Phi Phi & Maiton Islands: Speed Catamaran, Lunch & Snorkel

4.78

(232 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Grabbing a cold bottle of water from the cooler, I found myself grinning at how roomy the seats were on this speed catamaran—nobody’s knees jammed up, just space and that salty wind. Our guide, Nok, handed out snacks with a quick joke about “Thai potato chips being better at sea,” which honestly might be true. The first stop was Bamboo Island, where the sand felt almost powdery under my feet. I could hear someone playing soft Thai pop from a speaker further down the beach—kind of mixed with the sound of waves and laughter from a group trying to take a jumping photo (they never quite got it right).

Lunch on Phi Phi Don surprised me. I expected something basic but ended up with grilled fish that tasted smoky and fresh—plus that view over turquoise water. There was time to wander through little shops; one lady sold these woven bracelets and smiled when I tried to ask her price in Thai (I probably butchered it). After that, we hopped onto a long tail boat for Pileh Lagoon. The way those limestone cliffs just shoot up around you—it’s hard not to stare. Nok pointed out Viking Cave as we drifted past; he said locals used to collect bird nests there for soup. I’d never heard of that before.

Maya Bay came next—yeah, the one from “The Beach.” It was quieter than I imagined (maybe because they limit tourists now), and the sand was so white it almost hurt my eyes. Some people just lay back in silence for a while. Then snorkeling near Viking Cave: warm water, flashes of yellow fish everywhere. I tried paddle boarding but mostly just spun in slow circles—still fun though. On the way back toward Maithon Island, everyone got quiet watching the sun drop behind the horizon. Someone thought they saw dolphins but maybe it was wishful thinking—I’m still not sure.