Ao Kiu Na Nok is a great stretch of largely undisturbed beach -- one of Ko Samet's best. There's some good shade at the centre and north of the beach while the best swimming is towards the southern end.

Mirroring the development across much of Ko Samet, Ao Kiu Na Nok was once home to a great little hideaway, the unimaginatively named Ao Kiu Resort, but it's long gone now, replaced by the salubrious Paradee Resort.

Luxury doesn't come cheap at Paradee and you can drop as much as 80,000B a night if you wish to avail yourself to all their creature comforts -- a sharp contrast indeed to the rustic bungalows once dotting 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 the west side of the island. From there you can take advantage of some pretty good snorkelling, and when you're all done and dusted the sunsets are great -- just remember it's a long walk home in the dark.