Maya Bay? Don’t Go. Go Here Instead.
In 2000, Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed in the movie The Beach, and the whole world thought, “That is the most beautiful beach in the world.” I disagree. Don’t get me wrong, it is beautiful, but let’s be honest, the effect mass tourism has had on the coral reefs is concerning, so much so that no one is allowed to swim there.
Inside this guide
Getting There ＋
This planet Earth is a masterpiece, and I refuse to believe that Hollywood knows the best spots. So, I did not go to Maya Bay. Instead, I did some research to find beautiful landscapes. The ones I always fall in love with. Raw, less visited and beautiful.
So, no. This guide is not about visiting Maya Bay. Instead, I want to convince you that there are other places out there that many people have never heard of.
What Are You Actually Looking for When You Say “Maya Bay”?
And this is the question, my friend. Do you actually care about Maya Bay? Or do you just want the feeling you felt while watching the movie? Freedom, remoteness, being away from normal life. You won’t get that in Maya Bay.
If you want wild, if you really want to feel like DiCaprio, I bring you a few alternatives. Places that are close but feel far enough away to forget your phone and emails.
Koh Lon: When You Want an Island That Barely Notices You Arrived
Koh Lon is very close to Phuket, yet there is no gigantic tourism machine waiting for you when you arrive. People live there. Yes, I know, surprise… It’s a fishing island, with beaches and greenery. Life happens whether you go or you don’t.
You can get there from south Phuket by boat. Easier than I thought before I did it. You can enjoy a day or stay overnight if your soul feels like it, because why not?
Koh Bon: When You Want to Escape Phuket
Do not confuse this one with Koh Bon in the Similan Islands. This one is a tiny little island just off Rawai. It’s definitely the easiest to reach. You get to Rawai, get into a local boat, cross the water and boom. You’ve stepped into another world.
No plans needed, no need to discover anything, just exist on the beach for a few hours away from the noise. This place is ideal if you are like me and wake up one morning in Phuket thinking, “I want to disappear for a while.”
Racha Noi: Maybe You Don’t Actually Need a Beach
Let’s be honest, it’s not the typical paradise Thailand sells to the world. It’s different. It’s wild, rocky and more about the sea than the island. And that is what I was looking for. Not a coconut aesthetic picture while sitting on a towel on perfect sand… I want the sea, and this island gives me what my body desires most. The sea.
I love snorkelling and freediving. This place is perfect for it. Not for a lazy beach day, but a get-in-the-sea kind of day. We are too obsessed with beaches sometimes, and we forget that the sea is the main attraction. If you want to feel like a tiny drop in the sea… this is for you.
Koh Kudu: The One That Actually Gives You the Movie Feeling
The best for last. Koh Kudu sits around the Koh Yao Islands. It’s a place that makes you understand why it would be perfect for filming a movie. Cliffs rising straight from the water, small coves, longtail boats… just perfect. The difference between this and Maya Bay is that you won’t be following a bunch of people, all taking the same pictures because Hollywood said so.
To get to Koh Kudu, get into a boat from Phuket to Koh Yao Noi. Stay there.
I have written a guide about the Koh Yao Islands that you might want to read if you’re looking for quiet places away from Phuket. From Koh Yao Noi, arrange a boat to explore the islands and coves around it.
So, Which One Should You Choose?
You can do them all if you have enough time in Phuket. It all depends on your itinerary. If you don’t have enough time, choose the one that fits your mood, time and energy.
What I would not do is wake up in the morning and go around collecting as many islands as I can like fridge magnets. Each one needs time. Choose wisely.
Hollywood Chose One Beach for Us
I don’t like being told what to do, so I do the opposite. Always on the hunt for alternatives, I found them and I share them with you. But not with the intention of creating a new trend, God forbid. Just to escape from the usual.
Maya Bay is very beautiful, but Thailand is much more than one beach alone. Explore the islands, stay locally, eat locally, respect wildlife and enjoy Thailand.
