Phuket & Phi Phi Islands
Phuket is the largest island and the entry point to Thailand’s Andaman beaches — busy, developed, and a useful base for boat trips. The day-trip targets are the Phi Phi islands (the limestone-tower archipelago made famous by The Beach) and the cliffs at James Bond Island in Phang Nga Bay. The crowds are real; an early-morning longtail to Maya Bay before the tour boats arrive is the difference between the cliche and the actual place. Quieter alternatives: Koh Yao Noi, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe.