Maya Bay reopens after two-month conservation closure

Maya Bay, a renowned beach on the island of Koh Phi Phi Leh in Thailand, has reopened to visitors following a two-month conservation break. The closure, which takes place annually from August 1 to September 30, aims to protect the beach and its surrounding marine ecosystem from the impacts of tourism during the monsoon season.

The famous bay, made famous by the 2000 film The Beach, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio, has been closed to the public for the same period since its reopening in January 2022 after a much longer closure that began in 2018 due to severe damage caused by heavy visitor pressure on coral reefs and other parts of the ecosystem.

During the 2026 fiscal year, a Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation survey recorded up to 278 adult blacktip reef sharks near the beach during an early-morning survey on September 2. The high number of sharks indicates the bay's significance as a habitat for these sharks and demonstrates the benefits of limiting human disturbance during the closure period.

The restrictions in place include prohibiting swimming in the bay, with boats required to use the pier at Loh Samah Bay on the opposite side of the island instead of entering Maya Bay itself. This approach maintains the conservation-focused management strategy that has been implemented since the bay's reopening. Visitors are advised to check sea conditions before traveling as access to the bay remains subject to national park rules and weather conditions.