Yes, we only operate private tours, this allows us to focus more attention on each tour and create unique experiences for our guests. If you prefer a lower-cost shared boat tour, we recommend the service provided by the “Phi Phi Island Tours Company“.

Yes, all our tours are led by experienced local guides, this allows us to create a more personalised experience. All Five Star Tour Guides are carefully selected individuals with good English skills, fun personalities and a passion for nature. Guides work alongside our boat captains and deckhands to plan tour routes, ensure your safety and to provide extra context about the places we visit.

The tour guide role is a respected profession in Thailand, earning a license requires a bachelor’s degree, proficient foreign language skills, along with local knowledge about the areas we conduct tours in. All our guides hold the appropriate license to conduct inbound tours

The prices for our tours are dependent on the your specific requirements, such as the tour starting location, the boat type, the amount of passengers and the date of the tour. It’s quick and easy to look up the tour prices because we publish all our rates online, alongside the tour information–on the booking page.

Five Star Group (Thailand) Co., Ltd. is the operating company–the company is registered in Thailand’s Krabi Province, in the Phi Phi Islands. Many tour companies are online only, but not Five Star Group (Thailand). A physical presence is maintained on the island, the company employs local people, supports local communities, and is on hand when assistance is needed.

Five Star Thailand is a trending name of the Island Travel Company Co., Ltd. Not to be confused with the tour operator; Five Star Group (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Please note that reservations cannot be made in person.

We speak Thai, English, and Chinese, other languages may be available upon request.

If you need help making a reservation, have a question about our tours, or if you questions about an existing booking, you’ll find our Whatsapp number, email address and alternative details on our contact page. Please send us a message on your preferred messaging application and we’ll be quick to respond! *Please note that we no longer provide telephone support.

We run private tours to the Phi Phi Islands, and we also have private tour services to the James Bond Islands (Phang Nga Bay) and to the Similan Islands. Due to the distance between each location it is not possible to combine multiple locations into one tour

There are three departure locations for our Phi Phi Island Tours: either Phuket, Krabi, or from Phi Phi Don. Our James Bond Tours can start in either Phuket or Krabi, and our Similan Island tours start from Phuket or Khao Lak. Please ensure you book a tour with a starting location that matches where you are staying.

For guests booking a longtail boat tour from Phuket or Krabi, round-trip speedboat transfers are included to get to the islands. Once there, we change to a private longtail boat. It would be unsafe to travel to Koh Phi Phi from the mainland by longtail boat. Transfers are not required for private speedboat tours.

No, we get asked this a lot. But it’s not feasible to visit both Phi Phi Islands and James Bond Island in one day. The locations are in opposite directions and far apart, making it impractical. You’d spend most of the day travelling, with little time to enjoy either destination. It’s best to book two separate tours and visit them on different days for a better experience.

We do not provide any service which allows you to start and end a tour in different locations.

No this isn’t a service which we provide. From Phuket it is impractical. From most hotels it’s around a one hour drive to the harbor, plus another one hour by speedboat, each-way to Phi Phi–the travel times from Krabi are similar, therefore a full day is required to visit the Phi Phi Islands. If you are staying on Phi Phi Island and would like to book a half day tour, we recommend the Phi Phi Island Tours Company.

The only way to book our private tours is to make a reservation on our website. We don’t accept bookings through WhatsApp or email, and we don’t offer in-person booking. Should you need any assistance when making a reservation, please contact us through your preferred messaging app or by email.

We recommend booking as far in advance as possible, especially during the peak season months. Our cancellation policy is flexible should your plans change. We have a limited number of tours available each day, and we are often fully booked. During the off-peak season, we can be more accommodating with last-minute reservations, but this will depend on our availability.

Generally, the Peak Season in southern Thailand begins in mid-October and lasts until the end of April. The super peak season falls in December and January, and the off-peak season is from mid-May until early October, with the rainy season around September and October. The exact dates are as follows:

• Peak Season: 15th January – 12th May
• Off-Peak Season: 13th May – 1st September
• Rainy Season: 21st September – 20th October
• Off-Peak Season: 21st October – 10th November
• Peak Season: 11th November – 15th December
• Super-Peak Season: 16th December – 14th January

You can check the current availability on our website. We automatically block out any dates which are unavailable, or fully booked, and we may add new slots from time to time. In case you are unable to book for your preferred date, feel free to contact us and we’ll check if there is anything we can do.

Our private tours are based on 2 persons sharing, however solo travellers are welcome too and an automatic discount will be applied. Additional persons can also be added. A maximum of 8 persons are allowed on our private longtail boat tours, up to 10 persons on private speedboat tours, or up to 22 persons on our XL speedboat tours. All passengers will travel on the same boat unless multiple reservations are needed.

Children must be at least 3 years old to partake. There is no upper age limit, although everyone must be in good health and fit enough to get on and off the boat by their own accord, which may require climbing a small ladder. Speedboats are closer to the ground and are better for senior travellers. Seniors over 70 must have their own travel insurance. Unfortunately, our tours cannot accommodate wheelchair users. People with existing back or heart problems, as well as pregnant women, are not allowed to join any tours.

We do our best to avoid crowds when possible. However, during the peak season months and when visiting popular destinations like Maya Bay, crowds are to be expected.

For tours starting from Phuket or Krabi, we try to visit known busy locations either before or after the bulk of the group tours are there. If you’re booking a tour which starts from Koh Phi Phi Don, choosing a sunrise package gives you the best chance of fewer crowds.

Planning a tour route requires a lot of skill and local knowledge. Your guide will plan the best route for each tour, taking into account the weather and sea conditions, the tide times, the anticipated crowds, and any guidance from the National Marine Parks. You’ll be able to add your own input to the tour route, too. For example, you can choose to prioritise snorkelling, or spend more time in a place you love, less time in a place you’re not keen on, or skip places you don’t want to go to, like Monkey Beach.

Packages starting from Phuket or Krabi must return before nightfall. So it is only possible to watch a sunset on tours with packages starting from Koh Phi Phi. These tours can also be extend to include a night swim with Glowing Plankton.

Some tours are more flexible than others. For example, private longtail tours from Phuket or Krabi involve first taking a speedboat transfer to reach the islands, and the transfer operates at fixed times, which means it’s less flexible.

If your tour package involves chartering a private speedboat, or chartering a private longtail from Phi Phi Don then we can be more flexible with the timings (within reason).

It’s best to bring as little as possible with you. You don’t need to bring your physical passport. But we do recommend bringing a beach towel (it is normal for hotels to provide this), adequate sun protection such as a hat and sun-lotion, and you’ll also need to wear something to swim in. A change of dry clothes is recommended too. Additionally, you’ll need to bring enough cash to pay the National Park entrance fees.

We kindly ask that guests do not bring excessive amounts of luggage on the tour. Doing so can spoil the experience, and there is a high chance that luggage can become wet or damaged. Please only bring a day pack or dry bag with essential items.

We provide mask and snorkel sets for all guests, and there are life jackets on all of our boats. Fins are not provided, as they have been reported to cause damage to coral reefs.

We provide access to clean drinking water on all tours, throughout the entire day. Additionally, fresh, seasonal fruits are served.

All of our island tours are inclusive of a restaurant meal. Usually, we stop at a beachfront restaurant in Koh Phi Phi, the floating village at James Bond Island, or the National Park café in the Similan Islands. The exact details about the food included may vary between different tour packages, so it’s best to check the specific tour information.

We provide a selection of Thai meals to choose from, which are all ‘non-spicy’ unless requested otherwise. We can cater to Halal, Vegetarian, and Vegan dietary requirements. Unfortunately, we cannot provide Kosher meals or other cuisines such as Indian or Italian.

Alcoholic beverages are not included. However, guests are allowed to bring their own alcoholic drinks to enjoy on the boat. On request, we can stop at a location to buy drinks before or during the tour. An ice chiller can be provided to keep drinks cool, but please inform us ahead of time. In some areas, such as the James Bond Islands and Similan Islands, consuming alcohol is prohibited due to National Park regulations or religious reasons. Your tour guide will inform you of any areas where alcohol cannot be consumed.

Cannabis is legal for recreational use in Thailand and guests are allowed to bring cannabis to consume during the tour. However, keep in mind that consuming cannabis in the Thai heat may amplify its effects.

In order to fly a drone in Thailand, you’ll need to register it with the NBTC and the CAAT, a process that usually takes about 2 weeks. Additionally, flying drones within National Park areas is prohibited without prior permission. Drone owners assume all responsibly for correctly registering their aircraft and obtaining prior permission to fly within National Park areas. If you would like to bring a drone we will assume all registrations and permissions have been granted in accordance with local laws, and we assume no liability in the event a drone belonging to a guest is improperly registered or unregistered. Your tour guide will provide guidance on safe areas to fly the drone.

When you book a private tour, we’ll charge a deposit to confirm your booking. For most tours, this is 20%, but for some speedboat tours, it will be a fixed amount. The remaining balance is paid the day before the tour takes place.

For deposit payments, we accept Credit or Debit cards from the Mastercard, Visa, and Amex networks.

The remaining balance is paid by Credit or Debit Card. Our team will provide a secure payment link for the remaining balance one day before the tour. The final payment can be paid by one person, or the cost can be split between multiple persons. The cardholder(s) making the final payments must be present on the tour.

You can browse tour prices in either THB USD, GBP, EUR, AUD or JPY, using the currency selector on our website. Rates are set in the local currency Thai Baht and the currency conversions are based on data sourced from the European Central Bank. All charges will be made in Thai Baht, and the exchange rate will be set by your payment provider. When paying the remaining balance Thai Baht is the only accepted currency

Tipping is not part of Thai culture and is not mandatory or expected. However, if our tour guides made your experience special, they do really appreciate it.

An average tip is around 1,000 Baht, but we must stress it’s not mandatory. We don’t substitute salaries or take any cut of tips, and they go directly to the guides or boat crew.

Our full cancellation policy is published here. Please ensure you read and agree to this before making a reservation. In short, you can cancel a tour and receive a deposit refund within the following timeframes:

• Up to 24 hours prior to the tour date for private longtail boat tours.
• Up to 48 hours before the tour date for private speedboat tours.
• Up to 14 days before the tour date for premium dates such as December 24th, 25th, 26th, January 1st, and February 14th.

Outside of these windows, cancellations are charged in full due to the extensive resources we allocate, including boats, minivans, guides, and captains. If you cancel due to medical reasons outside this period, the full amount is charged, but most guests can claim the cost through personal travel insurance.

Yes. The services sold by Five Star Thailand are operated by Five Star Group (Thailand) Co, Ltd. The operator holds a public liability insurance policy as legally required by Thai law for marine activities. This policy provides cover for catastrophic events only. It does not extend to minor injuries such as cuts or animal bites, nor does it cover loss or damage to personal property or financial loss due to non-refundable cancellations.

We strongly recommend that travellers hold their own travel insurance policy to ensure the required level of cover for their trip.

During the peak season, sea conditions and weather are typically ideal. In the off-peak months, the weather is less predictable, and rain is more common. Our tours are outdoor activities and as such still go ahead in the rain, as long as sea conditions are deemed safe. Rain in Thailand often comes in short, heavy bursts and doesn’t usually last all day.

If sea conditions are unsafe, we will work with you to find an alternative solution. This could mean adjusting the tour route, rescheduling the date, or possibly cancelling and issuing a refund, depending on the situation and your preferences.

In Thailand, certain areas are awarded National Park status to protect their natural beauty. Visitors are required to pay an entrance fee upon arrival, with a receipt provided. This fee is not included in the tour cost and must be paid in cash, as credit or debit cards are not accepted.

Current rates for non-Thai Adults/Children are:

• Phi Phi Islands: 400/200 Baht
• James Bond Island: 300/200 Baht
• Similan Islands: 500/300 Baht

Please note that these rates are set by the Thai government and are subject to change without notice.

Our private speedboat tours are suitable for cruise ship guests, however our private longtail boat tours are not. Please contact us before booking if you are arriving on a cruise ship. In most cases, we can accommodate your schedule, but it’s best to double-check with us for suitability.

The authenticity of the Thai Longtail Boat, or the speed and comfort of the speedboat—a difficult choice!

Longtail boats are unique to southern Thailand and are hand built from locally sourced materials. Originally used for fishing, many have now been repurposed as tour boats. They are ideal for shallow waters and have a lower operating cost.

Speedboats, on the other hand, are modern vessels with a single or twin outboard motor. These boats are faster, cover greater distances, and are suited for both open and shallow waters. However, they are more expensive to maintain and therefore charter.

Yes, all of our boats (both longtail and speedboats) provide shade, but they also have uncovered seating areas at the front for those who prefer sunbathing.

There are no bathrooms on board the boats, but you’ll have opportunities to use restrooms on Phi Phi Don Island, at the restaurant during lunch, and at the national park stations on Maya Bay and Bamboo Island.