Koh Lanta feels untethered from the rush of the mainland—long beaches lined with swaying palms, quiet roads winding past jungle and sea, sunsets that seem to slow the entire island to a standstill. Longtail boats bobbing offshore, the scent of grilled seafood in the warm evening air, bare feet in the sand long after dark. Koh Mook with its hidden emerald cave and sleepy fishing villages, Koh Cherk with clear water and coral reefs, Koh Kradan where impossibly white sand meets brilliant turquoise sea, and Koh Ngai, a tiny paradise of jungle-covered hills and calm, glassy water.