Maya Bay and Phi Phi National Park Fee for Foreigners
Maya Bay lies on Ko Phi Phi Le, where a foreign adult pays a special charge of THB 400 and a foreign child THB 200. The base Group 2 fee is THB 200 and THB 100. Maya Bay closes each year from 1 August to 30 September. Swimming is banned.
On this page
Maya Bay park fee, closed months and rules
Maya Bay sits inside Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, which is in Group 2 of the national park fee schedule. The schedule took effect on 7 June 2022. Two things decide your day: the amount on your e-ticket and the month you travel.
Park fee for foreigners
Maya Bay lies on Ko Phi Phi Le. At Ko Phi Phi Don, Ko Phi Phi Le and Ko Mai Phai a foreign adult pays a special charge of THB 400 and a foreign child THB 200. The base Group 2 fee is THB 200 for a foreign adult and THB 100 for a foreign child. A Thai adult pays THB 40 and a Thai child THB 20.
| Visitor | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Foreigner, special charge at the Phi Phi islands | THB 400 | THB 200 |
| Foreigner, base Group 2 fee | THB 200 | THB 100 |
| Thai, base Group 2 fee | THB 40 | THB 20 |
The base fee board sits on the same park page.
Worked example: a family of four
Two foreign adults and two foreign children pay THB 1,200 at the special charge of the Phi Phi islands. The same family pays THB 600 at the base Group 2 rates. A child under 3 adds nothing. A teenager above 14 and taller than 140 cm falls outside the child definition and pays the adult rate.
Special charge
The Director-General may announce a special charge for a site with important or fragile natural resources, with the National Park Committee approving. A notice dated 19 September 2022 names five parks, Phi Phi among them. Read the total on the e-ticket before you pay, and keep it.
Who pays less or nothing
For this schedule a child is aged 3 to 14, or no taller than 140 cm. Children under 3 are exempt, as are disabled people and monks.
The senior exemption is for Thai seniors aged 60 and over. A foreign senior pays the adult rate.
Closed months at Maya Bay
Maya Bay, Loh Samah bay and Lo Ko bay close every year from 1 August to 30 September. The 2026 closure ran from 1 August to 30 September 2026. The same dates applied in 2024.
The closure is for safety in the rainy season and lets nature recover. Winds and rough seas hit Loh Samah pier, the gateway to the bay. Koh Yung, a separate island, is closed with no end date set.
How the closure pattern got here
Tourism at Maya Bay stopped on 1 June 2018 and stayed off for more than 3 years. The bay reopened to visitors on 1 January 2022. Since then it has closed for the two rainy months each year, as in 2024 and in 2026.
Closure dates are set in a Gazette announcement for the year, and the rows for the Phi Phi park are the ones above. Opening of some sites can still change with the weather.
Rules at the bay
- Swimming is banned.
- Sunscreen with banned substances is not allowed.
- Single-use plastic and foam are banned inside the park.
- Visitor numbers are limited to what the site can carry.
Buy the e-ticket
- Open the QueQ app and buy the park e-ticket, sold through the app since 1 January 2023.
- Pay by debit card, credit card, cross-bank bill payment or PromptPay.
- Keep the QR code in the app and show it to the officer.
- Board a boat that moors at Loh Samah bay.
The Phi Phi park uses the e-ticket system in full.
What to see at Maya Bay
Maya Bay is on Phi Phi Le, the smaller of the two big Phi Phi islands. It is a small bay ringed by limestone hills, with a curved sandy beach.
The bay is also a nursery for blacktip reef sharks. Up to 278 adult sharks were counted near the beach at dawn on 2 September 2026. The annual closure reduces tourism disturbance for them.
Who Maya Bay suits (and who should skip it)
- Visitors who want the famous beach and accept about 1 hour on it.
- Visitors who are happy not to swim, since swimming is banned.
- Families with children aged 3 to 14, who pay THB 200 each at the special charge.
- Anyone travelling in August or September should skip it, because the bay is closed.
How to get to Maya Bay
Boats do not stop in front of the beach. They moor behind it, at Loh Samah bay. Each visitor has about 1 hour at the bay.
In the monsoon, strong winds and rough seas hit Loh Samah pier. Opening of some sites can change with the weather.
When to go and how long
The Andaman marine parks opened for the 2026 season in mid-October. The bay closes again on 1 August.
When the bay reopened in 2022, the rules allowed 375 people per round, with 11 one-hour rounds a day from 07:00 to 18:00. Booking opened up to 60 days ahead.
The park listed 42 sites for booking, each with a daily cap on people split into rounds. From 1 October 2025 to 28 February 2026 the park counted 952,315 visitors.
Nearby and how to combine it
The park names Maya Bay and Thale Waek as its main attractions. During the closure the rest of the park stays open. A trip in August or September can therefore skip Maya Bay and still visit the other Phi Phi sites.
Before you go
- Bring a card or PromptPay for the e-ticket.
- Screenshot the QR code in the app.
- Pack reef-safe sunscreen, since banned substances are not allowed.
- Leave plastic bags and foam boxes at the hotel.
- Expect to stay dry on the beach, since swimming is banned.
- Check the closure dates before booking: 1 August to 30 September.
Step by step
- Buy the park e-ticketPark tickets are sold as e-tickets through the QueQ app.
- Pay in the appPay by debit card, credit card, cross-bank bill payment or PromptPay.
- Show the QR codeShow the QR code from the app to the officer as proof of payment.
- Board a boat to Loh SamahBoats moor behind the beach at Loh Samah bay.
Not confirmed: Phi Phi charge: whether the THB 400 special charge replaces the THB 200 base fee or comes on top is not spelled out. Read the e-ticket total before you pay. Hourly cap: the 375-person figure comes from the 2022 reopening rules; confirm your slot when you book.
Common questions
How much is the national park fee for foreigners at Maya Bay?
At Ko Phi Phi Le, where Maya Bay lies, a foreign adult pays THB 400 and a foreign child THB 200 as a special charge. The base Group 2 fee is THB 200 and THB 100.
When is Maya Bay closed?
It closes from 1 August to 30 September. The 2026 closure ran on those dates.
Can you swim at Maya Bay?
No. Swimming has not been allowed since the bay reopened.
Do children pay the park fee?
A foreign child aged 3 to 14, or up to 140 cm, pays THB 200 at the Phi Phi islands special charge. Children under 3 are exempt.
Do foreign seniors get a discount?
No. The senior exemption covers Thai seniors aged 60 and over.
Where do boats stop for Maya Bay?
Boats moor behind the beach at Loh Samah bay, not in front of Maya Bay.
How do I pay the fee?
Park tickets are sold as e-tickets through the QueQ app. You pay by debit card, credit card, cross-bank bill payment or PromptPay.
Is the rest of Phi Phi closed in August and September?
No. During the closure the rest of the park stays open.
Read next
Prices, timetables and opening hours change; check with the operator before you travel. See how guides are checked.
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Comments (3)
Nacho_sky
Well, don't go there at 2 pm. Hire a boat that will get you there when it opens at 8 am.
kingofcrob
if you have n extra 2 nights to play with I find the best way to that area is 3 nights in Ao Nang, 3 nights on Phi Phi and 3 nights in Phuket
Just_improvise
If you like partying, stay on phi phi. The boat trips you do from phi phi are better because they will go to Maya bay late in the afternoon when it’s not busy. If you don’t like partying, don’t go to phi phi Me, I would just overnight on Phuket and spend the rest on Phi Phi because I way way way prefer it.