This protected archipelago of around forty-two limestone islands lies roughly thirty kilometres north-west of Samui and makes the island's finest day trip. Boats leave in the morning for the forty-five-minute to ninety-minute crossing, depending on whether you choose a fast speedboat or a slower, gentler cruise. The scenery is the draw: jagged jungle-topped islets rising sheer from jade-green water, hidden coves, and the park's showpiece, a spectacular inland saltwater lagoon on Koh Mae Ko known as the Emerald Lake, reached by a short climb. On Koh Wua Talap a steep viewpoint trail opens onto the classic panorama of the whole scattered island chain, a view said to have inspired the novel 'The Beach'. Days typically mix kayaking through the karsts, snorkelling over reefs, swimming and a beach lunch. The park closes each year from around the first of November to mid-December for the monsoon, so plan your visit for the calmer months.
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