To westerners the real beach is called Maya bay on the island of Phi Phi Ley in Phang Nga, Thailand. The beach was modified for the filming of the movie but the 2004 tsunami has returned it to its natural state. Snorkeling within the bay is good, there are large underwater boulders covered with coral and home to many brightly colored tropical fish.

The beauty of Maya awes everyone who visits, surrounded by towering limestone cliffs, lush jungle and clear waters. However ever increasing tourist numbers have spoiled any sense of serenity you might have hoped for. More traditional long tail boats taking visitors to the island have largely been replaced by multi engined speed boats.

Visually Maya bay is as spectacular as ever but its atmosphere is not what you hope for with revving engines replacing the sounds of tropical birds and lapping waves. To avoid this you have to organize early morning trips from Phi Phi Don or you can camp overnight. Either way you’ll probably still have to share the experience with others, but for the most part you will avoid the noise and numbers of the day trip speed boats from Phuket.

Nearby Phi Phi Don caters mostly to backpackers a bit of a party island, like most islands though prices are higher for accommodation, food and entertainment, as Phi Phi Ley has no accommodation options other than camping this is the nearest option for longer stays. It also provides a good base for exploring other islands in the area. There are also a number of diving outfits on the island that can provide both dive tours and lessons.

Maya bay is a must see if you are visiting islands in Phang Nga, many backpackers looking for that beach paradise in the movie head north to the province of Krabi where other great beaches like Ao Nang are less visited but equally beautiful.

Boracay

White Beach stretches some four kilometers on the western side of the island. It is largely because of the pristine, white powdery sand of White Beach and the crystal clear blue water of the surrounding sea that Boracay is often called “the world’s most beautiful tropical island.”

In 1990, it was voted by the BMW Tropical Beach Handbook as one of the best beaches in the world and again in 1996 by British publication TV Quick as the world’s number one tropical beach. In 2007, Boracay island topped the list of the World’s Most Popular Beach according to Yahoo! Travel.

For those wanting to just lounge around and take in some rays, beach-front hotels usually have lounge chairs set up just a few steps away from the hotel entrances. Facilities for the usual water sports activities such as sailing, wind surfing, snorkeling, diving and jet skiing are also widely available for those in search of more active pursuits.

The fun in Boracay also doesn’t end when the sun sets. Boracay nightlife is pulsating with many bars and restaurants serving food, drink and fun until the very late evening.

The Low Season is when the winds change and blow eastward into White Beach. There is more rain than usual, but there are also fewer tourists, better prices on accommodations, and other lower prices. The low season begins in May, and ends in October.

During High Season, the winds come from the other side of the island, and White Beach is protected. The wind blows out to sea, leaving the beach pristine clean and generally calm. It is also winter in the northern hemisphere, and tourists come in numbers in search of sun, heat, beach and party. High Season starts in October and ends in May.

Most visitors to Boracay stay on the White Beach and travel by foot. It’s an hour and a half walk from one end of the beach to the other.

Ao Nang is, at the moment, arguably Thailand’s best all-round beach destination. It is predominately a family and sports destination. It lacks wild nightlife and young party travelers will bore quickly, it does have a few relaxed bars but is definitely not like Patong or Pattaya which makes it great for families, couples and adventure seeking but relaxed backpackers. Ao Nang is the tourist center of Krabi, a destination in itself or as a base.

Ao Nang represents, for many people, an ideal compromise between a pristine but boring destination and a fun but polluted one, if you need either there are plenty of pristine options nearby and regular boats to Koh Phi Phi for the party animals.

While not quite as scenic as Railay, there is a good range of cheap accommodation, many good restaurants, easy transport and travel/tour agencies ready to cater to your every whim, making it a excellent base for exploring Krabi. Ao Nang is right next door to Railay and with many islands to explore nearby it is somewhat surprising that it remains such a relaxed atmosphere. Although the geography of the area does not lend itself to large development this may be its saving grace it also makes it a mecca for rock climbers, there are world class rock climbers testing themselves here year round.

Ao Nang is one of the main gateways for travel to the Phi Phi islands, about 2 hours away by long tail boat, 40-50 mins by speed boat. Many tour operators in Ao Nang offer day trips to Phi Phi.

Ao Nang itself has two idyllic, unspoiled beaches, which are lapped by clear, warm water. Other, tropical beaches are located on the outlying islands which can be accessed cheaply and quickly from Ao Nang by longtail.

Tiger Cave Temple is the most popular Buddhist temple to visit in the area. The temple is set at mouth of a cave in the base of a stone pillar rising almost 1,000 feet. There are over 1200 steps leading up to the temple and it is a strenuous climb. Sunset is a popular time to visit, especially at a full moon, when it is possible to see the sun setting over the islands in the Andaman Sea in the west, while a the moon rises over the Krabi lowlands in the east.