Note, this post was back in 2012 before Maya Bay and The Beach were closed to tourists and conservation attempts were made to save it.
The iconic ‘Maya Bay’ filming location of cult backpacker movie ‘The Beach’. The island can only be accessed by tours and boat trips and offers no accommodation other than overnight camping trips. Koh Phi Phi Leh in low season is still horribly touristy and not how it is pictured in brochures. Below is the real Maya Bay.
To see ‘The Beach’ you should stay at nearby Ko Phi-Phi Don. Trips are organised throughout the day and if you wish to avoid hoards of snapping tourists (as pictured below) and the roar of motorboats go very early. If you plan on going by long-tail boat be prepared to get wet as tides often force a swim to reach the island.
