The Beach Phi Phi searches lead to one place: Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh, the cove where the 2000 film The Beach was shot. The film made the bay a bucket-list stop, the crowds that followed damaged it, and Thailand closed it for almost four years before reopening it under strict rules.
This guide separates film from fact on the Beach Phi Phi story. It covers where the film was shot, what the production changed, how the court case is reported, what you can see today and how to visit. It draws on Wikipedia's pages on the film, the novel and the island, Bangkok Post, AFP via Malay Mail, Time Out Bangkok, Phuket 101 and a GetYourGuide listing we checked on 30 October 2026. Sources disagree on some dates and on the legal outcome, and we say where.
- Film
- The Beach, released 11 Feb 2000
- Director
- Danny Boyle
- Star
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Based on
- Alex Garland's 1996 novel
- Shot at
- Maya Bay, Phi Phi Leh
- Today
- Open, but no swimming
Where was The Beach filmed?
The Beach Phi Phi location is Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh, a small island of the Phi Phi group in Krabi province. The waterfall scenes were shot in Khao Yai National Park and the hotel interiors in Phuket. Maya Bay reopened on 1 October 2026 and can be visited on a boat tour, but swimming is not allowed.
The Beach Phi Phi at a Glance: The Film, the Novel and the Location
Wikipedia describes The Beach as an adventure drama directed by Danny Boyle and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, based on Alex Garland's 1996 novel. An English backpacker called Richard is given a map to a hidden island beach and joins a community living there. The film came out on 11 February 2000, cost about $50 million and took $144.1 million worldwide. Critics praised the scenery and the cinematography but were harder on the story.
The novel's island is in the Gulf of Thailand, and Richard meets two American backpackers on Koh Samui, according to Wikipedia. Maya Bay is on the other side of the country, in the Andaman Sea. Boyle, producer Andrew Macdonald and writer John Hodge scouted Ko Samui in August 1997, says the film page, but the film was shot on Ko Phi Phi Le. Garland wrote the book while living in the Philippines, inspired by similar scenery on Palawan, so the Beach Phi Phi location stands in for an island that was never a single real place.
Where Was The Beach Filmed? The Beach Phi Phi Location Explained
The beach in the film is Maya Bay, a shallow bay on Phi Phi Leh, the smaller island of the Phi Phi group. Wikipedia gives the beach as about 250 m long and 15 m wide and places the island in Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. Nobody lives on Phi Phi Leh, so every visit is a boat trip. Our guide to Phi Phi Leh covers the island and its other sights, and our Phi Phi island map shows how it sits beside Phi Phi Don.
| Scene | In the story | Where it was shot |
|---|---|---|
| The hidden beach | An island paradise in the Gulf of Thailand | Maya Bay, Ko Phi Phi Le, on the Andaman Sea |
| The waterfall | A jungle waterfall near the community | Haew Suwat Waterfall, Khao Yai National Park |
| The backpacker hotel | A cheap hotel where Richard stays | On On Hotel, Phuket |
The beach on screen is not quite the real one. Wikipedia says the real beach has a gap between its mountains and that the effects crew digitally added some surrounding peaks in post-production. If the bay looks smaller or more open than the film suggests, that is why. It also matters if you compare photos of the Beach Phi Phi location with scenes from the film.
Dates differ between sources. Wikipedia puts the shooting between January and April 1999. An opinion piece in the Bangkok Post says filming began in November 1998, that conservationists and local officials sued in January 1999 to stop it, and that the court refused an injunction. Neither source explains the gap, so we give both.
What Happened to the Beach Phi Phi After the Film
What the Beach Phi Phi production changed
Wikipedia says 20th Century Fox bulldozed and landscaped the beach to make it look more like paradise, altering sand dunes and planting non-native coconut trees and grasses. AFP says the filmmakers planted dozens of coconut trees and were accused of uprooting vegetation on the dunes, and Bangkok Post reports allegations of ecological vandalism. The Thaiger adds that levelled dunes, which acted as a natural barrier, led to erosion that washed sand into the sea.
The studio's account is different. AFP reports that Fox said it left the beach as it found it and removed tonnes of rubbish, and Wikipedia gives the figure as 5 tonnes. The film page says a flat area and an odd arrangement of trees remained until the 2004 tsunami.
The Beach Phi Phi court case: sources disagree
The legal story of the Beach Phi Phi shoot is the hardest part to pin down. Every source, from Wikipedia to AFP via Malay Mail, The Thaiger and the Bangkok Post, mentions a 10 million baht figure or a 100 million baht claim, but they disagree on the year, the court and who pays. The table sets out what each says.
| Source | Court and date | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia (island page) | Supreme Court, 2006 | Upheld an appeals ruling that the filming harmed the environment; gives a fine of 10 million baht, about $273,000 |
| Wikipedia (film page) | Supreme Court, 2006 | Same ruling, with damage assessments ordered and no amount stated |
| AFP via Malay Mail | Supreme Court, 13 Sept 2022 | Upheld a Civil Court ruling that the Royal Forest Department must rehabilitate the bay; a 100 million baht claim was filed in 1999; does not say who pays |
| The Thaiger | Supreme Court, 13 Sept 2022 | Says 20th Century Fox must pay 10 million baht, used by the Forestry Department to restore the bay |
| Bangkok Post (opinion) | A compromise | Says Fox agreed to pay 10 million baht, against the 100 million baht the plaintiffs sought |
We could not confirm from these pages whether Fox paid, whether the Forestry Department carried the cost, or whether the 2006 and 2022 rulings are separate stages of one case. Treat the exact outcome with caution and check a current primary source before you quote it.
The Beach Phi Phi bay: from film location to closed beach
Phuket 101 says the bay was first visited in the early 1990s, years before the movie, when there was no pier, no park fee and few visitors. Tourist traffic then surged after the film, says the Wikipedia film page. By the 2016 low season about 5,000 visitors a day reached the beach and about 200 boats a day anchored in the bay, according to the island page, which also says that about 80% of the surrounding coral was destroyed.
Authorities announced a four-month closure in March 2018, and Phuket 101 says the bay closed to visitors in June of that year. On 1 October 2018 the closure became indefinite after tests found more damage than expected, says Wikipedia. Coral replanting began in June 2018, over 15,000 corals had been propagated by February 2019, and blacktip reef sharks were seen near the beach in December 2018. The bay reopened in early 2022.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| Early 1990s | First visitors reach the bay, before any film |
| Aug 1997 | Boyle, Macdonald and Hodge scout Ko Samui |
| Nov 1998 to Apr 1999 | Shooting, with the start date disputed between sources |
| 11 Feb 2000 | The Beach is released |
| 2016 low season | About 5,000 visitors and 200 boats a day |
| June 2018 | Bay closed to visitors; closure made indefinite on 1 October |
| Early 2022 | Reopened with strict rules |
| 1 Oct 2026 | Reopened after the annual August and September closure |
The Beach Phi Phi Today: Closure, Reopening and Rules
Time Out Bangkok reported on 29 September 2026 that Maya Bay reopened on 1 October after its annual closure in August and September, which falls in the southwest monsoon. The article stresses that reopening the beach does not mean reopening it for swimming. It also says access can depend on sea conditions, so check the park's latest notice and your operator's plan. That means the Beach Phi Phi location is open to visitors again, with conditions.
Phuket 101 lists the current rules at the Beach Phi Phi beach: boats can no longer anchor on the beach, visitors may wade only knee deep, numbers are limited, the entry fee is 400 baht and is included in most tour prices, and operators set about one hour on the beach. The page says the visit is very different from the early 1990s but that the bay is beautiful again, and Wikipedia says blacktip sharks have started breeding there once more.
Our Maya Bay guide has the full rules, tickets and timing, and our guide to the best time to visit Phi Phi explains how the seasons affect boat days. If the bay is shut when you arrive, tours still pass it by boat and stop at other sights on Phi Phi Leh.
Visiting the Beach Phi Phi: Tours, Timing and Costs
There are no hotels on Phi Phi Leh, so you visit the Beach Phi Phi location on a day or half-day boat trip, usually from Phi Phi Don. Our guide to the Phi Phi island tours compares formats, and our guides to Phuket to Phi Phi and Krabi to Phi Phi cover the crossings if you start on the mainland. An early departure is the best answer to the crowds, because you reach the sand before most day-trip boats.
From Phi Phi: Sunrise Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon Speedboat Tour
A speedboat tour that reaches the bay for sunrise, then snorkels at Pileh Lagoon and stops at Viking Cave and Monkey Beach. Choose the half-day option or a longer day with lunch on Bamboo Island.
Check on the listing before you book
- Price and start time for your date
- Half-day or full-day option
- Meeting point near Ton Sai Pier
Powered by GetYourGuide. Price, duration and availability depend on your date.
For the Beach Phi Phi sunrise slot, the listing was rated 4.5 out of 5 from 130 reviews and showed a price from €44 per person, reduced from €49, when we checked on 30 October 2026. Its itinerary gives one hour at Maya Bay, then stops at Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave and Monkey Beach, and the listing says park entrance fees are included. The half-day option leaves out lunch and Bamboo Island. Several reviewers say they reached the bay early, and one wrote that arriving at 7 am meant almost having it to themselves.
- Check the closure dates before you book your Beach Phi Phi trip, since the bay is shut every August and September.
- Ask whether the park fee is included. Phuket 101 quotes 400 baht, and our Maya Bay guide notes sources that say 200.
- Bring swimwear and a towel for the snorkeling stops, even though you cannot swim at the bay, and see our snorkeling guide for the best spots.
- Use a compliant sunscreen. Khaosod English reported in October 2025 that Thai marine parks ban four sunscreen ingredients, with fines up to 100,000 baht.
- Sleep on Phi Phi Don if you want a sunrise departure, because the boats leave from Ton Sai Pier.
If you need a bed, our guides to where to stay in Phi Phi and Phi Phi hotels compare the areas on the main island, and our Phi Phi Don guide describes it.
Phi Phi The Beach Resort: Not the Beach Phi Phi Film Location
Phi Phi The Beach Resort is a hotel and not a film site. Thai Holiday Guide describes it as a 3-star resort directly on a beach on Phi Phi Don, within walking distance of Tonsai Village and the pier, with villas for two and a price from $187 a night on Agoda. The page does not date that price, so check it before you rely on it.
The page does not explain the name, and we found no source that links the hotel to the film. The Beach Phi Phi film location is Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh, which has no accommodation, so the resort is simply a beachfront base on the main island.
The Beach Phi Phi FAQ
Where was The Beach filmed?
At Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh, an island of the Phi Phi group in Krabi province. Wikipedia lists the waterfall at Haew Suwat in Khao Yai National Park and the hotel interiors at the On On Hotel in Phuket.
Was The Beach filmed on Phi Phi Don or Phi Phi Leh?
On Phi Phi Leh, the smaller uninhabited island. Phi Phi Don is the larger island where the hotels and the ferry pier are.
When was the Beach Phi Phi film shot and released?
Wikipedia says shooting ran from January to April 1999, while the Bangkok Post says it began in November 1998. The film was released on 11 February 2000.
Is the Beach Phi Phi film location the same as the beach on screen?
Mostly, but not exactly. Wikipedia says the real beach has a gap between its mountains and that the effects crew digitally added some surrounding peaks.
Did the film damage Maya Bay?
Sources say the production altered the dunes and planted non-native trees, and a court case followed. Wikipedia says about 80% of the coral was later destroyed by the alterations and the tourism boom. The studio said it left the beach as it found it.
Can you visit the Beach Phi Phi location today?
Yes. Maya Bay reopened on 1 October 2026 after its annual August and September closure, according to Time Out Bangkok. You arrive by boat and walk to the beach for about an hour.
Can you swim at Maya Bay?
No. Time Out Bangkok says reopening does not mean reopening for swimming, and Phuket 101 says visitors may only wade knee deep.
Is the island in the novel a real place?
No. Wikipedia places the novel's hidden island in the Gulf of Thailand, while Garland has said he was inspired by Palawan in the Philippines. Maya Bay is on the Andaman Sea.
Is Phi Phi The Beach Resort connected to the film?
We found no source that says so. The hotel is on Phi Phi Don, while the film location is on Phi Phi Leh.
Want to see the Beach Phi Phi location at sunrise?
Check dates, start times and the price for the sunrise speedboat tour to Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon, and read the recent reviews before you book.
Photo credits: Maya Bay beach and cliffs, 2026 by Nnthurber (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Maya Bay, 2009 by Michael Spencer (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons); Maya Bay boats, 2014 by Nicolas Vollmer (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons); Maya Bay turquoise water, 2026 by Nnthurber (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons). Tour photos: GetYourGuide.
Disclosure: InsideSamui may earn a commission when you book through some of the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. This guide is compiled from published park, operator and traveler information, checked on 30 October 2026. We have not run these trips ourselves for this page. Prices, schedules, fees and rules around Koh Phi Phi change often, so confirm with your operator before you travel. Tour bookings are handled by GetYourGuide. Fees, rules and tour details change often, so check before you go.