Status 2026
OPEN
Entry fee
400 THB
Quota
300 visitors
Time on site
1 hour
Best slot
7:30 AM
Anchoring
Forbidden
Quick answer
Maya Bay is open in 2026, year-round, but with strict rules:
- Quota: 300 visitors at any one time, max
- Time on site: 1 hour (rangers time it)
- Entry fee: 400 THB per foreign adult
- Anchoring: forbidden in the bay, landing through Loh Samah (the back bay)
- Swimming: allowed in a buoy-marked zone, snorkeling with mask/fins forbidden in the main bay
- Punctual closures: possible during monsoon (August-October) if swell is too strong
The 30-second history
| Period | Status | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Before 2018 | Saturated | Up to 5,000 visitors/day, 200 boats anchoring, 80% of coral dead |
| June 2018 → January 2022 | Total closure | Reef restoration, coral replanting, return of blacktip reef sharks |
| January 2022 → today | Open with quota | Strict regulation by the DNP |
| 2026 | Open | No long re-closure planned |
The 4-year closure really worked. When I saw Maya Bay in March 2022, right after reopening, it was surreal: no one, crystal-clear water, growing coral, juvenile sharks 50 cm from the shore. In 2026 it is less spectacular than 2022 (before the crowd), but infinitely better than 2017.
How the access works today
Landing via Loh Samah
No more boats enter Maya Bay. Landing is done in Loh Samah Bay, the small bay at the back of Phi Phi Leh, east side. From there, a wooden pier and 80-meter trail leads to Maya Bay beach.
It is quick (5 minutes walk), accessible in flip-flops, but can be slightly slippery after rain. Not really a hike — flat trail.
The 300-visitor quota
The DNP set a strict cap: 300 people maximum at any one time on the beach. This means operators (and agencies like ours) must reserve time slots — usually 90 minutes covering landing, time on site, and re-boarding.
If quota is reached, next boats wait outside. This happens regularly between 10am and 1pm in high season.
Time on site
The time slot is strictly 1 hour. Rangers time it: at the end, they politely (but firmly) ask you to come back to the path. There is no extension.
In practice: 10 minutes to land + photo of the bay sign + 30 minutes on the sand and swimming + 10 minutes for last photos + 10 minutes to return to Loh Samah.
The entry fee — what to know
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Foreign adult | 400 THB |
| Foreign child (4–14) | 200 THB |
| Under 4 | Free |
| Thai citizen | 100 THB |
Important: this fee is never included in the tour package price. You pay it in cash to the DNP ranger at Loh Samah pier. Bring exact-ish change (banknotes 500 THB max, no 1000 THB notes accepted).
Best time of year to visit
| Month | Conditions | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Nov–Feb | Calm sea, blue sky, low rain | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best |
| Mar–May | Hot (33–36°C), still mostly dry | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good |
| Jun–Jul | Monsoon naissance, short rains | ⭐⭐⭐ OK |
| Aug–Oct | Real monsoon, possible closures | ⭐ Avoid if Maya Bay is priority |
The bay can be closed 1–3 days during heavy swell in monsoon — operators reschedule when possible.
Photo gallery from local tours
Where Maya Bay is
How we organize your Maya Bay day
We are based on Koh Phi Phi Don. Maya Bay is 25 minutes by speedboat from Tonsai Pier. Our typical Maya Bay day includes:
- Pickup at your hotel (Tonsai or Loh Dalum) — 6:45 AM
- Speedboat to Loh Samah — first arrival 7:25 AM, before crowds
- 1 hour on Maya Bay — quota empty, soft light
- Pileh Lagoon — green-blue lagoon, swimming in the karsts
- Viking Cave + Monkey Beach — quick stops
- Bamboo Island — long white-sand beach, lunch included
- Snorkeling near Phi Phi Don — coral + clownfish
- Return to hotel — 4:30 PM
Want us to organize your Maya Bay day with the right timing? Write on WhatsApp, we'll set up the perfect slot based on your date and accommodation.