In April 2017, we were able to visit Maya Bay – famous from the movie “The Beach” – without the crowds of tourists on the beach. Of course, this only happened with a bit of planning. I am sharing my secrets in this post, so better save it for when Maya Bay opens again.
Staying in Koh Phi Phi Don overnight
Being one of the few people on the beautiful Maya Bay beach will only ever happen if you stay in Phi Phi Don for at least one night. We only booked our accommodation the night before and ended up in a hut next to a noisy party beach. However, it was a fun party and visiting Maya Bay in a quiet moment was totally worth not being able to sleep afterwards. I’m just not sure if I would have survived more than one night there.
Booking a boat tour to Maya Bay
When booking your boat tour from Koh Phi Phi to Maya Bay, only one thing is essential: timing. Most of the crowds visit Maya Bay from Krabi and Phuket, so they will need to catch the last ferry back to these places. If your boat tour arrives at Maya Bay just before the last ferries of the day leave, you hit the jackpot! We saw the crowds disappear like snow in the sun, and were able to enjoy this wonderful piece of nature very peacefully.
Maya Bay is a piece of paradise and my favourite part of Thailand. No words can describe the beauty of this place, so I hope my pictures say it all:
Maya Bay closure until 2021 (expected)
Maya Bay has closed its doors to tourists since June 2018, and will potentially remain closed until June 2021 at least. Expectations are that there will be a maximum number of visitors per day when Maya Bay reopens, so it will become even more critical to plan your trip well. Maya Bay’s temporary closure to tourism shows how vital it is to be considerate to your surroundings. I cannot thank the Thai authorities enough to prioritise the wellness of nature above the income generated by tourism.
