How to Get from Phuket to Maya Bay Beach
Are you staying in Phuket and looking to visit the world-famous Maya Bay Beach but can’t find out how to get from Phuket to Maya Bay? You’ve come to the right place!
There’s only one way to get from Phuket to Maya Bay Beach, and that’s by speedboat, which goes straight to Maya Bay and the surrounding Phi Phi Islands.
Maya Bay Beach first received world recognition after being featured in the 2000 film “The Beach” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. After the film and many social media posts over the years, the beach has become a must-visit for all visiting southern Thailand.
In this guide, I will cover how to get there and provide a few must-know tips for visiting Maya Bay Beach.
Tour info for Maya Bay
While Maya Bay Beach is the main attraction for tours from Phuket, during tours, you’ll also visit and experience other famous attractions near Maya Bay.
Other popular attractions include Pi Leh Lagoon, Viking Bay, and Monkey Beach, among others. At Maya Bay Beach, you’ll have 1 hour to walk around the famous beach and take pictures.
Tours include hotel pickup and drop-off, so you don’t need to worry about transportation once you’ve booked a tour. Ensure you fill in the accurate information about where you’re staying in Phuket.
You’ll have the chance to snorkel and experience the vibrant marine life in the Andaman Sea. Tours also include a Thai lunch for visitors to enjoy, and water is provided.
Only speedboats can take you from Phuket to Maya Bay Beach because Maya Bay isn’t close to Phuket, you can’t take a Thai longtail boat there. The Thai longtail boats visit Maya Bay from Koh Phi Phi.
TIP: Some tours include the national park fee, and others don’t. The national park fee to enter Maya Bay Beach is 400 Thai Baht. Have cash with you.
Early Morning Tour to Maya Bay Beach
This early morning tour starting at 6:00 AM is an excellent way to skip the crowds and experience Maya Bay Beach for its surreal nature without as many crowds in the afternoon.
To get there early, hotel pickups are at 5:00 AM the early morning tour to Maya Bay.
The timetable for your early morning tour to Maya Bay Bach from Phuket includes the following:
- Maya Bay Beach: 1 hour to explore and take pictures in Maya Bay Beach
- Pi Leh Lagoon: Experience the emerald picturesque waters for 45 Minutes
- Monkey Beach: Pass by the famous Monkey Beach for 10 minutes
- Viking Cave: Snorkel and explore the vibrant marine life for 45 Minutes at Viking Cave
- Nui Beach: Stop by and snorkel some more at Nui Beach, part of Phi Phi Don island
- Ko Rang Yai: 1 hour to relax at Ko Rang Yai, an island featuring picture-perfect beaches
The early morning tour lasts around 6 hours and ends around 12:00 PM at noon where you’ll enjoy lunch at the Soho Pool Club.
Day Tour to Maya Bay Beach
Those looking to visit Maya Bay later in the day can attend the day tour from Phuket.
Hotel pickups are around 8:00 or 9:00 AM. The tour operator will contact you at the exact time the day before.
The timetable for the day tour to Maya Bay concludes the following attractions:
- Bamboo Island: Relax, swim, do some snorkeling on this remote island for 1 Hour
- Koh Phi Phi Don: Enjoy a Thai lunch buffet on the main Phi Phi Don
- Monkey Beach: Passby monkey beach for 10 minutes and see the wild monkeys
- Viking Cave: Passby Viking Cave and learn about the important bird nest there
- Pi Leh Lagoon: Experience the emerald waters at the lagoon for 30 minutes
- Maya Bay Beach: Spend 1 hour exploring and taking pictures at Maya Bay
The day tour lasts 8 hours and ends around 5 to 5:30 PM at the Royal Phuket Marina.
Tips for Visiting Maya Bay Beach from Phuket
- At Maya Bay, you can only swim up to your knees to preserve the ecosystem.
- The national park fee at Maya Bay is 400 Thai Baht, and depending on your tour, it may or may not be included in the tour price.
- If you get seasick, buy motion sickness pills from 711 store before the tour.
- Attending the early morning tour and skipping the crowds is worth it.
- Sometimes, weather can get in the way, and tour operators may contact you to tell you that your tour will be rescheduled.
- Consider bringing a dry bag with you before the tour. As you arrive at Maya Bay Beach and other attractions, sometimes you’ll need to go in the water and dry bags ensure your things don’t get wet.
Best Time to Visit Maya Bay Beach
Tours to Maya Bay from Phuket operate all year long. However, there are better times to visit the famous beach than other times of the year.
The best time to visit Maya Bay is during the dry season in southern Thailand, which runs from November through April. During this time, the weather is warm with low humidity levels, and the sea offers calmer currents.
During the off-season in southern Thailand from May through October, temperatures are hot and humid, rainfall is likely in some months, and the sea currents are aggressive on some days.
Phuket to Maya Bay Beach — Final Thoughts
If you’re visiting Phuket, a day trip to Maya Bay is an absolute must. It’s the most popular day trip from Phuket, for good reason.
What you see in the photos is what you get in person. Maya Bay and its surroundings are simply breathtaking.
Sometimes, tourist attractions are shown in photos and videos online, but when you get there, nature doesn’t live up to the photos. That’s not the case here, Maya Bay is even more amazing in person!
Here’s some fascinating history about Maya Bay. A few years ago, Maya Bay was closed for over three years as part of the rehabilitation program due to pollution in the area.
After Maya Bay’s appearance in the film The Beach, the ecosystem became severely damaged due to boat traffic and tourism. As a result, coral reefs were destroyed in Maya Bay.
The Thai government and tourism board took it upon themselves to strictly prohibit anyone from visiting the area for three years to allow the ecosystem to recover completely.
Then, in October 2022, Maya Bay Beach was healthy again, and the government opened it up to tourists again.
How do you get to Maya Bay from Phuket?
Attend one of the many day trips by speedboat offered daily from Phuket to Maya Bay.
Can you do a day trip from Phuket to Maya Bay?
Yes you can, many tour operators offer day tours to Maya Bay daily from Phuket.
Is it worth it to go to Maya Bay?
Yes it’s defintely worth it, Maya Bay Beach is one of the most beautiful and recognized beaches in the world.
How much is entry to Maya Bay?
The entry is 400 Thai Baht to Maya Bay but sometimes tour operators include the national park fee in the tour price.
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