Maya Bay vs Pileh Lagoon: Which Should You Visit?
Koh Phi Phi Leh: Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon sit one headland apart
Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon sit on the same island, Koh Phi Phi Leh, just one headland apart. Most tours stop at both, but they're very different experiences.
Maya Bay is the famous white sand beach you walk onto but can't swim in. Pileh Lagoon is an emerald inlet with no beach at all, where you jump straight off the boat for a swim. This guide compares them side by side so you know what to expect. It also shows which to prioritise if your time is short.
The quick answer
You don't usually have to choose. Both are covered by the same park ticket and most Phi Phi Leh tours visit both. But if you can only pick one:
- Choose Maya Bay for the iconic beach photo and white sand underfoot.
- Choose Pileh Lagoon if you want to actually swim, snorkel or kayak.
15-point comparison table
| Factor | Maya Bay | Pileh Lagoon |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A white sand beach about 200 metres long | An emerald inlet about 600 metres long |
| Location | Koh Phi Phi Leh | Koh Phi Phi Leh, one headland away |
| Scenery | Wins. Cliffs about 100 metres high around a famous beach | Cliffs about 100 metres high in a horseshoe |
| Beach | Wins. Yes, white sand | No beach. Water and cliffs only |
| Swimming | Not allowed. Knee-deep wading only | Wins. Swimming allowed |
| Snorkelling | Not in Maya Bay. Allowed at Loh Samah nearby | Wins. Small reef at the entrance |
| Kayaking | Not available | Wins. Some tours carry kayaks |
| How you arrive | Boats moor at Loh Samah Bay, then a short boardwalk | You stay on or jump off the boat |
| Time on a typical tour | About 1 hour per group | 20 minutes to 1 hour |
| Visitor limits | Up to about 375 people per hour | Up to 300 people and 50 boats at a time |
| Annual closure | 1 August to 30 September | Wins. Stays open during Maya Bay's closure |
| Opening hours | About 7:00am to 6:00pm (tour operators) or 8:00am to 4:30pm (parks guide) | Visited during daylight on tours |
| Cost | ฿400 park fee (one ticket covers both) | Same ticket. No extra charge |
| From Phi Phi Don | About 20 minutes by longtail | Wins. About 10 minutes by longtail |
| Best time | First boat of the day, before 8:00am | Before 10:00am, or after 2:00pm for more shade |
Cost row highlighted. Some sources list the park fee at ฿200.
Maya Bay: wins on scenery and the iconic photo
Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh: white sand and 100-metre cliffs
Maya Bay is the beach made famous by the film The Beach. Limestone cliffs about 100 metres high surround a white sand beach almost 200 metres long. One 2026 visitor said the scenery at Maya Bay is hard to beat.
Loh Samah Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh: boats moor here for Maya Bay
Boats moor at Loh Samah Bay on the back of the headland. From there, you walk a short boardwalk through the jungle to the beach.
The catch is that you can't swim. Swimming has been banned since 2022. You can only wade in up to your knees. One tour operator says ankle-deep only, with fines from ฿5,000 to ฿100,000 for breaking park rules. Rangers blow whistles at anyone who goes too far.
Pileh Lagoon: wins on swimming and snorkelling
Pileh Lagoon, Koh Phi Phi Leh: jump straight off the boat for a swim
Pileh Lagoon is about 600 metres long, ringed by cliffs about 100 metres high. There's no beach and no pier. Your boat drifts in. Then you jump straight into calm, enclosed water. A small coral reef sits at the entrance for snorkelling.
Pileh Lagoon, Koh Phi Phi Leh: some tours carry kayaks
Some tour operators carry kayaks too. Since March 2024, the lagoon has a 3-knot speed limit and a cap of 300 people and 50 boats at a time. Even so, midday can be crowded. One reviewer found it overcrowded but surprisingly organised. Another said there were so many boats there was no chance to swim.
Crowds: both get busy
Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh: about 4,000 visitors a day in 2023
Maya Bay drew around 4,000 visitors a day in 2023. February and March are the busiest months. Pileh Lagoon fills up from late morning to early afternoon, when the day tours from Phuket and Krabi arrive.
The best way to beat the crowds at both is to stay on Phi Phi Don. Then take the first boat of the day, usually around 6:30am to 7:00am.
Maya Bay closure: Pileh Lagoon stays open
Viking Cave, Koh Phi Phi Leh: still on tours while Maya Bay is closed
Maya Bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September for coral recovery. Pileh Lagoon, the Viking Cave and Bamboo Island keep running during this time. So if you visit in August or September, Pileh Lagoon is your best option on Phi Phi Leh.
How to visit both
Koh Phi Phi Don to Phi Phi Leh: about 10 to 20 minutes by longtail
Most Phi Phi Leh tours include both, often with the Viking Cave. Tours from Phi Phi Don cost about ฿1,200 to ฿1,800. Some include the park fee.
If you hire a private longtail, bring cash and pay the park fee at the ticket booth. Keep your receipt, as it covers both spots on the same day.
Practical tips
- Book the earliest tour you can. You'll reach Maya Bay before the day-trippers.
- Wear a life jacket at Pileh Lagoon if you're not a confident swimmer.
- Bring a dry bag. You'll often wade when getting on and off the boat at Loh Samah.
- Check whether your tour includes the ฿400 park fee before you book.
- Keep your park ticket all day. You may need to show it at other park sites.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Packing for a swim at Maya Bay. Only wading is allowed.
- Expecting a beach at Pileh Lagoon. There isn't one.
- Planning a Maya Bay visit in August or September.
- Arriving at midday and expecting calm water at either spot.
- Paying a boat driver for the park fee without getting a ticket.
Sourced from Thai National Parks, tisland.travel's Maya Bay closure and reopening notices, Phuket 101's Maya Bay and Pi Leh Lagoon guides, Beach Verdict, Explorer Tom, Simba Sea Trips, Phi Phi Islands Tours, phi-phi-islands.com, WeSeekTravel and Tripadvisor Pileh Bay reviews.