All posts tagged: "raya"

Maya Bay Closed – Full Details In this video:

Maya Bay, Phi Phi is Closing

The Thailand National Park Authorities have announced that as of the 1st of August 2023, Maya Bay Phi Phi will close.

In an expected repeat of the closing of Maya Bay, Phi Phi for two months last year (2022), The Thailand National Park Authorities will again be using this time to check and assess the effects of tourists being on the beach and how the systems, which were put into place after COVID is working out. They will also be assessing the impact on the environment, both in the bay and on the land.

Maya Bay Beach will close from the 1st of August 2023

It will reopen on the 1st of October 2023. So book your tour NOW. Click Here

*As of writing these are the current dates, they may and could change.

Maya Bay, Phi Phi is one of the best and most beautiful beaches in Thailand IF, not the world.  The Bay was featured in the movie “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio which was filmed over 23 years ago.

Maya Bay became worldwide known after the 2000 film “The Beach” which was an adventure drama film directed by Danny Boyle, based on the 1996 novel by Alex Garland.

There was some controversy during the making of the film, with the production team accused of landscaping some of the beach and removing some of the coconut trees to make it more like the descriptions in the book.

Maya Bay may be closed BUT Phi Phi is all open – Find out more about the Phi Phi Tour. Click Here

Maya Bay, Phi Phi Closed for 2 Years.

Maya Bay Beach was closed for over 2 years (2020 – 2022) by the Thai Government to help the ecosystem recover as it had become ruined by over-tourism. It reopened back in January 2022 with new rules and regulations that helped to manage the tourists and how they access the bay.

Some of those new rules and regulations:

• Not allowing boats to close into the bay and drop anchor.
• Guests must be dropped off at a newly built pier and stairs.
• Number of guests visiting each day is restricted.
• Not allowing anyone to swim in the waters or even go too deep into the sea.

Is the closing of Maya Bay a good thing?

Very simply – YES, it is!

If you still wish to visit Maya Bay our 5 Star Marine Phuket tours are still going to Phi Phi. You can see Maya Bay from a distance and get a stunning picture of the beautiful bay.

Then head to the awesome Pileh Lagoon ( Also a location used in the movie The Beach). Check out the monkeys on Monkey Beach. Snorkel with Blacktip reef sharks, visit camel rock, and all the other wonders that are Phi Phi.

You can book these tours here

Other Tour Options

If you are coming during August and September and what to visit a movie backdrop then head into Phang Nga Bay and visit James Bond Island. To find out more about this tour – Click Here

What Islands Are Open in Rainy Season, June 2023

Phuket, Thailand’s rainy season, wet season, green season or whatever people call it, some of the islands in and around Phuket are closed so you will not be able to take a tour to them.

What Phuket Islands are closed and which Phuket Islands are open?

Let’s start with the Phuket Islands that are closed:

Similan Islands

Although the Similan Islands are not in Phuket during the high season, we do have tours to them.

The Similan archipelago consists of eleven beautiful islands, and The Andaman Sea around the islands is one of the best-kept secrets of Thailand. The crystal-clear blue water is filled with marine life, which makes spotting, sharks, barracudas, triggerfish, and

various tropical fish, not a problem at all. It has some of the most spectacular coral reefs in the world. Every year from the 15^th May to the 15^th October the whole of the Similan archipelago is closed to all tourists.

To See An Overview Of A Tour to Similan. Please watch this video below:

If you are looking to have a similar experience to the Similan Islands then why not try the Phi Phi Tour. Stunning beaches and awesome marine life. Click here to find out more about our Phi Phi Tour.

Koh Ha and Koh Rok

Closed now and back open from the 15^th of October are the tours to Koh Ha and Koh Rok. These two islands combine stunning water clarity with a diverse range of colorful marine life and corals, and therefore offer some of the best snorkeling opportunities you can find.

If you are looking to have a similar experience to the Koh Ha and Koh Rok then why not try the Phi Phi Tour. Stunning beaches and awesome marine life. Click here to find out more about our Phi Phi Tour.

Phuket Islands closing soon

Maya Bay Beach closing 1^st Aug till 1^st October

Maya Bay, Phi Phi is one of the best and most beautiful beaches in Thailand IF not the world. The beach was featured in the movie “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio which was filmed over 20 years ago. It will close on the 1st August to give the Thailand National Park Authorities time to check and assess the last few months effects of tourists being allowed back on the beach.

Maya Bay may be closed BUT Phi Phi is all open – Find out more about the Phi Phi Tour – Click Here

Phuket Islands that are OPEN in Rainy Season

Coral Island – Great for families

Coral Island is known locally as Coral Island is a great place to visit especially if you like to explore the region’s diverse marine environment and visit different islands., but most people will call it Coral Island. Although being a small island, it has a lot to offer whether you’re looking for a place to relax or go on an adventure.

The beautiful island getaway is only about 3 km southeast of Phuket. Coral Island has 2 main beaches: Long Beach and Banana Beach and the snorkeling off Banana Beach is awesome but more of that later. The island is about 2.5 Km long with a dense tropical jungle in the center of the island. There is one other secluded beach on the South of the island called Freedom Beach.

Coral Island is one of the best family-friendly tours that 5 Star Marine Phuket runs. The island is safe for children to play, with white soft sand perfect for sand castles, as well as rock pools during low tide for children to explore, and they can learn to snorkel right from the beach, which makes it a fantastic destination for the little ones, and for those that may be a little worried about snorkeling from the back of the boat or in deeper water. The marine life just off the beach is stunning.

To See An Overview Of A Tour to Coral Island. Please watch this video below:

Khai Islands

If you are looking for an easy close by tour that is perfect for young families then the 3 Khai Islands tour; Khai Nok, Khai Nai, and Khai Nui, is one of the best.

The 3 Khai Islands is a group of small islands just 20 – 25 minutes away from the 5 Star Marine Phuket pier at Boat Lagoon Marina.

Two of them (Khai Nai and Khai Nok) have superb sandy beaches and incredibly clear water where swarms of colourful and friendly fish come to swim around you. This makes these two Khai Islands perfect for those who have never tried snorkeling and would like to try, or for those who are a little nervous to snorkel in deep water. You are able to walk into the water and snorkel right from the beach, you don’t even need to float or swim as you will be able to explorer the underwater world while sanding.

To See An Overview Of A Tour to Khai Island. Please watch this video below:

Maiton Island

Maiton Island offers some fantastic snorkeling. The coral reefs are alive and teeming with a variety of tropical fish and you can also Enjoy a mesmerizing experience through a giant clam garden. The best time for snorkeling at Maiton Island is from December to May when the sea around Maiton is crystal clear like a blue mirror.

After a couple of hours of snorkeling, it’s time to catch dinner.

Head out a little deeper and drop in a hook and bait and you will soon catch a fish or 3, and if they are big enough then you have dinner sorted as well, which you can give to the 5 Star Marine Phuket Team and they can take care of this for you and have it cooked up with Thai flavors and spices on the BBQ while watching the sun set behind Phuket.

To See An Overview Of A Tour to Maiton Island. Please watch this video below:

Raya or Racha Islands

The two tropical Racha Island; Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi, are sometimes called Raya Island or even King Island. BUT the name doesn’t matter as these stunning Phuket tropical islands provide the ideal destination to enjoy nature with some of the best snorkeling reefs in Thailand and quiet, tropical white powdery beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters.

The Racha Island are comprised of two islands, Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi. (Yai means “big” in Thai and, noi means “little”). The islands possess crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches. They are very popular with divers and snorkellers, with challenging dive sites for advanced divers as well as plenty for beginners and snorkellers.

To See An Overview Of A Tour to Raya or Racha Island. Please watch this video below:

Koh Hong

Among the more than 150 islands of the stunning Phang Nga Bay, Koh Hong is by far one of the most beautiful destinations with possibly some of the best views of Phnag Nga Bay from it’s awesome viewpoint.

Koh Hong is off the east coast of Phuket, in fact Koh Hong is closer to Krabi than it is to Phuket. Koh Hong island is known for its stunning natural beauty, soft white sand, and sparkling, crystal clear waters, making it a one-of-a-kind place for relaxation and island adventure.

To See An Overview Of A Tour to Koh Hong. Please watch this video below: