Tour of the Magnificent Islands

Land in Krabi, transfer to Ao Nang, and walk the beachfront as the longtails come in for the evening. The limestone towers you came for are already on the horizon - tomorrow you get among them. Beachfront dinner needs no reservation and no hurry - order well, watch the cliffs go dark, and sleep early for the boats.

The Four Islands tour fills the day: Phra Nang Cave beach, Poda, Chicken Island and the low-tide sandbar walk, by shared speedboat or longtail. The fit and curious can trade beach hours for the Tiger Cave Temple climb afterwards - 1,260 steps, earned views. Cash in hand for the national park entry, sandals you can wade in.

Move by boat to Phi Phi Island and spend the rest of the day at whatever pace the crossing leaves you: beach, snorkel, wander. Staying the night here is the quiet luxury of this itinerary - most visitors see these islands only between ferry timings.

Continue by sea to Phuket and get the land legs back. Wat Chalong makes an easy cultural stop on the way in, and the evening belongs to the group: Bangla Road if you want the famous chaos, a Karon beach table if you outgrew it.

One full Phuket day to spend freely - the Phang Nga Bay canoe day, the Big Buddha and Old Town circuit, or nothing but the pool. Five islands in five days earns anyone a blank page; fill it or protect it as you see fit.

Departure via Phuket airport. Do the souvenir sweep in Old Town rather than the terminal - better things, better bargaining - and carry your last coins for the airport trolley karma. Till the next island. Weigh the bags honestly, since island purchases multiply, and keep the boarding passes handy across the Bangkok connection.