Koh Phi Phi has no airport or road bridge, so the practical public journey finishes by passenger boat at Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don. Phuket and Krabi are the two main gateways: choose the one that fits your preceding flight, bus or hotel location, then book the exact departure pier rather than the city name alone. From Phuket, that is commonly Rassada Pier; from the Krabi side, services may leave Klong Jilad or an Ao Nang-area point. Tonsai Village is walkable from the main pier, but hotels on another bay can require a resort boat or longtail transfer. Confirm that last segment before boarding, especially if you arrive late or carry heavy luggage.
Getting to Koh Phi Phi
From Phuket, the Phuket to Koh Phi Phi guide explains the Rassada-to-Tonsai journey and the difference between a conventional ferry and a faster boat. The correct choice depends on check-in location, baggage, comfort and onward hotel transfer—not the advertised crossing time alone. If you are landing at Phuket Airport on the same day, include the road journey to the pier and leave substantial recovery time.
From Krabi, use the Krabi to Koh Phi Phi guide to compare Klong Jilad and Ao Nang-area departures. Klong Jilad is on the Krabi Town side; an Ao Nang departure may be easier for travellers already staying near the beach. A product that includes hotel pickup can simplify the journey, but verify its geographic zone and pickup window.
There is no useful direct land alternative. A Bangkok or international itinerary must first reach Phuket or Krabi by flight, bus or train-linked transfer, then continue by boat. Buy a combined connection only when the provider clearly names every segment and the protection offered if the first leg runs late.
Tonsai Pier is the main arrival point
Tonsai Pier opens into Tonsai Village, the main settlement on Phi Phi Don. The arrival is a working passenger-pier environment with crowds, luggage and local boats. Keep the accommodation name and map pin available offline, then follow the hotel's written instructions rather than accepting a vague claim that every property is nearby.
Accommodation around Tonsai Bay and the village may be walkable, although narrow paths, heat and luggage can make a porter service useful. Resorts around Laem Tong, Loh Ba Kao or other separated bays may organize their own boat transfer. That pickup might depart from Tonsai on a fixed schedule, and it may not wait for a delayed ferry unless arranged in advance.
Do not confuse Phi Phi Don, where travellers stay and ferries arrive, with smaller islands and sightseeing stops in the archipelago. A tour boat is not automatically a transferable passenger service with luggage acceptance.