Thailand’s Maya Bay is back! 5 things to know about the reopening of Phi Phi Islands’ most iconic destination, made famous in Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach – so what has changed?

Nov 18 , 2021

Maya Bay, made famous in Hollywood film The Beach, will reopen on January 1, 2022. Photo: @PattayaHostel/Twitter

Before its closure, Thailand’s famous beach destination drew millions of travellers per year, including snorkellers and day trippers from Phuket, Krabi and Phi Phi Don

New rules are in effect due to the pandemic and for environmental conservation – but visitors can still enjoy exploring the nearby Viking Cave and hiking in Ao Lo Dalam

After years of lockdown for rehabilitation, Maya Bay is set to reopen on January 1, 2022. The bay is finally ready to welcome tourists from around the world, who can look forward to enjoying the beautiful beach and swimming in pristine turquoise water again.

However, due to ecosystem regulations and the ongoing pandemic, officials have imposed some new rules for tourists to follow.

If you’re eager to revisit this paradise, here are five things you need to know before you book your trip.

Maya Bay is the perfect illustration of The Beach

Maya Bay is a stunning bay situated on the Ko Phi Phi Le island, a part of Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Thailand. The tropical paradise has about 17,000 villagers living on it, with most of their income coming from tourism.

The destination was made famous by Hollywood film The Beach (2000), which was adapted from the Penguin Books bestseller of the same name and starred a young Leonardo DiCaprio. Ever since the film launched, the island saw millions of visitors every year, who hoped to see with their own eyes the stunning scenery portrayed on the big screen.

Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio makes his way to the set of The Beach for the first day of shooting in Maya Bay in 1999. Photo: AFP

According to figures by Thailand’s Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), 2.5 million tourists visited the bay in 2018, with over 5,000 estimated visitors every day. Considering this small sliver of land is only 250 metres long and 15 metres wide, that’s a pretty staggering figure …

Maya Bay was the victim of overtourism

A crowd of tourists on the Maya Bay beach in April 2018. Photo: Getty Images

In 2018, Thailand closed Maya Bay for four months for ecological recovery and because of extreme weather. Later, officials announced that the island would be closing indefinitely because of irreparable environmental damages.