Phuket piers and islands: how to reach the right boat

Which pier for which island

Operators can change their routes and piers, so your ticket or tour voucher is the final word. This is the usual pattern.

The mistake that costs people the boat

The piers look close together on a map, but they are not. Chalong is in the south, Rassada is beside Phuket Town, and Ao Po and Bang Rong are well to the north-east. A traveller who goes to the wrong one may have no time to reach the right one. Before you book a car, find the pier's name on your ticket and send it to us.

Speedboat tours often include hotel pickup and ask you to be ready early. Check whether yours already includes transport before you book a car. If it does, you may only need us for the airport leg.

How much time to allow

• Check-in: ferries and tours normally ask you to arrive before departure. Follow the time on your ticket. Without one, allow at least 30 minutes.
• From Patong or Kata to Rassada: the road crosses the island and passes Phuket Town. Peak hours are slower.
• From the airport to Ao Po or Bang Rong: these east-coast roads are quieter, and usually the easiest pier trips.
• Bad weather: from around May to October, sailings can be changed or cancelled at short notice. Ask the boat operator and leave a margin.

Islands we reach by road

Some islands are easier with a car for most of the way. These fares are per car from Phuket, and any ferry ticket is separate unless we tell you otherwise.

Coming back from the islands

Boats arrive when they arrive. If you are flying out the same day, leave a generous margin, and take an earlier boat when you can. Book your car with the boat's name and expected time, and tell us if it changes. The airport is about 38 km from Rassada, so it is rarely a quick hop.

Which pier suits a day trip?

If you want a simple day out, choose the tour first and then find the pier. Chalong is the natural base for the southern islands and is close to Rawai and Kata. Ao Po is the base for Phang Nga Bay and suits guests at Laguna or the north coast. For Koh Phi Phi, Rassada is close to Phuket Town, so an overnight stay in town can make an early ferry much easier.

Phi Phi, Samui and Lanta: the three big questions

Three islands account for most of the questions we are asked. Koh Phi Phi has no road link at all, so the job is getting you to the right pier in good time. Koh Samui is on the other side of the country, in the Gulf, and the sensible way overland is by car across the mainland and then a car ferry. Koh Lanta is reached by road through Krabi with a short ferry crossing, and boats from Phuket are only an option in some months.

Each of those has its own guide, with fares, routes and the points that catch people out.

What to do with your luggage

Large cases and small boats don't mix. A big ferry has room for bags, but a speedboat usually means passing them hand to hand, sometimes wading the last few metres at a beach. If you are only going for a day, leave the big cases at your hotel. If you are moving between islands, ask the operator what they accept before you buy a ticket.

Your car can carry whatever fits, and the driver will drop you as close to the ticket desk as the pier allows. Rassada and Chalong can both be busy at departure times, so have your ticket or voucher ready before you get out.

The wet season on the water

Boats run all year on many routes, but the sea decides. From around May to October the Andaman side can be rough, and tours may change, shorten or cancel. If a trip matters to you, keep a spare day after it, rather than planning it for your last day. If you get seasick, sit towards the back of the boat and ask the operator whether a bigger ferry is available instead of a speedboat.