Set in the far northern reaches of Thailand's Andaman Sea, Mu Ko Surin Marine Park covers a pair of islands with healthy reefs in between.

Most of the islands is off-limits to tourists, but the spectacular Mai Ngam Beach is open with soft khaki sand and crystalline water that stays calm thanks to towering headlands. Harmless black-tip reef sharks stop by for a feed at low tide, and sea turtles are commonly spotted.

Tours can be arranged on the mainland or through park staff, but a visitor might prefer to support the Moken boat drivers, indigenous to the islands. Based in a village that can be visited on the marine park's southern island, the Moken are a nomadic tribe of sea dwellers found in both Thailand and Malaysia. Their wooden spirit poles which represent their ancestors, and banana-shaped boats, give the islands the local character that's missing in most Thai marine parks.