Thailand’s lesser-known beaches are now being appreciated by locals after over-tourism has ruined the country’s most famous beach.
“I just feel like everyone tries to do something different, but you always wind up doing the same damn thing,” says Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in Danny Boyle’s The Beach. His words have come true in both the film and real life.
The success of the movie led to the destruction of the beautiful, peaceful beach that gives the film its name. More and more people travelled to Maya Bay where it was filmed, to enjoy its incredibly blue waters and sunbathe on the golden sands.
Today, the Thai destination is very different from the paradise shown in the film. Boats are not allowed to enter the bay as they were polluting the waters and scaring away the 40 blacktip reef sharks that usually swim there.
Visitors must pay 400baht (£8) to step onto the beach, and they are only allowed to stay for an hour. Swimming is not allowed to protect the delicate reef system, reports the Mirror.
Officials decided to close the bay – on Phi Phi Leh island in the Andaman Sea – first for four months and then for several years from 2018. It finally reopened in 2022. A recent visitor to Maya Bay compared it to “Times Square in New York” because of the hustle and bustle.
If you’re looking for a beautiful coastline and want to be a responsible tourist, you might not find what you’re after in Maya Bay.
“Right now you just walk around, you take the photos, then you have to leave. Everyone wants to see the beach from the Dicaprio film. It is beautiful, I can’t deny, but there are too many people,” Jub Yata, who works at Intrepid Travel, told the Mirror.
Jub’s job is to help holidaymakers explore other parts of Thailand without overwhelming them. She admits that the famous beach is “quite perfect”, but she thinks the three other places they visit – Koh Thap, Koh Poda and Koh Khai – are just as lovely.
Koh Thap is one of the most popular islands near Krabi, which is in the west of Thailand, across from Phuket. Lots of tours come here to see and take pictures of the amazing parting of the seas.
When the tide is low, a strip of sand appears from the water, connecting the larger landmass known as Chicken Island to Koh Mor and Koh Thap. This amazing sight is often called Talay Waek, which means divided sea.
The beach there is really pretty and the waters around it are great for snorkelling with lots of colourful fish. It’s a good idea to wear shoes when walking between the islands because the ground can be sharp and rocky.You should also keep an eye out for jellyfish and big waves.
Not long ago, travel blogger Globe Trotter Girls shared her story of trying to find the perfect Thai beach experience, but she kept getting let down. Maya Bay was way too crowded, the sea off Railay was full of boats pumping smoke into the air and the beach at Ao Nang smelt bad.
After looking for a while, “finally, when I least expected it, there it was” – she found Koh Poda. “The Thai island paradise I had dreamed of. Crystal clear water and wide, white deserted sand beaches,” she wrote in her blog.
After paying a 400 baht fee to visit the island, Koh Poda offers a tranquil experience once you move away from the bustling port. A daring traveller said the island “felt like a completely deserted Robinson Crusoe island”.
On the other hand, Koh Khai in Phuket is the most developed and frequently visited of the three islands included in Intrepid’s tour. It consists of three little isles – Khai Nok, Khai Nai and Khai Nui – it’s easy to explore all three within a half-day visit.
Khai Nai, being the largest, accommodates stunning views and a pristine beach great for snorkelling and swimming.
Khai Nui, the smallest, boasts impressive coral reefs, while Koh Khai Nok sports a good selection of eateries and shops.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
