Maya Bay sunset and plankton swimming tour from Phi Phi Don

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.32 (22 reviews) 77% rated it 5 stars

Instant confirmation

1/7

Duration6h

GroupUp to 30

LanguagesEN · TH

Mobile ticketAccepted

Swim through glowing plankton under the stars after the day-trippers leave

A sunset and night snorkeling tour departing from Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don that takes you to Maya Bay via the rear entrance, plus stops at Pileh Bay and other sites depending on weather. You snorkel in the afternoon, eat a Thai buffet dinner around 6:30 pm, then enter the water after dark to swim among bioluminescent plankton that glow when disturbed. The tour runs about 6 hours and includes all snorkeling gear, dinner, drinks and national park fees; you'll need accommodation on Phi Phi Island for the night since ferries back to Phuket or Krabi don't run after the tour ends.

Step-by-step itinerary

Maya Bay snorkeling and plankton swim

Stop at Viking Caves for photos
Snorkel and kayak at Pileh Bay
Snack on fresh fruit
Enter Maya Bay through rear entrance
Explore beach at sunset
Enjoy all-you-can-eat Thai feast
Swim with glowing plankton
Return to Phi Phi Don Tonsai Pier

The Experience

The boat leaves Tonsai Pier at 3 pm and heads first to Pileh Bay for snorkeling and kayaking, where you might spot black-tipped reef sharks if the water is calm enough. After fresh fruit and a break, you move on to Maya Bay, entering through the rear entrance so you arrive as the afternoon crowds are leaving—the beach empties out and you get to explore without the usual press of people. The light starts to soften as you walk the sand and wade in the shallows.

Around 6:30 pm, dinner is an all-you-can-eat Thai buffet served on the boat or beach, with individual meals available for any dietary needs. After you've eaten and the sun has dropped below the horizon, you put on your life jacket, mask and snorkel and slip into the water. The plankton glow when you move through them or agitate the surface—submerge your head and you're swimming through what looks like a liquid starry night, a kaleidoscopic light show that shifts and pulses with each movement. The tour wraps up around 10 pm as you head back to Tonsai Pier.

Weather and sea conditions can shift the itinerary; if conditions don't suit Maya Bay, the operator has other options including Loh Sama Bay, Loh Moo Dee Beach and Monkey Beach, all with the same bioluminescent plankton. Check in at the Phi Phi Don office between 2:30 and 2:45 pm on the day of the tour. The tour requires a minimum of 4 people; if that threshold isn't met, you can reschedule or receive a full refund. Since there are no ferries back to Phuket or Krabi after the tour ends, you'll need to book a night's accommodation on Phi Phi Island.

What’s included

All snorkeling gear (masks and snorkels).
an all-you-can-eat Thai buffet dinner with individual meals for special diets.
bottled water, soft drinks, coffee and tea throughout the day.
kayaking at Pileh Bay.
national park fees.
a live English or Thai-speaking guide.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Krabi Konnect trading as Maya Bay Tours

Is this one for you?The tour departs at 3 pm and returns around 10 pm, so it's a full evening commitment that requires you to stay overnight on Phi Phi Island. Book this if you're already based there or willing to spend a night; the late return and early morning ferry back mean it doesn't work as a same-day trip from Phuket or Krabi.