Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park Guide (Fees, Maya Bay, Rules)

Featured image: kallerna, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

What Hat Noppharat Thara Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park Covers

Designated in 1983, the park protects coast and sea in Krabi. Searchers often expect one place, but this name covers two. Noppharat Thara is a free beach on the Ao Nang mainland coast. The Phi Phi islands sit offshore, need a boat and carry a park fee. Use the table to pick your half.

Top Highlights Inside the Park

Five stops anchor most island itineraries. Swimming rules differ between them, so read each line before you pack.

• Maya Bay, Ko Phi Phi Leh: a sheltered cove with white sand and tall cliffs. You can walk and wade, but not swim. Best for photographers.
• Pileh Lagoon, Ko Phi Phi Leh: an emerald pool ringed by limestone walls. Swimming is encouraged. Best for swimmers and longtail boat photos.
• Bamboo Island (Ko Mai Phai): a flat, uninhabited island with shallow clear water and reefs. Best for snorkelers and families.
• Viking Cave, Ko Phi Phi Leh: a cliffside cave with old wall paintings and swiftlet nest harvesting. Best for a look from the boat.
• Shark Point and Maya Corner: open-sea snorkel and dive sites known for blacktip reef sharks and turtles. Best for confident swimmers.

Noppharat Thara Beach: The Free Mainland Side

Noppharat Thara runs about 2 km along the Ao Nang coast. Entry is free and the beach is open 24 hours. Large pine trees shade the sand and keep a sea breeze moving. Seafood restaurants sit close by, and some visitors spread a mat and eat on the beach. Some stretches of sand are not very white. Walk to the far end and you face a 2 km return. From Krabi town it is about 17 km. Take Highway 4034, turn left onto Highway 4202 at Ban Chong Pli, and drive to the end of the road. The beach address is 79 Village No. 5, Ao Nang Subdistrict, Mueang District, Krabi 81180. Check the route on a map app before you drive.

Entry Fees and How to Pay

Prices and hours checked November 2026. Operators typically quote ฿400 per adult and ฿200 per child for the Phi Phi islands. Some speedboat operators collect that fee in cash at the pier during check-in. Some packages fold it into the upfront price. Ask which applies before you book. Thai nationals may pay a different rate. Current rates are published by the Department of National Parks. Other parks charge differently, so compare them in our park fee guide.

Getting There: From Krabi, Ao Nang, Railay and Phuket

Island boats leave early from mainland piers in Krabi or Phuket, by speedboat or catamaran. Crossing times vary by pier and operator, so ask yours for the exact schedule.

Rules and Closures

Maya Bay allows walking the shore and wading knee-deep, but no swimming. That rule protects a blacktip reef shark nursery and young coral. Swimming is encouraged at Pileh Lagoon and Bamboo Island. Maya Bay also closes each year for recovery, typically August and September. Thailand requires reef-safe sunscreen inside its marine parks. Avoid products with oxybenzone or octinoxate. Skip those containing 4-MBC or methylparaben as well. Do not touch coral, feed fish, collect shells or drop litter. Fines are heavy. Dates can shift, so read the latest park announcements shortly before travel.

Best Time to Visit and Sea Conditions

November to April is the dry season, when the Andaman Sea is calm and clear for boating and snorkeling. Outside that window, rough seas and monsoon weather raise the odds of cancelled departures. Plan around the August–September Maya Bay closure too. Earlier departures generally meet fewer boats than midday ones.

Day Trip, Overnight or Skip?

Match the plan to your group. A half-day beach stop costs nothing in park fees. A full-day island tour adds the fee, an early start and a sea crossing. Many travelers do both on separate days.

• Mistake: expecting to swim at Maya Bay. Wading is the limit.
• Mistake: assuming the fee is always in the tour price. Ask first.
• Mistake: booking inside the August–September closure window.
• Mistake: packing regular sunscreen instead of a reef-safe one.
• Maybe skip it if you get seasick on open water, dislike crowds, or have a very short itinerary.

Other Thai Marine National Parks to Compare

Thailand has more marine parks than this one. Fees and seasons differ park to park. Reef-focused trips continue in the Similan Islands park. Try the Surin Islands park for another snorkel-led stop. Ang Thong marine park is a further option. Island days also work from the Ko Lanta park. Add the Tarutao park if you want a longer southern trip. Staying on Phuket? Look at Sirinat park. On the Trang coast, Hat Chao Mai park is a nearby alternative.