Maya Bay and Phu Kradueng Reopen for the Winter Season

Two of Thailand’s best-known seasonal closures ended on October 1, 2026, in time for the start of the winter tourist season. Maya Bay, on Koh Phi Phi Leh in Krabi, reopened after its annual two-month closure (August 1 to September 30) that lets the beach and surrounding reef recover from the rough seas and heavy footfall of the monsoon months; swimming remains banned and boats still use the Loh Samah Bay pier rather than entering the bay directly. Phu Kradueng National Park in Loei province reopened the same day after a four-month closure, with hiking and overnight camping on the plateau running through May 31, 2027. Park officials reported several hundred hikers on the first day.

Neither closure is new, but the reopening dates matter for anyone planning a Krabi or Isan trip over the next several months: Maya Bay will not close again until August 2027, and Phu Kradueng’s hiking season runs all the way to the end of May. Phu Kradueng hikers should note the park’s fixed hours — ascents start between 6am and noon, and anyone descending must set off by 1pm.