Responsible Travel in Thailand: Licensed Guides and Park Fees
Travelling responsibly in Thailand starts before you reach the beach. Who you book with, who guides you, and what you pay at the national park all decide where your money goes.
Tour guides must be Thai nationals
Thai law reserves the tour guide profession for Thai nationals. Foreigners can't work as guides in Thailand, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said the profession is protected for Thai nationals. It exists to keep jobs in local communities.
The rules also carry penalties. Foreigners working without permission face a fine of THB 5,000–50,000 and removal from the country. Employers can be fined THB 10,000–100,000 per illegal worker.
Check that your operator is licensed
Tour businesses must be registered with the Department of Tourism, and only Thai nationals may operate them. Before you book:
- Look up the licence. Search the operator on the DOT licence information page.
- Ask who your guide is. Your guide should be a licensed Thai national, so ask to see their licence. It is mostly visible for show around their neck ;)
- Know where to complain. The DOT call centre (02-401-1111, 24 hours) takes complaints about tour companies and guides.
To see how we put this into practice, read why guests choose us.
How national park fees work
Each national park under the DNP sets its own entrance fee. Fees differ by park and by visitor group: Thai or foreign, adult or child. The DNP publishes the rates in its national park entrance fee dataset. Proceeds go toward developing facilities in the parks.
For Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, which covers Maya Bay, Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh and Bamboo Island:
| Visitor | Fee per person |
|---|---|
| Foreign adult | ฿400 |
| Foreign child | ฿200 |
| Thai adult | ฿40 |
| Thai child | ฿20 |
Foreign divers pay an extra ฿200 on top of the entrance fee, according to a 2022 listing.
Our Programs all cover the park fee, round-trip pick-up, snorkelling gear, and a full day of snacks, meals and drinks. Travel hassle and worry free!
What this means on our tours
Every Andaman Surprise guide is a Thai national, and we operate under TAT licence 32/01400. The national park fee is included in the price of every journey, so you do not need to carry extra cash for it. At Maya Bay, swimming is not allowed, so the swimming and snorkelling stops happen at other sites. You can see how a day works on our Phi Phi Island and Bamboo Island tour, and you can ask any operator to show their licence before you pay.
A quick responsible-travel checklist
- Book with a DOT-registered operator and a Thai licensed guide.
- Make sure the park fee is included in your price, or budget for it using the table above.
- Follow park rules. At Maya Bay, that means no swimming.
- Take your rubbish with you and keep your distance from marine life.
Read our full guide to Phi Phi Island rules.
Learn more about our sustainability work.
Every Andaman Surprise journey includes the national park fee in the price. See our destinations.
Sources: Khaosod English (2023) on foreign tour guides and penalties; Pattaya Mail on the Tourism Business and Guide Act; Bangkok Post (2024) on park fees; Bangkok Air blog (2026) on Phi Phi park fees; Thai Holiday Guide (July 2026) on Phi Phi rates.
Responsible travel in Thailand: frequently asked questions
Can foreigners work as tour guides in Thailand?
No. Thai law reserves the tour guide profession for Thai nationals. Foreigners working as guides without permission face fines and removal from the country.
How do I check that a tour operator is licensed in Thailand?
Look the operator up on the Department of Tourism licence information page and ask to see the guide's licence. The Department of Tourism call centre, 02-401-1111, takes complaints about tour companies and guides 24 hours a day.
How much is the national park fee for Maya Bay and Phi Phi?
For Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, the fee is 400 baht for a foreign adult, 200 baht for a foreign child, 40 baht for a Thai adult and 20 baht for a Thai child.
Is the national park fee included in Andaman Surprise tours?
Yes. Every Andaman Surprise journey includes the national park fee in the price.
