Maya Bay Beach on the uninhabited island of Koh Phi Phi Leh was made famous by the film "The Beach" by Dany Boyle, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Virginie Ledoyen, and Guillaume Canet (yes, the two French actors in the cast are often forgotten). It is undoubtedly a dreamlike place and ranks among the most beautiful beaches in Thailand, but it is also the most popular tourist destination. Almost all tours offered by local agencies include Maya Bay Beach. Despite the crowds, especially during peak season, it remains an absolute must-see on Koh Phi Phi. To enjoy it in a more tranquil setting, an early morning excursion is recommended, or you can rent a longtail boat the day before and request a departure at dawn. You can find such boats in Ton Sai or at Loh Dalum Beach. The days of renting a private longtail boat, setting off at sunrise, and arriving at Maya Bay Beach all to yourself are over! These days, several local agencies offer tours with speedboats and early departures. The early departure means fewer visitors, but it's still quite busy, especially during peak season (December to the end of March). Since Maya Bay reopened to tourists in early 2022, after a three-year closure for natural regeneration, the organization and visitor rules have changed. Boats no longer dock directly on the beach, but rather on the floating bridge in Loh Samah Bay. From there, it's about a ten-minute walk to the legendary beach. Swimming is prohibited, and stays are limited to a maximum of one hour. While there are docking points for tourists throughout the day, I don't believe these rules are consistently enforced. Furthermore, Maya Bay is closed to visitors for two months each year, in August and September – months that aren't really recommended for visiting this part of Thailand anyway. I personally regret that the construction of a concrete pontoon has made Loh Samah Bay the main entrance. I loved the view from the wooden jetty over Loh Samah Bay and its small island, and it was a beautiful snorkeling spot.

Maya Bay is part of a marine park; entry costs 400 THB. Since its reopening in early 2022, tourists have been able to access the far end of the bay, Loh Samah Bay. Visits are limited to one hour, and swimming is prohibited. Once tourism in Thailand fully recovers, a daily visitor limit is expected to be introduced. Please note: Since its reopening, Maya Bay has been closed to tourists every year during August and September. During these two months, which are likely to become the beach's annual closure (the official announcement has always been made at short notice), tourists cannot enter Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi but can only view it from a distance.

To visit Maya Bay, you will need to hire a local agency or rent a longtail boat from Koh Phi Phi Don. Some agencies offer day trips from Krabi or Phuket.

How to get there

How do you get to Maya Bay? To visit Maya Bay, you need to hire a local agency or rent a longtail boat from Koh Phi Phi Don. Some agencies offer day trips from Krabi or Phuket.