Getting there from Krabi
Speedboat day tours from Ao Nang or Krabi Town run roughly 1.5–2 hours each way, typically departing early morning and returning by late afternoon. It's a longer day than the 4 Island Tour, but covers genuinely different scenery — sheer limestone cliffs rising straight from the sea, rather than the flatter island beaches closer to Krabi.
Maya Bay entry
Maya Bay, the bay from the film "The Beach," now operates on a managed visitor system with timed access and a swimming ban in parts of the bay to protect the reef, following its well-publicised environmental recovery closure. Most day tours build the entry restrictions into their schedule, so check what's included before booking.
Managing the crowds
Phi Phi is Thailand's most visited island group, and it shows — Maya Bay and the main Tonsai pier get genuinely crowded by mid-morning. An early-departure tour, or one that visits Maya Bay later in the day when bus-tour groups have left, makes a real difference.
Is it worth it from Krabi?
Yes, if you have a spare full day and want to see the specific scenery Phi Phi is known for — it looks different to anything closer to Krabi. If time is limited, the 4 Island Tour or Hong Islands deliver a similarly striking day with a much shorter boat ride.