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I am going to be trying something new, while Georgie and I aren’t traveling about I’m going to be dishing out some hot tips about places that fall under that traveler cliche term of “off the beaten track”. I can only speak for myself when I say this but all to often while traveling you will hook up with a few other travelers and they will groan on for far too long about the “real” Thailand or “real” Cambodia (me and Georgie), now for most people, like those on a gap year for instance, they have a time frame and a list of things that they really want to see. That means that stumbling about in a one horse town with no travel connections or even anyone that speaks the lingo is often a nightmare despite the fact that for those with nothing but time this is what it’s all about. So what I will be doing here is writing about the places and things we found while lost and wasting time… So you don’t have to…

First on the list is my favorite place in the world – Bamboo Island just off Koh Phi Phi:
Phi Phi is a place on most peoples list if they’re planning a trip through Thailand and honestly, although Phi Phi has a lot to offer the reality is that the beach isn’t great and there are far too many boats about to enjoy the water (see Nomadic Matt’s post about Koh Phi Phi). But therein lies the key to Phi Phi, the boats are there for a reason and that reason is the stunning national park islands that surround Phi Phi Don. Most people head out on a boat trip to see Maya Bay where the beach was filmed and to do a spot of snorkeling, often these trips are readily available in most travel agents but the key is to go down to the main pier where the ferry brings you in and deal with the longtail boatmen yourself.

Personally I think Maya bay is a must and so is a short trip around some of the stunning hidden bays filled with glowing emerald water but don’t be tempted to stay a night at Maya bay (camping is offered for one night), instead get the boat driver to drop you on Bamboo island, 45 minutes in the other direction to Maya bay it is a small and stunning island fringed with some of the best coral and marine life I have ever laid goggles on. The rangers will throw a tent up for you and there is a small settlement of fishermen who will be only to happy to sell you the catch of the day and help you cook it up. We have been lucky enough to go there and camp twice, both times we were the only people and by 4 pm the tourist day boats had gone and we had the island to ourselves… Once to watch a storm roll in and once to get hammered with the rangers… Good times.

Have a look at our posts and be inspired:

• Longtail boat fun
• Bamboo Island camping
• Exploring Koh Phi Phi in a boat named “Hollywood”
• Bamboo Island, Koh Phi Phi… Paradie

So there you have it, look out for the “Off the beaten track” category and I will keep adding our favorites to it.