Koh Naka Yai, Phuket

Koh Naka Yai lies in Phang Nga Bay a short distance off the north-east coast of Phuket - the larger of the two Naka islands, its smaller neighbour Koh Naka Noi being known for pearl farming.

The island is low, wooded and almost undeveloped: a handful of beaches on the western side facing back towards Phuket, a small resort, some rubber smallholdings and a few families. There is no road network of any consequence and no village in the usual sense, which is the appeal - it is close enough to Phuket for a day trip and quiet enough to feel a long way from it.

Longtail boats and speedboats cross in around twenty minutes from Ao Po pier on Phuket's east coast, which is also the departure point for the wider bay.