Early Maya Bay Speedboat Tour with Reef Sharks & Snorkelling Phi Phi

Maya Bay, the First Stop of the Day

Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh is the most famous beach in Thailand: a horseshoe of white sand enclosed by limestone cliffs almost 100 metres high. After years of heavy visitor numbers it was closed from 2018 to 2022 so the reef could recover, and it reopened with strict rules. Boats now drop guests at a floating pier on the Loh Samah side, and a short boardwalk leads through the forest to the beach. Swimming is not allowed, but you can walk on the sand and paddle at the water's edge.

Because the bay is calm and protected, young blacktip reef sharks often patrol the shallows close to shore, and spotting them from the beach is a highlight. On this tour Maya Bay is always the first stop, giving you an hour there before the busiest period. Maya Bay closes every year in August and September; in those months the boat spends longer at the other stops.

Pileh Lagoon

Pileh Lagoon is a natural pool on the east side of Phi Phi Leh, almost completely enclosed by vertical cliffs draped in green. The water is a striking emerald colour and usually calm, which makes it one of the best places in the Phi Phi Islands for a swim from the boat. The speedboat glides slowly through the narrow entrance, and the walls rise straight up around you like a cathedral.

You have about 30 minutes to jump in, float in the warm water and take photos from the bow. Life jackets are on board for anyone who prefers extra support. In the early part of the day the light is soft and the lagoon is much quieter than in the afternoon, when many day-trip boats arrive from Phuket and Krabi.

Viking Cave and Reef Shark Snorkelling

The Viking Cave is a large cavern at the base of Phi Phi Leh's cliffs, named after old drawings on its walls that resemble sailing ships. Today local collectors harvest swiftlet nests inside, so visitors cannot enter, but the boat stops in front for photos of the bamboo scaffolding and towering rock face.

Nearby, the guide picks the best snorkelling spot of the day, depending on currents and visibility. Here you float above hard corals, giant clams and schools of parrotfish and sergeant majors, and with luck you see blacktip reef sharks gliding past. They are small, shy and harmless to people. Masks and life jackets are provided, and you have about an hour between the cave and the reef.

Loh Samah Bay and Monkey Bay

Loh Samah Bay is the small cove at the back of Phi Phi Leh where boats moor for Maya Bay, with clear water over sand and sheer rock all around. The boat pauses briefly so you can photograph this sheltered side of the island before crossing to Phi Phi Don.

Monkey Bay is a little beach on Phi Phi Don where wild crab-eating macaques come down from the forest to the sand. You can watch them from the boat or the shore for around 20 minutes. Keep bags closed, do not feed them and do not carry food openly, because the monkeys are quick and sometimes bold. It is a fun stop, especially for children, and a good chance for close wildlife photos.

Bamboo Island (Full-Day Option)

With the default full-day option, the tour ends at Bamboo Island, or Koh Mai Phai, a low, flat island north of Phi Phi Don with one of the whitest beaches in the area. Its shallow turquoise water is perfect for relaxed swimming and snorkelling, and the casuarina trees behind the sand give welcome shade.

Lunch is served here, with vegetarian and halal options available if you let us know in advance, and there is time to swim, rest and enjoy the peace before the speedboat returns to Tonsai Pier at around 14:00. Choose the half-day option if you prefer to be back by 11:30. Either way, the Phi Phi Islands tour gives you the best of Phi Phi Leh before the crowds.