Maya Bay in Krabi’s Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park is one of Thailand’s true natural treasures. Once a hidden gem known only to locals and small numbers of travellers, it was made world-famous when Hollywood blockbuster “The Beach” was released in 2000.
When audiences around the globe saw Leonardo DiCaprio exploring the bay’s unique and beautiful landscape, it became an unmissable destination for paradise-seekers, who flocked to the uninhabited island of Phi Phi Leh where Maya Bay is located.
The damage of tourism on such a scale was considerable, and Maya Bay was closed to the public in June 2018 in order to give the coral and other marine life time to recover.
Having been off limits for three and a half years, Maya Bay officially reopened to tourists on 1 January, 2022. Now, daily visitor numbers are controlled to protect the local environment and marine ecosystem, and there’s a specific area designated for swimming to allow for continued environmental rejuvenation.
