Overnight snorkeling in Maya Bay: sleep on the boat
You arrive at Maya Bay when everyone else is leaving.
An overnight boat tour departing from Phi Phi Don that moors in Maya Bay after the day-trip crowds depart, giving you the beach at sunset and again at dawn. The itinerary includes snorkeling and kayaking at Pileh Bay and Monkey Beach, a swim in bioluminescent plankton at night, all-you-can-eat Thai dinner and breakfast, and accommodation on the boat. Weather may shift the mooring to Loh Moo Dee Beach, Plieh Bay, Loh Sama Bay or Monkey Beach, each with the same glowing plankton. Minimum age is 18; a live English or Thai-speaking guide leads the tour.
19h
Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1 — Overnight stay and activities in Maya Bay
- Check in at Phi Phi Don office
- Walk to pier and depart at 3:00 pm
- Photo stop at Viking Caves
- Snorkel and kayak at Pileh Bay
- Snack on fresh fruit
- Arrive at Maya Bay and explore beach
- Enjoy all-you-can-eat Thai dinner
- Swim with glowing bioluminescent plankton
- Party on private beach with music and games
- Chicken barbecue served at 10:00 pm
- Return to boat for socializing or relaxing
Day 2 — Morning swim and return to Phi Phi Don
- Early morning swim or kayak
- Group jump photo
- Breakfast on boat
- Visit Monkey Beach for snorkeling and kayaking
- Return to Phi Phi Don at 10:00 am
The Experience
You check in at the Phi Phi Don office between 2:30 and 2:45 pm, store any large luggage, and walk to Tonsai Pier for a 3 pm departure. The boat's first stop is Viking Caves for photos, then Pileh Bay for snorkeling and kayaking—the water here is shallow enough that you can usually spot harmless black-tipped reef sharks if you stay quiet. After fresh fruit and a break, you head to Maya Bay and enter through the rear entrance. As the afternoon day-trippers board their ferries back to the mainland, you have the beach and the water almost to yourself, free to swim and explore as the sun drops.
At 6:30 pm, an all-you-can-eat Thai dinner is served on deck, with individual meals prepared for any dietary needs. After eating, you put on a mask and snorkel and swim into water filled with bioluminescent plankton—agitate the surface and the organisms glow in response, creating what the operator calls a liquid starry night. Back on the boat's private beach, the evening shifts into a social gathering: music plays, games happen, and everyone receives one free bucket (a local drinking vessel of vodka or Thai rum mixed with cola). The bar sells beer for 100 THB and rum or vodka buckets for 250 THB. Around 10 pm, a chicken barbecue is served and the gathering continues.
Around 11 pm, you return to the boat. The lower deck stays open for socializing and the bar; the top deck is quiet for those who want to stargaze or sleep. The crew wakes you early the next morning for an optional swim or kayak, followed by a group jump shot for photos. Breakfast—coffee, tea, eggs and toast—is served on board. Your final stop is Monkey Beach for more snorkeling, kayaking and beach time before the boat returns to Phi Phi Don around 10 am. The operator notes that itinerary changes may happen depending on wind and wave direction, and a minimum of four customers is required for each departure.
What’s included
- Snorkels and masks.
- kayaking equipment.
- all-you-can-eat Thai dinner and breakfast.
- one free bucket drink.
- bottled water and soft drinks.
- overnight accommodation with mattress, pillow and sleeping bag.
- national park fees.
- luggage storage.
- restroom on board.
- live guide in English or Thai.
Operated by Krabi Konnect trading as Maya Bay Tours
Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to experience Maya Bay without the crowds and are comfortable sleeping on a boat with other travelers. The overnight format is what makes the empty-beach moment at sunset possible—day trips arrive when hundreds of visitors are already there. The minimum age is 18, and the tour requires at least four customers to depart.
Traveler reviews
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Top questions
What's the difference between staying overnight on the boat versus a day trip to Maya Bay?
The overnight tour arrives in Maya Bay in the afternoon after the day-trippers have left, so you have the beach nearly empty at sunset and again at dawn. Day trips arrive mid-morning when hundreds of other visitors are there. You also get to swim in bioluminescent plankton at night, sleep on the boat, and spend the evening with other travelers on a private beach.
What happens if the weather doesn't allow mooring in Maya Bay?
The boat has several backup locations: Loh Moo Dee Beach, Plieh Bay, Loh Sama Bay or Monkey Beach. Each has the same bioluminescent plankton, and the operator says they are just as beautiful. The itinerary may shift depending on wind and wave direction, but the core experience—overnight mooring, snorkeling, kayaking and the glowing plankton swim—stays the same.
Is snorkeling equipment included, or do I need to bring my own?
Snorkels and masks are included with the tour. You'll also have access to kayaking equipment. Bring your own swimwear, towel, camera, and any personal items you need for the overnight stay.
What meals and drinks are provided?
An all-you-can-eat Thai dinner is served at 6:30 pm with options for special diets, and breakfast (coffee, tea, eggs and toast) is served the next morning. Bottled water and soft drinks are included throughout the tour. Everyone gets one free bucket (a local rum or vodka mixer), and additional alcoholic drinks are available for purchase at the bar.
How do I get to Phi Phi Don to catch this tour?
The boat departs from Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don at 3 pm. Phi Phi Don is a 2-hour ferry ride from Krabi or Phuket. If you're arriving on the day of the tour, you'll need to catch a morning ferry to make the 3 pm departure time and check in between 2:30 and 2:45 pm.
What's included in the overnight accommodation?
You sleep on the boat with a mattress, pillow and sleeping bag provided. The boat has a restroom on board. Luggage storage is free if you need to store larger bags during the tour.
Overnight snorkeling in Maya Bay: sleep on the boat
19h · EN · TH
from US$ 109 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.6447 reviews
