Koh Tao Travel Guide: Koh Tao is an island, like all places whose name begins with "Koh" (Thai for island). It's Thailand's top diving paradise. The dive clubs are so numerous they're almost impossible to count. The underwater world is simply breathtaking. With its calm, turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, and small islands off the coast, it offers a truly picture-perfect scene. The island's modernization, accelerated by tourism, is still ongoing. Some parts of Koh Tao are still difficult to reach by car. The most popular beach is Sairee Hat. This is where most of the accommodations, dive clubs, restaurants, and bars are located. In the evenings, you can relax in the beach bars and restaurants. If you're not in vacation mode here, you never will be. The beach is beautiful, the sea calm and crystal clear, and the colorful fishing boats glitter in the water. The nightlife here is much quieter than on Koh Samui and, in our opinion, more pleasant. A little piece of paradise. Due to its remote location and its appeal to tourists from all over the world, prices on Koh Tao are significantly higher than in the rest of the country. However, it is still very affordable for Westerners. October and November are particularly rainy months on Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, and Samui; therefore, it is recommended to choose other months of the year for your visit. All information on getting around on Koh Tao can be found in our section "Getting Around on Koh Tao".

Accommodation on Koh Tao: Staying overnight on Koh Tao is expensive compared to the rest of Thailand. Cheap guesthouses are very rare, especially on Hat Sairee Beach, where most tourists stay. While there are some budget-friendly options (cheap by local standards), rooms are usually booked weeks in advance and don't offer direct beach access. If you arrive on Koh Tao during peak season without a hotel reservation, you'll spend a lot of time going from guesthouse to hotel before finding a room. Note that Mae Haad, where the piers are located, is your best bet for finding a room without a reservation. Prices are also generally cheapest there. Which beach is right for your stay on Koh Tao? Each beach on Koh Tao has its own unique atmosphere: find out which one best suits your budget and preferences, and consider the pros and cons of each. Map. Check out our Koh Tao Beaches Guide. Find accommodation on Koh Tao. Select destination Amphawa Ayutthaya Bang Saphan Bangkok Buriram Cha Am Chachoengsao Chaiyaphum Chanthaburi Chiang Dao Chiang Khan Chiang Mai Chiang Rai Chonburi Chumphon Dan Sai Hat Yai Hua Hin Kalasin Kamphaeng Phet Kanchanaburi Khao Lak Khao Sok Koh Chang Koh Jum Koh Kood Koh Lanta Koh Larn Koh Lipe Koh Mak Koh Phangan Koh Phayam Koh Phi Phi Koh Samet Koh Samui Koh Sichang Koh Tao Koh Wai Krabi Lampang Lamphun Loei Lopburi Mae Hong Son Nakhon Pathom Nakhon Phanom Nakhon Ratchasima Nakhon Si Thammarat Nan Nang Rong Nong Khai Pai Pak Chong Pattaya Phang Nga Phang Nga Phayao Phetchabun Phetchaburi Phitsanulok Phrae Phuket Prachuap Khiri Khan Pranburi Railay Ranong Ratchaburi Rayong Roi Et Samut Songkhram Sangkhlaburi Sattahip Sukhothai Surat Thani Surin Tak Trang Trat Ubon Ratchathani Udon Thani all categories from 300 THB from 300 to 500 THB from 500 to 1000 THB from 1000 to 2500 THB from 2500 to 5000 THB plus 5000 THB // Prices not available in the city selection are retained ("All prices are now only available") function findAccommodationCategories(citySelect) { var option=citySelect.options[citySelect.selectedIndex]; var price=parseInt(option ? option.getAttribute("data-price") : 0,10) || 0; var categories=citySelect.form.elements["categories"]; if(!categories) return; for(var i=0;i<categories.options.length;i++) { var val=categories.options[i].value; categories.options[i].disabled=!(val=="all" || val=="-" || (Math.pow(2,parseInt(val,10))&price)); } } (function() { var forms=document.querySelectorAll("#form-accommodations form"); var form=forms[forms.length-1]; if(form && form.elements["cities"]) findAccommodationCategories(form.elements["cities"]); })(); My Recommendations I am often asked which accommodations I recommend in Thailand. Here are my recommendations for Koh Tao. Ban's Diving Resort Hotel in Koh Tao, Sairee Beach (8.1/10) Book now More details Dusit Buncha Resort Hotel in Koh Tao, Sairee Beach (7.9/10) Book now More details Simple Life Cliff View Resort Hotel in Koh Tao, Sairee Beach (7.8/10) Book now More details Good Dream Hostel Hotel in Koh Tao, Sairee Beach (8.0/10) Book now More details arrow_circle_right View all accommodations in Koh Tao

Practical information about Koh Tao: The island is suffering from its immense popularity. Many tourists arrive daily, making it particularly difficult to find accommodation at short notice, especially during peak season (November to March). Early booking is therefore highly recommended (see our accommodation page). To travel from Bangkok, a combination of bus and ferry is recommended. You can book tickets online HERE.

How do you get to Koh Tao? The fastest way to reach Koh Tao is by combining a plane and a ferry. You can either fly to Koh Samui and take the ferry from there, or fly to Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, or Chumphon and take a bus or minibus to the pier and catch the ferry. Chumphon is significantly closer to Koh Tao than Surat Thani or Nakhon Si Thammarat. The fastest, but also most expensive, option by plane is to land in Koh Samui and then take a boat to Koh Tao. Alternatively, you can also take a boat to Koh Tao from Chumphon, which you can reach by train, bus, or plane. Si Lomprayah, the most reputable bus company, has moved to the old southern bus station in Pinklao. Other bus companies continue to offer bus and boat combinations from Khao San Road in Bangkok via Chumphon, which you can book online HERE (Caution: Luggage theft, even in the cargo hold, does occur. Therefore, keep cash and valuables with you). The same airlines offer similar flight combinations from Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, and many other locations. To get to Koh Tao, the route via Chumphon is faster than via Surat Thani. Please note that Air Asia's direct Chiang Mai – Surat Thani flight changes its schedule once a year and departs in the evening. In this case, a connecting ferry to the islands of Koh Tao, Koh Samui, or Koh Phangan is no longer possible. If you are not staying overnight in Surat Thani, a flight with a layover in Bangkok is recommended. Allow sufficient time between the two flights and choose a flight from Bangkok that departs from the same airport as your destination airport in Chiang Mai (there are more options from Don Mueang Airport). For a direct flight, you should allow approximately 2.5 hours for a layover. If you use the same airline for both flights, your luggage will not be automatically transferred to the cargo hold on the second flight. Therefore, please also factor in time for this. View all travel options to Koh Tao

What's the best way to get around Koh Tao? Taxis on Koh Tao are usually shared taxis with a "Taxi" sign and license plate, or even private cars. There are no taximeters on Koh Tao. You'll mainly find taxis in Mae Haad near the pier. They are quite expensive (200 to 300 baht for a trip to Sairee Beach and Chalok Ban Kao), and despite the high prices, they often only leave when they're full or charge extra. Many dive clubs and some resorts offer free pick-up. For longtail boat tours, you can easily find water taxis along the beaches and at the pier. These offer trips around the island or to Koh Nang Yuan. Of course, you can also rent scooters and motorbikes on Koh Tao. Prices range from 150 baht per day for a manual motorbike to 250 baht for an automatic. Carefully check the condition of the vehicle before setting off and take photos, as damage can be expensive. Be careful on the roads; some parts of the island have no paved roads. Mountain bike rentals are also becoming increasingly popular on the island.

Other sights on Koh Tao: Moondance Magic View viewpoint (5 stars). This viewpoint, a real insider tip off the beaten tourist track of Koh Tao, offers a breathtaking panorama. From here you can also walk down into the sea and relax at a small snorkeling spot.

How do you ask for directions to Koh Tao in Thai? I want to go to Koh Tao / Yak pai thi Koh Tao. Where is Koh Tao? / Koh Tao yu thi nai?