Phi Phi Island, once considered one of the most beautiful island groups in the world, is located half-way between Phuket and Krabi and is part of the Koh Phi Phi - Had Nopparat National Park, that covers 390 sqkm in Krabi Province. In former times the local people called this island "Pulau Piapi". This derives from the language of the sea gypsies, with the first word meaning an island and "Piapi" being the name of a plant growing in the mangrove forests. During the centuries the name changed to Phi Phi.

Phi Phi Don Island covers 28 square kilometres and consists of two parallel running wooded hills, that are connected by a narrow sandy isthmus covered by coconut groves and several hotel buildings and rimmed with beaches on either side. The southern Tonsai Beach lies deep in a bay with limestone cliffs on one side and wooded hills on the other side, while Lohdalum Bay has shallow water that makes swimming possible only during high tide.

The centre of the island is the long existing Muslim and Seagypsy village, that by today has changed to a small town, consisting mostly of restaurants, dive shops and tour offices. About half an hour uphill is a viewpoint that is worth a visit. The trail starts either from Phi Phi Viewpoint Restaurant on the east side of Lohdalum Bay or with a staircase at the foot of the mountain behind the centre of the town.

Phi Phi Leh Island, with only 7 square kilometres the smaller one is more spectacular with their cliffs plunging hundred of metres into the sea. The concessions for harvesting the bird's nests in the island's caves, have so far excluded any habitation. Main attraction for the visitor is the popular Viking Cave with its ancient rock paintings of boats found inside, some of which vaguely resemble Viking longboats. Maya Bay is recommended for snorkellers with colourful fish used to be fed by hand. This bay was the location for the shooting of the film "The Beach" and is now visited more than ever.

Divers are attracted to the vertical walls of Phi Phi Leh Island and the southern part of Phi Phi Don Island which drops 20 to 30 metres below the surface.

Lanta Island is located approximately 70 km south of Krabi on the east side of Southern Thailand's Phang Nga Bay. It stretches for 27 kms in the north-south direction and is  traversed by a mountain range that is partly still covered by virgin rain forest. The range reaches heights of 500 m in its northern and southern parts. The water off the west coast is crystal clear and the beaches of powdery sand.

The Island has a population of approx. 20,000 people. The community is a mixture of local Muslims and northern Buddhists, while the local trade, especially in Ban Saladan is predominantly under the control of Thai Buddhist's from Chinese descent. Most of the Muslim community earn their living from fishing, prawn farming and rubber plantations.

The name Lanta is derived from a kind of rack (Lantan), that the people of the South used, to grill the catch, that they regularly found in the waters off these islands when travelling along the Andaman Coast. Since 1996 the island has been connected to Thailand's southern electrical grid and since 2001 to the telephone network. The island can be easily reached by 2 car ferries, that operate from 06:00 to 22:00. Besides some rough roads, most streets have been paved during the last years.

Accommodation on Ko Lanta ranges from simple A-frame bungalows to a wide choice of middle-class bungalows, some with swimmingpool, and tops with properties in the 4- and 5-star category. Local laws do not permit buildings, that are higher than the coconut palms, a law protecting Lanta from the negative impacts of tourism so far.

To get around Ko Lanta you will have to rent a motorbike, this can be done at most resort counters. Make sure that you are familiar with the vehicle and test the front and rear brakes, the lights and horn. Drive with extra care when passing through or by villages and schools and remember, that swimming suits and naked upper body are fine for the beach, but not the right attire for a drive through the local villages.