Is Maya Bay Worth It Now? What Changed After the Closure

Short answer: as a stop on a wider island day trip, yes. As a destination in its own right, no — and the rules now mean it is not the beach from the film in any case.

What actually changed

Maya Bay closed in 2018 because tourism had destroyed the reef, and reopened in 2022 under significantly tighter management. The important restrictions:

• No swimming in the bay. This surprises almost everyone.
• Boats no longer enter the bay. They dock at a pier on the far side and you walk through on a boardwalk.
• Visitor numbers and time on the beach are capped — typically around an hour.
• Seasonal closures apply, usually around August to September, to let the reef recover.

There is also a national park fee of roughly 400–600 THB, which many day-trip prices exclude.

So is it still beautiful?

Yes. The bay itself is genuinely spectacular — limestone cliffs on three sides, very white sand, extraordinary water. The blacktip reef sharks in the shallows have returned in numbers, which is a direct result of the closure and is lovely to see even from the sand.

What you cannot do is have the experience the photographs promise: swimming in an empty turquoise bay. You will be on a managed beach with a few hundred other people for about an hour, and then you will leave.

How to visit well

Go on a wider Phi Phi trip rather than a Maya Bay–specific one. The best days include Pileh Lagoon, Bamboo Island and snorkelling stops, where you actually can swim, with Maya as one landing among several.

Take an early departure. First boats reach the area before the main wave. Sunrise trips exist and are the best version, if you will get up.

From Phi Phi rather than Phuket if you can. It is far closer, the boat ride is shorter, and you arrive earlier.

Speedboat or longtail? Speedboats are faster and rougher; longtails are slower, quieter and better in calm water. In rough season, speedboat.

When to skip it

• Seasickness. The crossing from Phuket is long and often rough.
• If you want to swim. You cannot, in the bay itself.
• If your trip is short. A full day out of a week in Phuket is a lot for one beach.

The verdict

Worth seeing as part of a good island day, not worth building a day around. The restrictions are the right thing and the bay is recovering because of them — but manage the expectation, because it is a supervised visit rather than a beach day.

Compare Phi Phi and Maya Bay day trips — check whether the national park fee is included, as it frequently is not and is collected on arrival.

Our fuller comparison of Phi Phi day trip covers which operators and formats to pick. See also what a Thailand trip costs and our Thailand travel guide.

VTourBook earns a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. We don’t sell tours or own hotels — which is why these guides tell you when the cheaper option is the better one.

Frequently asked questions

Is Maya Bay worth visiting now?

As one stop on a wider Phi Phi day trip, yes — the bay is spectacular and the reef sharks have returned. As a destination in its own right, no, because you get roughly an hour on a managed beach and cannot swim in the bay.

Can you swim at Maya Bay?

No. Swimming in the bay is prohibited under the rules introduced when it reopened in 2022. Boats also no longer enter the bay — they dock at a pier on the far side and you walk in via a boardwalk.

Why did Maya Bay close?

It closed in 2018 because tourism had badly damaged the reef, and reopened in 2022 under much tighter management with capped visitor numbers, no swimming, and seasonal closures to allow recovery.

Is there a fee for Maya Bay?

Yes, a national park fee of roughly 400–600 THB, and many day-trip prices exclude it. Check before booking, because it is usually collected on arrival.

What is the best way to visit Maya Bay?

On a wider Phi Phi trip that includes Pileh Lagoon and snorkelling stops where you can actually swim, departing as early as possible, and ideally starting from Phi Phi rather than Phuket since the crossing is much shorter.