Phuket

Phuket is Thailand’s largest island, and its scale means it rewards a bit of local knowledge rather than sticking to Patong’s beaches and nightlife. Head inland for viewpoints and waterfalls, or take a longtail boat out to Phi Phi and James Bond Island for a day of island hopping through some of the country’s most photographed scenery. It works equally well as a first stop or a final one, depending on whether you want energy or wind-down.