“Maya Bay or Bamboo Island? » This is THE dilemma for all travelers preparing for Koh Phi Phi. Both are iconic, both are worth the detour, but it’s really not the same experience.
We have lived on Koh Phi Phi since 2019 and we take travelers to these two spots almost every day. Here is our honest comparison, with the real rules of the national park, not those of blogs that are never updated.
Maya Bay · the Hollywood legend
History
Maya Bay became world famous with the film The Beach (2000) with Leonardo DiCaprio. A victim of its success, it closed from 2018 to January 2022 for ecological regeneration. Since the reopening, the rules have been strict: visitor quota, limited hours during the day, and above all swimming prohibited in the bay.
What you will see
A perfect horseshoe bay, 100 meter limestone cliffs, fine white sand, turquoise water. It's Thailand's most photographed beach, and blacktip sharks have returned to swim in the bay, you might see them from the beach.
What makes it unique: geography. These amphitheater cliffs do not exist anywhere else in the archipelago.
Rules to know (2026)
- Swimming prohibited in the bay, we walk, we contemplate, we photograph
- Annual closure from August 1 to September 30 (park regeneration)
- Open during the day only, the park regulates access by slots
- Access is via the rear Loh Samah jetty, not the beach itself
Better timing
- Sunrise: the almost empty bay, golden light, this is exactly our outing Morning Maya (from 900 THB)
- Before 10 a.m.: significantly fewer boats
- To avoid: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., peak traffic
Bamboo Island · the swimming gem
History
Bamboo Island (Koh Mai Phai) has no Hollywood glory. It's "just" a white sandbank resting on a crystalline lagoon, about twenty minutes north of Phi Phi Don, with a preserved coral reef.
What you will see
A white and turquoise lagoon, clear water, fine sand, dense tropical vegetation. No infrastructure, just nature. Wilder and more peaceful than Maya Bay.
What makes it unique: water. Transparent like glass. You see the fish from the shore, without a mask.
Swimming and snorkeling
This is where everything happens: unlike Maya Bay, swimming is free at Bamboo Island. The reef is rich, the fish numerous, the shallow water gently sloping, also ideal for children. If you only have to snorkel in one place in the archipelago, this is it.
Better timing
- Middle of the day (10 a.m.-2 p.m.): light at the zenith, water at its brightest
- Season: from November to April, calm sea; from May to October, the swell can make docking impossible on certain days
Comparison table
| Criteria | Maya Bay | Bamboo Island |
|---|---|---|
| Spectacular photo | ★★★★★ | ★★★ |
| Bathing | Prohibited | ★★★★★ |
| Snorkeling | Banned in the bay | ★★★★★ |
| Tranquility | ★★ | ★★★★ |
| With children | Correct (we walk) | Ideal |
| Park fees | 400 THB adult* | 400 THB adult* |
| Ideal duration on site | 45 mins – 1 hour | 1h30 – 2h30 |
* National park fee (400 THB adult / 200 THB child 4-11 years old) covers both islands on the same day. They are rarely included in the price of the tours - bring cash.
A typical day that combines both
Most day tours make both stops. Our Magic Day by speedboat (1,900 THB, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.) continues Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Loh Samah, the viewpoint, then Bamboo Island, with lunch and sunset at sea.
In a private version, our privatized long-tail (from 2,500 THB for 2 hours, up to 3 people) lets you create your own program, at times when the spots are empty.
Verdict: which one to choose?
If you have a full day: both. This is literally the combined tour schedule, and it's 90% of the Phi Phi dream in one day.
If you really have to choose:
| Your profile | Our advice |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Maya Bay (at sunrise) |
| Swimmer / snorkeler | Bamboo Island |
| Family with children | Bamboo Island |
| Honeymoon | Both, privatized |
And between August 1 and September 30, the question does not arise: Maya Bay is closed, head for Bamboo Island, Pileh Lagoon and the beaches of Phi Phi Don, the archipelago remains magnificent.
Mistakes to avoid
- Plan to swim in Maya Bay, it's been banned since 2022, you'll be disappointed if you don't know
- Go there in August-September without knowing that it is closed, check the dates of your stay
- Forget cash for park fees, 400 THB/adult, rarely included
- Arrive at Maya Bay at noon, this is the peak of the crowds; aim for sunrise or before 10 a.m.
- Skip the swimming lunch at Bamboo, it's the best time of the day
A question about your itinerary? Write to us on WhatsApp, we're there and we'll get back to you with today's conditions.
