Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 Maya Bay is a small, west-facing cove almost completely enclosed by limestone cliffs. Its white sand and turquoise water made it the star of the 2000 film The Beach — and one of the most visited spots in Thailand.
A comeback story
By 2018, thousands of visitors a day and boats anchoring on the reef had destroyed much of the coral. The national park closed the bay completely from 2018 until early 2022. Coral was replanted, and blacktip reef sharks returned to the shallows in large numbers.
Visiting today
- Boats land at Loh Samah Bay and you walk across on a boardwalk
- No swimming — paddle at the water’s edge and look for baby sharks
- Visits are limited in time and numbers
- Closed every year 1 August – 30 September
Read the full Maya Bay rules.
Deal Phi Phi Private Longtail: Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon & Snorkel
- Free cancellation
- Booked 21 times yesterday
From
$110 $105
per group up to 2
Deal Phuket: Phi Phi, Maya Bay & Khai Island Day Tour with Lunch
- Free cancellation
- Booked 14 times yesterday
From
$52 $42
per person
Deal From Phi Phi: Half-Day Longtail Tour to Maya Bay & Snorkeling
- Free cancellation
- Booked 13 times yesterday
From
$22 $18
per person
