Embarking on the tour boat at the Phi Phi Don dock, I was pleased to see the group was small, only about 30 fellow travellers hailing from all over the world. After a scenic 20-minute ride, the boat cruised into the entrance of Maya Bay. The sight of pale yellow sand and lush palm trees framed by jagged cliffs hushed the group, aside from the sound of clicking cameras. Since we’d arrived in the late afternoon the shore was not short on crowds, but with no towering resorts in the distance or hawkers pushing souvenirs and snacks, the beach still appeared as magical as it did in its film debut.