It was early 2012, and I was finishing up a work contract in Bangkok. To reward myself, I scoured a well-worn Lonely Planet Thailand book in search of somewhere quiet, secluded and achingly beautiful. In the end, I chose the Similans, a group of tiny islands known for their turquoise waters and powdery beaches (and blissfully uninhabited except for park rangers).
However, they were (and still are) a popular day trip destination. So with some help from my Thai colleagues to navigate the then Thai-only national park website, I booked a couple of nights in a super basic treehouse bungalow on Island No. 4, just steps from postcard-pretty Hideaway Bay. Other than the few hours when the inevitable day-trippers spilled onto the beach, I had the entire island to myself. It had such a castaway vibe, one I’ll never forget.
In our latest books on Southeast Asia, our well-traveled writers and local experts have combed the region to present the best advice on how to experience this area to the fullest, whether it's taking a traditional long-tail boat to hang with the pigs on Ko Madsum, Thailand, how to experience Peranakan culture in Joo Chiat in Singapore or tips and tricks on navigating Bangkok.
Wherever you decide to go, may you create your own magical memories in beautiful Southeast Asia.
- James Pham, Destination Editor, Southeast Asia
