Sitting in a van at 5am, in the dark, just me and my friend, with a driver who didn't speak English.
Hoping to arrive at an unknown pier, to take a tour that we bought at an agency where the charge was shown as a “tattoo” on the card statement.
At that moment all I could think was “why did we get into this?”.
And that's how my adventure to reach Maya Bay in Thailand began.
Maaaaas, although the beginning was a little scary, I can say that it was one of the better days of my entire trip, and we managed to take photos without anyone around.
Buying the Tour
It's difficult to coordinate the itinerary when the people involved live in different states, work different hours and don't really know what they want to do. With the exception of the visit to the elephant sanctuary, Amanda and I decided to buy all the other tours when we were there in Thailand.
We had read that it was common to negotiate prices and that often, in low season, it is possible to get much lower prices for the guided tour, especially if the forecast is rain.
We first checked our hotel, Novotel Karon, but, as expected, the prices there were very expensive. We continued through the region looking for an agency that could meet our expectations: arrive early in Maya Bay without an exorbitant price.
We came across the Nice N' Easy Travel & Tour, which caught our attention due to its walls: covered, from floor to ceiling, with sheets written by previous customers, in several languages. Confident with the number of customers and their reviews, we decided to try to close our tour there.
And that's when we saw that, perhaps, leaving to buy the tour the day before might not have been the best option: the tours that left early were, for the most part, full.
We got two places in the Sunrise Phi Phi, whose main attraction was arriving at Maya Bay before all the other tourists. We got a discount from the employees and paid, agreeing that a van would pick us up at our hotel at 5 am the next day.
It is also possible to book in advance and secure a place via TripAdvisor.
The Beach Seas Tour
Ok, I confess, until it was time to get into the van, I hadn't stopped to think about the real situation: we were alone, in the dark, with a driver who knew few words in English, going to a pier we didn't know where it was and with a company we knew nothing about.
We didn't even do a prior search on TripAdvisor (my mother will probably come and fight with me before continuing reading).
Sincerely? Do not do it. I considered giving up on the tour and would have missed out on an incredible adventure if it weren't for the courage of my travel companion. Always do your research before booking a tour, even if it’s on the tour app. TripAdvisor within the agency.
But we got in the car and went. A few minutes later we stopped at another hotel and another group of Brazilians entered, leaving me feeling calmer. We picked up some other groups along the way and arrived at Royal Phuket Marina.
And then it was clarified: our tour was operated by The Beach Seas Tour, which has its own space inside the marina. At that point I stopped doubting the seriousness of the company, as the place was organized, with several guides, diving equipment, several employees and a very cozy atmosphere. There was even a part functioning as a store, with towels, sunscreen and waterproof cases!
It was clearly not something improvised.
We were promptly introduced to our guide, who gave us a little red bracelet to wear at all times, indicating that we belonged to his group. With everyone's arrival, almost 30 people, we were informed about the safety rules and some other information, such as the snack situation on the boat, how to be careful not to make your cell phone fall into the water, that kind of thing.
How would we make two stops to snorkeling and all the equipment would be provided by the company itself, we were invited to try the fins to see which size would be ideal.
With the final preparations being made, breakfast was offered to everyone, with coffee, juices, bread, cheese and crackers. To avoid feeling sick during the ride, I also had a bottle of Dramamine pills. The suggestion was that whoever needed it should take it before even getting on the boat.
Tip: Take your own medicine, as formulas may differ. I was afraid of being the type that makes you sleepy, but I didn't feel that effect at any point.
Visiting Maya Bay with Sunrise Phi Phi Tour
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTsmcvChVLs/?taken-by=alyssapradoblog
As I already mentioned, our main objective was arrive before everyone else in Maya Bay. So, we chose a tour on which this would be the first stop. As we left Phuket, the journey took around an hour.
Despite the “sunrise” in the name suggests that we would see the sunrise on some beach, this moment happened while we were still on the boat. Amanda found it a little disappointing, but I admit I didn't care much. She was happy just because it was a sunny day, lucky since it was the rainy season.
The most important promise, however, was fulfilled: we arrived at Maya Bay when it was practically empty. Our guide took us to the lagoon to make sure that no one would miss exploring this part, and then released us to do whatever we wanted.
We managed to take several photos but, most importantly: we managed to get some moments of peace in one of the most incredible places I have ever visited. If you have doubts about whether it is worth paying a lot (when we talk about prices within Thailand) to see “just another tourist attraction”, you can be sure: OK!
But I echo all the other blogs I read while planning: arrive early. The beach is very small and worthy of an “expectation vs reality” trip after everyone arrives, with 30 people in the background of each of your photos.
We spent just over an hour there, enough time to enjoy it. We headed towards a kind of lagoon, which was actually a slightly more closed part of the ocean, with the sea completely still. We all jumped off the boat to cool off a little more, as the heat at the time never let up for a second. The water was crystal clear and surrounded by “limestone mountains".
We then passed in front of Viking Cave, with its sunken boats, and we entered the Pileh Lagoon, the first stop for snorkeling. We received our diving masks and respirators, and spent the next hour observing the marine life. For those who don't know how to swim, it is possible to enter the water with a life jacket or a foam noodle.
Although not as colorful as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the different amount of fish was quite impressive. I regret not taking my Xiaomi (as if it were a Go Pro Chinese) for a swim. We found all of “Nemo’s friends”, but not the clownfish himself.
Back to speedboat, we head to Monkey Island, famous for its monkeys. We didn't have the opportunity to set foot on the island, as our guides thought it was dangerous due to several tourists having been bitten on other occasions. How true this is, I can't say, as I've seen several posts and know people who have walked there without any problems. Well, better safe than sorry, and we got really close to take some photos.
Almost half past eleven in the morning, our next stop was lunch. Served in a restaurant on the beach, food was included but drinks were not. However, our boat had free soft drinks and water for passengers, and we were advised to take it from there so as not to pay anything.
The food was delicious, well seasoned, typical of Thai dishes, and with a lot of variety, since it was a buffet. There were vegetarian but not vegan options, and followers of this lifestyle received an exclusive dish from the kitchen.
With almost an hour left at the end of the meal, we took advantage of the chairs facing the sea to rest in the shade. Ok, Amanda and I went to the water to take some photos, as the shade of blue was spectacular. But who could blame us? LOL
Rested and fed, we headed towards the Bamboo Island, another popular stop on tours between the Phi Phi islands. Before reaching the sand, however, we stopped a little further away for a second hour of snorkeling. This time we found the Nemo, along with other schools that seemed endless with so many fish.
Final stop, the beach of Bamboo, one of the most impressive places on the tour. I know I've already commented on the color of the water several times in this text, but I felt like someone had taken an ad photoshopped from a travel magazine and placed in front of me. It was hard to believe that this place really existed, even though it was there.
The island itself didn't have much to explore, and we spent all of our 45 minutes in the water, trying to cool off and enjoying the view.
We then returned to Phuket Royal Marina, taking just over an hour to get there, and were welcomed with fruit ice cream.
And this was my experience with the Sunrise Phi Phi Tour: helpful guides, great food and snacks, amazing stops and a full day of fun.
Some final tips:
- Waterproof cameras are recommended, but they also have a photographer who records the entire tour. Photos can be purchased at the end of the tour.
- Bring sunscreen and remember to reapply it during the day, especially on your back, which is exposed during working hours. snorkeling.
- Water, soft drinks, snacks and fruit are available all day on the boat, but it's a good idea to bring some emergency snacks.
- We needed a few tries to find a tour that wasn't full, this in low season. Imagine at the top! For those who want to be sure, It is possible to book the tour in advance via TripAdvisor (the name of the tour is “Full-Day Phi Phi Island Sunrise by Speedboat from Phuket”).
Who already knows Maya Bay? Or did you feel like it after this post?