The small but beautiful beaches of Maya Bay have been a place of worship ever since they were made famous in Leonardo Di Caprio’s film The Beach and have been visited by thousands of tourists every day. Accessible only by boats and ferries, the bay’s crystal-clear waters are ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. Although the bay was closed to visitors indefinitely until recently due to the negative impact tourism has had on the region’s biodiversity over the years, tourists are now allowed to visit it regularly again controlled.
Maya Bay is a stunning cove sheltered on three sides by 100-meter cliffs. Here you can enjoy different beaches. Most are small, and some only exist at low tide. The main beach is 200 meters long and has silky soft white sand. The entire bay is one large reef, and the underwater scene features colorful corals and exotic fish in obvious water.
Maya Bay became one of Phi Phi’s main attractions after The Beach (1999) was filmed here. It was always trendy before the movie, but since it came out, people worldwide who have never heard of Phi Phi have surely heard of Maya Bay.
Good things to know about Maya Bay
The best time to visit Maya Bay is between November and April, during the high season when the sea is calm and offers more accessible access to the bay. Rough seas from May to October can make access difficult but rarely deny entry. It’s beautiful… it’s not isolated. Thousands of people have been visiting the beach every day since it rose in popularity. The bad news is that many boats are coming and going visitors, and at any time of day, over 30 speedboats and longtail boats are moored on the beach while large ferries carry hundreds of divers and tourists moored in deeper water.
Thai authorities intervened to protect Maya Bay from decay and announced its closure to allow for the ecological recovery of the seabed and reefs. It has improved significantly and is expected to reopen in mid-2021. During the closure, boats are allowed to enter the bay so you can enjoy the beautiful scenery, but parking near the beach is prohibited.
The Beach
Alex Garland’s The Beach is about young travelers escaping society and living in a hidden lagoon in southern Thailand. Fox bought the rights to the book, hired Leonardo DiCaprio to star, and then scouted the location. Maya Bay was perfect. Fox decided the perfect beach needed a few palm trees and less vegetation, so he redesigned the beach to fit the Hollywood stereotype. The ecosystem may never recover.
Vegetation was replanted after filming, and additional bamboo fences were erected to support the dunes. Filming began in 1999, and The Beach was one of the most anticipated films of 2000. Many visitors cite the film as an inspiration for your trip to Thailand.
Things to do in Maya Bay
Snorkeling and diving are excellent throughout the bay. Large underwater rocks are covered in coral and teeming with brightly colored fish. The view is excellent. Many tour operators bring visitors from Phuket, Krabi, and Phi Phi Don here for snorkeling. It is also popular.
Kayak tour boats dock and dock in the bay while guests are free to explore the area. Tourist businesses on Phi Phi Don have begun encouraging organized camping on The Beach, and drinking is often part of the fun. Camping is only allowed on certain nights.
