Our boat trip around the islands took in Viking Cave, Pileh Bay and the famous sands of Maya Bay. Maya Bay reopened in 2022 after four years closed to let the coral recover.
We watched the sunset out on the open sea, then waited until it was completely dark to swim among bioluminescent plankton. Every movement in the water set off tiny blue sparks around us, and it’s something we still find hard to describe properly.
Good to know
- Maya Bay: it reopened in 2022 after four years closed to let the coral recover. Swimming isn’t allowed now, only wading, and the bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September.
- The plankton: it shows up best on dark, moonless nights with a calm sea, so check the moon before you book.
We checked these details in October 2026. Times, prices and rules do change, so it’s worth a quick look at the official sites before you go.