9 places to discover
Donald Duck Bay is a white-sand beach on Koh Similan (Island No. 8), the largest island in Mu Ko Similan National Park off the coast of Phang Nga in southern Thailand. Accessible only by boat from Khao Lak, it is named for a distinctive granite boulder balanced on the shoreline that resembles Donald Duck's head. Known for clear turquoise water, snorkeling, and the Sail Rock viewpoint, it is a central stop on Similan Islands day-trip itineraries.
Kawasan Wisata Mandeh is an integrated marine tourism area in Koto XI Tarusan, Pesisir Selatan Regency, West Sumatra. Centered on a large natural bay dotted with small forested islands, it is known for clear turquoise water, coral reefs, mangrove forests and the panoramic Puncak Mandeh viewpoint. Developed as a leading destination in West Sumatra, it offers island-hopping, boating and scenic coastal landscapes about 56 km south of Padang.
Ko Phi Phi Don is the largest and only permanently inhabited island of the Phi Phi archipelago in the Andaman Sea, part of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi Province. Connected by a narrow isthmus between Tonsai Bay and Loh Dalum Bay, it is known for limestone cliffs, white-sand beaches, clear waters and a car-free village center. It serves as the main hub for accommodation, ferries and tours to surrounding islands.
Matinloc Shrine is an abandoned Catholic shrine located on Matinloc Island in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines. Built in 1982 and dedicated to Our Lady of Matinloc, it features a small chapel with an altar, religious statues, and a domed structure overlooking the sea. Set amid limestone cliffs and forest, the shrine is accessible only by boat as part of El Nido island-hopping tours and is noted for its serene setting and panoramic views.
Monkey Island, also known as Cat Dua Island, is a small island in Lan Ha Bay off Cat Ba Island in Cat Hai District, Hai Phong. It is known for its two crescent-shaped sandy beaches, Cat Dua 1 and Cat Dua 2, clear turquoise water, limestone karst backdrop, and a troop of semi-wild monkeys. Accessible only by boat from Cat Ba Town, it is a popular day-trip stop on Lan Ha Bay tours.
Piaynemo Islands are a cluster of small karst limestone islets in the Fam Islands group of Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, Indonesia. Famous for the iconic Piaynemo viewpoint reached by a steep stair climb, the islands offer panoramic views of turquoise lagoons dotted with forested karst formations. Part of the Raja Ampat Marine Park and Geopark, the area is noted for clear waters, coral reefs, and dramatic karst landscapes that attract sightseeing and photography visitors.
Thale Nai, also known as Emerald Lake, is a saltwater lagoon on Ko Mae Ko island within Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park in Surat Thani Province. Enclosed by limestone cliffs and connected to the sea through an underground tunnel, the emerald-green lake is the park's most famous natural landmark. It is accessed via a short stair climb to a viewpoint and is visited as part of organized boat tours from Ko Samui.
Ti Top Island is a small island in Ha Long Bay, off the coast of Ha Long City in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay, it is known for its crescent-shaped sandy beach and a hilltop viewpoint accessed by about 400 steps. Named after Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov in 1962, it is a standard stop on Ha Long Bay Route 2 sightseeing cruises.
Wayag Islands are an uninhabited karst archipelago in Raja Ampat Regency, Southwest Papua, Indonesia, located northwest of Waigeo Island. Part of the Raja Ampat Marine Protected Area and UNESCO Global Geopark, the islands are known for dense clusters of limestone karst islets, turquoise lagoons, and white-sand beaches. The iconic Wayag viewpoint, reached by a short climb, offers panoramic views of the karst seascape and is a signature image of Raja Ampat.