To get to Maya Bay from Bangkok, fly to Krabi or Phuket, take a boat to the Phi Phi Islands, and visit the bay by boat, since it lies on Ko Phi Phi Leh, an uninhabited island with no hotels. The flights take around 1 hour 20 minutes to Krabi and 1 hour 25 minutes to Phuket, according to AirAsia, but with transfers and boats the whole journey takes most of a day, so plan at least one night in Krabi, Phuket or on Ko Phi Phi Don.
Maya Bay is part of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, run by Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), and the park sets when the bay is open, how visitors land and what they pay. Check the department's current announcements before you book anything; the details are below.
How far is Maya Bay from Bangkok?
Maya Bay is about 700 kilometers (435 miles) south-southwest of Bangkok in a straight line, on the Andaman Sea coast of southern Thailand. It belongs to Krabi province, although boats reach it from both Krabi and Phuket. There is no way to do it as a day trip from Bangkok.
Step 1: Bangkok to Krabi or Phuket
Flying is the practical choice. AirAsia's route pages list nonstop flights from Don Mueang to both Krabi and Phuket, and Thai Airways sells Bangkok to Phuket flights. Check which Bangkok airport your ticket uses; our guides to choosing between Bangkok's airports and flying from Bangkok to Phuket cover the details.
Which gateway to choose depends on the rest of your trip:
- Krabi is the home province of Maya Bay and the Phi Phi Islands, and pairs well with the province's mainland sights, such as Railay Beach.
- Phuket suits travelers who also want to see Phang Nga Bay; see our guide to getting to Phang Nga Bay from Bangkok.
- Ko Phi Phi Don, the inhabited Phi Phi island, puts you closest to Maya Bay, at the cost of an extra boat transfer with luggage.
Step 2: By boat to the Phi Phi Islands
Passenger boats link Krabi and Phuket with Ko Phi Phi Don, arriving at Ton Sai Pier. Schedules, journey times and fares vary by operator and season, so book with an established operator and confirm the pier and departure time the day before.
Step 3: Visiting Maya Bay
Maya Bay is visited on boat trips, either tours that start from Phi Phi Don or day trips from Krabi and Phuket that combine it with other islands. Because it is inside a national park, the park's rules apply to every visitor, and they have changed over the years.
The bay became famous after appearing in the 1999 film The Beach, and by 2017 almost 5,000 people a day were visiting, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The bay was closed from June 2018 to let its coral and marine life recover. TAT reported in November 2021 that it was expected to reopen on January 1, 2022, with new arrangements: boats would use a new jetty at Loh Samah Bay on the other side of Phi Phi Leh instead of landing on the beach, daily visitor numbers would be controlled, and swimming would be limited to a designated area.
Current opening dates, closure periods, visitor limits, swimming rules and entrance fees are set by the DNP and can change from year to year. We could not confirm the current details directly from the department, so we do not give them here. Check the DNP's announcements, or ask your tour operator to show you the park's current notice, before you pay for a trip.
When to go
The Thai Meteorological Department dates Thailand's rainy southwest monsoon season from mid-May to mid-October, when the department says abundant rain falls across the country. Heavy rain and high waves can cancel boat trips: on September 26, 2026, for example, a U.S. Embassy weather alert passed on warnings of waves of 2 to 3 meters in the upper Andaman Sea and advised small boats to stay ashore. Keep a spare day in your plans if Maya Bay is the reason for your trip.
Before you go
- Confirm that the bay is open on your dates with the DNP.
- Book flights and boats with enough margin to absorb weather delays.
- Ask your tour operator exactly what the price includes, and whether national park fees are extra.
- Spend a night or two in Bangkok on either side: our Bangkok hotel guide covers where to stay.
Sources: TAT, Maya Bay reopening (November 2021), AirAsia, Bangkok to Krabi, AirAsia, Bangkok to Phuket, Thai Meteorological Department, climate of Thailand, U.S. Embassy Bangkok, weather alert, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Distance calculated from Google Places coordinates. Checked September 26, 2026.
About 700 kilometers (435 miles) in a straight line. The trip combines a flight to Krabi or Phuket with a boat transfer, so allow most of a day.
Around 1 hour 20 minutes to Krabi and 1 hour 25 minutes to Phuket nonstop, according to AirAsia.
Ko Phi Phi Leh, an uninhabited island in Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, Krabi province. The nearest place to stay is Ko Phi Phi Don.
Maya Bay's opening dates, closures and visitor limits are set by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and can change each year. Check the department's current announcements before you book.
No. It is about 700 km away and needs a flight and a boat. Day trips to Maya Bay leave from Krabi, Phuket and Ko Phi Phi Don.
It was closed from June 2018 so that coral and marine life damaged by heavy visitor numbers could recover, according to TAT, and was expected to reopen on January 1, 2022 with visitor controls.
