Why you should choose a Phuket Speedboat tour
Phuket holiday makers are greeted with a range of options when it comes to private boat tours when holidaying on the island. In essence, there are 3 main boat options to choose from which will be outlined below.
Private Long-Tail
A common visual, the wooden long-tail boat tour provides tourists with the chance to travel across the waterways in the most historic way possible, with this type of boat tour are staple of the Phuket tourism industry for decades.
The main benefit of long-tail boat tours:
Cost-efficient – these boat tours are amongst the cheapest options for boat tours, and definitely the cheapest private tour option.
The biggest negative to long-tail boat tours:
Exposed to the sun – these tours tend to not provide much shade for their guests and are exposed to the elements, including rough sea conditions.
Private Yacht Tours
A lot more spacious than long-tail boat tours, a private yacht tour is a higher class option that provides ample lounging areas and generally include meals on board, complimentary (or pay on purchase) drinks and a large decking area for leaping into the sea.
The main benefit of Private Yacht tours:
Ideal for celebrations and large group events – it is very common to observe wedding parties, anniversary events and birthday celebrations on private yacht tours given their size.
The biggest negative to Private Yacht Tours:
Not built for speed and limited in freedom – Given the size, these boats are significantly slower than most speedboats, and given that the time taken to reach islands is significantly more, it is unlikely your tour will incorporate as many stops as a Private Speedboat tour.
Private Speedboat Tours
Simba, and many of the local competition have made their name with the use of state-of-the-art speedboats that are capable of traveling long distances in a short period of time. Their elevated position in the sea also allows for a comfortable journey, especially if guest limits as put in place, as is the case with Simba.
The main benefit of Private Speedboat Tours:
Longer, more flexible itineraries: The sheer speed and time taken to reach highly desirable locations make speedboats the easy choice for those looking to fill their day with a lot of adventure.
The biggest negative to Private Speedboat Tours:
Generally not as spacious as Private Yachts (but not in our case!): While most speedboats have much less seating, making the journey feel somewhat crammed, Simba Sea Trips avoids this negative by reducing capacity thus ensuring all our guests can travel in comfort with additional space to spread out.
The Most Popular 2 Speedboat tours to Check out
It’s the old age debate. You’ve come to Phuket and decided to do a speed boat tour. Which one to do? the Phi Phi Island tour or the Phang Nga Bay tour? Well if you ask us we’d say both, but let us give you the difference between the two so that you can make a decision. In our opinion Phang Nga Bay and Phi Phi Island are both very different experiences so it depends on what sort of an experience you are after.
Phi Phi Island Speedboat Tour
Phi Phi Island is best know for it’s starring role in the film The Beach. Tourists have been flocking to Maya Bay every since the movie put it on the map. Phi Phi is made up of 6 islands but commonly people only know of Phi Phi Leh and Phi Phi Don. It is surrounded by stunning waters and blessed with white sandy beaches. If your idea of a good day out is snorkelling and swimming in these clear blue waters followed by soaking up some rays on a beautiful beach, then a Phi Phi tour may just be the one for you. At Simba we offer several opportunities for snorkelling and also hanging out on the beach.
Phang Nga Bay Speedboat Tour
Phang Nga Bay is best known for the iconic rock that featured in the James Bond movie, The Man With The Golden Gun. The island has since been named, and is affectionately known as, James Bond Island. This is not the only thing to see or do in the bay though. There are stunning karsts jutting from the sea, hidden lagoons, caves and much more to explore. A Phang Nga Bay tour suits adventurous types. Whilst we do manage to fit a bit of lazing around on a beautiful beach, the tour is predominantly activities based. The scenery in Phang Nga Bay is stunning and is often compared to Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. There is a good reason as to why the topography looks similar and this is because the two areas both form part of an area the was effected by a big shift in the Earth’s plates. If you’d like a day on the water taking in some stunning scenery, kayaking through lagoons and caves then a Phang Nga Tour is the one for you.
Beat the crowds and book an experience of a lifetime with Simba Sea Trips, a Tripadvisor 5 star accredited boat tour operator.
Updated October 2025
FAQs
1) What are the main differences between the Phi Phi, and Phang Nga Bay Tours?
While Phi Phi Island tours focus on turquoise bays, beaches, and snorkelling, Phang Nga Bay is about limestone karsts, lagoons, caves, and kayaking.
2) I want great snorkelling and postcard beaches. Which tour should I pick first?
Choose Phi Phi. It typically includes stops like Maya Bay viewing and Bamboo Island, with multiple snorkel sessions when conditions allow.
3) I prefer scenery, sea caves, and a calmer day on the water. Which tour suits me?
Pick Phang Nga Bay. Expect towering limestone formations, cave exploring, and kayaking through lagoons when conditions permit.
4) Is there a best tour option for first-timers who want variety?
Krabi itineraries are a strong all-rounder, balancing beaches, lagoons, and snorkelling with time at spots like Hong Island and Railay.
5) What is the best boat tour from Phuket?
The most highly sought boat tours in Phuket are:
- Phi Phi Islands from Phuket
- Phang Nga Bay from Phuket
- Krabi Island from Phuket
6) How to travel between beaches in Phuket
While it largely depends on which beaches specifically are being referred to, generally tourists will travel between beaches as part of a speedboat tour.
7) Which is the best way to get around in Phuket?
Well it depends. If you are speaking specifically about Phuket Island then a range of options are satisfactory including rent-a-car, taxi, motorbike hire and bus. If you are referring to traversing the waters around Phuket then the best way is via speedboat.
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