Every island, charted and cruised.

Maya Bay

Timed-entry lagoon on Phi Phi Leh, best at first light.

Viking Cave

Sea cave with ancient painted hulls on the limestone.

Phi Phi Viewpoint

Twenty-minute climb over the isthmus and both bays.

Bida Nok

Vertical reef wall, leopard sharks in the shallows.

Lanta Old Town

Stilt houses over the water on the east coast.

Mu Ko Lanta National Park

Lighthouse headland and a short jungle loop.

Bamboo Bay

The last beach south, and the quietest.

Hin Daeng & Hin Muang

Offshore pinnacles — manta and whale shark season.

The West Ridge

Manta cleaning station at 18–30 metres.

Koh Bon Pinnacle

Deep seamount for advanced divers only.

North Bay

Sheltered lunch anchorage in a northerly.

Similan Nine

An hour south — granite boulders and white sand.

Sunrise Beach

The main strip, shelving reef straight off the sand.

Emerald Cave

Swim-through tunnel into a hidden lagoon on Koh Mook.

Paradise Reef

Shallow hard coral garden at the north point.

The sand bar

Low-tide spit out toward Koh Ma.

Promthep Cape

The classic southern sunset headland.

Old Phuket Town

Sino-Portuguese shophouses, coffee and markets.

Freedom Beach

Boat-access-only sand below Patong's headland.

Big Buddha

Hilltop marble statue with views over Chalong Bay.

The inner lagoon

Paddle-through entrance, best an hour after low water.

North beach

Fine sand landing with shade at midday.

Karst overhangs

Stalactite ceilings along the eastern wall.

Hong archipelago

Half a dozen satellite islets to explore by tender.

Chicken Island

Koh Kai's beak-shaped karst, ten minutes north.

Talay Waek

The low-tide sandbar linking three islands.

Poda's south reef

Easy snorkelling over hard coral heads.

Railay

Climbers' peninsula on the crossing back.

Ko Tapu

The needle rock itself, best framed from the west beach.

Khao Phing Kan

The split cliff and its short walking track.

Panak sea caves

Tidal hongs a short hop away by kayak.

Koh Panyee

Muslim stilt village built out over the water.

Banana Beach

Northern bay, calmer and far less crowded.

Long Beach

Main arrival strip with food and shade.

The east reef

Shallow coral shelf ideal for first-time snorkellers.

Koh Bon (Phuket)

Tiny neighbour island ten minutes away.

Ao Tawan Tok

The main west bay — sand, shade and clear water.

Ao Siam

Northern cove, dive training and turtles.

Racha Noi south tip

Advanced pinnacle dive with manta sightings.

Bungalow Bay

Sheltered overnight anchorage in a northeasterly.

Loh Jak Beach

Long empty sand on the south-west shore.

Ao Muong

Fishing village and sunset over Phuket.

Laem Had

Sandbar spit on neighbouring Yao Noi.

Rubber plantations

Early-morning tapping along the inland roads.

Laem Had Beach

Sandbar that appears at low tide off the west coast.

Tha Khao pier

Fishing boats and the best sunrise on the island.

Koh Nok

Private-feeling islet ten minutes offshore.

Rice paddies

Inland loop by bicycle through the fields.

Ang Thong Marine Park

42 islands and the emerald lake, an hour west.

Big Buddha

Golden landmark above Bang Rak pier.

Na Muang waterfalls

Jungle pools in the island's interior.

Lipa Noi

Shallow west-coast sunset beach.

Koh Nang Yuan

Three islets joined by a triple sandbar.

Chumphon Pinnacle

Offshore seamount, whale sharks in season.

Tanote Bay

Boulder-framed snorkelling straight off the beach.

John-Suwan viewpoint

Short climb over the twin southern bays.

Bottle Beach

Boat-access northern bay under a steep ridge.

Chaloklum Bay

Working fishing harbour and safe anchorage.

Than Sadet waterfall

Royal-inscribed river running to the east coast.

Mae Haad sandbar

Walk out to Koh Ma at low tide.

Sunrise Beach

Long east-facing sand looking at Koh Kra.

Pattaya Beach

Main arrival bay and sunset drinks.

Koh Adang

Jungle neighbour with a hard climb to the viewpoint.

Stonehenge

Rock formation and drift dive off the south-east.

Sai Kaew Beach

The main strip — sand, food and fire shows.

Ao Prao

West-coast sunset bay.

Ao Wai

Quiet southern cove reached on foot.

Ao Karang

Rocky southern tip with the best snorkelling.

Klong Plu waterfall

Jungle plunge pool a short walk inland.

Bang Bao

Stilt village and pier restaurants.

Lonely Beach

Southern bay with the island's best sunsets.

Koh Rang

Marine park reef island, an hour offshore.

Klong Chao waterfall

Swim under the falls a kilometre from the beach.

Ao Phrao

Long, pale, almost always empty sand.

Ao Salad

Stilt fishing village on the north-east coast.

Koh Rang

Protected snorkelling reef between Kood and Chang.

Emerald Cave

Swim-in tunnel to an inner beach — go at low tide.

Charlie Beach

West-coast sand facing Koh Kradan's sunset.

Hua Laem

Cliff-backed snorkelling point on the north shore.

Koh Kradan

Twenty minutes across for the best reef in Trang.

Samae Beach

The prettiest west-coast bay for swimming.

Tien Beach

Quieter southern sand with clear water.

Ta Waen Beach

Main arrival beach and watersports hub.

Chinese viewpoint

Hilltop lookout over the whole island.

Khai Nok

The largest of the three, with food and shade.

Khai Nai

Smaller, softer sand and the clearest shallows.

Khai Nui

Best snorkelling of the group off the south edge.

The shallows

Waist-deep sandflats between the islets.