Bamboo Island

Bamboo Island — Koh Phai in Thai — is the northernmost of the Phi Phi group and looks like a postcard of everything you've ever imagined about a tropical paradise: a long white sandbar, coconut palms tilting over the water, and reef so shallow and clear you see fish from the beach. The water here is some of the calmest in the archipelago, which makes it a favourite for families and anyone who wants to just lie in the sand rather than race from spot to spot. Most tours include a 45-60 minute stop; it's enough to swim, snorkel the reef's edge, and take the 'Bounty-style' beach photos everyone wants. No restaurants, no shops — just the island and you.