Khai Islands

The Khai Islands are a trio of tiny, bright-white sandbanks 10 km off the east coast of Phuket — Khai Nai (the biggest), Khai Nok and Khai Nui. They're so small you can walk around each one in ten minutes, and so shallow that the water off the beach is ankle-deep for 50 metres in every direction. That makes them an easy pick for families with small kids, for people who can't swim well, and for anyone who wants the 'Maldives in a day' photo without sailing for three hours. Snorkelling here is the best in Phuket's immediate waters: the reefs start at the edge of the sand, the water is clear, and you'll see sergeant majors, butterflyfish and sometimes reef sharks.