Maya Bay

Maya Bay is a sheltered cove on uninhabited Phi Phi Leh Island in Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, Krabi Province. Enclosed by 100-metre limestone cliffs with white sand and clear turquoise water, it gained international fame as the filming location for the 2000 film The Beach. Closed from 2018 to 2022 for ecological restoration, it now operates with managed visitor access.

Visitors arrive by boat and moor at Loh Samah Bay pier, then walk via a boardwalk and trail to the beach. Expect a curved white-sand bay enclosed by limestone cliffs, clear shallow water, and forested slopes. Swimming inside the bay is not permitted; viewing is from the beach and designated platforms. The area has a ranger station, boardwalk, and toilets. Visits are time-limited and guided by park staff, with snorkeling only permitted outside the bay.

Maya Bay became internationally known after serving as the main filming location for the 2000 film The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Increased tourism led to environmental degradation, prompting the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to close the bay from June 2018 to January 2022 for ecosystem rehabilitation, including coral restoration and beach recovery.

Located within Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, Maya Bay is an iconic example of southern Thailand's limestone karst seascape and is valued for its natural beauty and conservation significance. It is a symbol of marine national park protection and sustainable tourism management in Thailand.