Maya Beach

Phi Phi Leh is the second largest island of archipelago. It lies 2 km off the southernmost tip of Phi Phi Don and about 7 km south of Ton Sai Pier, no more than 30-minute boat ride. The tiny pristine island is uninhabited but universally known thanks to its amazing Maya Bay, as it was the site of the movie The Beach with Leonardo Di Caprio. The view you get when you cross the narrow access to Maya Bay is breathtaking. The stunning enclosed bay is sheltered by 100-metre high cliffs on three sides, a natural amphitheatre that is unmatched on the face of the earth. The bay has a main white sand beach right in the center. Soft as the talc powder it is only 200 meters long and is considered among the world's ten most beautiful beaches. The unique show offered by Maya Bay is even more remarkable in the surrounding waters. The entire bay is in fact a large shallow reef with beautiful colorful corals and tropical fish that swim in crystal waters of an incredible turquoise color. In the reality, as in the imagination of the movie, Maya Bay is the true tropical paradise that everyone hopes to find. Behind the beach there is a small kiosk selling drinks and snacks, as well as the Park Office with rangers. Since Maya Bay has become the main tourist attraction of Phi Phi Islands, the beach is often crowded. The tour operators that organize day trips from Ton Sai, Phuket and Krabi have intensified the boats and their sizes. Often there are at least 30 boats at anchor in the most congested hours of the day, and some even carry 100 people or more on board, which once get off cover the entire small beach. Only some operators make the trip to Maya Bay in the late afternoon when the beach is less crowded. These day tours cost little more, but well worth it if you really want to enjoy the view of this natural wonder. Alternatively, for tourists who are already at Phi Phi Don, it is a good idea to get to the bay by hiring a long-tail or a speedboat in the early morning or late afternoon. The cost per one hour of rent is about 500 Baht, considering 3 or 4 hours to go and go back, a private tour will cost you about 1,500-2,000 Baht; it may seem very expensive but will allow you to enjoy the bay quietly, and perhaps you have a little time to visit the other attractions in Phi Phi Leh, such as Loh Samah Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave. Negotiate the price before you leave, maybe dividing the cost with other tourists, and remember that you have to pay the Park Fee to access the bay, 200 Baht per person, the fee is generally included on organized tours.Read More