Maya Bay from Krabi: Rules, Swimming Ban and How to Visit Today

Published 28 October 2026 · 9 min read

A friend once stepped off the boardwalk onto the sand at Maya Bay, kicked off her sandals, walked straight towards the water and was whistled back by a ranger within seconds. She was not doing anything wrong by old standards, she just did not know the rules had changed. This guide explains how a trip to maya bay from krabi works today, so you arrive knowing what to expect and enjoy it instead of feeling caught out.

Maya Bay is still one of the most beautiful places in Thailand. The cliffs are as tall as ever, the sand is still white, and the water is clearer than it has been for years. But it is now a protected beach first and a tourist stop second, and that shapes the whole visit.

How do you visit Maya Bay from Krabi today?

The easiest way to see Maya Bay from Krabi is a Phi Phi day tour by speedboat that includes it on the route. Boats no longer pull up on the beach: they moor at a jetty on the back side of Phi Phi Leh, and you walk to the bay on a wooden boardwalk. The walk is short and flat, through a strip of forest, and it brings you out at the back of the beach.

The landing is in Loh Samah Bay, on the opposite side of the island from the famous view. From there the boardwalk crosses to the beach. There are rangers on duty, signs with the rules, and set areas where you can stand, walk and take photos.

Phi Phi Leh has no hotels and no village, so there is no way to stay overnight and walk over early. Every visitor arrives by boat, and from Krabi that means a tour, a private boat, or a ferry to Phi Phi Don and then a separate boat trip from there.

For most people coming from Ao Nang or Krabi Town, a day tour is the simplest option. Hotel transfer, the boat, snorkel gear, lunch and the guide are all handled, and Maya Bay is one stop among several, so the day does not depend on one beach.

Why was Maya Bay closed, and what changed?

Maya Bay was closed in 2018 because years of mass tourism had badly damaged its coral and beach. Before the closure, thousands of visitors a day and boats anchoring right in the bay had killed most of the reef, so the national park shut it to let nature recover. It reopened in 2022 with new rules designed to stop the damage from returning.

The bay became famous after the film The Beach, released in 2000. Within a few years it was one of the most crowded beaches in the country, with speedboats lined up along the sand and engines running in the shallows. Divers and marine scientists warned for a long time before the decision was made.

During the closure, coral was replanted and the beach was left alone. The most visible result is the return of blacktip reef sharks, which now cruise the shallows in good numbers. Seeing their fins in knee-deep water from the beach is one of the best moments of a visit today.

The new system is simple: no boats in the bay, a boardwalk entry from the back, no swimming, limits on how many people can be on the beach at once, and time slots for each group. It feels more controlled than the old days, but it is the reason the bay is still worth seeing.

Can you swim at Maya Bay?

No. Swimming at Maya Bay is not allowed, and rangers enforce the rule, so plan this as a walking and photo stop, not a swim. The ban protects the young coral and the sharks that use the shallow water as a nursery.

What you can do is walk along the sand, stand at the marked areas near the water's edge, watch for shark fins, and take photos of the cliffs. The rules on how close you can go to the water may be adjusted from time to time, so follow the signs and the rangers on the day.

This is the part that surprises people the most. They arrive in swimwear, see the clearest water of the trip, and cannot go in. My advice is to accept it before you go. You will have plenty of swimming elsewhere on the same tour, at Loh Samah Bay, the snorkelling stops and Bamboo Island.

Families with children should explain the rule before the boat lands. Kids who see a perfect beach and are told to stay out of the water can get upset, so promise them the swim at the next stop. Loh Samah Bay, where the boats moor, is often the first place to jump in after the walk, and the fish there are a good reward for patience.

Also leave the drone in your bag unless you have checked the current park rules and permits. National parks in Thailand are strict about drones, and Maya Bay is one of the most watched beaches in the country.

When is Maya Bay closed?

Maya Bay closes for part of the low season every year to give the bay a rest. In recent years the closure has usually fallen around August and September, during the south-west monsoon, but the national park announces the exact dates each year. It can also close at short notice when the sea is too rough for safe landings.

From roughly November to April, the dry season on the Andaman coast, the bay is normally open and the sea is calmer. This is also the busiest time, so expect company. From May onwards the weather is less predictable, and the crossing from Krabi to Phi Phi gets bumpier.

If seeing Maya Bay is the main reason for your trip, check the closure dates before you book flights for the late summer months. Ask on WhatsApp before booking the tour too, so you know whether the bay is on the route that week.

Weather closures are a different story. Even in the open season, strong swell can make the landing at Loh Samah unsafe for a day or two. In that case the tour usually changes the order or swaps the stop, which brings us to what to do if it happens to you.

How busy is Maya Bay, and when is the best time to go?

Maya Bay is busy for most of the day in high season, even with the visitor limits. The limits control how many people are on the beach at the same moment, not how many arrive in a day, so you will share it with other groups. Set your expectations for a beautiful, managed beach rather than a lonely one.

On a day tour from Krabi, you do not choose your time slot. The operator plans the order of stops around park slots, tides and the other boats. Sometimes Maya Bay comes early, sometimes after lunch. Either way the visit is short, so be ready to walk off the boat with your camera in hand.

A few habits help you enjoy it more:

• Walk past the first crowd at the end of the boardwalk. The far ends of the beach are often quieter.
• Look at the shallows for a few minutes before taking photos. The sharks show up when people stand still.
• Take the wide shot of the cliffs first, then the people shots. The light changes quickly.
• Keep sandals on until you reach the sand. The boardwalk gets hot in the midday sun.

The high-season peaks, around Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year, are the busiest of all. If you are in Krabi then, go anyway, but come for the scenery and the sharks, not for space.

How the Phi Phi speedboat tour from Krabi includes Maya Bay

The Phi Phi Islands Day Tour by Speedboat from Krabi has Maya Bay on its route, alongside the other famous Phi Phi stops. It runs 08:30 to 16:30, starts from ฿1890 per adult and ฿1590 for children aged 3 to 11, and children under 3 go free. Hotel transfer, snorkel mask, life jacket, an English speaking guide, accident insurance, fruit, soft drinks and lunch are included.

It is a long day with a lot of open sea, and that is the honest downside. The crossing from Krabi is longer than any of the local island trips, and in the windy months it can be bumpy. Sit at the back of the speedboat, where the ride is softer, and take seasickness tablets before you board if you need them.

The Phi Phi Islands speedboat tour page has the full details and the booking request. For the bigger question of whether the whole day suits you, read Phi Phi day trip from Krabi: is it worth it?

This tour suits first-time visitors who want Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Bamboo Island in one day without organising boats themselves.

What if Maya Bay is closed on your tour day?

If Maya Bay is closed, the Phi Phi tour still runs with the other stops, and the day is still very good. Pileh Lagoon, Loh Samah Bay, Viking Cave, lunch on Phi Phi Don and Bamboo Island are where most of the swimming happens anyway. You lose a walk and a photo, not the heart of the trip.

When the bay is closed, you can often still see the cliffs of Phi Phi Leh from the water as the boat passes nearby, depending on the sea. Ask the guide, who knows the day's conditions and the park rules better than any website.

If the whole Phi Phi trip is cancelled by weather, it is usually because the open-sea crossing is not safe. In that case, the closer trips are the better plan. The 4 Islands tour by speedboat stays near the Krabi coast, and the Ko Hong Island tour by speedboat has a lagoon of its own and is more sheltered.

The best protection is time. Book Phi Phi early in your stay, keep a spare day, and if the weather says no, you can move the trip instead of losing it.

Practical tips for your Maya Bay day

Pack for a long, sunny day on the water and a short walk on land. The park fee for national park areas is usually paid separately, so carry some cash and check the details on the tour page before you go.

1. Wear swimwear under light clothes and bring sandals that are easy to slip on and off.
2. Bring sunglasses, sunblock and a beach hat, as the tour page lists. Reapply after every swim.
3. Use a dry bag or zip bag for your phone, money and passport copy.
4. Eat a light breakfast and take seasickness tablets early if you need them.
5. Respect the rules at Maya Bay: stay out of the water, keep to the marked areas and leave the coral and shells where they are.

Check the health rules on the tour page before you book: island boat tours here generally do not accept pregnant women or people with heart or other serious medical conditions. Then relax and enjoy it: Maya Bay today is quieter, cleaner and wilder than it was when it became famous, and that is worth the walk.

Frequently asked questions

Is Maya Bay worth visiting if you cannot swim there?

For most people, yes. The cliffs, the white sand and the sharks in the shallows are still a highlight of Phi Phi. Just treat it as a walk and photo stop, and swim at the other stops on the tour.

Can you see sharks at Maya Bay?

Blacktip reef sharks have returned in good numbers since the restoration. They are small, shy and harmless to people, and you often see their fins in shallow water from the beach. Stand still for a few minutes and watch the edge of the water.

How long do you get at Maya Bay on a tour?

The visit is short, because the park uses time slots for each group. You have enough time to walk the beach, look for sharks and take photos. The guide tells you the meeting time when you land.

Can kids visit Maya Bay?

Yes, children can join the Phi Phi tour, and those under 3 go free. The boardwalk is easy to walk. The long boat ride is the bigger challenge for small kids, so bring snacks, water and shade.

Is the boardwalk to Maya Bay difficult to walk?

No, it is short and mostly flat. Getting on and off the boat at the jetty is the trickiest part, so take a hand if offered. Wear sandals rather than flip-flops if you are unsteady.

Can I go to Maya Bay by ferry from Krabi?

Public ferries from Krabi go to Phi Phi Don, not to Maya Bay. From Phi Phi Don you would still need a boat trip to Phi Phi Leh. A day tour from Krabi is simpler if you are not staying on Phi Phi.

Is Maya Bay crowded even with the new rules?

In high season it is still busy, because the limits control how many people are on the beach at once. It feels calmer than before the closure, though. Walk to the ends of the beach for more space.

Updated 28 October 2026.