Far south in the Andaman Sea, little Lipe is what Thai islands were before the crowds: walkable end to end, ringed by national-park waters and blessed with Sunrise and Sunset beaches that bookend perfect days. Snorkel trips putter between untouched islets where you'll often have the reef to yourselves. Go November to April; much of the island naps through the monsoon.
Featured in Ten tropical islands that live up to the postcard · Tropical