Maya Bay, Thailand

Phi Phi island is probably the most famous island in Thailand. We all remember it as the gorgeous, pristine beach that Leonardo DiCaprio finds in “The Beach”. Since the movie was released in 2000, The Beach, also known as Maya Bay, has been a must-visit place for tourists.

Maya Bay is part of a nature reserve, which means you can’t stay on the island for more than a day, and you have to pay a fee to enter. It’s just a short boat ride from Phi Phi island.

Once you’re at Phi Phi, it’s easy to reach Maya Bay. As mentioned, it’s about 30 minutes away, and you can either book a tour there or just ask one of the water taxis and they’ll take you.

As you can imagine, you’re not the only one who’ve seen The Beach and want to experience that pristine beach with squeaky white sand and turquoise water. In fact, dozens upon dozens of boats arrive every day with crowds of people pushing each other, trying to get that perfect photo. It’s difficult to get a real sense of the place and even more so to take a picture without any people in it.

Maya Bay has a crowd and the corals are more or less destroyed by the many boats that sail through the bay every day. But it doesn’t change the fact that it is a beautiful beach. It is one of the most picturesque beaches I’ve been to, but it’s still far from the best. Personally, we prefer beaches with few guests and where the vibe is chilled. Thailand has so many gorgeous beaches and their corals are not completely destroyed by longtail boats.

If you’re in the area, Maya Bay is worth a visit, but don’t fool yourself thinking you’ll find an untouched paradise.