Thailand’s famous Maya Bay reopens October 1 after its annual closure

Good news for anyone visiting Thailand: Maya Bay’s white sand, turquoise water and towering limestone cliffs are reopening October 1 2026. It was the setting of Leonardo DiCaprio's The Beach, but the bay had admirers well before Hollywood came calling. So many in fact, the famous beach on Phi Phi Leh in Krabi’s Phi Phi Islands closes every August and September to give the shoreline and marine life a break during the southwest monsoon.

The annual closure serves two purposes: easing the pressure of tourism on the bay’s ecosystem and keeping visitors away when rougher seas can make boat trips difficult. Even paradise needs a day off.

Maya Bay’s conservation measures go back further. After years of heavy tourism, the bay closed in 2018 and did not open again until 2022. It reopened with tighter controls on visitor numbers and activities, followed by annual seasonal breaks.

If you’re planning a visit, remember that reopening the beach does not mean reopening it for swimming. You can take in the scenery, but swimming in Maya Bay remains prohibited under the park’s conservation rules to protect the coral reefs. Check the national park’s latest notice and your boat operator’s itinerary before travelling, as access can depend on conditions at sea.