Maya Bay is open again after a two-month rest (1 August to 30 September) that gives the bay's coral and marine life space to recover.
The break began as a response to heavy tourism. In 2018 the bay was closed, first meant to last about four months.
It stayed closed for more than three years and reopened in January 2022 with tighter controls on visitor numbers and activities, followed by annual seasonal breaks.
Locals remember the bay before the closure as so crowded you could barely move. Today the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) manages how many people visit and how they behave.
As Time Out put it, "Even paradise needs a day off"
For the full picture, see our Maya Bay visitor guide.
The sharks are back
The DNP also monitors the bay's blacktip reef sharks. In a survey from 1 to 7 June 2026, DNP researchers counted a peak of 102 sharks in a single day, with the most sharks around dawn when no tourists are present.
Staff also saw 4–5 newborn sharks under 30 cm swimming at ankle-deep water on the beach. The DNP describes the bay as a nursery and safe home for the species. Read the DNP report (Thai).
For more detail, see our breakdown of the blacktip reef shark survey.
Maya Bay Open, but not for swimming
Reopening doesn't mean swimming is allowed. Swimming in Maya Bay remains prohibited to protect the coral and the sharks.
Visitors can walk the beach and wade in the shallows, and boats land at the pier on the back side of the island, not in the bay.
Swimming and snorkelling happen at other stops on the trip. For the full list of do's and don'ts, read our guide to Phi Phi Island rules.
National park fee
The DNP collects a national park fee from all visitors Adults ฿400 and Child ฿200 (Natural Park Fees). Every Andaman Surprise journey already includes it.
Our Phi Phi & Bamboo Island ฿3,900 and Phi Phi & Khai Island ฿3,400 cover the park fee, round-trip pick-up, snorkelling gear, and a full day of snacks, meals and drinks.
Getting there
Maya Bay is on Phi Phi Leh, the smaller, uninhabited island, and it is part of the Phi Phi stop on both of our Phi Phi tours. Not sure how Phi Phi Leh differs from its bigger neighbour? Read our Phi Phi Don vs Phi Phi Leh guide.
Maya Bay reopening: frequently asked questions
When did Maya Bay reopen in 2026?
Maya Bay reopened after its annual rest, which ran from 1 August to 30 September 2026. It is open again to visitors, but swimming is not allowed.
Can you swim at Maya Bay?
No. Swimming in Maya Bay is prohibited to protect the coral and the sharks. Visitors can walk the beach and wade in the shallows.
How much is the national park fee for Maya Bay?
For foreign visitors it is 400 baht for an adult and 200 baht for a child. Every Andaman Surprise journey includes the national park fee in the price.
