If you head about 5km north of Khanom town, take a left turn signposted to Prathap Cape and follow the signs to Ao Thong Ching for another few kilometers you will come to a right turn which takes you down a rutted track that leads to this very quiet bay. It's worth the trip.

A stretch of brown sand curves round beneath the trees against a backdrop of mountains which catch the mist nicely at early morning and on cloudy days, and it's almost like there is nothing here. In fact, this bay is home to the resort of Baan Thong Ching but this is considerately designed and landscaped in a way that does not make it feel like a blot on this particular patch of nature.

And so it remains quiet. Very, very quiet.