Visit Maya Bay (Koh Phi Phi)

Located on the uninhabited island of Koh Pi Phi Leh, Maya Bay Beach was made famous by the film The Beach by Dany Boyle starring Leonardo Di Caprio, Virginie Ledoyen, and Guillaume Canet (yes, we often tend to forget the two Frenchies in the cast). It's true that it's a superb place, certainly one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand, but also and above all the one that attracts the most tourists. Almost all the tours offered by local agencies include Maya Bay Beach on their itinerary. Despite the dense crowds of tourists, especially during high season, Clea remains one of the must-sees on Koh Phi Phi.

To enjoy it without too many people, you should take an excursion that leaves early in the morning or rent the services of a longtail boat the day before and tell them you want to leave at dawn. You'll find some in Ton Sai or on Loh Dalum beach. The days of privatizing a longtail boat, leaving at sunrise, and arriving on a beach in Maya Bay without anyone are over! There are now quite a few local agencies that offer tours with early departures by speedboat. So leaving very early allows for fewer people, but there are still people. Especially during peak season (December to the end of March).

Since Maya Bay reopened to tourists in early 2022, after three years of total closure to allow nature to regenerate, the organization and rules for visiting Maya Bay have changed. You no longer dock directly on the beach, but on the floating bridge installed at Loh Samah Bay, and it's about a ten-minute walk to reach the legendary beach. You're not allowed to swim there, and you can only stay there for a maximum of one hour. There are also quays of tourists at the same time, throughout the day, but I don't believe they're scrupulously respected in practice. Otherwise, Maya Bay is also closed to visitors for two months each year, in August and September, months that are not recommended for visiting this part of Thailand anyway.

Personally, I regret that Loh Samah Bay has become the entry point with the installation of a concrete pontoon. I loved the view from the wooden walkway over Loh Samah Bay and its small islet, and it was a nice snorkeling spot.