Welcome to Maya Bay, an iconic coastal destination nestled on Ko Phi Phi Le within Krabi province, Thailand. Set in the Andaman Sea as part of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, this shallow bay is enclosed by a ring of dramatic, steep limestone hills. Famous as the setting for the 2000 movie The Beach, this legendary location showcases both breathtaking scenery and a major environmental recovery story.
The beach itself stretches 250 metres long and 15 metres wide, featuring shallow waters, bioluminescent plankton, and a coral reef. Following severe damage from historical overtourism, the bay underwent the world's largest natural coral rehabilitation project. Thanks to strict conservation efforts and lengthened closures, the marine ecosystem is healing, drawing blacktip reef sharks back to swim near the shore and breed in the bay's sheltered waters.
Visiting Maya Bay requires adhering to strict protocols implemented to protect the delicate environment. Reopened under limited access, visits are capped at one hour per person with swimming strictly prohibited and boats barred from entering the bay directly. Depending on the tide, accessing the beach involves landing at nearby Loh Samah bay and following a short walk through a section of rocks and jungle.
01 Highlights & things to do
What makes this stretch of coast worth the trip — from the water to the walks, wildlife and the views.
Compiled from Wikipedia · conditions vary with weather, tides and the season.
Beach map & the area
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the beach and its surroundings — the coastline, access roads, nearby towns and where to park. Zoom in for detail, or open it live in a full map.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free).
02 Getting there
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Boat Access | Boats must dock outside the bay at floating piers. At low tide, boats anchor at Loh Samah bay. |
| Foot Trail | Access from Loh Samah requires walking through a short section of rocks and jungle. |
Getting there · Last updated: 2026-09-12 · always double-check access & ferries
03 Nearby & around
Other beaches, coves, towns and sights within easy reach — worth stringing together into a coastal day.
Good to know
- No swimming is permitted in the bay under strict conservation protocols.
- Visits are limited to a maximum of one hour per person.
- Boats are prohibited from entering the bay and must dock outside.
- At low tide, visitors access the beach via a short rock and jungle walk from Loh Samah.
- Fourteen toilets are available on site.