Ibrahim Jabbari
Seasoned travelers who bemoan how the Gulf of Thailand’s Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao transformed from farming isles to tourism juggernauts don’t always realize that there are a few nearby islands that are like throwbacks from the 1970s.
Set 15 miles west of Samui, Koh Phaluai is partly overseen by the government-protected Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine Park. In the forested south, a few resorts provide bungalows and longtails for cruising to marvelous Song Phi Nong Beach, where camping is possible.
After a couple of nights on Phaluai, consider hiring a boat and heading four miles north to the park-run campground at Koh Wua Talap, another terrific kayaking base.
Getting there: One daily boat departs at 1:00 p.m. from Koh Samui’s Don Sak pier.
