Maya Bay, Phi Phi Leh

Maya Bay is arguably the most famous beach in Southeast Asia — a near-perfectly circular bay ringed by 100-metre limestone cliffs on the uninhabited island of Ko Phi Phi Leh, 45 minutes by speedboat from Krabi. The bay became globally iconic after Alex Garland's novel The Beach was adapted into a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio (2000), and the subsequent explosion of tourist interest led to severe ecological damage: the coral reef was essentially destroyed by a decade of boat anchors and sunscreen run-off, the sand compacted, and the marine life fled.

In 2018, Thai authorities closed Maya Bay entirely to allow the ecosystem to recover. The results exceeded all expectations: within three years, the bay had regenerated to near-pristine condition — black-tip reef sharks returned to nurse their pups in the shallows, coral cover increased to 80%, and water clarity returned to 1990s levels. Maya Bay reopened in January 2022 under a strict regime: a daily cap of 300 visitors per entry window, no boat anchoring, mandatory swim-in approach, and complete closure every evening from 5pm to 9am.

The experience today is fundamentally different from the overcrowded spectacle it had become. Arriving in the first morning entry window (9am–11am, book in advance), you enter a bay where the water is so clear you can see the shadow of your boat on the sandy bottom 15 metres below. Black-tip sharks glide along the reef edge. The famous crescent beach, free of boat wakes, has soft white sand exactly as it looked in the original footage.

Getting there: Daily tours from Ao Nang and Krabi Town include Maya Bay. Book directly with operators who hold allocated entry slots. Look for half-day options (4+ hours) that include snorkelling time at Viking Cave and Pileh Lagoon. Best time to visit: November–April, first morning entry window for minimal crowds.