism authority.

1. Choose the boat type first

Tigerline says it operates both speedboats and ferries. In its own comparison it describes the ferry as a smoother ride in moderate sea conditions and often better for heavy luggage, and the speedboat as the faster option that is smooth on calm sea.

The same crossing therefore comes with very different times. For Phuket to Koh Phi Phi, Tigerline's route table gives about 45 minutes. RassadaPier.Net lists a standard seat ferry from Rassada Pier to Tonsai Pier on Koh Phi Phi Don as a 2-hour transfer and, on its terminal page, a speedboat as a 1-hour trip. Check the boat type on your ticket, not just the route name.

2. Getting to the pier

Tigerline's check-in station page lists its Phuket pier as "AT Pier Rassada" and, separately, a Phuket station at Bang Rong Pier. Confirm which one your ticket names before you book a taxi. The same page lists airport transfers from Phuket Airport (HKT), domestic and international, and hotel transfers by area, including Patong, Kata, Karon, Phuket Town, Kamala, Chalong and Rawai.

Tigerline's terms say the pick-up or drop-off details for a hotel or airport transfer must be given at least 6 hours before departure; otherwise the transfer counts as unconfirmed and you must present yourself at the pier for check-in.

RassadaPier.Net says there is no direct boat from the airport. For its own airport package it states 89 km to the pier and 60 to 90 minutes by private van, and it says same-day boat connections need a flight landing by 11:30 (international) or 12:00 (domestic). Those are one company's rules for its package, not a general timetable for the airport link. We found no source we could open for the road link from a cruise berth to the pier, so we give none: ask your cruise line and the boat operator.

3. Routes and journey times as the operator states them

This is Tigerline's own table of popular routes. It says duration and frequency may vary with sea conditions, weather, season and operational requirements. The operator also states that its vessels run daily between 07:00 and 18:30, with schedules adjusted for route, season and weather.

For comparison, RassadaPier.Net's schedule page (last updated 7 October 2026, as the page states) lists five standard seat ferry departures from Rassada Pier to Tonsai Pier: 08:30, 11:00, 13:30, 13:45 and 15:00, and five from Tonsai Pier back to Rassada Pier: 09:00, 11:00, 14:00, 14:30 and 15:30. It is a booking site, so treat it as what that site sells, not as the operators' timetable.

One term matters for the small islands. Tigerline's terms say its fares exclude a longtail boat transfer between ferries and small islands, and that those longtail boats are run by local fishermen and are not part of the ferry company. If your route ends at Koh Ngai, Koh Mook or Koh Kradan, ask whether a longtail transfer is part of your arrival.

4. Tickets and timing

Tigerline's booking guide says the search shows departure and arrival times, travel duration, prices and the mode of transport, and that an icon beside each station opens the check-in counter details and a map. It asks for a passport number for the first passenger, and its terms require photo identification from every passenger at check-in and arrival 30 minutes before departure. RassadaPier.Net asks for 30 to 60 minutes before departure.

On changes, Tigerline's terms say date or name changes go through email at least 1 day before departure and fees may apply, that it reserves the right to refuse a refund on all conditions, and that if it has to cancel your trip you will be re-accommodated on another vessel to the same destination. It also sells an optional Premium Flex ticket with up to 3 free schedule changes, up to 3 hours before departure; cancellation is not included.

Season matters. When we read Tigerline's timetable page on 29 October 2026, it listed a monsoon-season timetable for May 2026 to September 2026 and timetables for October 2025 to April 2026. We saw none labelled for the months from October 2026 onward, so confirm the sailing you want in the live booking search and with the operator.

5. Accessibility, luggage and comfort

None of the pages we could read states boarding conditions, ramps or steps, seating assistance or a luggage allowance. Tigerline's baggage policy page showed only its heading when we read it, and its terms say all passengers and baggage are subject to search for security purposes. We therefore make no claim about accessibility, and suggest you ask the operator in writing:

• How do passengers board at your station: by gangway from a pier, or by a longtail boat?
• Are there steps or a ramp between the check-in counter and the boat, and can staff help with bags?
• What is the baggage allowance for my ticket and boat type, and is there a charge for extra bags?
• Where can I wait before boarding, and is seating available?
• If I need assistance, who confirms it and how?

6. Plan and cautions

Tigerline says duration and frequency may vary with sea conditions, weather and season, and that schedules are adjusted for safety. For official weather and sea information, the Thai Meteorological Department's English site has sections titled Shipping Forecast, Ocean Wave Forecast and Wave Risk, and a call centre number (1182), as its menu showed on 29 October 2026. We did not read or quote a sea forecast, so check it yourself on the day.

A boat ticket and a cruise or flight ticket are separate contracts. Tigerline's own terms note that you should take this into account when you book any connected flight or schedule. Our guide on why separate tickets need a buffer and the all-aboard worksheet show how to work backwards from the ship's departure. For the flight leg, see our flights index.