Maya Bay Reopened 1 Oct 2026: Rules, Fees, Closure Dates

Going to Phi Phi this season? Maya Bay is open again since 1 October 2026 (the annual conservation closure runs every year from August 1 to September 30, next one in 2027), and the archipelago is spectacular all year. Book the Phi Phi party boat, a private long-tail charter to Pileh Lagoon & Monkey Beach, or a private speedboat. For Maya Bay itself, grab a sunrise slot to beat the crowds.

Short answer

Maya Bay is open: it reopened on 1 October 2026 after its annual conservation closure (every year from August 1 to September 30, National Park/DNP). The rest of the year, access is open but very supervised:

• Annual closure: from August 1 to September 30 (conservation, DNP). Reopened on 1 October 2026, next closure from August 1 to September 30, 2027
• Quota: 300 simultaneous visitors maximum
• Duration on site: 1 hour (timed by the rangers)
• Entrance fee: 400 THB / foreign adult
• Anchorage: prohibited in the bay, disembarkation by Loh Samah (the rear bay)
• Swimming: authorized in a buoy area, snorkeling prohibited in the main bay
• One-off closures: possible for the rest of the monsoon if the swell is too strong

We returned from a Maya Bay tour last week. This is what they don't tell you in the brochures. The team

History in 30 seconds

The 4 year closure really worked. When I saw Maya Bay in March 2022 just after reopening, it was unreal: no people, crystal clear water, corals growing back, juvenile sharks 50 cm from the shore. In 2026 it is less spectacular than in 2022 (before the crowds), but infinitely better than in 2017.

How access works today

The landing by Loh Samah

No more boats enter Maya Bay. Disembarkation takes place in Loh Samah Bay, the small bay located at the back of Phi Phi Leh, on the east side. From there, a wooden pontoon and an 80-meter path lead to the beach barrier of Maya Bay.

It’s quick (5 minutes on foot), accessible in flip-flops, but can be a little slippery after the rain. No walking per se, flat path.

Landing depending on the tide

• High tide (often around midday): deeper water when you step off the boat, sometimes chest-high
• Low tide (often early morning or late afternoon): easier crossing, but exposed and slippery rocks
• Monsoon: a side current can make the few metres of wading harder, hold children by the hand

Tide times change every day: a serious operator checks them the evening before.

The quota of 300 visitors

The DNP has set a strict ceiling: 300 people maximum simultaneously on the beach. Concretely, this means that operators (and therefore agencies like ours) must reserve time slots, often 90 minutes to accommodate disembarkation, time on site, and re-embarkation.

If the quota is reached, the next boats wait outside. This happens regularly between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in high season.

Duration on site

1 hour sharp, timed by the rangers. The whistles sound, we board again. This hour includes:

• 5 min walk one way via Loh Samah
• 45 min from beach / swimming / photos
• 5 min walk back
• The re-boarding

Realistic: 40 minutes with your feet in the sand.

Entrance fee to Maya Bay 2026

The entrance fee to Maya Bay in 2026 is 400 THB per foreign adult (200 THB per child 4-11 years old, free under 4 years old), to be paid in cash on arrival when the tour does not include it (each tour page says so).

Important: this entrance fee is often excluded from tour prices, and always on platforms like GetYourGuide. With us, it is included in the Pirate Boat booked direct; for other trips, the tour page says so. It’s a national park rate, we don’t touch it. Bring the money in cash: the rangers do not have TPE.

Tip: take new 500 THB notes. Wrinkled or very worn banknotes are sometimes refused.

The real budget for a day in Maya Bay

We are often asked the question: “all inclusive, how much does it cost?” » Here is a realistic 2026 range, per person, for a full Phi Phi Leh day departing from Phi Phi.

A private longtail (Maya + Pileh, departure 7 a.m.) costs 2,500-3,500 THB for the entire boat: very interesting for 2-4 people if you want the bay before the crowds. The only really incompressible cost is the entrance fee of 400 THB – everything else depends on the tour format you choose.

Can you swim in Maya Bay?

Yes, but only in an area demarcated by buoys along the shore, and no fins or mask/snorkel in the main bay, the rule is enforced by the rangers. To really swim and snorkel, we go to Loh Samah (just behind) or Pileh Lagoon. Please note: from August 1 to September 30, Maya Bay is closed to disembarkation (annual closure of the national park) and swimming is then only possible in Pileh and Loh Samah.

What you can (and can't) do in Maya Bay

Allowed

• Walk on the beach (area limited by buoys on the ground)
• Swim in the water area delimited by floating buoys
• Photograph
• Take a break in the shade of the sand protection ropes

Forbidden

• Anchor a boat in the bay
• Snorkeling with mask/snorkel/fins in the main bay
• Touch the sand beyond the ropes (regeneration zones)
• Drink alcohol, picnic, smoke
• Touching the corals (penalty 100,000 THB)
• Bring an inflatable buoy

Snorkeling is done at Loh Samah (right next door, much calmer and better reef today) or at Pileh Lagoon (5 minutes by boat, turquoise lagoon closed by cliffs).

Best time to go

From what I observe when doing the tour 2-3 times a week:

If you are staying on Phi Phi (Tonsai), book a private longtail departure at 7 a.m.: you arrive at 7:45 a.m., you have the bay to yourself for 30 minutes before the arrival of the Phuket speedboats.

If you come on a day trip from Phuket or Krabi, you will inevitably arrive in the heart of the saturated niche. This is why sleeping at least one night in Phi Phi changes everything. The timing equation below explains why.

The timing equation: why early boats never queue

A shared speedboat carries 20-25 people, and three boats often arrive within the same 20-minute window: 60-75 people land at Loh Samah at once. Rangers process the entrance at roughly 20 people every 5 minutes (check, head count, registration). The bottleneck forms fast.

Bottom line: private or small-group boats arriving before 7:30-7:45 a.m. almost never queue. After 10 a.m., expect to wait unless it is a rainy day.

Which boat to choose for Maya Bay?

A 25-seat speedboat runs a fixed schedule: you cannot ask it for an early start. Small boats are naturally flexible, that is why our First Sunrise at Maya Bay tour is capped at 6 travellers.

Maya Bay month by month in 2026

The whole year is “open”, but the experience changes greatly depending on the season. This is what we observe on the ground:

Our favorite period for the beauty/tranquility ratio: late October to mid-December and May-June. For details season by season, see our guide on the best time to visit Maya Bay.

Where to go from to Maya Bay: Phi Phi, Phuket or Krabi?

You can visit Maya Bay by day trip from Phuket (1h45-2h speedboat), by day trip from Krabi / Ao Nang (45-90 min), or by sleeping on site in Phi Phi (15-25 min). The starting point determines the time you arrive at Maya Bay, therefore how many people you will find there.

The conclusion is always the same: sleeping at least one night on Phi Phi opens up the only window where Maya Bay is calm (7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m.). Day trips from Phuket and Krabi are practical but all arrive at peak attendance. If you can't stay on the island, leave as soon as possible - or bet on Pileh Lagoon, often more beautiful and less crowded.

Occasional closures to anticipate

Beyond the annual closure from August 1 to September 30, the DNP may occasionally close Maya Bay for safety or environmental reasons. Statistically:

• December-March: almost never closed
• April-July: rare closures (1-3 days)
• August 1 – September 30: total annual closure of Maya Bay (conservation, DNP), the bay is closed continuously these two months
• October: still in monsoon, a few days of occasional closure possible depending on the swell
• November: return to normal

The announcement arrives the evening before on the park’s official account. Serious agencies will refund you or postpone the excursion free of charge in the event of an official closure. Check this point in the T&Cs before booking.

What if it rains on the day?

• Scattered showers: rangers rarely close, the water just gets cloudier
• Sea above 1.5 m or forecast winds of 40 km/h+: closure "until the sea calms down", usually 2-3 hours
• Tip: if it rains at 7 a.m. during a sunrise tour, don't cancel, it often clears around 8 a.m. and the bay is even quieter

Days to avoid: Thai public holidays (Songkran in mid-April, New Year, long weekends), the quota is often reached by 9:30 a.m.

What to bring to Maya Bay

• Essentials: reef-safe SPF 50+ sunscreen, waterproof phone pouch, flip-flops, 500-1,000 THB in cash (entrance fee included)
• Useful: GoPro or waterproof camera, small 10-15 L dry bag, your own mask and snorkel for Pileh and Loh Samah
• Leave behind: drones (confiscated by rangers), glass bottles, jewellery

What the brochures don't tell you

1. The beach is smaller than in aerial photos. On official drones it appears immense. In reality, it is 250 meters long and 15-20 meters wide at high tide. With 300 people on it, it’s dense.

   

2. Pileh Lagoon is often more beautiful than Maya Bay itself. More turquoise water, higher cliffs, far fewer people. All good tours include both on the same day.

   

3. You will not get the photo of Leonardo DiCaprio. Planting zones prohibit access to 70% of the sand. You stay on a narrow strip on the water side.

   

4. The noise of the boats at Loh Samah has not disappeared. When 30 speedboats are anchored on the other side of the cliff, we can hear them. It’s not the desert island silence you imagine.

   

5. The ranger will whistle exactly at 1 o'clock. Don't hang around when getting back on board, you will be the last to board and you will be blocking 50 people.

Should we still go there?

Yes, it’s legendary, it’s regulated and therefore preserved, and the bay itself is beautiful. But treat it as one stop on a Phi Phi Leh tour, not the sole objective.

My advice: a 6-hour speedboat tour which combines Maya Bay + Pileh + Viking Cave + Bamboo Island + a snorkel spot. You pay the Maya Bay entrance fee once and you see 5 amazing places. To arrive in the quiet 7:30 a.m. window, watch our First Sunrise at Maya Bay tour.

Do you want us to organize your Phi Phi Leh day with the right timing for Maya Bay? Write on WhatsApp, we'll find the ideal slot according to your date and your accommodation.

Sources and updates

• Department of National Parks (DNP), Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park
• Field observations: weekly tours of the agency since 2022
• Updated: October 2026 (reopening of 1 October confirmed)