Oct 24, 2024
Recommended - Where do I start?
Hard to book a day of your holiday to one activity, which costs a fair bit for Thailand and hope it is as it sells itself.
We did this trip today to Phi Phi. I did message the night before as the wind app I use showed that it had changed direction and looked to be building. I received a slightly odd reply with a photo of the likelihood of rain. I’m sure that many tourists care about rain but on the water wind is what counts. We nevertheless headed for the pick up point and all went well.
At the office all was again well organised. They must have had around 80 people going on to four boats and they all ended up on the right ones.
Safety
As a dive professional for almost 20 years and a boat owner - as well as having our 10 year old daughter with us - safety was/is always our utmost priority.
We’ve been on some shocking vessels. This boat was excellent. All equipment was in good order and the crew well drilled in keeping passengers safe. I would have liked a slightly better safety briefing (such as where the spare life jackets were as there were not enough out on deck - but more were mentioned. A friend in the uk had a boat go down in under 2 minutes a few weeks ago - exceptionally rare but not long enough to be asking questions. But I digress, the way the boat was run showed safety was of very high priority.
Snorkelling equipment was again of very high standard. New mouthpieces on every snorkel. Fins were open foot rather than closed. Much better but really need to let people know to bring wetsuit boots if they have them - which we do back in our hotel room ready for diving later in the week. I guess we are just used to snorkel boats tending to have full foot fins. We had brought fins/mask and snorkel for our daughter but I was not given the impression that it would have been a problem had I not done so - and the life jacket given to us for her was a perfect fit and again in excellent condition.
Sites visited.
The first site we went to was a shore entry snorkelling site. It was exceptionally poor. I’ve seen worse - but not much worse. Given that there were about eight boats fighting for limited shore landing I wonder whether the chance of wind direction had moved them to a different site to that planned. I must admit to a few dark thoughts here about misrepresentation. A shore entry site for unknown customers is a good thing as it allows you to get an idea of capability but I really didn’t get the sense that they were watching. The wind built whilst we were in the water it the session cut short to get away before the boat grounded on the sand for a long stay. No one was particularly sad.
One thing that was nice was you could pick whether you use fins/life vest. We were using them as seeking to set good example to our 10 year old but they are a bit of a pain when you can work well without - as my husband did when he had to duck dive down 30 odd feet to get a fin which our daughter dropped. The crew did offer to get it but he was bored.
The second snorkelling site was pushed back after lunch due to a hope the wind would drop. Given reports that it would get worse in the afternoon I was surprised but nothing beats local knowledge.
It was excellent. I am not sure it was where we were originally going to go - we certainly took an odd route from lunch if it was. But it was all that it needed to be. Live coral, good variety of fish. Shallow enough to see it. Deep enough to anchor the boat without damage. Our daughter was delighted.
The rest of the day was very much follow the tourist boats around to tick off the sites. But well and safely done. Monkey island was fab and the crew excelled themselves in landing us in tricky conditions. Even in the boat soup which developed at some of the busier swim sites I was never concerned that my daughter (or anyone else) would get chomped by a propeller.
Lunch
Lunch was very poor. It was described as at a 4/5 star hotel, one boat only, soft drinks included. We are told we will be there an hour and after we have eaten we can lounge by the pool etc. I’d love to know who did the rating. It’s the only 4/5 star hotel I’ve ever seen with only six or so loungers by the pool. Only two with shade.
Lunch was cold. Not just the salad but the deep fried chicken and fish. It helped explain how they could serve it an hour earlier than scheduled. Clearly cooked in advance and heated up - not for
long enough I’m afraid. Those free soft drinks? One option. I asked for an orange juice - but that was chargeable.
On the boat there was a reasonably never ending offering of coke/water and snacks - both fruit and processed stuff kept everyone going.
Staff
Can’t fault them. Helpful, polite, wanting to ensure that everyone had a good time. Showed particular kindness to a rather frail old lady who sat on the boat at every swim stop but asked me at the last how cold it was. I responded that it was lovely and warm. Next thing I saw was the staff helping her into the water with improvised floatation aids and a lot of support. Lovely.
Overall
The trip back was slow and uncomfortable due to the wind direction but the skipper had good control and was never anywhere dangerous in the slightest. They were right not to cancel and whilst I suspect that it left the crew with fewer options, they made it a good day for all. Would I do it again? No as there is much more to be done. But you should. And tip them better - a good crew is literally there to save your life as well as make your day.
Well that has kept me occupied for most of the transfer back to my hotel which was a welcome distraction. Hope you find it useful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 13, 2024
An amazing experience! - Husband and I booked this tour a while back and were looking forward to it. Ibi and his team were incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable. The weather was absolutely perfect and the day was absolutely beautiful.
Would recommend to friends and family.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 3, 2024
Fab day out - Amazing day out, fast boat, lots of refreshments, good variety of places, snorkelling lots of fun and nice lunch. Our teenage girls loved it too
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 27, 2024
Family friendly fun. - Fantastic from start to finish. Everything ran on time and smoothly. The tour guide ‘P’ was great and the views and scenery were breathtaking. We travelled with our 7yr old and he was able to join in with everything.
Review provided by Viator
Aug 23, 2024
5star day out - Tip top guide and team who made the day a great success. Excellent trip to 4 of the islands with snorkelling in two areas and swimming at another. Beautiful lunch too. Only down side was a high maintenance guest on board who dominated the day.
Review provided by Viator
Aug 14, 2024
Recommended 5/5 - Very cool day from start to finish friendly cool Guide all day well planted everything is experienced as described
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 9, 2024
Great tour and staff - The staff were absolutely fantastic, best customer service, friendly, attentive and so friendly. P and his team- 10/10!
Tour well worth the money.
Review provided by Viator
Aug 4, 2024
Phi Phi Islands will not disappoint you - Wow, what an excellent trip. Our guide Sexy Goodies was superb, the Captain of the speedboat excellent and the 2 lifeguards attentive. Photographer superb. The trip ensured plenty of time at each location to swim/snorkel (loved that the mouthpieces were individually wrapped, so clean and unused by others). Beautiful Corals and fish to see. Lots of refreshments to prevent dehydration too.
Review provided by Viator
Jul 2, 2024
Superb boat trip, highly recommended. - Very well arranged trip from start to finish. Snacks and drinks enough on board. Great lunch on Phi Phi island. Very friendly "crew". Top order. And fortunately the weather was beautiful this day ☀️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 6, 2024
A lovely experience - Pick up was on time before 6:30am which was good took 2hrs drive from Khao Lak. We arrived at the marina checked in the staff directed us to a room with a shop and snacks/coffee. Next we was in a certain group for the boat which was fine then we met our guide i forgot his name but he made the trip he was hilarious. He took us to the boat and explained where we was heading you could seat main bit or in the front the crew gave us water or coke which was nice. We got to the 1st island and the stopped by the beach they gave us snorkel gear before hand we had an hour which was good a bit busy but not too bad. It was a bit of a hassle trying to get back on the boat cause the boats stopped on the beach and didn’t have proper steps to get on or off the boat next stopped at a swimming location for an hour saw lovely corals and fish. After that we had lunch it was at a hotel the boats stopped by the beach. The food was ok. Next we stopped at another swimming location this one was very busy with lot of speed boats and long tail boats by cliffs and not space to swim around you can jump from the boat as well. The crew very good kept giving us drinks and snacks they even folded your towels which was nice and helped you get off and on the boat. It was raining a few times luckily we had a roof on the boat but the crew pulled the covers on the sides. Next we went to monkey beach we couldn’t stop on the beach as it was high tide the boat went quite fast going between islands the last stop was maya bay. It was very touristy and so many boats at one time the pier was just a big floating platform it was a bit scary get off from the boat maya was very busy it had a beach, shop and some lovely views but just very busy. After that we headed back to the marina. It was a good day seeing the different islands and swimming spots the crew did not stop all day our guide was very good and very funny.
Review provided by Tripadvisor