KOH TAO
Discover the best places to stay in Koh Tao, including Sairee Beach, Mae Haad and quieter bays. Plus beaches, diving, nightlife and local travel tips.
Why Visit Koh Tao?
Koh Tao is a small island in the Gulf of Thailand best known for its incredible diving, snorkelling, tropical beaches and laid back island atmosphere. Despite its size, there’s plenty to explore. From the busy bars and restaurants around Sairee Beach to quieter bays, viewpoints and some of the clearest water you’ll find around Thailand.
The island is particularly famous for scuba diving, with dive schools found all around Koh Tao and sites suitable for complete beginners through to experienced divers. But you definitely don’t need to be a diver to enjoy the island. You can spend your days snorkelling straight from the beach, exploring different bays by scooter, hiking to viewpoints, taking a boat trip around the island or visiting nearby Koh Nang Yuan.
Koh Tao also has a good mix of accommodation, from backpacker hostels and affordable bungalows to beachfront resorts and more secluded stays. Sairee Beach is the main choice for nightlife, restaurants and a livelier atmosphere, while areas such as Chalok Baan Kao and the smaller bays around the island are better if you want something quieter.
Whether you’re coming for diving, beaches, nightlife or simply a few days of island life, Koh Tao packs a lot into a relatively small island and is easily one of my favourite places to visit in Thailand.
Explore Koh Tao
Best Areas To Stay
Sairee Beach, Mae Haad, Chalok Baan Kao, quiet bays, hostels, beachfront hotels and luxury stays.
Best Things To Do
Koh Nang Yuan, viewpoints, beaches, snorkelling, boat trips, nightlife and the best island experiences.
Koh Tao Diving Guide
Dive schools, beginner courses, dive sites, prices, marine life and everything you need to know before diving.
How To Get To Koh Tao
Ferries, speedboats, routes from Bangkok, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, plus tips for booking your journey.
Best Beaches In Koh Tao
Sairee Beach, Shark Bay, Tanote Bay, Ao Leuk, Freedom Beach, and quieter beaches around the island.
Koh Tao Snorkelling Guide
The best snorkelling spots, marine life, beaches to snorkel from, boat trips and Koh Nang Yuan.
Best Areas To Stay
Koh Tao may be a small island, but where you stay can make a big difference to your trip. From lively Sairee Beach to quiet secluded bays, each part of the island offers something different.
Sairee Beach
Koh Tao's liveliest area with a long beach, dive schools, restaurants, beach bars and the island's main nightlife.
Best for:
First-time visitors, divers, backpackers, nightlife.
Mae Haad
The island's main port area, with the ferry pier, shops, restaurants and a convenient location for exploring Koh Tao.
Best for:
Short stays, convenience, ferry access, first-time visitors.
Chalok Baan Kao
A quieter southern area with a relaxed atmosphere, beaches, local restaurants and easy access to viewpoints and snorkelling spots.
Best for:
Couples, relaxed stays, families, quieter island life.
Quiet Bays
Smaller coastal areas such as Tanote Bay and Ao Leuk offer a much more secluded side of Koh Tao, with beautiful water, snorkelling and fewer crowds
Best for:
Couples, snorkelling, nature, peaceful stays.
Why I Love Koh Tao!
I’ve visited Koh Tao twice now and both trips have been completely different. The first time was during my first trip around Thailand, when I stayed in a hostel around Sairee Beach. It was exactly what I wanted at the time, lively, social and one of those places where it’s incredibly easy to meet other travellers to go out with.
During that trip, I also met up with one of my friend’s brothers, who happened to be travelling around Thailand with his girlfriend for a wedding. They were spending some of their time on Koh Tao learning to dive and working towards their diving qualifications and we met up at Koppee Beach Club. What started as a few drinks by the beach pretty much turned into drinking the day and night away and it’s still one of the memories I associate most with that first trip to the island.
My second visit was a few years later with one of my best friends, who had flown out from England to travel around Thailand with me for a month. My partner also joined us on Koh Tao because she absolutely loves diving and has travelled to the island for diving more times than I can count. This time we stayed at Pinnacle Koh Tao Resort, just around the corner from the same bay where I’d visited Koppee Beach Club on my first trip.
It was also my birthday while we were there, so naturally I took everyone back to Koppee one evening for food and cocktails before we headed over to Sairee for some late night drinks. It was quite nice returning to somewhere I remembered so well from my first trip but this time with my partner and one of my closest friends.
The second trip was much more relaxed overall. Koh Tao came towards the end of a month of travelling pretty heavily around Thailand and both me and my friend were ready to slow things down. Most days were spent making our way from bay to bay, having a few beers, snorkelling, swimming and just enjoying the island without much of a plan.
That’s probably what I love most about Koh Tao. You can come here to learn to dive, spend your nights partying around Sairee, explore the island and its viewpoints or simply find a quiet bay and do very little for a few days. It manages to be lively without losing that small island feeling, and with ferries connecting Koh Tao to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and the mainland, it’s relatively easy to include in a wider Thailand trip.
After two very different visits, Koh Tao is still somewhere I’d happily return to and somewhere I really recommend making time for when travelling around Thailand.
Koh Tao Travel FAQs
How many days do you need in Koh Tao?
I’d recommend spending at least 3 - 4 days in Koh Tao. This gives you enough time to explore a few beaches, go snorkelling, visit Koh Nang Yuan and enjoy Sairee without rushing. If you’re planning to learn to dive, staying longer is definitely worthwhile.
What is Koh Tao best known for?
Koh Tao is best known for scuba diving and snorkelling. The island has numerous dive schools and dive sites but there’s much more to do than diving, including beaches, viewpoints, boat trips, nightlife and exploring the island by scooter.
What is the best time to visit Koh Tao?
Koh Tao can be visited throughout much of the year, although February to September is generally a popular period for good weather and diving conditions. Weather can still change quickly on the islands, so I’d always check the forecast before travelling.
Is Koh Tao worth visiting if you don't dive?
Absolutely. I’ve visited twice without diving myself and still love the island. There are plenty of beaches, snorkelling spots, viewpoints, restaurants and bars to explore, while Koh Nang Yuan and boat trips around the island are also worth doing.
Where is the best place to stay in Koh Tao?
Sairee Beach is my recommendation for most first-time visitors, particularly if you want restaurants, nightlife and a social atmosphere. Mae Haad is convenient for the ferry, Chalok Baan Kao is more relaxed and the smaller bays are better for a peaceful stay.
How do you get to Koh Tao?
There is no airport on Koh Tao, so the final part of your journey will be by boat. Ferries connect the island with Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and mainland ports including Chumphon and Surat Thani. You can also book combined bus, train and ferry journeys from Bangkok.
Is Koh Tao expensive?
Koh Tao can suit a range of budgets. Backpackers can find hostels, inexpensive Thai food and affordable activities, while there are also beachfront resorts, nicer restaurants and private diving experiences if you want to spend more.
Can you get around Koh Tao without a scooter?
Yes, although having your own transport makes exploring easier. Sairee and Mae Haad have plenty within walking distance, while taxis and boat services can help you reach other parts of the island. Some roads around Koh Tao can be steep, so I wouldn't recommend renting a scooter unless you're confident riding one.
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