One of the most famous beaches in the whole world let alone Thailand is Maya Bay. Only just reopening to the public after a period of closure due to conservation efforts, Maya Bay is one of those places that looks almost fake when you see it in photos. It is located on Koh Phi Phi Leh, just south of the main Phi Phi island, and it became world-famous after the movie The Beach.
Visiting Maya Bay today is not the same as it used to be. You cannot just turn up, jump off a boat, swim wherever you want and spend the whole day lying on the sand. After years of overtourism, Maya Bay was closed for recovery and reopened with stricter rules.
In this guide I am going to explain how to visit Maya Bay from Phi Phi islands, Phuket and Krabi. The best option depends on your route, budget and how much you hate rushed day tours. If you want the easiest and best experience, stay overnight on Phi Phi Don and visit Maya Bay early in the morning. If you are short on time, then Phuket or Krabi day tours work too, but expect a long day and more crowds. Let’s get into more detail on each method.
How to be the first people on Maya Bay
There is only one place you need to be, to get to Maya Bay as soon as it opens. You will need to stay overnight on Phi Phi Island. This is what we did and it was well worth the earliest of wake up calls to avoid the absolute chaos that unfolds later in the day when more and more tours flood in from Phuket/Krabi or indeed Phi Phi.
How long does it take from Phi Phi to Maya Bay?
From Phi Phi Don to Maya Bay, the boat ride usually takes around 20–30 minutes depending on the type of boat and sea conditions.
This is why staying on Phi Phi Don is the smartest way to visit Maya Bay. You avoid the long transfer from Phuket or Krabi and you can book an early morning tour.
Option 1: Shared longtail boat tour from Phi Phi
This is usually the cheapest way to visit Maya Bay from Phi Phi Island.
Shared longtail boat tours are easy to book from travel agencies, hostels, hotels, and small tour desks around Tonsai Village. These tours usually include Maya Bay and other nearby stops like Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, Monkey Bay and a snorkelling spot.
- Typical cost: 700–1,500 THB per person
- Duration: 3–6 hours
- Best for: Budget travellers and solo travellers
- National park fee: Sometimes included, often not included
This is the option I would choose if I wanted to keep things cheap but still see the main places. The downside is that you have less control over timing and you may still arrive when Maya Bay is already busy.
For the best experience, choose an early morning tour leaving around 6:00–7:00 AM.
Option 2: Private longtail boat from Phi Phi
A private longtail boat is the better option if you are travelling as a couple or small group. It costs more upfront, but when split between 2–4 people it can be very reasonable.
- Typical cost: around 3,000–4,500 THB for 2 people for a 4–5 hour tour
- Extra person: often around 500–700 THB
- Duration: 3–6 hours
- Best for: Couples, small groups, photographers
- National park fee: Usually paid separately
The big advantage is flexibility. You can leave early, avoid some crowds, choose your route, and spend more time at the stops you actually care about.
A good private route would include:
- Maya Bay
- Loh Samah Bay
- Pileh Lagoon
- Viking Cave
- Monkey Bay
- Snorkelling stop
- Optional sunset / plankton tour
This is what we ended up doing and I will be going through this exact tour spots later on in the post. It was really nice with beer provided, and you can book the exact same tour we did here:
How to visit Maya Bay From Phuket
Visiting Maya Bay from Phuket is the most popular option because Phuket is a major base for travellers. You will find hundreds of Phi Phi and Maya Bay tours advertised everywhere.
The problem is that Maya Bay is not exactly a short day trip. You are crossing open sea to reach Phi Phi Leh, so you need to be ready for a full-day trip.
How long does it take from Phuket to Maya Bay?
By speedboat, Phuket to the Phi Phi area usually takes around 45–75 minutes depending on the pier, tour operator and sea conditions.
Most tours last around 7–10 hours including hotel pickup, check-in at the pier, boat transfers, lunch and multiple stops.
Option 1: Phuket to Maya Bay group speedboat tour
This is the simplest way to visit Maya Bay from Phuket. The tour company picks you up from your hotel, takes you to the pier, and handles the route.
Typical cost: 1,500–3,500 THB per person
Duration: 7–10 hours
Best for: First-time visitors and people short on time
National park fee: Often included, but not always.
This is convenient, but it is also the busiest way to visit. Most Phuket tours arrive around the same time, so Maya Bay will definitely be packed.
Option 2: Premium / early bird tour from Phuket
While you will beat some crowds, you will still meet a lot of people coming in from Koh Phi Phi so while it is advertised as an early bird tour you will still encounter many tourists.
Only upside is that premium tours usually leave earlier, use better boats, have smaller groups, and may visit Maya Bay before the standard crowds arrive.
- Typical cost: 3,000–5,000+ THB per person
- Duration: 8–10 hours
This is worth considering if you are not staying on Phi Phi but still want a smoother day. For me, I would not say that this option is worth it as you are not going to benefit a lot from getting up early. If you really want to visit Maya bay before the crowds then stay on Phi Phi and pay extra for an early tour.
How to Visit Maya Bay From Krabi
Krabi is another great base for visiting Maya Bay. Most tours leave from Ao Nang, Railay or nearby piers. If you are staying in Ao Nang, this is very straightforward.
Krabi is also a better base than Phuket if you want a more relaxed beach town feel. Ao Nang is touristy, but it is smaller and easier to manage than Phuket.
How long does it take from Krabi to Maya Bay?
By speedboat, tours from Ao Nang to the Phi Phi area usually take around 45–75 minutes depending on sea conditions and departure point.
A full-day tour from Krabi usually lasts 7–8 hours.
Option 1: Krabi / Ao Nang group speedboat tour
This is the easiest way to visit Maya Bay from Krabi.
Typical cost: 1,500–2,500 THB per person
Duration: 7–8 hours
Best for: Simple day trip from Ao Nang
National park fee: Often paid separately, usually 400 THB per adult
From Railay to Maya Bay
If you are staying in Railay, many tours can include pickup or boat transfer to the departure point. Some tours leave from nearby beaches, while others bring you back to Ao Nang first.
- Typical cost: similar to Ao Nang tours, sometimes slightly more
- Duration: full day
- Best for: Travellers already staying in Railay
Always confirm your pickup details because Railay has no road access. You do not want to book a tour and then find out pickup only applies to Ao Nang hotels.
Visiting Maya Bay information
Is Maya Bay open all year?
No. Maya Bay usually closes every year from 1 August to 30 September for environmental recovery and safety during the rougher sea season.
This means if you visit Thailand in August or September, you should not plan your whole route around Maya Bay. Some tours may still go around the Phi Phi Islands, but they will not let you enter Maya Bay itself during the closure.
Always check current status before booking because national park rules can change.
Maya Bay opening hours
Maya Bay is generally visited during daytime tour hours, with many operators advertising access from around 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
The best time to visit is early morning. Late afternoon can also be better than midday, but this depends on your tour route.
Maya Bay entrance fee
Maya Bay is part of a national park, so foreign visitors usually pay:
| Visitor | Fee |
| Foreign adult | THB 400 |
| Foreign child | THB 200 |
Some tours include this in the price. Others do not.
Can you swim at Maya Bay?
No, you can not swim properly at Maya Bay. Swimming is banned or heavily restricted to protect the reef, marine life and baby blacktip reef sharks that returned after the closure.
Depending on the rules on the day, you may be allowed to stand or walk in shallow water, often around knee-deep, but do not expect to swim, snorkel or float around in the bay.
If swimming is your main priority, Maya Bay itself may disappoint you. The beauty is the view, the cliffs, the beach and the setting. For swimming and snorkelling, the nearby stops are better.
How do you enter Maya Bay now?
Boats no longer pull directly onto Maya Bay beach like they used to. Most visitors now arrive at Loh Samah Bay on the other side of the island, then walk along a short boardwalk to reach Maya Bay.
The walk is easy and only takes a few minutes.
This system helps protect the beach and keeps boats away from the shallow bay.
How long can you stay at Maya Bay?
Most tours give you around 45 minutes to 1 hour at Maya Bay.
This is enough for photos, walking along the beach and taking in the view, but it is not a full beach day. Do not expect to bring a towel and spend hours sunbathing.
Best time of year to visit Maya Bay
The best time to visit Maya Bay is from November to April.
This is the dry season in the Andaman Sea, with better chances of calmer water and clearer skies. It is also peak season, so prices and crowds are higher.
May to July can still be possible, but weather is more unpredictable. August and September are usually the closure months, so avoid these if Maya Bay is the main reason for your trip.
Other Stops Included in Maya Bay Tours
Pileh Lagoon
Pileh Lagoon is one of the best stops near Maya Bay. It is a narrow lagoon surrounded by tall limestone cliffs and bright turquoise water.
This is where a lot of tours anchor and allow you to swim while enjoying the views. This is where many tours allow swimming, depending on conditions. The water is usually much calmer than the open sea, and it feels more like a natural swimming pool.
This is where we enjoyed, sat back and relaxed while cracking open a beer that the tour guide mentioned above provided us. It was really the highlight of the trip.
Viking Cave
Viking Cave is a pass by photo stop rather than a place you enter. It is known for cave markings and bird’s nest harvesting. Most tours slow down outside the cave so you can take photos from the boat. Do not expect a full cave exploration visit.
Monkey Bay / Monkey Beach
Well, I am not very keen on this place but this is because I was stupid.
This is another common stop on Koh Phi Phi tours. Its a cove where monkeys reside and while they may look cute, do not feed them or stay too close as they can become aggressive
This sentence is unfortunately based on personal experience, I tried getting close to the monkeys to get a photo with a little one and presumably their mother attacked me and scratched my leg. I had to go to pharmacy and get rabies shots. In other words don’t be stupid like me and keep yourself in the water.
Bamboo Island
Bamboo Island is often included on longer or more expensive tours. It is a beautiful small island with white sand and clear water, and it is much better for swimming than Maya Bay.
The downside is that it adds distance, time and sometimes extra cost.
- Typical time: 45–90 minutes
- Extra cost: Usually included in longer tours, but check park fee rules
- Best for: Beach time and swimming
If you are doing a full-day tour from Phuket or Krabi, Bamboo Island is a nice bonus. If you are doing a shorter trip from Phi Phi, it may be too much unless you book a longer tour. I personally skipped this to save some money as the beaches on the main island on Koh Phi Phi was enough for me.
Conclusion
Maya Bay is one of the most famous places in Thailand, and yes, it is still worth visiting. But you need to visit it with the right expectations. If you are going there with high expectations honestly you are going to be massively disappointed. I enjoyed more the private boat ride with a beer, sunrise than the actual visit to Maya Bay.
Personally there are way too many people for you to enjoy it properly, and we were first people there and still there were people everywhere. I honestly don’t know how people manage to grab a picture otherwise.
The best way to visit Maya Bay is from Phi Phi Island, especially if you can stay overnight on Phi Phi Don and book an early morning longtail boat. It gives you the shortest travel time, more flexibility and the best chance of avoiding the worst crowds.
From Phuket, Maya Bay is easy to visit but usually more crowded and more expensive. From Krabi, it is slightly more relaxed and can be a good option if you are based in Ao Nang or Railay.
My honest recommendation is for you to stay overnight on Phi Phi Island and not just because of Maya Bay. It is a lovely island, great nightlife and great beaches.
If you are visiting Krabi and want something more on the adventurous side rather then the relaxing beaches, allow me to be cheeky and suggest you to read my blog post about Tiger Cave Temple. It is a temple sits on top of a cliff with 1260 steps to get to!
Thanks for reading and hope you found this post helpful!
