Phuket: Phi Phi, Bamboo & Maiton Speed Catamaran Tour

Island hopping, with a little polish. This eight-hour trip links Bamboo Island, Phi Phi, and Maiton Island aboard the Sweetie, a 2025 high-speed catamaran with leather seats, sea-view decks, snorkeling gear, kayaks, paddleboards, and a floating water slide. I especially like the mix of famous sights and water time, plus the included Thai buffet, fruit, snacks, and soft drinks. The main drawback is the long day and the risk of delays, especially with Phuket traffic and a busy pier check-in.

The boat is designed for people who want more comfort than a basic speedboat but still want to cover several islands in one day. You get hotel pickup across Phuket, two snorkeling sessions, beach time at Bamboo Island and Maya Bay when open, and a final stop at Maiton Island. Just keep your expectations practical: the group can reach up to 75 people, and one poor experience involved a late departure, confusing registration, and an English guide who was difficult to understand.

Key points before you book

• Three very different island stops: Bamboo Island brings white sand, Phi Phi Don provides lunch, Maya Bay offers the famous beach setting when open, and Maiton adds water activities.
• A more comfortable boat setup: Sweetie has leather seating, sea-view decks, onboard amenities, towels, beach mats, and a smoother ride than a basic speedboat.
• Two planned snorkeling sessions: You snorkel around Phi Phi and again near Maiton, with equipment, life jackets, and disposable mouthpieces included.
• Hotel pickup is included: Pickup covers hotels across Phuket, though the exact time depends on your location and traffic can be heavy.
• Maya Bay is seasonal: The bay closes from August 1 for an annual environmental break, so the beach landing may not be available on every departure.
• Good value, but not a quiet escape: At $90.99 per person, the package includes transport, lunch, equipment, guides, and several activities, but you share the day with a large group.

What the $90.99 price really buys

At $90.99, this is not Phuket’s cheapest island trip. It is also more than a basic boat transfer. The price covers island-wide hotel pickup, the catamaran ride, a Thai buffet lunch, fruit, snacks, soft drinks, snorkeling equipment, towels, beach mats, paddleboards, a transparent kayak, a water slide, and accident medical insurance.

That bundle makes the cost reasonable if you plan to use the included activities. Paying separately for transfers, a boat trip, snorkeling gear, lunch, and water equipment could easily make a cheaper-looking tour less attractive. I also like that the package includes a disposable mouthpiece, a small detail that makes shared snorkeling equipment feel more comfortable.

The value depends on what kind of day you want. If your priority is a quiet beach with plenty of personal space, a maximum group of 75 may feel too large. If you want to see several famous places without arranging each boat, meal, and transfer yourself, the price is easier to justify.

Sweetie is presented as a luxury high-speed catamaran, with leather seats and open sea-view areas. That matters on a long day. You are not only moving between islands. You are spending much of the day on the water, so seating, shade, deck space, and onboard comfort affect the whole experience.

Hotel pickup and the morning run to Bamboo Island

The day begins with a hotel pickup scheduled between about 8:30 and 9:30, depending on where you stay. The exact time comes by email confirmation, so check it rather than relying only on the advertised 10:00 start time.

This is useful if you are staying away from Chalong Pier. You do not need to arrange a taxi to the meeting point, and the transfer is included across Phuket. The catch is traffic. Phuket roads can be slow, particularly around the main resort areas, and one delay can affect the start of the whole day.

At the pier, registration may take time. Give yourself patience during this part, since one reported problem was a chaotic check-in followed by a departure about 30 minutes late. If you are staying in Patong or farther from Chalong, your morning may feel long before the boat even leaves.

The scheduled first stop is Bamboo Island, reached after arrival at the pier around 10:00. You have about 50 minutes here. The appeal is simple: white sand, clear shallow water, and a short chance to enjoy an island beach before the schedule moves on.

Fifty minutes is enough to walk, take photographs, and get into the water. It is not enough for a slow, unhurried beach morning. You will want to keep your belongings organized and listen for instructions so you do not lose part of the stop getting on and off the boat.

Phi Phi Don lunch and the first snorkeling session

The trip continues to Phi Phi Don, where lunch is served at a restaurant around 12:50. The buffet is Thai-style, and seasonal fruit, snacks, and soft drinks are included during the day.

A buffet works well on a packed excursion because you can choose how much to eat and get back to the schedule without waiting for individual dishes. Still, do not expect a long restaurant meal. The lunch stop is one part of a carefully timed day, with the boat scheduled to leave again around 14:00.

After lunch, the boat heads to the waters around the Phi Phi Islands for the first snorkeling session. You have roughly 1 hour and 10 minutes for this portion, including the move into the snorkeling area and time in the water.

This is one of the strongest parts of the trip for anyone who wants more than beach photographs. Colorful fish are specifically part of the experience, and the tour provides snorkeling equipment, life jackets, towels, and disposable mouthpieces. The activity is included, so you do not need to rent gear at the island.

Conditions at sea and visibility can change, so the quality of snorkeling is never fully guaranteed. The practical advantage here is time. A short photo stop would not give you much chance to enjoy the water, while this session is long enough to make snorkeling a central part of the day.

Maya Bay, Viking Cave, and the seasonal closure

From the Phi Phi waters, the boat passes Viking Cave on the way to Maya Bay. The schedule allows about an hour for Maya Bay, including the island landing and free time on the beach.

Maya Bay is Phuket’s most famous stop for good reason. The setting is instantly recognizable, and the chance to walk on the beach gives you something different from viewing the cliffs from the water. The visit also adds a sense of place to a day that could otherwise become a series of swimming stops.

The important catch is the seasonal closure. Maya Bay is closed from August 1, so the beach landing is not available during that period. Check the operating dates before booking if standing on the beach is one of your main reasons for choosing this trip.

Even when the bay is open, keep the schedule in mind. You have about an hour, not an entire afternoon. The stop is best treated as a scenic highlight within a larger island day, not as a private beach visit.

The boat then heads toward Honeymoon Island. This keeps the route moving instead of sending you back toward Phuket immediately after Maya Bay. It also sets up the final water stop, which has a different feel from the beach and sightseeing portions earlier in the day.

Maiton Island water activities and the ride home

The final main stop is Ko Mai Thon, also called Maiton Island, with arrival around 16:40 or 16:50. The second snorkeling session takes place here, along with paddleboarding, a transparent kayak, a water slide, and a floating water platform.

This is a smart finish for an active day. Bamboo Island and Maya Bay focus on beaches and scenery, while Maiton gives you several ways to get back into the water. You can snorkel again, try a paddleboard, or use the transparent kayak if you prefer a slower activity.

The stop lasts about 50 minutes, so you will need to choose what matters most. Trying every activity may leave little time for relaxed swimming. If you want to snorkel properly, start with that rather than waiting until the end.

The boat leaves around 17:40 for the return journey. Snacks, soft drinks, and fruit are served on the way back. After a full day in the sun, this simple service matters. You can sit down, eat something light, and watch the sea without needing to find a shop or carry extra food.

The experience ends back at the meeting point. Hotel pickup is included at the beginning, but the supplied details do not promise a separate hotel drop-off schedule, so check the confirmation for the return arrangement.

Is the Sweetie catamaran really more comfortable?

The boat is the main reason to choose this trip over a plain speedboat outing. Sweetie is described as a 2025 luxury high-speed catamaran with leather seating, open sea-view decks, and full onboard amenities. The design aims to combine speed with a smoother, more comfortable ride.

That does not mean the sea will always be calm. Weather still controls the feel of any boat trip, and the excursion requires good conditions. But a catamaran layout and proper seating can make a long crossing easier than sitting on a hard bench in a smaller craft.

You also get practical gear onboard: beach mats, towels, life jackets, snorkeling equipment, and the equipment for the water activities. This reduces the amount you need to pack and makes the day simpler.

The boat can carry up to 75 people. That is not a small private cruise. Expect shared spaces and some competition for the best views, especially during boarding and popular stops. The open deck is a plus, but the group size means the word luxury should be understood as comfort and equipment, not solitude.

Guides, language, and the group experience

The tour includes both Chinese-speaking and English-speaking guides. This can work well for a mixed-language group, but communication may not be equally strong in every departure.

One serious complaint concerned an English guide who was hard to understand, with much of the day conducted in Chinese. That is worth taking seriously if detailed explanations, safety instructions, or a fully English-speaking experience are important to you.

The tour’s average rating is 4.3 from 23 reviews, which suggests a generally positive experience with some clear weak points. The most positive feedback centers on the fun of the boat day and the island stops. The recurring caution is organization at the pier, delays, traffic, and language clarity.

You can reduce some stress by reading the pickup email carefully, arriving ready for registration, and accepting that a busy Phuket excursion may not run to the minute. If you need a tightly managed, small-group day, this may not be your best fit.

Who will enjoy this full-day island route?

I would choose this trip for couples, families, and friends who want many highlights in one outing. It offers beach time, snorkeling, sightseeing, lunch, and playful water activities, so you are unlikely to feel that the day consists of only one type of stop.

It also suits people who value convenience. Hotel pickup, food, equipment, and guides are bundled into one booking. You do not need to compare pier transfers or rent snorkeling gear after arriving.

Families should note that the tour includes life jackets and several water activities, but the supplied information does not give age, swimming, or height rules for the slide and other equipment. Ask the provider if those details matter for your group.

I would be more cautious if you dislike crowds, need perfect timing, or want long stretches on one beach. The route covers a lot in eight hours, and every stop has a fixed window. That is the tradeoff for seeing Bamboo, Phi Phi, Maya Bay, and Maiton in one day.

The trip also requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel the departure, you receive a different date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Should you book the Phi Phi, Bamboo and Maiton tour?

Book it if you want an active, well-equipped island day with several major Phuket sights and a more comfortable boat than a basic speedboat. At $90.99, the included transfer, buffet, snorkeling, snacks, beach gear, and water activities make the package a fair choice for a first visit.

Before booking, confirm the Maya Bay operating dates, read your pickup time carefully, and think honestly about your tolerance for traffic, a group of up to 75, and possible delays at the pier. If you can accept those limits, this is a lively and practical way to cover a lot of the Andaman Sea in one day.

FAQ

How long is the Phuket Phi Phi, Bamboo and Maiton tour?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours.

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 10:00 am at the Seven Plus Travel Chalong pier. Hotel pickups usually begin between 8:30 and 9:30, depending on your hotel location.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Phuket island-wide hotel transfers are included, and the exact pickup time is provided in the booking confirmation.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A Thai-style buffet lunch is served at a restaurant on Phi Phi Don Island. Seasonal fruit, snacks, and soft drinks are also included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, life jackets, disposable mouthpieces, and towels are provided.

What water activities are included?

The tour includes a water slide, paddleboards, a transparent kayak, and a floating water platform.

Is Maya Bay open on every departure?

No. Maya Bay is closed from August 1 for a seasonal closure, so the beach landing is not available during that period.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You are offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes the experience to be canceled.