Sms with Wallpapers: Best Beaches in Thailand

Koh Phi Phi Leh, Thailand

This is the small island where much of the scenes from the film, The Beach were filmed, although it was in fact filmed in many locations giving the impression it was all on this small island.

Koh Phi Phi Leh, Thailand, The Beach

The Beach, Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh, Thailand

Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh, Thailand

Koh Phi Phi Don

Phi Phi Don is the larger of the 2 Phi Phi islands, and is the more developed of the two - having quite a few hotels etc on it and being a haven for backpackers. Phi Phi Leh has no development on it whatsoever - but can be readily accessed via a short boat ride from Phi Phi Don. Below is a photo of Phi Phi Don which was took in the 80's/early 90's I think - before it became commercialised & touristy - as you can see there are no hotels on the strip of land between the 2 higher pieces of land. I can imagine this island was a real gem of a find on the backpacker tourist trail in the early days.

Phi Phi Don before tourism took hold

Angthong Marine Park, Thailand
Anthong Marine Park is off the coast of Koh Samui and is still untouched be large scale development - although lots of tourist excursions visit the place daily. Apparently Anthomg actually provided the inspiration for the original book which 'The Beach' film was based on.

Angthong Marine Park, Koh Samui, Thailand

Angthong Marine Park, Thailand

Krabi, Ao Nang area, Thailand

Krabi is on the Thai mainland, and the Ao Nang/Railay area is a short boat ride from the Phi Phi Islands - so is definitely worth a visit if you are also visiting Phi Phi. For me this area of Krabi, in terms of scenery, had possibly the best beaches I seen in Thailand, certainly the most suprisingly beautiful beaches - as you expect the beaches to be amazing elsewhere - but I didn't really have any idea about Krabi until i got there, so as you can imagine it was a good suprise :)