Phuket & Phi Phi Island Escape
Six days on Thailand's Andaman coast — Phuket's beaches and Sino-Portuguese old town, a speedboat day among the limestone cliffs and lagoons of the Phi Phi Islands, and a longtail cruise through Phang Nga Bay — with your hotels, transfers and sightseeing handled from arrival to departure.
Thailand's most iconic coastline, arranged for you
Phuket is Thailand's largest island and the easiest gateway to the Andaman Sea — a place where beach time, an old trading-port town and some of the most photographed islands on Earth all sit within a short transfer of each other. This six-day journey uses Phuket as your base and builds around the experiences that make this coast famous, without the legwork of piecing together boats, guides and transfers yourself.
You'll spend a day among the towering limestone cliffs and hidden lagoons of the Phi Phi Islands, cruise past the karst islets of Phang Nga Bay to the rock made famous by a Bond film, and take in Phuket's own landmarks — the 45-metre marble Big Buddha above Chalong Bay, and the pastel Sino-Portuguese shophouses of the Old Town. In between, there's real beach time, not just a photo stop.
Airport transfers, centrally located accommodation, daily breakfast and the sightseeing listed below are arranged for you. Prefer a private guide throughout, an extra island day, or a slower pace? Every element here can be tailored — this itinerary is the starting point, not the ceiling.
What you'll actually see
Maya Bay & the Phi Phi Islands
A full-day speedboat trip to Koh Phi Phi Leh and Koh Phi Phi Don — the filming location of "The Beach," the emerald swimming hole of Pileh Lagoon, and Monkey Beach, home to a resident troop of long-tailed macaques — with a snorkelling stop and buffet lunch on Phi Phi Don.
Phang Nga Bay & James Bond Island
A longtail-boat cruise through Phang Nga Bay's dramatic limestone karsts to Khao Phing Kan — the "James Bond Island" of "The Man with the Golden Gun" — with lunch in the stilted Muslim fishing village of Koh Panyi.
Phuket's Big Buddha
A 45-metre seated Buddha in white Burmese marble, sitting atop Nakkerd Hill above Chalong Bay — one of the tallest statues in Thailand and one of the island's best viewpoints.
Phuket Old Town
Restored Sino-Portuguese shophouses along Thalang Road and Soi Romanee — a 19th-century tin-mining quarter turned photogenic mix of cafés, galleries and street food, and a slower-paced counterpoint to the beach resorts.
Your 6-day itinerary
A balanced pace — culture, two full island days, and genuine downtime — with breakfast daily and all listed transfers included.
You're met at Phuket International Airport and transferred to your beachfront or near-beach hotel. Settle in, then ease into the trip with an evening on the sand — Patong is the liveliest option for restaurants and nightlife, or ask us to base you at a quieter beach if that suits your group better.
A guided day around the island's landmarks: the 45-metre Big Buddha on Nakkerd Hill, with sweeping views over Chalong Bay; Wat Chalong, Phuket's most revered temple; and the Sino-Portuguese streets of Phuket Old Town, including the pastel shophouses of Soi Romanee. The day winds down at Promthep Cape, widely considered the island's best sunset viewpoint.
An early departure by speedboat to the Phi Phi Islands, roughly 90 minutes across the Andaman Sea. The day takes in Maya Bay and Loh Samah Bay on Koh Phi Phi Leh, a swim stop at the emerald Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Beach, and a pass by Viking Cave, before a buffet lunch on Koh Phi Phi Don and free time to explore its shops and cafés.
A cruise through Phang Nga Bay's karst-studded waters, past sheer limestone islands rising straight out of the sea, to Khao Phing Kan — better known as James Bond Island after its role in "The Man with the Golden Gun." Lunch is served in Koh Panyi, a Muslim fishing village built entirely on stilts, with time to wander its walkways before the return cruise.
A day with nothing booked, so you can rest, revisit a favourite beach, or add on an optional extra — a spa afternoon, a Muay Thai class, snorkelling closer to shore, or a half-day at one of Phuket's other beaches. Tell us what you'd enjoy and we can arrange it in advance.
Enjoy a final breakfast and, depending on your flight, some last free time by the beach or a final walk through Old Town. You're then transferred to the airport for your onward journey — or, if you'd like to extend, we can add nights on Phuket or link this trip to Krabi, Khao Lak or a wider Thailand itinerary.
Indicative itinerary. The exact order of activities, sightseeing and transfer times is confirmed at the time of booking and may adapt to flight schedules, tides, sea conditions and boat departure times. Maya Bay closes annually from 1 August to 30 September for environmental recovery; if your travel dates fall in that window, Day 3 substitutes nearby Bamboo Island and an extended stop at Loh Samah Bay — confirm current status with the operator before booking.
What's included — and what's not
Clear from the start, so there are no surprises when you travel.
Included
- Accommodation for 5 nights
- Daily breakfast
- Airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- Intercity transfers where applicable
- Sightseeing as listed in the itinerary
- Selected entrance fees
- Local assistance throughout
Not included
- International flights (unless stated)
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Meals not stated in the itinerary
- Optional activities & hotel upgrades
- Tips & gratuities
Before you go
Best time to visit
The dry season, November to April, brings calmer seas and easier boat access to the islands. The southwest monsoon (roughly May to October) can bring rough seas and rain — Phi Phi tours still run, weather permitting, but timing is worth discussing when you enquire.
Currency
The Thai Baht (THB). Cards are widely accepted in Phuket's hotels and malls; carry cash for national park fees, longtail boats, markets and small vendors.
Maya Bay's seasonal closure
Maya Bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September to let the reef and beach recover from visitor traffic. If you're travelling in that window, the itinerary substitutes nearby spots on Phi Phi Leh — we'll confirm the current status when you book.
Sun & reef care
The tropical sun is strong year-round — pack reef-safe sunscreen (Thailand restricts certain chemical sunscreens in some marine parks), a rash guard, and a hat. Never touch or stand on coral while snorkelling.
What to pack
Light, breathable clothing, swimwear, a dry bag for phones and cameras on boat days, comfortable sandals, and a light rain layer if travelling outside the dry season. Modest cover-ups are handy for temple visits.
Visas & documents
Entry requirements depend on your passport. Many nationalities can enter Thailand visa-free for short tourist stays, but please check based on your own nationality before you travel — we're happy to point you to the right official source.
Phuket and the Andaman coast, in five frames
Good to have answered
Is the US$899 price per person? What does it cover?
Yes — that's a starting price, per person, for the 6-day itinerary based on twin-share accommodation. It covers your hotels, daily breakfast, airport and listed transfers, the sightseeing in the itinerary, selected entrance fees and local assistance. The final figure depends on your travel dates, hotel choice, group size and whether you'd like it private, so we confirm an exact quote when you enquire.
Is Maya Bay open when I want to travel?
Maya Bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September for environmental recovery. Outside that window it's normally open, subject to sea conditions. If your dates fall inside the closure, the Phi Phi day is adjusted to nearby Bamboo Island and an extended stop at Loh Samah Bay — we'll confirm the current status when you book.
How rough is the boat crossing to Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay?
Both are day trips by speedboat or longtail boat and are generally comfortable, especially in the November-to-April dry season. Seas can be choppier in the monsoon months; if you're prone to motion sickness, we'd suggest bringing medication and mentioning it when you book so we can advise on timing.
Are international flights included?
No — international flights aren't included unless we've specifically stated so in your quote. Phuket has its own international airport (HKT) with direct connections from major Australian cities on some carriers, or via Bangkok or Singapore; we can advise on convenient routings and arrange your airport transfers to match your flights.
Can this itinerary be customised or run privately?
Absolutely — this is a template, not a fixed package. Run it fully private, add nights, upgrade the hotels, swap the free day for an extra activity, or extend into Krabi or Khao Lak. Tell us what you have in mind and we'll shape it around you.
Do I need a visa for Thailand?
It depends on your nationality. Many travellers can enter Thailand visa-free for short tourist stays, but requirements do change. Please verify based on your own passport before you travel — we're glad to point you to the right official source.
How do I book or get a quote?
Send us an enquiry with your rough dates and traveller numbers and we'll come back with a tailored quote and next steps. There's no obligation, and no payment needed to get a proposal.
Let's plan your Phuket & Phi Phi escape
Tell us your dates and who's travelling. We'll send back a tailored itinerary and a clear, all-in quote — with the flexibility to make it exactly the trip you want.