When I look at this photo I get a taste of what I experienced kayaking in Ang Thong National Marine Park. ‘The sublime’ is to feel our smallness in the natural world, to feel overwhelmed by its power and greatness. In turn, this feeling of wonder and humility grants us a connection to that world.

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.