This photo was taken in June 2010 off the coast of Koh Samui in the Ang Thong National Marine Park, which is a collection of 42 islands spread over 100 square kilometres. Most of the islands are close enough to each other to create a spectacular panorama. A day trip out to visit these islands is a great one day tour option from Koh Samui itself.

These days, untouristed beaches are few and far between, so we can all see the appeal of a story like ‘The Beach,’ which follows a utopian community on a remote Thai island untouched by tourism. The real-life inspiration for Alex Garland’s best-selling book, however, was the undeveloped paradise of Ang Thong National Marine Park, a stunning 42-island archipelago off the east coast of southern Thailand and most easily reached from the laidback island of Koh Samui.