Southern Thailand is blessed with an astonishing number of islands off its coasts. From tiny rocks to inhabitable larger tracts of land emerging from the surface of the Andaman Sea, islands – and above all, tropical islands – have always been perceived positively in our collective imagination. They offer a sense of freedom, escaping the crowds, and exoticism.

Phuket – the largest island in Thailand – still offers the sensations mentioned above, but its fast development through the last several decades undoubtedly made it lose some of its idyllic vibes. Even so, many smaller islands around Phuket still offer a real feeling of evasion from our modern world. Below are the best islands around Phuket, each with its own personality and certainly worth a visit when you're in Phuket.