Maya Bay is a stunningly beautiful bay that's sheltered by 100-metre high cliffs on three sides. Inside the bay there are several beaches, most are small and some only exist at low tide. The main one is around 200 metres long with silky soft white sand, underwater colourful coral and exotic fish in exceptionally clear water; the whole bay is one big reef. Maya Bay has become the main tourist attraction of Phi Phi since The Beach was filmed here in 1999. It was always very popular before the film but now people around the world who haven't even heard of Phi Phi have certainly heard of Maya Bay.

Tonsai Bay is a hive of activity from morning to mid afternoon. When the last ferry boat leaves, calm descends on the place and it returns to its sleepy village feel. With ATMs, a 7-Eleven and a host of cheap and cheerful Thai restaurants and food stands it's got just about everything you need in its compact area.

Pi Leh Bay is one of the most impressive sites on Koh Phi Phi Leh. Also known/spelled as Ao Pileh, Pileh Lagoon, Pileh Cove or Pi Ley Cove, it is like a canyon, almost cutting Koh Phi Phi Leh in two. Located on the eastern side of the island, a few hundred metres south of Viking Cave, it takes about 30 minutes for a long-tail boat to get there from Tonsai Bay, the main arrival/departure pier on Koh Phi Phi Don. With a length of about 600m from its entrance to its end, this long, thin bay offers great snorkelling opportunities. Framed by 100m-tall limestone cliffs, it is in the shade most of the time, except between 11:00 and 13:00 - the best time to photograph the outstanding beauty of its emerald green water. At some spots, it even seems that the water is lighted from the bottom of the sea, making it a spectacular sight to see. The western side of Pi Leh Bay features a few small beaches at the foot of the cliff, but most of the boats visiting it stay in the centre of the lagoon while their guests go swimming and snorkelling.

Koh Khai Nok is a small island tucked away in Phang Nga Bay. It's only 30 minutes or so away from the east coast of Phuket but ask anyone on the island if they've been there and you will probably draw a blank stare. Still, a hidden gem is sometimes all the more precious for being so and when we discovered a half day tour was going there we leapt at the opportunity to try it out. It's a sunny morning at Royal Phuket Marina. Inside one of the side offices a large LCD TV shows previews of tours in Phang Nga Bay and the smell of fresh coffee wafts in the breeze. Souvenirs and candies are stacked high and above the cheerful din Cooper, our guide, informs us that it's time to move out. We traipse past multi-million dollar cruising yachts, powerful speedboats and an antique wooden rice barge to our double-engine speedboat.