Day 12: Ao Nang

Day 12: Ao Nang

This was the day I had circled on my mental calendar ever since we started planning this trip—and it absolutely delivered!

We chartered our own long-tail boat for a private island-hopping adventure—seven islands in one glorious day! Sure, the 5 AM wake-up call was brutal, but trust me, the early start was worth every bleary-eyed yawn.

By 6:30 AM, we reached our first island. The sun had just peeked over the horizon, painting the sky with soft pinks and oranges, while silver linings traced the clouds like nature’s own highlighter. The beach was still asleep—completely empty except for a few workers gently sweeping leaves from the sand. It felt like we had stumbled into a dream—or at least the opening scene of a movie where the characters are about to uncover a long-lost treasure.

Two towering karst formations stood just offshore, like ancient stone gatekeepers guarding the peace of the island. With no other tourists in sight, we claimed the entire beach as our own. And so began our journey through paradise, one island at a time. The entire morning felt like we were sailing through a dream. Each of the five stops gave us our own slice of paradise: no crowds, no noise, just us and nature doing its thing. One highlight was a magical lagoon with water so clear it looked like glass. We waded in and spotted starfish lounging on the sandy bottom like they owned the place.

And just when we started thinking, “Wow, I could use a drink,” our captain casually pulled out a tray of perfectly cut fresh fruit: watermelon and pineapple, served right on the boat like we were royalty on a floating resort. Peak.

But paradise doesn’t stay hidden forever.

As we approached island number six around noon, something felt… off. Twenty or more boats were bobbing in the bay, and our peaceful rhythm hit a wall of selfie sticks and loud guided tours. On shore, we navigated through the crowd, grabbed some ice cream, and found a quiet-ish patch of shade to people-watch as group after group lined up for buffet lunches. We looked at each other, silently thanking our past selves for booking a private tour.

Then came island number seven: chaos incarnate. Thanks to rising water from the rainy season, the beach had shrunk into a tiny strip of sand, now overrun by what tourists. At least 50 people were crammed together, elbow to elbow, trying to claim space on what used to be a beach.

“Nope,” we said. “Hard pass.”

Our captain, absolute legend that he is, nodded and took us somewhere off the map—a secret little bay with calm waters, not a soul in sight. He handed us snorkeling gear like a magician pulling a dove from his sleeve. We dove in and found ourselves surrounded by coral, fish, and silence. The perfect ending to our day of island-hopping.

Final verdict? If you’re planning this adventure, do yourself a favor: book a private tour, wake up early, and claim the islands before the crowds even know what’s happening. Worth every baht.Read more