Maya Bay Reopens 🏖️

Maya Bay Reopens for Visitors

The famous Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh Island has officially reopened for visitors starting October 1. The Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park announced the reopening today.

Maya Bay had been closed for two months to allow its fragile ecosystem to recover. With the start of the visiting season, the Department of National Parks (DNP) reminded tourists that strict rules apply throughout the Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park to protect nature.

Prohibited in the national park:

• Collecting seashells, corals, or any marine fauna (alive or dead);
• Using single-use plastic food containers;
• Littering outside designated areas;
• Feeding fish;
• Flying drones without special permission (a license and registration alone are not enough);
• Anchoring boats on coral reefs;
• Swimming without special authorization.

Maya Bay also has additional restrictions: a daily tourist limit, a ban on direct boat entry into the bay, and mandatory guided visits.

“The most important rule at Maya Bay is not to disturb the blacktip reef sharks. Remember the spear scene in the movie ‘The Beach’? That’s strictly forbidden. For the most beautiful experience, the best time to visit is early in the morning before the main tourist groups arrive. We offer sunrise tours to Phi Phi — today we were there already,” said local guides.

Violating the National Parks Act can result in fines between 5,000 and 10,000 THB. The Marine and Coastal Resources Act is even stricter, with fines up to 100,000 THB for feeding fish or touching marine life.

The Similan and Surin Islands in the Andaman Sea will reopen after their “eco-holiday” on October 15. Park staff are currently preparing for the tourist season. On September 30, the Mu Koh Similan National Park reported installing buoys to mark the swimming zone at Koh Miang, the fourth island of the Similan Archipelago.