Maya Bay is one of the most popular places to visit in Thailand. It was featured in the movie The Beach (2000), starring Leonardo DiCaprio – and due to intense overtourism, it actually shut completely to visitors a few years ago. More recently, it was shut for two months in late 2023 during the monsoon season, for natural regeneration, but has since reopened. You can now visit this stunning place again, with new (strict) regulations in place to protect the bay’s natural environment.
This was one spot I knew I had to visit while I was on Koh Phi Phi – and I’m so glad I did! Phi Phi Don is the main island of the Koh Phi Phi islands, where nearly everyone stays. Maya Bay is located on the other large Phi Phi island, Koh Phi Leh. In order to avoid the crowds, I chose to book a sunrise trip to see Maya Bay – here’s what the experience was like!
Starting the Trip to Maya Bay
I booked this excursion through my hostel, but you can easily book online. I paid 600 baht, plus the separate fee to visit Maya Bay which was 400 baht. All in all, for 1000 baht (£22.25 // $28.50) I think it’s well worth the money. We met at 5:50am at the McDonald’s in town, before boarding our longtail boat at 6am. I’d recommend sitting towards the front of the boat if you want those iconic photos of the longtail boat and the Thai islands!
Around 6:35am, our guide stopped the boat in the middle of the water, just over halfway to Koh Phi Leh. I was a little worried that the boat had broken down (lol) – but it turns out he timed it perfectly for sunrise! We got to watch the sun rise up above the horizon and into the sky. It was such a magical moment, and so surreal to be in the middle of the ocean watching the sun peak through.
Visiting Maya Bay
We were one of the first boats to get to Maya Bay in the morning – we pulled into the bay early for a photo stop. Our guide made sure we all got some pics on the boat with the bay in the background (he even took this photo of me!). As the entrance fee to Maya Bay is payable directly on site (this was made very clear when I booked the trip), our guide collected our cash to pay for the group.
Next, we docked and had free time – one full hour – to explore Maya Bay. As it was early morning, the water wasn’t quite as bright and colorful as I’ve seen in other photos. But the trade-off was that there was barely anyone there! Note that you cannot swim at Maya Bay anymore, to protect the area. And while you can stand in the water briefly to take photos, you shouldn’t wade deep into the water or stand in it longer than necessary. There was someone with a megaphone who shouted for people to come back in!
Maya Bay is such a beautiful place. I can see why it became so popular, and I hope the new measures that are in place help protect the bay for future generations.
Exploring Phi Phi Leh
After our hour at Maya Bay was up, we got back on board the longtail boat and drove a bit further to go snorkeling! I’d never actually been snorkeling before, but this experience got me hooked. I loved getting to see all the fish around the reef, and just seeing underwater! Snorkels were provided; there’s no need to bring your own.
After our snorkel sesh, we got back on board the boat and cruised along to Viking Cave. Unfortunately, this was closed when I went, so we didn’t actually go inside. But we got a nice view of it from the water.
Then we stopped at the Pi Leh Lagoon for a quick swim. Cameras at the ready, because this is one of those classic Thailand Instagram shots you can’t leave without! The water here is super clear and a super vibrant green color. It’s also really shallow, so it was perfect for swimming/wading. Unfortunately, there were quite a few boats there already and more arriving, so it wasn’t a peaceful place for a swim. But the view was amazing!
Back to Koh Phi Phi
Our last stop of the day was back on Phi Phi Don island: Monkey Beach. This isn’t accessible by foot from town, so you need to get a boat there and back. There are monkeys all over the beach – I saw some very cute babies! Unfortunately, they do seem to associate tourists with food. I don’t recommend feeding wild animals, and instead observe them from a distance. The beach here is really sandy, so you can go for one last dip if you like.
We ended the trip around 9:50am, back at the pier. Having gotten up at 5:30am, I was exhausted at this point and went back to the hostel for a well-deserved nap! But it was so worth it to visit Maya Bay at sunrise and see more of the Phi Phi islands.
Planning Your Trip to Koh Phi Phi
You can book your sunrise tour to Maya Bay with Get Your Guide here. I recommend doing this a few days in advance – but there are enough tour companies that offer the trip that you might be able to book the day before, depending on the time of year. If you’re interested in other tours around Koh Phi Phi, or are wanting to see Maya Bay as a day tour from Phuket or Krabi, check out these options!
I stayed at Voyageur’s Hostel on Koh Phi Phi, in a 10-bed dorm. The room is simple and basic, and there isn’t much storage space (so everyone has their backpacks all over). But the bed has privacy curtains, a reading light, and plug, plus there are lockers and two bathrooms (each with toilet and shower). The staff were also super helpful in booking my Maya Bay sunrise trip and my onward ferry to Phuket. There isn’t a common area, but a lot of people socialize in the outdoor area just outside the rooms. As there are only two rooms, it’s a small hostel and I found it easy to meet people! It’s not a party hostel, and it’s clean – two things that are very important to me when choosing a hostel. I’d definitely recommend Voyageur’s if you’re staying on Koh Phi Phi!
You can search for other accommodation on Koh Phi Phi on Booking.com – or using the map below!
There is no airport on Koh Phi Phi, so everyone on the island arrives by boat. Krabi and Phuket are popular nearby destinations which both have airports. It’s easy to get to other islands by ferry, as there are regular departures and just about any hostel or tour agency can book you a ticket to wherever it is that you’re going. If you’re planning on flying during your Thailand trip, I use Skyscanner to book my flights. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
Seeing Maya Bay at sunrise was a real highlight of my trip to Thailand. If you’re visiting Koh Phi Phi, I definitely recommend a boat trip to see Maya Bay. And if you want to visit without huge crowds, go at sunrise! This was a fantastic daytrip and good value for money. I hope this post inspires you to do a sunrise trip to Maya Bay!
Have you visited Maya Bay? What was your experience like?
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