Maya Bay 2026: complete guide to schedules, fees and insider tips
This page is currently in French. A translated version is on the way — our concierge is happy to answer in your language.
Read
Maya Bay is open in 2026 with a strict quota of 300 visitors at a time, entrance fee 400 THB and seasonal closure August 1 — September 30. The best times are 7:00 a.m.-7:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. — everywhere else is saturated. More important than the price: your timing and the type of boat.
The real story (not the Instagram story)
I have been watching Maya Bay evolve for years since Phi Phi. What started as a small film location grew into a circus, then found its groove — but only if you know the rules. This guide covers everything: the actual quota (it counts), when the crowd goes from 300 to 50 people, why the choice of boat changes everything, and the weather windows that no one talks about.
What is really happening in Maya Bay in 2026?
Maya Bay is open all year round except when closed for conservation (August 1 - September 30). Here's what's changed since 2025. For reopening status, access rules and detailed budget, see also our full analysis of Maya Bay 2026 reopening:
The 300-person limit (and why it matters)
Phi Phi National Park applies a quota of 300 people simultaneously on the beach. It seems like a lot until you realize how quickly it fills up. Each group has approximately an hour on the beach before the next one arrives. The ranger system uses Loh Samah Bay as an entry point — boats no longer approach Maya Bay beach directly. This bottleneck is your advantage: it is predictable.
Concrete translation for your timing: if you arrive at 7:15 a.m., you are in the first slot (7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m.). If you arrive at 8:45 a.m., you will probably wait 10-20 minutes. After 10:00? Expect a queue, except on rainy days.
The rangers strictly enforce the rule. They count the exits; as soon as 300 is reached, the input is paused.
National park fee details
Foreign adult: 400 THB (approximately 11 USD)
Child (4-11 years old): 200 THB
Thai national: 40 THB / 20 THB
Cash preferred; some carriers accept PromptPay/TrueMoney. Where is the money going? Reef restoration, ranger salaries, waste management, infrastructure. The bay no longer looks dead like it did in 2020 thanks to this system.
How to get there: Sunrise tours or private longtails. You depart from Tonsai Pier at 6:00 a.m. at the latest. See our First Sunrise at Maya Bay tour.
The 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. slot (the alternative)
Rangers less strict (end of day), a little more flexibility on timing
Fewer families, especially serious travelers
Perfect sunset light for video
Crowd: 50 to 100 people
Avoid: 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on weekends
Thai school holidays and international weekends (especially May-July, December-January) saturate the quota from 10:30 a.m. If you see the blue buses arriving at Phuket port, Maya Bay is already full.
How to get there: boat options and reality
Longtail (4 to 8 passengers)
Cost: 1,200 to 1,600 THB per boat (to be divided)
Duration: 45 min from Tonsai Pier
Ideal for: sunrise, small families, flexibility
Speedboat (20 to 25 passengers)
Cost: 300 to 400 THB per person
Duration: 30 min from Phuket port
Reality: you are one among 25. Group dynamics are holding you back.
Small group speedboat (6 passengers, private option)
Cost: 2,400 to 3,200 THB for 6 people
The sweet spot: speed + intimacy. A 6-seater boat leaving Phuket at 6:30 a.m. arrives at Maya Bay at 7:10 a.m. — perfect timing for the first slot.
Sunrise tour (guided, small group)
Cost: 1,050 to 2,400 THB per person
Duration: 4 to 5 hours total (departure from Tonsai 5:30 a.m., return 10:30 a.m.)
A typical speedboat accommodates 25 people. Three boats arrive in a 20 minute window. 75 people flooded Loh Samah. Rangers process entry to approximately 20 people every 5 minutes (checking vests, counting, recording). A bottleneck forms.
Actionable conclusion: private boats or small groups arriving before 7:30 a.m. never queue. Never.
The insider angle: what the guides don't mention
Swimming restrictions are real
Swimming is only allowed in an area demarcated by buoys along the shore, and no fins or mask/snorkel in the main bay — enforced by rangers. For real swimming and snorkeling, go to Loh Samah (just behind) or Pileh Lagoon. Maya Bay is for the image, not for the aquatic experience.
The puzzle of the landing at Loh Samah
Boats anchor at Loh Samah Bay. You cross 30 to 50 meters on foot until you reach Maya beach.
High tide (11 a.m.-2 p.m.): deeper water (sometimes chest deep)
Ready to book? We operate small group tours with flexible timing, early departures and intimate groups of up to 6 people. Chat with our team — we respond in less than 2 minutes.
Yes, if you go early (7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m.) or late (4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.). The mid-day experience is generic. The secret to the site is timing — not price.
