That Perfect Island: Does It Exist? Here's Where to Look.

Thirty-two years ago, I set out on an around-the-world journey to find, well, paradise—a pristine island no tourist had ever seen, where the locals still lived off the land. Naive? Sure it was. Even the most “offbeat” islands were crawling with backpackers and hawkers pitching cheap bungalows. But then I glimpsed a speck of land off the coast of Thailand near Ko Samui. “That Ko Phangan,” my boat captain said. “No place stay. No go.” I offered him a few more dollars, and he changed his mind. And there I found it: a stretch of white sand tucked between two jungle-covered hills overlooking a clear lagoon. There were no tourists—just a fisherman and his family—and I stayed for three months. The Thai name for the place was Haad Rin, but I called it “the beach” and swore the location to secrecy. Sadly, mobs of backpackers have since descended on Haad Rin, and it’s now a magnet for full-moon rave parties (Alex Garland’s book The Beach is based in part on the island’s demise).

But sustainable tourism has come a long way to prevent other “paradises” from meeting the same fate. One of my favorites: India’s Havelock Island, in the Andamans. Barefoot at Havelock’s eco-friendly cottages are hemmed by jungle—86 percent of the archipelago is rain forest—and they’re just a short walk from jewel-like lagoons. December marks the end of the rainy season and the beginning of a four-month span of sunny, 85-degree days. If paradise still exists, it probably looks a lot like this (doubles from $150).

Text by Costas Christ; Photograph courtesy of Barefoot Group

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Although Ed was unable to see his adventure through to its planned completion, he should be applauded for the courage and resolve to to make that journey. I hope the insights learned were valuable.

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That Ko Phangan,” my boat captain said. “No place stay. No go.” I offered him a few more dollars, and he changed his mind.

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Sadly, mobs of backpackers have since descended on Haad Rin, and it’s now a magnet for full-moon rave parties (Alex Garland’s book The Beach is based in part on the island’s demise)

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Wow, this place is great. After I had heel spur surgery last year we went here for vacation and boy was I surprised at the hospitality

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Sadly, mobs of backpackers have since descended on Haad Rin, and it’s now a magnet for full-moon rave parties (Alex Garland’s book The Beach is based in part on the island’s demise).

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A gunfight ensued. One poacher was injured and two others were apprehended. Colonel Gui, with his prisoners in tow, is still coming to Obenge to root out poachers .

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What a fabulous place this must be! Untouched and green as can be... ahhhh.

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December marks the end of the rainy season and the beginning of a four-month span of sunny, 85-degree days. If paradise still exists.

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That Ko Phangan,” my boat captain said. “No place stay. No go.” I offered him a few more dollars, and he changed his mind.

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Thirty-two years ago, I set out on an around-the-world journey to find, well, paradise—a pristine island no tourist had ever seen, where the locals still lived off the land. Naive? Sure it was.

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There is indeed! There are allot of perfect island in this planet

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The bad news is the poachers had already spooked the hippos out of their pool, and the animals are unlikely to return anytime soon. so it is kind of late

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This place looks amazing, I feel sorry for that fisherman and his family to have the tourists overrun the island. I stayed in Krabi for a week, and Thailand shores are pure paradise!

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December marks the end of the rainy season and the beginning of a four-month span of sunny, 85-degree days. If paradise still exists, it probably looks a lot like this .

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The tragic news is the poachers had already spooked the hippos out of their pool, and the animals are unlikely to return anytime soon.

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