3-Part Island Hopping in Thailand Series

Five golden admission tickets labeled “my return ticket” arranged in a row.

VERDICT: WE GAVE 5 OUT OF 5 TICKETS AND HERE’S WHY!

This guide forms part of our complete Thailand Travel Guide, featuring tropical island adventures, iconic destinations, beautiful beaches, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across Thailand.

This article is part of our Island Hopping from Phuket: Ultimate Guide series. During our time in southern Thailand, we explored the spectacular islands and turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea, taking three unforgettable excursions to the Phi Phi Islands, James Bond Island in Phang Nga Bay, and Monkey Beach and Koh Phi Phi Leh, home to the famous Maya Bay featured in the movie The Beach. Read our complete Phuket island-hopping guide to discover these three incredible adventures.

Thailand: Time to Explore

This is the first of three travel articles following our journey from Bangkok to Phuket, where we traded city life for tropical islands, spectacular limestone cliffs, famous movie locations and a few unexpected adventures.

Island Hopping Travel Article 1 – Phi Phi Islands: A perfect day of white sand, warm water, snorkelling, a memorable lunch and a sobering reminder of the 2004 tsunami.

Island Hopping Travel Article 2 – James Bond Island: A cinematic adventure following in the footsteps of 007, complete with long-tail boats and an unexpectedly wild journey home.

Island Hopping Travel Article 3 – Monkey Beach and Phi Phi Leh: Wild monkeys, the spectacular surroundings of The Beach, and one snorkelling experience we certainly hadn’t anticipated.

Our Final Island-Hopping Adventure From Phuket

Our third article: Wild monkeys, Leonardo DiCaprio’s famous filming location, an emerald lagoon and a snorkelling encounter that got a little too close for comfort.

By this point in our Thailand adventure, we were beginning to understand why so many travellers fall in love with the islands around Phuket. We had enjoyed an extraordinary day in the Phi Phi Islands and survived a rather adventurous return journey from James Bond Island.

Now we had one final excursion planned. And this one promised something completely different.

We were going to see monkeys in their natural habitat and explore the spectacular coastline of Koh Phi Phi Leh, home to the famous Maya Bay, featured in Leonardo DiCaprio’s movie The Beach.

We were excited. And after our previous experience with rough seas, we were also hoping for slightly calmer weather. Thankfully, that’s exactly what we got.

Tourists exploring a cave with towering layered rock formations and a dark cavern entrance

Couple wearing sunglasses posing on a boat with turquoise water and limestone cliffs in the background

First Stop: The Wild Monkeys of Phi Phi

Our first destination was a small beach known for its resident monkeys. Often called Monkey Beach, this area is located on Koh Phi Phi Don, rather than on Phuket itself.

The shoreline is home to long-tailed macaques, sometimes referred to as crab-eating macaques. As our boat slowly approached the beach, we began looking towards the surrounding rocks and trees.

At first, everything appeared relatively quiet. Then, almost out of nowhere, monkeys began appearing. They seemed to be everywhere! Some wandered along the sand, while others emerged from the vegetation or climbed around the rocks.

We were close enough to watch them going about their business, and the opportunity to see wild monkeys in such a beautiful setting was something special.

Monkey sitting on a sandy beach eating fruit beside rocks and scattered leaves

Monkey sitting on a rope swing at a tropical beach, holding a piece of fruit

Why We Decided to Stay on the Boat

A few passengers decided to step onto the beach. We chose not to. As much as we enjoyed seeing the monkeys, we were very conscious that these were wild animals living in their own habitat.

They weren’t there simply to entertain tourists. And although they might appear friendly or curious, monkeys can be unpredictable. We felt perfectly happy watching them from the boat.

We were only a few feet away, so we certainly weren’t missing much! Some of the passengers who did venture onto the sand were quickly encouraged to return to the boat. Watching from a respectful distance suited us just fine.

It was an excellent wildlife experience, and we were pleased that we had made the stop. But the scenery was about to become even more spectacular.

Heading Towards the Famous Island From The Beach

Our next destination was Koh Phi Phi Leh.

This largely uninhabited island is famous for its dramatic limestone cliffs, sheltered bays and clear turquoise waters. It is also home to Maya Bay, one of Thailand’s most photographed locations.

The bay became internationally famous following the release of Danny Boyle’s film The Beach in 2000, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

The movie tells the story of travellers searching for a hidden tropical paradise, only to discover that their supposedly idyllic escape has a much darker side.

For many people, the imagery of those magnificent limestone cliffs and turquoise waters became the ultimate vision of a tropical island. We were about to discover why.

An Incredible Lagoon Surrounded by Towering Cliffs

As our boat approached the island, the scenery became increasingly dramatic. Huge limestone cliffs rose above the water, their surfaces covered in lush tropical vegetation. Then we entered a narrow opening between the cliffs.

Suddenly, the water became remarkably still. Wow! We found ourselves surrounded by towering rock walls, almost completely enclosed by the landscape. The water was so calm that it resembled glass.

There was barely a ripple on the surface. The towering cliffs sheltered the lagoon from the open sea, creating an extraordinary natural swimming pool.

It was breathtaking. The combination of crystal-clear water, dense greenery and towering limestone walls looked almost too perfect to be real. If you were asked to imagine a tropical paradise, this was exactly what would come to mind.

Swimming in Tropical Paradise

We wasted very little time getting into the water. The temperature was wonderful.

The water was so clear that we could see beneath the surface, and the surrounding cliffs created a sense of complete separation from the outside world. Despite other visitors being present, the landscape was so dramatic that it felt like we had discovered somewhere very special. We enjoyed several swims during our time in the sheltered lagoon.

At times, we simply floated and admired the towering cliffs around us. There is something quite remarkable about being surrounded by such immense natural formations.

From the water, the scale of the cliffs seemed even more impressive. We could have stayed there for hours. Eventually, however, it was time to climb back aboard. Our island adventure wasn’t quite finished.

The Famous Maya Bay: Hollywood Meets Thailand

Maya Bay, located on the western side of Koh Phi Phi Leh, is one of the most recognizable filming locations in Thailand.

In The Beach, Leonardo DiCaprio plays Richard, a young backpacker searching for a secret island paradise. The film’s tropical setting became internationally famous, drawing enormous attention to the Phi Phi Islands. But Hollywood fame came with consequences.

The Beach movie poster featuring Leonardo DiCaprio looking upward against a tropical beach and blue sky

As visitor numbers increased over the years, Maya Bay experienced significant environmental pressure, including damage to its coral reefs and marine ecosystems.

Thai authorities eventually closed Maya Bay to visitors for four years to allow the environment to recover. The bay reopened in 2022 under stricter conservation rules. For today’s travellers, visiting Maya Bay is a very different experience from the unrestricted boat visits of earlier years. Boats use a designated landing area on the opposite side of Phi Phi Leh, and visitors reach the famous beach by walking along a managed pathway.

Swimming in Maya Bay is now prohibited.

However, the nearby Pileh Lagoon continues to be a popular swimming destination when conditions and local regulations permit.

The distinction is important when booking an excursion, because a visit to Maya Bay does not automatically mean you can swim in its famous turquoise water.

One More Snorkelling Stop: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

After enjoying the beautiful lagoon and surrounding scenery, we thought our day couldn’t possibly get much better. But we had one more stop to make.

Our boat anchored in open water near a popular snorkelling area. We were told there were plenty of fish to see. Naturally, Andrew and I were keen to get back into the water. Other passengers began jumping from the boat, and before long we joined them.

The water was wonderfully clear. As soon as we put our faces beneath the surface, we could see fish swimming around us. It was another fantastic opportunity to enjoy Thailand’s remarkable marine life.

Everything was going perfectly.

Until one of the boat attendants decided to have a little fun.

When the Fish Started Nibbling!

One of the female attendants began throwing what appeared to be fish food into the water. Not simply near the boat. Directly towards the swimmers! Within seconds, fish began gathering around us.

Lots of fish.

They were suddenly swimming extremely close, attracted by whatever had been thrown into the water. Then some started nibbling at our skin. At first, I couldn’t quite believe what was happening. The attendant seemed to find the whole thing hilarious. I most certainly did not!

There is an enormous difference between enjoying the sight of tropical fish underwater and having those same fish encouraged to swarm around you.

I was not amused. In fact, I decided I had experienced quite enough fish interaction for one day. I headed straight back to the boat and climbed out.

Then I looked down at my leg. There were actually streaks of blood! What?! I couldn’t believe it. Andrew stayed in the water a little longer, although he wasn’t particularly impressed with the attendant’s behaviour either.

It was an unnecessary and rather unpleasant end to what had otherwise been a wonderful snorkelling experience. We had come to observe marine life, not become part of the feeding programme!

An Important Lesson About Responsible Snorkelling

Looking back, this experience reinforced something we believe strongly about travelling. Wildlife should be respected. Feeding fish to attract them towards swimmers can change their natural behaviour and create unnecessary risks for both visitors and marine life.

Tour operators should avoid this practice, particularly in environmentally sensitive marine areas. We passed our concerns on to the tour operator.

We would certainly encourage anyone booking a snorkelling excursion to ask whether the operator follows responsible wildlife-viewing guidelines. And if fish feeding is part of the experience, we would suggest choosing another operator.

Fortunately, our encounter was a relatively minor incident, and it didn’t overshadow everything else we had enjoyed. But it was certainly memorable.

Would We Return to Monkey Beach and Phi Phi Leh?

Without hesitation.

Despite our unexpected snorkelling experience, this had been one of the most spectacular days of our Thailand adventure. Seeing the wild monkeys from the boat was fascinating. The scenery around Koh Phi Phi Leh was extraordinary.

The sheltered lagoon, with its towering cliffs and incredibly calm water, was unlike anywhere we had experienced before. And the opportunity to see the landscape associated with one of Hollywood’s most famous tropical-island movies made the day even more special.

Would we do anything differently? Absolutely.

We would ask more questions about the tour operator’s wildlife practices and make sure we understood exactly where swimming and snorkelling would take place. But would we return?

Definitely!

This is one part of Thailand that deserves to be experienced.

Our My Return Ticket Verdict

Quality: Spectacular scenery and memorable natural attractions.
Service: Enjoyable overall, although the fish-feeding incident was disappointing.
Memorability: Outstanding.
Value for Money: A worthwhile full-day island excursion.

Our Bottom Line: Monkey Beach, Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon offer some of the most extraordinary coastal scenery in Thailand. The towering cliffs, tropical wildlife and clear water make this a remarkable destination. Just choose your tour operator carefully – and remember that the fish don’t need any encouragement to come and say hello!

Planning Your Own Monkey Beach and Phi Phi Leh Excursion

Location: Koh Phi Phi Don and Koh Phi Phi Leh, Krabi Province, Thailand.

Getting there: Speedboat excursions from Phuket or local long-tail boat trips from Phi Phi Don.

Suggested duration: Full-day excursion from Phuket.

Top highlights:

Watching wild macaques from a safe distance at Monkey Beach.
Seeing the famous Maya Bay landscape featured in The Beach.
Swimming in the sheltered waters of Pileh Lagoon when permitted.
Snorkelling in designated areas.
Photographing the extraordinary limestone cliffs.

Important visitor information: Maya Bay operates under strict conservation rules, including a prohibition on swimming. Seasonal closures generally take place during August and September. Check current park notices before booking.

Wildlife advice: Never feed or touch monkeys or fish. Keep valuables secured around macaques and choose snorkelling operators that follow responsible marine-tourism practices.

Our local tip: Ask your tour company to confirm that the excursion includes both Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon. They are different locations, and if swimming in the lagoon is important to you, make sure it is specifically listed on the itinerary.

Visitor rules, permitted swimming areas, seasonal closures and national park fees may change.

Top 5 things to do in Phuket (On Dry Land!)

1. Take a Thai cooking class. Learn to prepare traditional dishes such as green curry, pad Thai and tom yum, ideally with a market visit to discover local ingredients.

2. Enjoy a sunset dinner on the coast. Choose a beachfront restaurant around Kata, Karon or Rawai and enjoy an unhurried evening overlooking the Andaman Sea.

3. Explore the Sunday Walking Street Market. Known as Lard Yai, the market on Thalang Road combines street food, handicrafts, music and local culture. It normally operates Sunday evenings.

4. Spend a morning relaxing on a quieter beach. Kata Noi, Nai Harn or Kamala can make excellent alternatives to busier Patong, depending on the season and surf conditions.

5. Visit an ethical elephant sanctuary. Choose a genuine observation-focused sanctuary that does not offer riding, forced bathing or performances. It can be an opportunity to learn about elephant welfare and conservation.

Planning Your Trip?

Before you go, don’t forget to book the essentials:

With every trip, we offer feedback to travel companies along with honest views for you, the reader. We rate adventures on a scale of one to five tickets, judged on quality, service, memorability, and price. A perfect ‘Ticket Rating’ of a five-ticket score means the experience was flawless and we’d eagerly return. Your desire to go back is the ultimate measure of a trip’s worth. Exclusive to My Return Ticket.

Monkey Beach, Maya Bay and Phi Phi Leh⎮Paradise With a Few Surprises