Ao Kiu Na Nok, Ko Samet

Taken on: 17th January, 2004. Copyright: All Rights Reserved - See travelfishery's page of Flickr

Read more about Ao Kiu Na Nok

Southernmost Ao Kiu Na Nok is where the jetset come to stay as it's as far from the backpacker pads as you can get – in terms of price and distance. What was once a little hideaway now hosts the island's most expensive resort, though the beach itself is still largely undisturbed and is one of Ko Samet's finest. There's some good shade at the centre and north of the beach while the best swimming is towards the south.

Mirroring the development across much of Ko Samet, Ao Kiu Na Nok was once a remote patch of sand that few got to see. The former slap-dash Ao Kiu Resort is now long gone, replaced by the salubrious Paradee Resort.

Luxury doesn't come cheap at Paradee and you can spend up to 80,000B a night if you wish to avail yourself of all their creature comforts – a sharp contrast to the rustic bungalows that once dotted the area.

The resort actually stretches out over both Ao Kiu Na Nok and the lesser-known Ao Kiu Na Nai -- a minuscule beach on ... Read our complete Ao Kiu Na Nok travel guide

More images