Loh Samah Bay Guide 2026: How to Visit, Best Things to Do & Travel Tips

Nestled on the southern tip of Phi Phi Leh, Loh Samah Bay is one of Thailand's most breathtaking hidden coves. It is also known as Loh Sama, which is also a part of the protected Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park. It is a small rocky islet that sits at the centre of Krabi. Thus, it can only be reached by boat, lending it an air of exclusivity even during the height of tourist season. 

This bay is divided into two distinct snorkelling areas, while a narrow canyon at the northern end conceals a tiny hidden beach backed by mangroves. Its dramatic limestone cliff, shallow water and diverse marine life make this one of the best places to visit in Thailand for beginner-friendly snorkelling and swimming. If you're lucky enough, you can also enjoy the view of glowing plankton in the surrounding waters. It sits close to the famous Maya Bay but offers a more intimate and less chaotic atmosphere. The waters here supported generations of local fishermen who revered the bay's natural abundance. Today, it holds equal importance as an ecological nursery for reef fish, invertebrates, and coral polyps. 

Loh Samah punches well above its size. Here is what makes it genuinely unmissable on any Phi Phi itinerary.

• Vibrant Marine Life: You can spot blacktip reef sharks, seahorses, blenny fish, and schools of electric-blue-and-yellow reef fish that populate the shallows without requiring deep diving.
• The Gateway to Maya Bay: Boats anchor here, and visitors walk a flat, shaded 5-minute jungle path to reach Maya Bay, made famous by Leonardo DiCaprio's film The Beach.
• Night Diving: A narrow submerged canyon covered in soft coral and gorgonian sea fans comes alive at night with bioluminescent algae and hundreds of crustaceans.
• Photographer’s paradise: The multiple shades of turquoise, emerald, and sapphire that shift with the light make this one of the most photographed bays in the entire Andaman Sea.
• Hidden Canyon Beach: A tiny beach tucked inside a rocky canyon at the bay's northern end, which is accessible only when tides cooperate. It feels like a secret world discovered alone.
• Conservation Success: As part of the national park, Loh Samah enjoys annual seasonal closures (Aug–Sep) that have helped the reef slowly recover and maintain its health.

Snorkelling in the Shallows: 

Float above coral reefs and spot colourful fish, parrotfish, blue tangs, and occasional reef sharks in clear, shallow waters. Snorkelling in the shallow waters is one of the best things to do in Krabi. Most snorkelling areas at Loh Samah sit in 2–5 metres of water, making them ideal for beginners. Visibility often reaches 15–20 metres during the dry season, where you can see parrotfish, clownfish, blue tangs, and occasional blacktip reef sharks.

Scuba Diving & Wall Diving: 

Explore dramatic limestone walls, underwater canyons, sea fans, and swim-through passages ideal for intermediate and advanced divers. Several dive operators based on Phi Phi Don (including Princess Divers and Blue View Divers) run guided dives to this site.

Night Diving & Bioluminescent Snorkelling: 

Experience glowing plankton, nocturnal marine life, moray eels, and crustaceans after sunset. Night dive packages typically depart from Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don around 7–8 pm. If you are visiting Loh Samah, this is a worthwhile activity for your Krabi tour packages. 

Long-Tail Boat Tour of the Bay:

If you prefer to stay dry, hiring a long-tail boat is the best thing to do in Loh Samah Bay. Take a cruise around the bay for scenic limestone cliff views and marine spotting from the boat.

Swimming & Beach Relaxation:  

Enjoy calm waters and unwind on a small hidden beach accessible during low tide. Families with young children have consistently praised Loh Samah for how calm and safe the waters feel compared to more exposed beaches.

November to April is the best time to visit Krabi's Loh Samah Bay. It is the peak dry season when the seas are calm, skies are clear, and visibility underwater reaches 20+ metres. This is an ideal time for snorkelling, diving, and photography. For the sweet spot of good weather, manageable crowds, and everything open, visit in late October through early December.

• Best Months to Visit Loh Samah: November to April
• Best Time to visit: 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Note: Loh Samah Bay and the broader Phi Phi Leh island close annually from 1 August to 30 September to allow the reef and marine life to recover from tourist pressure.

Reaching Loh Samah Bay is part of the adventure. Since it’s located on Ko Phi Phi Leh, there are no roads or direct land access; the only way to get there is by boat.

From Krabi (Ao Nang or Railay Beach)

If you are staying in Krabi, especially Ao Nang or Railay Beach, the easiest way to reach Loh Samah Bay is by booking a Phi Phi Islands day tour. Speedboats take around 45–60 minutes to reach the area. 

From Phuket

You can join a full-day Phi Phi Islands speedboat tour, which usually takes about 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on sea conditions. Loh Samah Bay is included as a snorkelling stop on most standard Phuket itineraries.

From Koh Phi Phi Don

If you are already staying on Koh Phi Phi Don, you can hire a private longtail boat to reach Loh Samah Bay in about 15–20 minutes. This option gives you more flexibility in timing and allows you to avoid peak tour hours.

Loh Samah Bay pairs perfectly with a wider loop of Phi Phi Leh and the surrounding islands. All of the following are easily combined in a single-day tour.

• Maya Bay: It is just a 5-minute jungle walk from Loh Samah Bay via a wooden boardwalk, making it the primary entry point for most tour boats visiting the famous beach. The beach made famous by the 2000 film The Beach and this bay are open for tourists from October to July. 
• Pileh Lagoon: An impossibly green enclosed lagoon on Phi Phi Leh's eastern coast. Still water perfectly mirrors the cliffs above. Outstanding snorkelling at the lagoon entrance coral reef.
• Viking Cave: A sea cave on Phi Phi Leh's northeastern shore containing ancient boat paintings by seafaring peoples and active bird's-nest harvesting scaffolding rising to the ceiling.
• Monkey Beach: A small cove on Phi Phi Don's west coast inhabited by wild macaques. A fun stop on the return journey, though keep food out of sight and fingers away from the monkeys.
• Bamboo Island: It is a stunning powder-white sandbar island north of Phi Phi Don with extraordinarily clear water. This island could be your next favourite afternoon stop for sunbathing and shallow-water snorkelling.
• Phi Phi Viewpoint: This is a 30–60 minute jungle hike from Tonsai Village rewarded with a panoramic view 180 metres above Phi Phi Don's iconic twin-bayed silhouette. Visit either at sunrise or sunset.

Luxury Stay (₹18,000 – ₹35,000 per night)

• SAii Phi Phi Island Village
• Phi Phi CoCo Beach Resort
• Zeavola Resort

Mid-Range Stay (₹7,000 – ₹15,000 per night)

• Phi Phi The Beach Resort
• P.P. Blue Sky Resort
• Bay View Resort

Budget Stay (₹2,500 – ₹6,000 per night)

• Phi Phi Banyan Villa
• Chaokoh Phi Phi Hotel & Resort
• Harmony House

• Visit early in the morning (before 9 AM) to avoid peak island-hopping crowds.
• Book a licensed and reputable boat tour operator that provides life jackets and proper snorkelling equipment.
• Use reef-safe sunscreen to protect the delicate coral ecosystem.
• Wear water shoes, as entry points can be rocky and slippery.
• Carry sufficient drinking water since there are no facilities on Loh Samah Bay.
• Check sea and weather conditions during the monsoon season (May–October), as tours may be affected.

As your boat drifts away from Loh Samah Bay, the turquoise water and towering cliffs linger in your memory a little longer. Tucked within the breathtaking Phi Phi Islands, this quiet corner of Krabi offers more than just a snorkelling stop, it offers a moment of stillness. Floating above coral gardens, surrounded by limestone giants, you realise this is the Thailand you came searching for: raw, radiant, and unforgettable.