How to Visit & What to Expect
Maya Bay is Thailand’s most famous beach, the stunning cove on Phi Phi Leh island that starred in the Leonardo DiCaprio movie “The Beach”. After being closed for nearly four years to recover from overtourism, the bay reopened in 2022 with strict new rules. Boats can no longer anchor on the beach, swimming is restricted to knee-deep water, and visitor numbers are limited.
Is it worth the trip? Yes. The soft white sand, turquoise water and towering limestone cliffs are as beautiful as the movie promised. It’s still busy, but nothing like the nightmare it was before the closure, when thousands of tourists and dozens of speedboats crammed into this small bay every day. I visited recently with Love Andaman cruises, and even with a hundred other visitors, Maya Bay felt special. You just need to manage your expectations: this is a quick stop on a day trip, not a private paradise.
| Maya Bay – Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Location | Phi Phi Leh island, 45 km southeast of Phuket |
| Current Status | Open (reopened October 2025 after seasonal closure) |
| Entry Fee | 400 Baht (included in most tour prices) |
| Time on the Beach | About 1 hour (set by tour operators) |
| Swimming Allowed? | Knee-deep only. No swimming in the bay. |
| How to Get There | Day trip from Phuket or Krabi (speedboat 45 min) |
| Best Time to Visit | November to April. Closed August–September. |
| Famous For | Filming location of “The Beach” (2000) |
Video of Maya Bay and Phi Phi Islands
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Even though we are not big fans of crowds, we decided it was time to go and see for ourselves what four years without tourists did for the bay and what the partial reopening of the beach to a limited number of visitors looked like. To do this, we took a full-day trip to Phi Phi Island with Love Andaman cruises.
The first thing you need to know, and as explained by the crew of Love Andaman before departure, is that Phi Phi consists of two main islands and a few small ones: Koh Phi Phi Le, a national park with three lagoons: Pi Leh Bay, Loh Sama Bay and Maya Bay. The second island is Koh Phi Phi Don, where the hotels and bars are.
Then, you have Bamboo Island and Mosquito Island further north. The day trip starts at 8.30 am and includes 4 places: a stop at Maya Bay, a stop at Pi Leh Bay, lunch on Tonsai Bay and snorkelling in Bamboo Island before returning around 5 pm.
How to Get to Maya Bay on Phi Phi Island?
What Does Maya Bay Look Like today?
The beach and the bay are truly magical; you have to see it with your own eyes and feel the sand with your own feet to realize how unique this enclosed bay is and why it was chosen for the movie. The sand is the softest we have found so far, the sea is shallow with clear turquoise water, and the immense limestone cliffs in the background add a dramatic and magical touch to the atmosphere. It is still a bit busy but so much nicer, and without dozens of speedboats to block the view, Maya Bay is still at the top of the things to do in Phuket.
Maya Bay 360 Panorama
Arriving at Maya Bay
Access to Maya Bay was restored in 2021 with certain strict conditions. Most importantly, boats can no longer approach the beach itself; instead, they must enter through Loh Sam Bay at the back of Maya Bay. Boats must stand by to disembark their passenger as fast as possible and then park nearby for about an hour, waiting for the guests to come back. There is a National Park fee of 400 baht to pay when entering the area, but the fee is already included in your day trip price.
It may be shocking to see the crowd walking both ways up and down the pier, with rangers and tour leaders shouting or speaking on microphones to manage this crowd. This is because the floating pier is small and the bridge leading to the land is narrow, therefore boats are only allowed a few minutes to load and unload their passengers.
Our guide gave us a clear briefing as we approached the pier: Get ready as we approach in order to disembark quickly, how long can you stay on the beach, and what not to do. For instance, don’t walk on coral, don’t feed the fish, and don’t collect anything from the beach, even sand. You are not allowed to swim in the bay; just walk knee-deep. Phi Phi Leh is a national park, so you can’t fly a drone without proper authorisation. If you try, rangers will run at you, yelling within 30 seconds.
Overall, the landing is a bit hectic and walking the path from the pier to the area before the bay itself is not a pleasant experience. However, if you really want to see Maya Bay for yourself, you should remember that it was a much worse experience in the past. A hundred people on a pristine beach is a lot better than the thousands of tourists, plus their dozen speedboats anchored right on the sand!
Why Was Maya Bay Closed?
Before the bay was closed in 2018, the place was a nightmare, with speedboats anchoring right on the beach, offloading massive loads of tourists every day, destroying coral and damaging the ecosystem. Some photos were shared on social media showing a shockingly crowded beach, full of people competing to pose in front of the ocean with the bay’s entrance as a background.
The decision to close the bay was made to allow the coral reef and marine life in the area to recover from damage caused by excessive tourism. The bay was initially planned to be closed for four months, but has been extended several times and was reopened progressively and partially in 2022.
Other Stops of the Day Trip
Pi Leh Lagoon
The trip lasts all day, and you will visit several beautiful places. Depending on tides, the first stop is often Koh Pileh, a long lagoon with superb clear waters surrounded by high green cliffs. The sea here is very shallow, and you can swim or even ride a longtail boat if you wish to.
The shared longtail costs 300 per person, and the private longtail costs 1,800 baht. Instagrammers often prefer private boats because they love to take selfies in front of the boat and can ask the pilot to go here and there around the lagoon. The stop at Pi Leh Lagoon lasts about an hour.
Tonsai Bay
Once you have completed the southern part of the trip, it is time for a casual lunch by the beach on the main island. The buffet mainly consisted of several classic and delicious Thai dishes, and after the morning exploration, lunch was a welcome break. You won’t have much time to visit Tonsai Village, but you can walk around the small streets to get an idea of what staying a night or two on Phi Phi Island could be like.
Bamboo Island
After lunch, the team took us to the beautiful Bamboo Island. Located a few kilometres northeast of the main island. Passengers are given the option to disembark on the vast beach to relax and take photos or stay on the speedboat and move to a nearby snorkelling spot. The clear and very warm water makes it a fun experience for adults and kids. The equipment is provided for free as part of the package.
How to Get to Maya Bay
We went to Maya Bay with Love Andaman, a long-established cruise company that operates in the most popular islands around Phuket, such as Similans, Maiton Beach, and even the remote Surin Islands. Passengers are greeted between 8 and 8.30 am at the Panwa pier, with a nice complimentary breakfast and drinks.
The crew is friendly and attentive to the guests, and before boarding, a good briefing is given to everyone, explaining the geography of the archipelago, the time allowed in each spot, and the dos and don’ts as part of Phi Phi, a national park.
The speedboats are large and comfortable, with a defined number of seats, which ensures they are never overloaded. The trip took 45 minutes, and the sea was just a little choppy on the way to Phi Phi and very flat on the way back. Note that Love Andaman can give you motion sickness pills if you just ask. The team was well-trained, attentive, and cheerful, making sure we were all safe and happy at all times, with a kind word for everyone and an excellent atmosphere all day.
Check out the Love Andaman website if you wish to experience this day out!
Phi Phi Islands and Maya Bay Map
Your Travel Guide to Phi Phi Islands
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