Krabi

Krabi is a landscape of tall limestone cliffs rising straight out of turquoise water, on the Andaman coast east of Phuket. It suits travellers who want calm and snorkelling: the pace is slower than Phuket and nature is closer at hand.

Its best-known beach, Railay, sits on a peninsula reached only by boat, because the cliffs cut it off from the road. Ao Nang is where long-tail boats leave for the Four Islands: Poda, Tup, Chicken and Mor. The Phi Phi islands are also within easy reach by boat.

Krabi is one of the Thai provinces with the largest Muslim populations. Mosques stand in its towns and villages and halal food is easy to find, which makes the day simple for a Gulf family.

Krabi International Airport has flights from Bangkok of about 80 minutes. The best season is November to April.