Sailing Thailand Self-Launched: Phuket, Phang Nga Bay & the Phi Phi Islands
7 days · Thailand (Phuket & Andaman Islands)
G Adventures charges £1,155
No-markup version: ~£365 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of G Adventures' 7-day Phuket-to-Phuket catamaran sailing trip. Instead of chartering a crewed boat, you string together the same island chain using Thailand's excellent public ferries, longtail boats and songthaews — base yourself in budget guesthouses on Phuket, Railay, Phi Phi and Koh Yao Yai, and book the day sails, snorkel trips and James Bond Island tours yourself via Klook or GetYourGuide. You'll see the same limestone karsts, bays and reefs for roughly a third of the tour price, with the freedom to linger where you like. Costs are approximate per person, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Phuket & sunset at Ao Po / Yacht Haven area
Phuket (Ao Po / Thalang)
Land at Phuket airport (HKT) and take a Grab or metered taxi to the Ao Po / Thalang area near Yacht Haven Marina — about 20-30 min, roughly 300-500 THB (£7-11) for a Grab. Check into a budget guesthouse or hostel in the area, then wander down to the marina for a first look at the boats and a cheap seafood dinner at a local restaurant. Sorted Travel Tip: book a spot on tomorrow's Phang Nga Bay day trip via Klook tonight — operators pick up from Ao Po hotels around 8am.
🚌Grab or metered taxi from HKT airport to Ao Po (~£8)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel near Ao Po, Thalang (£12-18 dorm/private)
- →Arrive Phuket airport
- →Settle into guesthouse near Ao Po
- →Sunset walk at Yacht Haven Marina
Phang Nga Bay & James Bond Island by longtail boat
Phang Nga Bay
Join a small-group or shared longtail/speedboat day trip into Phang Nga Bay — the same route the catamaran sails. Stop at Khao Phing Kan ('James Bond Island') and the floating Muslim village of Koh Panyee, with time for a swim and a paddle through the mangrove caves. Book through Klook or GetYourGuide (roughly £25-35pp including lunch and hotel pickup) rather than a private charter. Return to Ao Po in the late afternoon; dinner at a roadside Thai restaurant.
🚌Included hotel pickup for day trip; shared longtail boat
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel near Ao Po (£12-18)
- →James Bond Island (Khao Phing Kan)
- →Koh Panyee floating village
- →Sea cave kayaking / swimming in Phang Nga Bay
Ferry to Railay Beach
Railay Beach, Krabi
Take a shared transfer or local bus from Ao Po/Phuket to Krabi (roughly 3 hrs, ~£10-12 via minivan booked on 12Go or Klook), then a 15-minute longtail boat from Ao Nam Mao or Krabi pier to Railay West (~150 THB / £3.50). Railay has no roads, so it feels like the boat-based trip. Afternoon for climbing, swimming or just lounging; walk to Phra Nang Beach and the Shrine of the Sea Princess. Dinner at a cheap Railay East restaurant.
🚌Minivan Phuket to Krabi (~£11) + longtail boat to Railay (~£4)
🛏Railay East budget bungalow/guesthouse (£20-30)
- →Longtail boat to Railay
- →Phra Nang Beach & Sea Princess Shrine
- →Optional rock climbing intro session (~£25)
Railay to Koh Phi Phi — Monkey Bay snorkelling
Koh Phi Phi Don
Morning longtail back to Krabi pier, then the public ferry to Koh Phi Phi Don (about 2 hrs, ~£12-15 booked on 12Go). Check into a budget guesthouse in Phi Phi village (Tonsai). In the afternoon, book a shared longtail or speedboat snorkel trip to Monkey Bay, Viking Cave and the famous Phi Phi Leh cliffs (~£20-25) — or hike to Phi Phi Viewpoint for free. Evening beach bar and cheap street food.
🚌Longtail to Krabi (~£4) + ferry to Phi Phi Don (~£13)
🛏Budget guesthouse in Tonsai, Phi Phi (£15-22)
- →Public ferry to Phi Phi
- →Monkey Bay & Phi Phi Leh snorkel trip
- →Phi Phi Viewpoint hike
Snorkel & kayak Koh Phi Phi — optional Maya Bay
Koh Phi Phi
Full day on the water. Either join a shared sunrise speedboat tour that includes Maya Bay (entry 400 THB national park fee, ~£9) and Bamboo Island, or rent a kayak and explore quieter coves yourself. Snorkelling gear rents for about 100-150 THB/day (£2-3.50). Book any boat trip via Klook or your guesthouse — no need to pre-book weeks ahead in low season. Sunset dinner on the beach.
🚌Shared speedboat / walking
🛏Budget guesthouse in Tonsai, Phi Phi (£15-22)
- →Maya Bay / Bamboo Island boat trip
- →Snorkelling and kayaking
- →Phi Phi beach sunset
Phi Phi to Koh Yao Yai (quiet island life)
Koh Yao Yai
Ferry back to Krabi or Phuket (check schedules — Phi Phi to Phuket is ~2 hrs, ~£13), then the short local ferry to Koh Yao Yai (~100 THB / £2.30). Koh Yao Yai is the peaceful, unspoilt island the catamaran anchors off. Rent a scooter (~250 THB / £6) and explore the empty west-coast beaches, then have a seafood group dinner at a beachfront restaurant for a fraction of tour prices.
🚌Ferry to Phuket (~£13) + local ferry to Koh Yao Yai (~£2.30) + scooter hire (~£6)
🛏Beach bungalow or guesthouse on Koh Yao Yai (£18-28)
- →Island-hop ferry
- →Scooter tour of Koh Yao Yai
- →Beachfront seafood dinner
Koh Yao Yai to Phuket & departure
Phuket
Morning swim and a slow breakfast, then the local ferry back to Phuket (Bang Rong pier, ~£2.30), followed by a Grab or public bus to the airport (~£8 Grab / ~£1.50 bus). If your flight is late afternoon you'll still have time for a last bowl of boat noodles in Phuket Town. Aim to depart no earlier than mid-afternoon, matching the tour's original departure guidance.
🚌Local ferry (~£2.30) + Grab to HKT airport (~£8)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Morning beach swim
- →Local ferry to Phuket
- →Optional Phuket Old Town stop
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£365 | £1,155 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £790 per person (68%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£365
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Sailing Thailand Self-Launched: Phuket, Phang Nga Bay & the Phi Phi Islands cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £365 per person for 7 days in Thailand (Phuket & Andaman Islands). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,155 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £365 — a saving of roughly £790 (68%) per person.
How long is the Thailand (Phuket & Andaman Islands) trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Thailand (Phuket & Andaman Islands).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, beaches, backpacker trip through Thailand (Phuket & Andaman Islands), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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