Maya Bay, Ko Phi Phi Le

Maya Bay delivers the most unforgettable turquoise cove in Thailand. Its 200-meter arc of shimmering coral sand, enclosed by towering limestone cliffs, was permanently protected when the bay closed for ecological restoration from 2018 to 2022. Now reopened with a strict daily limit of 2,000 visitors—compared to the pre-closure peak of 5,000—the bay's vibrant reef ecosystem is visibly recovering. This recovery makes its underwater world more pristine than even #2 Railay Beach's reefs, offering 78 recorded coral species. Swim from the beach directly onto blossoming table corals just 10 meters out. The film The Beach immortalized this spot, but today's careful management ensures that beauty endures.