Maya Bay is on Phi Phi Leh, the smaller, uninhabited island of the Phi Phi group, and there is no ferry to it. You go on a tour boat, either from Krabi or from Phi Phi Don. From Krabi, Maya Bay is the first Phi Phi stop on many day trips, so you usually see it while you are still fresh. Sea Eagle’s Phi Phi, Maya Bay & Bamboo Island tour is a typical way in: hotel pickup in Ao Nang, Klong Muang or Krabi Town (Railay guests board at Railay East pier), 45 minutes across, then Loh Samah and 50 minutes at Maya Bay before Pileh Lagoon, snorkeling, lunch and Bamboo Island. It was $47 per person for 9 November 2026 and has 3,941 reviews at 4.4. Our review →
Phi Phi, Maya Bay & Bamboo Island
The ways to get there
- A standard speedboat day tour from Ao Nang, $47 to $50, about 7 to 8 hours. Maya Bay is usually the first stop.
- An early bird tour, $74 to $79, about 9 hours, reaching Maya Bay early in the morning and adding the Krabi 4 Islands on the way back.
- A small-group or semi-private tour, $89 to $116, with fewer people on the boat.
- A private speedboat charter, $566 for up to 12 people, where you choose the order.
- A sunset tour, $74 to $77, which visits Maya Bay in the day and ends with dinner and a plankton swim near Krabi.
- From Phi Phi Don: take the ferry or speedboat over, stay the night and join a local boat trip from Tonsai.
Landing or view only?
From 1 October to 31 July, the full-day tours we review land at Maya Bay: the boat moors at the Loh Samah pontoon and you walk across to the beach. During the annual closure, 1 August to 30 September, nobody lands. Some tours then view the bay from the boat, as Oh-Hoo’s Maya Bay, Bamboo & Phi Phi Day Tour describes; others swap Maya for another island. Srisawat’s Phi Phi Speedboat with Buffet Lunch and the sunset catamaran already note “sightseeing around the bay only” for the expected 2027 closure. The bay has been open again since 1 October 2026.
Opening dates and swimming rules covers the closure in detail.
What happens at Maya Bay
You do not sail into the bay. Boats tie up at a floating pontoon in Loh Samah Bay, on the back side of Phi Phi Leh, and a boardwalk of about 5 to 10 minutes takes you across to the beach. Wear sandals or water shoes; you may step off the boat into shallow water.
On the beach you can walk, take photos and wade to about knee depth. Swimming at the front beach is not allowed, and nor are drones without park permission. Visits run in landing rounds of up to an hour, with a reported cap of about 375 people a round, which is why your guide will be watching the clock. The national park fee, 400 THB per adult and 200 THB per child, is collected in cash on most tours.
Timing: early, mid-morning or afternoon
The bay is open roughly 7 am to 6 pm. It does not open at sunrise, so no tour from Krabi has you on the beach at dawn, whatever the name says.
- Early (pickup about 05:50 to 06:45): the Phi Phi Early Bird & 4 Islands stops at the Tup Island sandbar for coffee and then gives you an hour at Maya Bay. The Early Bird Maya Bay & 4 Islands goes straight there via Railay East pier, about 20 plus 40 minutes. The Phi Phi Sunrise & Shark Nursery also allows an hour.
- Mid-morning (boat leaves about 9:00): Sea Eagle’s tour, the Phi Phi Speedboat Tour with Lunch and Srisawat’s Phi Phi Speedboat with Buffet Lunch all put Maya first or near the start. This tends to be the busiest part of the day.
- Late morning or afternoon: the Phi Phi Sunset, BBQ & Plankton leaves at 10:00 and makes Maya its first stop. Krabi Vip Tour’s Phi Phi Small Group Speedboat Tour starts at Bamboo Island and reaches Maya near the end. The Phi Phi & 4 Islands Sunset Catamaran gets to Loh Samah in the afternoon, after Bamboo, lunch and Pileh.
Time at the bay, tour by tour
| Tour | Maya Bay time | Where in the day | Price, Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phi Phi, Maya Bay & Bamboo Island | 50 min | First stop | $47 |
| Maya Bay, Bamboo & Phi Phi Day Tour | 45 min | First stop | $47 |
| Phi Phi Speedboat Tour with Lunch | 45 min | First stop | $50 |
| Early Bird Maya Bay & 4 Islands | Not stated | Early, first Phi Phi stop | $74 |
| Phi Phi Sunrise & Shark Nursery | 1 hour | Early, after Tup Island | $74 |
| Phi Phi Early Bird & 4 Islands | 1 hour | Early, after Tup Island | $79 |
| Phi Phi Sunset, BBQ & Plankton | 45 min | First stop, from 10:00 | $74 |
| Phi Phi Small Group Speedboat Tour | 40 min | Near the end | $89 |
| Phi Phi & 4 Islands Sunset Catamaran | 1 hour at Loh Samah | Afternoon | $74 |
Times are the operators’ own and can change with the tide, the weather and the round you are given at the bay.
From Ao Nang, Krabi Town and Railay
From Ao Nang, the boats leave from Nopparat Thara pier or Ao Nang beach, close to most hotels, and the crossing is about 45 to 60 minutes. Krabi Town hotels get picked up earlier, since the boats still leave from the Ao Nang side; some tours charge a little extra, such as THB 100 per person on Oh-Hoo’s tour. Railay guests board at Railay East floating pier on the Sea Eagle tours, the Phi Phi Early Bird & 4 Islands and the private charter. The sunset BBQ tour and the sunrise shark tour do not stop at Railay. Our Ao Nang and Railay pages list the tours that serve each.
For a private boat, the Private Phi Phi Speedboat Charter collects from 8:00 and leaves Nopparat Thara about 9:00, giving 50 minutes at Maya Bay. It is $566 for up to 12, with lunch extra.
Which tour for Maya Bay
If Maya Bay is the main reason you are going, I would book an early bird: the Phi Phi Early Bird & 4 Islands at $79 gives you an hour there early in the day (is the early start worth it?). On a tighter budget, Sea Eagle’s tour at $47 gets you 50 minutes as the first stop. If you would rather see it at a quieter moment of a long day, the small-group tour reaches it last. Which tour to book compares them all, and you can check availability for the Sea Eagle tour above.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Krabi to Maya Bay?
About 45 to 60 minutes by speedboat from the Ao Nang side, plus the hotel pickup. Maya Bay is the first stop on most tours, so you are usually there within about two hours of leaving your hotel.
Can you go to Maya Bay without a tour?
Not from Krabi. No public ferry stops at Maya Bay; ferries go to Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don, and from there you would still need a boat trip to Phi Phi Leh.
Do all Krabi tours land at Maya Bay?
From 1 October to 31 July, the full-day tours we review land at Loh Samah and you walk in. During the closure from 1 August to 30 September nobody lands, and tours either view the bay from the boat or visit another island.
How long do you get at Maya Bay?
Usually 40 minutes to an hour, depending on the tour. Visits run in landing rounds of up to an hour.
Can you swim at Maya Bay?
No. You can walk on the beach and wade to about knee depth, but swimming at the main beach is not allowed.
Pick your Phi Phi day and check the boat
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on the tours we review. The national park fee (400 THB per adult) is usually paid in cash on the day.
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