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Maya Bay Overview

Maya Bay, a magnificent lagoon, is bordered by 100-meter-high cliffs on three of its sides, creating a stunning panorama. The entire bay is made up of a coral reef, resulting in an underwater vista that is bursting with rare species. It became famous after being featured in the Hollywood movie 'The Beach,' and today attracts tourists from around the world.

Nestled amidst 100 m high limestone cliffs, the clearest azure water, and a beautiful blue sky, Maya Bay is a dream destination for every traveler on a trip to Thailand. Famous for its timeless beauty, it came to highlight after getting featured in the famous Hollywood movie Beach.

Situated in the Andaman Sea, Maya Bay lies in the Strait of Malacca in Krabi, Thailand. It comes under the Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park and is now a preserved area. The bay comprises several small beaches (visible only during low tides) with the major one being around a 200 m long stretch. Covered with silky soft powdery white sand and rich in underwater coral and exotic fish, the bay is an unimaginably beautiful big reef.

Home to exotic coral reefs and beautiful colored fish, this place is a haven for marine life lovers. It is amongst the most serene spots in Thailand to indulge in snorkeling or scuba diving. Paddling a kayak over the crystal clear water is another not to be missed water sports activity here. Camping at the beach is another adventure that you must try if you have the capacity to spend a night right under the star-lit sky. Capturing the beautiful views of surroundings or clicking selfies with an amazing backdrop of limestone cliff or majestic sea also leaves you with timeless memories.

A small shack sells some snacks and drinks on the beach. If you are camping here, bring your own water and food. Fire is not allowed here, but you can cook at the designated BBQ stand. To get to Maya Bay, you need to either book a speedboat tour, a private long-tail boat tour, or rent a kayak. Both half and full-day tours are available from Phuket and Krabi that you can book as per your likings and budget.

The best time to visit Maya Bay lies between November and April as during this time seas are calm, making the access to the bay quite straightforward. The beach remains crowded with long-tail boats and ferries, so if you are not a crowd appreciator, plan your visit in the early hours of the morning or after 5 pm.

Highlights

• A heavenly destination, Maya Bay came to the limelight after being shot in the famous Hollywood movie, The Beach, starring Leonardo Dicaprio.
• It is a preserved area and comes under the Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park.
• 100 m high limestone cliffs surround the bay from three sides.
• It houses several small beaches, and the primary one is 200 m long.
• The bay is one big gorgeous Coral Reef and is an ideal place to enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving.
• Camping is allowed here on alternate days, but you have to bring your own supplies like food and water
• Crystal clear water, beautiful seascapes, and amazing marine life make this place one of the most loved and photographed destinations in Thailand.

How To Reach

Maya Bay is only accessible through water. You can either come here through a speed boat tour from Phuket or Krabi or by booking a long-tail boat. You can even come here by paddling a rental kayak from Phi Phi Don.

Other Essential Information

Places to Visit near Maya Bay 

1. Ko Phi Phi Lee: Located 43 km west from Krabi, Ko Phi Phi Lee is a small archipelago comprising 6 islands; Koh Phi Phi Don, Koh Bida Nok, Koh Phi Phi Leh, Koh Bida Nai, Koh Phai, and Koh Young. The natural elegance of the place is second to none and amuses the tourists with unmatched sea and land spectacle. It is an uninhabited island and has only one beach at Maya Bay. Complete with clear-crystal azure waters, powdery white sand, and lush tropical vegetation, it offers plenty of postcard clichés in just one place.

2. Viking Cave: Sitting north of Pi Leh Bay, the Viking Cave is famous for being a home of swift’s nests. The presence of some 100 years old wall inscriptions and paintings resembling Viking ships gave the cave its name and presents a sight to behold. Locals harvest these nests from February to April and sell them for thousands of dollars per kilo. They use the nests in the Chinese delicacy bird’s nest soup. The caves are not open for tourists, but they can have a glimpse from the outside.

3. Phi Le Lagoon: Phi Leh Lagoon is situated on the west coast and is one of the most beautiful destinations near Maya Bay. Enclosed with 100m vertical cliffs, this lagoon offers splendid opportunities for snorkeling, swimming and scuba diving. The lagoon is pretty shallow and is only accessible through speedboats and long tails tours. It remains in the shed throughout the day except for a few hours between 11am and 1pm, making it the best time to capture the exceptional beauty of its emerald green water and surroundings.

4. Ton Sai Beach: Tonsai beach offers not only an untouched vibe but is a hub for adventure activities. Known for its rock climbing possibilities, it is a great place to test your stamina and fitness, no matter if you are a novice or an experienced climber. You can even learn the tips of rock climbing or rent a rock climbing gear here. For relaxing souls, its beach offers captivating surroundings and for water sports lovers, kayaking can satisfy their cravings. The sunset views and fire shows hosted by the resorts in the evening add more fun to your trip. 

5. Monkey Bay: Known as Ao Ling, Monkey Bay is a popular tourist spot situated on Phi Phi Don Island. It is a small cove (like Monkey Beach) featuring bright yellow and thick sand. Home to crab-eating macaque monkeys, it also offers memorable snorkelling, diving, and swimming opportunities. You can reach Monkey Bay by hiring a long-tail boat or through speed boat tours but paddling your own sea kayak to this beautiful location is truly an extraordinary experience. 

6. Ko Bida Nok: One of the southernmost islets of the Phi Phi Islands, Ko Bida Nok is actually a simple limestone rock rising from the Andaman Sea. About 1.5 km south of Koh Phi Phi Leh, it offers splendid diving opportunities for adventure enthusiasts. It is also home to a vast variety of marine life, including zebra sharks and stingrays. The place also attracts cave explorers and divers for its beautiful cave beneath the cliff. 

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Point of Interest for Maya Bay
Hat Yao: Snorkel In The Crystal Clear Water
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Hat Yao: Snorkel In The Crystal Clear Water

Snorkeling in the crystal clear water of Hat Yao marks your trip with lovely memories. With this activity, you get the chance to come close to the magical underwater world and marine life. The crystal clear warm water, exotic coral, and variety of beautiful fish provide the ideal setting for snorkeling and diving, like water activities. So, dive deep into the bottom of the sea to reach the coral reefs and witness the natural wonders around. 

Recommended Read: Best Snorkeling In Thailand

Take a boat ride to Vikings Caves
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Take a boat ride to Vikings Caves

As per legends, Scandinavian Vikings used these caves as their hideout during harsh storms. They had inscribed their survival on the walls through paintings. Situated on the northeastern edge of the Koh Phi Phi Island, Viking Cave is now home to swifts' nests. Although visitors are not allowed inside the cave, visiting the place through a boat is truly a memorable experience. Most boat tours also slow down here to have a good glimpse of the brilliant paintings of the ancient men.

Suggested Read: Places To Visit In Thailand With Friends

Go hiking at Ao Lo Dalam
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Go hiking at Ao Lo Dalam

One of the most peaceful bays on Ko Phi Phi Island, Ao Lo Dalam is known for its soft sandy beach, clear waters, and stunning trail. Flanked by imposing limestone cliffs, the bay presents unmatched spectacles of sea and land scenery. With a short 30 -minute hiking tour, you not only get beautiful views of the bay but also get abundant opportunities to capture natural beauty. After the hike, get back to the beach to relax and soak in the beauty of the quiet surroundings. 

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Dive From A Cliff
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Dive From A Cliff

Home to numerous majestic limestone cliffs, Maya Bay is a favored destination for cliff diving activities. This activity got its fame after getting featured in The Beach, a famous Hollywood movie. Head to one of the cliff jumping points near the Bay and climb up using a hanging rope or a rope web. Enjoy the breathtaking views from the top of the lofty cliff, hold your breath and jump straight into the crystal clear blue ocean water. Endure the sizzling feeling and feel a rush in your adrenaline.

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Scuba Diving
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Scuba Diving

Maya Cave is the famous diving site near the bay and comprises a wall going down up to 30 m deep. The wall features huge boulders that have fused together and created impressive swim-through sites filled with glassfish. This site mainly has hard coral cover and a multitude of colorful fish, including snappers, Banner fish, Moorish, and wrasse. You can even spot reef sharks, turtles, ghost pipefish, sea horses, leopard sharks, and groupers hiding or swimming between the amazing rock formations.

Suggested Read: Best Scuba Diving In Thailand

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Maya Bay FAQs

What is Maya Bay famous for?

Maya Bay is famous for its extraordinary natural beauty and water adventures. Although it was a famous tourist place in Thailand earlier as well, it rose to worldwide fame after getting featured in a Hollywood blockbuster, The Beach. The bay is a popular destination for indulging in snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, and many other adventures amidst gorgeous surroundings.

Do Read: Resorts Beaches In Thailand

What will we see at Maya Bay?

Visiting Maya Bay is a gorgeous experience that every nature and marine life lover fancy. Here, the natural scenery is so astonishing that you will be spellbound. Other than this, you will find here a wide variety of fish, coral reefs and many more exotic marine life.

What is the best time to visit Maya Bay?

The best time to visit Maya Bay is between November and April when the sea is calm and temperatures are pleasant. Also, it is the ideal time to enjoy boating, kayaking, snorkeling, diving and other adventures safely in the pristine and aqua waters of the Bay.

Check This Out: Best Places To Go In Thailand With Family

Is Maya Bay worth visiting?

Absolutely yes! Maya Bay is one of the stunning beaches in Thailand and offers splendid opportunities for snorkeling, scuba diving, rock diving, swimming, kayaking, camping, and relaxing. Complete with nature’s elegance, this place is a great charm amongst tourists for being a shooting location of Hollywood movie The Beach.

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