We headed out by boat from Krabi across the turquoise sea. The first stops were the white sand of Bamboo Island and the famous Maya Bay, which had only reopened in 2022 after four years closed to let the coral recover.
Then we went snorkelling around the Phi Phi Islands, which are a national park. There was sea life everywhere, and the coastline was every bit as beautiful as the photos we’d seen before the trip.
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.
- National park fee: the Phi Phi islands are a national park, and foreign adults pay 400 baht, which boat tours usually include.
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.