Right now: Maya Bay is closed for its annual conservation break — 1 August to 30 September 2026 — and reopens on 1 October 2026. Phi Phi tours run daily as normal through the closure, substituting Bamboo Island as the first stop. The rest of the year, Thailand's most famous beach on Phi Phi Leh runs on a strict, conservation-first system. Here's exactly where things stand in 2026: the dates, what it costs, and the rules you'll need to follow — including the one that surprises most people (you can't actually swim).
Is Maya Bay open right now?
Not at the moment — the 2026 conservation closure runs 1 August to 30 September, and the bay reopens on 1 October 2026. Outside that annual recovery window, Maya Bay is open daily from 7:00am to 6:00pm, year-round, weather permitting. The closure rests the bay so the reef and marine life can recover. During the Aug–Sep closure, operators — us included — substitute an alternative Phi Phi stop such as Bamboo Island.
The current rules at a glance
| What | 2026 rule |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 7:00am – 6:00pm daily (2026: closed 1 Aug – 30 Sep, reopens 1 Oct) |
| Entry fee | ฿400 adult / ฿200 child (foreigners), cash |
| Swimming | Not allowed — you may wade to knee depth only |
| Landing | Via Loh Samah Bay + a 5–10 min boardwalk; no boats anchor on Maya Bay sand |
| Capacity | ~380 people at once · ~1-hour on-site limit |
| Also banned | Standing on coral, taking shells, non-reef-safe sunscreen, drones |
Can you swim at Maya Bay?
No — swimming is not permitted. Since the 2022 reopening you may only wade into the water up to your knees. It sounds strict, but it's the reason the bay recovered: the shallows are a nursery for blacktip reef sharks and the replanted coral is still fragile. You'll still get the water, the sand and the cliffs — you just admire the sea rather than swim in it. If snorkelling and swimming are what you're after, that happens at the other Phi Phi stops on a day tour, not in Maya Bay itself.
How you actually get onto the beach
Boats no longer pull up on the famous sand. Instead you arrive at Loh Samah Bay on the back of the island, step onto a floating pier, and walk a short wooden boardwalk (about 5–10 minutes) through the jungle that opens dramatically onto Maya Bay. It's a calmer arrival than the old free-for-all — and it keeps boat traffic off the beach entirely.
When to go — and how to beat the crowds
With hourly capacity limits, timing is everything. The bay is quietest right at opening, before the mainland day-boat fleet arrives. Our Phi Phi Sunrise tour is built around exactly this — leaving Boat Lagoon Marina early so you step onto Maya Bay ahead of the crowds (sunrise is experienced en route, ~1hr 10min across the water; you arrive before the day-tripper fleet). November to April is the calmest, clearest season.
For the full picture — the history, the The Beach legacy, the wildlife and how to build a day around it — see our complete Maya Bay guide. Curious about the sharks that returned to the shallows? Read about the blacktip reef sharks at Maya Bay.
Rules current as of 5 August 2026 — Thai national park policies can change; check locally or ask us before you travel.
Maya Bay sits within the Phi Phi Islands; for how it fits into a day tour, see the Maya Bay & Viking Cave destination guide.
