Maya Bay Sleep Aboard Tour: Night Swimming with Plankton

Moor in Maya Bay and swim with glowing plankton under the stars

A small-group overnight tour from Phi Phi Don that moors the boat in Maya Bay for the night, with snorkeling at Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave, a Thai buffet dinner, and a guided night swim among bioluminescent plankton. Mattress, pillow, sleeping bag, all meals, drinks, kayaking gear and snorkels are included. You sleep on deck under the stars and return to Phi Phi Don the next morning after breakfast.

The experience

The boat departs Phi Phi Don at 3pm and heads first to Viking Cave, where you'll see ancient cave paintings and thousands of swallows nesting on the high ledges. From there it's a short run to Pileh Lagoon for snorkeling and kayaking among the coral reef and colorful fish. After a fresh fruit snack, the boat moors in Maya Bay, the filming location of "The Beach", for the night. You'll sleep on deck under the stars with a mattress, pillow and sleeping bag provided.

Dinner is an all-you-can-eat Thai buffet served at 6:30pm. Once you've eaten, the crew hands out life jackets, masks and snorkels for the main event: a night swim in the water around the boat where bioluminescent plankton glow when disturbed. The sensation of swimming through living light is the centerpiece of the tour. After you dry off, there's a beach party on the private sand, then the boat returns for the night: the lower deck stays open for music and the bar, while the upper deck is quiet for sleep or stargazing.

Morning comes early at 6am with free time back on the beach, followed by breakfast on the boat (coffee, tea, eggs and toast). The final stop is Monkey Beach for more snorkeling and kayaking before the boat returns to Phi Phi Don at 10am. The tour runs as a shared group with a live English-speaking guide. A minimum of 10 people is required to depart.

What’s included

• Mattress, pillow and sleeping bag.
• all-you-can-eat Thai buffet dinner and BBQ.
• breakfast with coffee, tea, eggs and toast.
• water and soft drinks throughout.
• one free bucket drink per person.
• snorkeling masks and snorkels.
• kayaking gear.
• national park fees.
• luggage storage at the office.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 15:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (9 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “• Departure time : 03:00pm • Return time : 10:00am • Pick up Time : 02:30pm-02:45pm • Meeting point : Maya Bay Sleep aboard Office”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Oh-Hoo

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to sleep in Maya Bay itself and swim with bioluminescent plankton at night. The shared overnight format keeps costs lower than private charters.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 8 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What exactly happens when you swim with the phosphorescent plankton at night?

The plankton glow in the dark when the water around them is disturbed, when you move through it, your body and limbs light up with a blue-green bioluminescence. The crew provides life jackets, masks and snorkels so you can stay in safely and watch the effect as you swim.

Where do you actually sleep on this tour?

You sleep on the deck of the 90-foot boat while it's moored in Maya Bay. The boat provides a mattress, pillow and sleeping bag. The upper deck is reserved for sleeping and stargazing, while the lower deck has music and a bar for those who want to socialize later into the night.

What's included in the meals and drinks?

Dinner is an all-you-can-eat Thai buffet and BBQ served at 6:30pm. Breakfast the next morning includes coffee, tea, eggs and toast. Water and soft drinks are available throughout the tour, plus one free bucket (a Thai rum or vodka mixer) per person.

Do you visit any other islands or beaches besides Maya Bay?

Yes. The tour stops at Viking Cave to see ancient paintings and the swallows nesting there, then Pileh Lagoon for snorkeling and kayaking in the coral reef. The next morning, Monkey Beach is the final snorkeling stop before returning to Phi Phi Don.

What time does the tour start and end?

Check-in at the Maya Bay Sleep Aboard office on Phi Phi Don is at 2:30pm, with departure at 3pm. The boat returns to Phi Phi Don at 10am the following morning, making it roughly a 19-hour overnight experience.