How Do I Avoid Seasickness on a Phuket Speedboat Tour?

By Phuket Thailand Travel · Local Phuket travel experts · Published October 18, 2026

Almost all of it is decided before the boat leaves the pier.

How do I avoid seasickness on a phuket speedboat tour? Take an over-the-counter motion-sickness tablet 30 to 60 minutes before you board rather than after you feel unwell, sit low and in the middle of the boat, stay outside in fresh air, keep your eyes on the horizon, and eat something light instead of nothing. Then choose the conditions in your favour: the earliest departure of the day, and a sheltered route such as Phang Nga Bay rather than an open-water crossing. Prevention works well; treatment once you are already sick rarely does.

Why speedboats cause it and larger boats do not

Motion sickness comes from a mismatch between what your eyes see and what your inner ear feels. A light, fast hull amplifies that mismatch: a 10 to 12 metre speedboat reacts to every wave, so the movement is sharp, irregular and in several directions at once. A large ferry displaces far more water and moves slowly and predictably, which your balance system copes with much better. That is the core reason a 50-minute speedboat run can be harder than a two-hour ferry crossing.

Who is affected

Susceptibility varies enormously and is largely not under your control. Children between about two and twelve are the most affected group, women are affected more often than men, and anyone prone to migraine is more likely to get motion sick. Previous experience is the best predictor: if boats have made you ill before, assume this one will too and prepare properly rather than hoping.

Medication: what to take and when

Timing matters more than the choice of product. Motion-sickness medication works by preventing the signal, not by settling a stomach that is already in trouble, so it has to be in your system before the movement starts. Take it 30 to 60 minutes before boarding — which usually means before or during the hotel pickup, not at the pier.

Two honest cautions

First, most effective motion-sickness tablets cause drowsiness, and some people sleep through the parts of the tour they paid for. If that matters, ask a pharmacist about the less sedating options. Second, do not combine them with alcohol, which worsens both the drowsiness and the nausea. Pharmacies in Phuket are easy to find and the staff deal with this question every day, so ask rather than guessing — particularly for children, where dosing is by weight and age.

Where to sit, and where not to

Seat choice is free and makes a genuine difference. The boat pivots around a point near its middle, so the bow rises and falls furthest and the stern least. Sitting low keeps you closer to that pivot and reduces the arc you travel through. On a Phuket speedboat the best seats for a sensitive passenger are the middle rows, on the inboard side, as low as the seating allows.

• Best: middle of the boat, low, outside in the airflow
• Acceptable: stern seats — less vertical movement but more engine noise and fumes
• Worst: the bow bench — the biggest vertical travel and the wettest seat on the boat
• Also poor: any enclosed cabin, where you lose both fresh air and the horizon
• Avoid: facing backwards or sideways if you can choose

Getting the seat you need

On a shared tour, seats go to whoever boards first, and the bow is usually the last to fill because it is the wet seat. Mention motion sickness to the crew or your guide at pickup, not at the pier — they will normally seat you mid-boat without fuss. On a private speedboat charter the whole question disappears, since you choose seats, speed and route.

What to do during the crossing

Once you are moving, the aim is to give your eyes and inner ear the same story. Look at the horizon or a fixed point on land, which matches the motion you feel. Looking at a phone, a book, or the deck does the opposite and is the fastest way to feel ill. Fresh air helps, partly because it reduces the smell of fuel and sunscreen that often triggers the first wave of nausea.

1. Sit facing forward, low and mid-boat, outside.
2. Fix your gaze on the horizon or a distant island, not on anything close or moving.
3. Put the phone away for the crossing — take photographs at the stops instead.
4. Keep sipping water; small amounts often, not large gulps.
5. Loosen tight clothing and stay out of direct sun if you are overheating.
6. If you feel the first symptoms, tell the crew immediately rather than waiting.

If you do start to feel unwell

Move to the open air at the side of the boat, sit down rather than stand, breathe slowly and look at the horizon. Cool water on the back of the neck and wrists helps some people. Crews carry bags and will not be remotely surprised — it happens on a significant proportion of tours. Being sick usually brings temporary relief, after which keeping fluid down in small sips is the priority. Do not take a second dose of medication without checking the packet.

Food and drink: what actually helps

Travelling on an empty stomach is a common mistake and makes nausea more likely, not less. A light breakfast of plain carbohydrates — toast, rice, a banana, plain crackers — eaten an hour or so before departure gives your stomach something settled to work with. What to avoid is a heavy, greasy or very spicy meal, and alcohol the night before, which leaves you dehydrated and far more susceptible.

During the day

• Plain crackers or dry biscuits to nibble between stops
• Water in small, frequent sips rather than a bottle at once
• Ginger chews, ginger tea or ginger capsules — mild but some people find them useful
• Avoid coffee on an empty stomach, and avoid alcohol entirely until you are back on land
• Avoid very cold fizzy drinks, which some people find trigger nausea in chop

Tour lunches are usually served on an island or at a beach restaurant rather than on the moving boat, so if you can get through the morning crossing you will normally eat on solid ground.

Choose the conditions, not just the tactics

The biggest single variable is the sea itself, and you have more influence over that than you might think. Wind in the Andaman typically builds through the morning and peaks in the afternoon, so the earliest departure of the day is usually the calmest crossing. Season matters even more: from November to April the west coast is on the lee side and crossings are routinely smooth, while from May to October the same route can be hard work.

The ferry alternative

For Phi Phi specifically, the large ferry from Rassada pier takes about two hours each way but rides swell far more comfortably, with indoor seating and a toilet. The trade-off is that ferries serve Tonsai on Phi Phi Don only and do not reach Phi Phi Leh, so Maya Bay and the Viking Cave drop off the itinerary. For a passenger who dreads the boat, that is often a trade worth making — see the best way to get from Phuket to Phi Phi.

Children and family trips

Children are the group most likely to be affected and the least able to describe what is happening until it is too late. Prepare in advance: ask a pharmacist about an age-appropriate medication and dose, give it in good time, seat them mid-boat with a parent, and keep them looking out at the islands rather than down at a tablet screen. Bring a full change of clothes and a sealable bag.

Choosing a family-friendly first boat trip

For a family’s first island day, a sheltered Phang Nga Bay trip or a short hop to Coral Island is a much better introduction than a long open-water run. If the first trip goes well, you can be more ambitious later in the holiday. If you want the flexibility to turn back without a group vote, a private boat is worth the premium — see our package and private options.

When to consider not going by speedboat at all

Prevention works for most people, but not everyone. If you have been severely seasick before, are in later pregnancy, have a back or neck condition that makes repeated impact a problem, or have an inner-ear disorder, a fast light hull in swell is a poor choice and no amount of preparation changes that. Honest alternatives exist and they are not consolation prizes.

• A large ferry rather than a speedboat where the route allows
• A sheltered Phang Nga Bay itinerary instead of an open-water crossing
• A crewed yacht or catamaran charter — a heavier hull at a slower speed is far more comfortable
• A land-based day: viewpoints, Old Town, the Big Buddha, an evening show
• Moving the boat trip to a day with a better forecast

Talk to the operator before you book

A good operator will tell you honestly whether a particular route suits a passenger who gets seasick, and will suggest an alternative rather than sell you the trip anyway. If you are told that seasickness is never an issue on their boats, that is not reassurance, it is a sales line. For what else to look for, see how to find a trusted travel agent in Phuket.

A short pre-departure checklist

1. Book the earliest departure available, and a sheltered route if you are sensitive.
2. Buy motion-sickness medication the day before and read the timing on the packet.
3. Eat a light, plain breakfast; skip alcohol the night before.
4. Take the medication 30 to 60 minutes before boarding.
5. Tell your guide at pickup that you are prone to seasickness and ask for a mid-boat seat.
6. Board early, sit low and in the middle, stay outside, and keep your eyes on the horizon.

Pack list and inclusions for the day itself are covered in what to pack for a Phuket island day tour, and seasonal sea conditions in is the sea rough for speedboat tours in low season. For official marine forecasts, see the Thai Meteorological Department.

Frequently asked questions