Koh Tao Guide
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Koh Tao is a small island in the Gulf of Thailand — only about 7 km long — so nowhere is far away, but each area feels very different. First time? Sairee is easiest, with the long beach, most of the dive schools and plenty of food and bars. Just passing through or catching an early boat? Stay in Mae Haad, by the pier. Want a calmer stay with great cafés? Pick Chalok Baan Kao in the south. Want peace and snorkelling from the beach? Head to the quiet bays on the east coast. Tap an area, or if you’re not sure, use the quick picker below.
| Area | The vibe | Best for | Price level |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaireeSee hotels ↓ | Long beach, dive schools, bars and sunsets | First-timers, divers, friends and solo travellers | 💰💰 Mid-range |
| Mae HaadSee hotels ↓ | Busy little pier town with cafés | Short stays, early boats and good-value stays | 💰 Good value |
| Chalok Baan KaoSee hotels ↓ | Calmer south bay, good food, dive schools | Couples, divers and a relaxed stay | 💰💰 Mid-range |
| The Quiet BaysSee hotels ↓ | Small, peaceful bays with great snorkelling | Couples and nature lovers wanting peace | 💰💰 Mid-range |
Price level is a rough guide to the hotels in each area, not a price. Tap a hotel's booking buttons for today's rates.
Two quick taps and we’ll match you to the right part of Koh Tao.
Koh Tao is one of the friendliest islands in Thailand for solo travellers. A simple plan: stay in Sairee for your first nights, join a dive course or a snorkel boat trip to meet people, and take taxis rather than a scooter on the steep roads.
Restaurants, bars, dive schools, 7-Elevens and ATMs are all within walking distance, and the long beach is perfect for a sunset walk.
Koh Tao is one of the easiest places in Thailand to make friends: a three or four-day dive course puts you in a small group, and the dive schools have a friendly, sociable feel.
A relaxed bay in the south with great cafés, dive schools and Freedom Beach nearby — quieter evenings, but still easy to meet people.
Koh Tao has some very highly rated cooking schools — a fun, sociable morning on your own, and a great idea on a rainy day.
Taxis wait at the pier and in Sairee, and your hotel can call one. The roads to the east-coast bays are very steep, so a taxi is the easiest and safest way to reach them.
Sairee and Mae Haad have plenty of friendly, good-value hostels and simple guesthouses, many linked to dive schools.
Koh Tao links by fast boat with Koh Phangan and Koh Samui, and by boat and bus or train with Chumphon and Bangkok.
Which beach suits you? Koh Tao is a small, hilly island in the Gulf of Thailand, with rounded green hills, big smooth granite boulders and clear water. Sairee on the west coast is the long, lively beach; the small bays in the south and east are quieter and better for snorkelling. Here is how they compare.
About 1.7 km of soft sand on the west coast, with dive schools, beach bars and a sunset every evening.
A small, pretty beach at the southern tip of Chalok, with clear water and rocks to snorkel around.
A sheltered bay on the east coast, with clear water, coral and big, smooth granite boulders.
A small, sheltered bay with soft sand and good snorkelling straight from the beach.
A wide, sheltered bay in the south. It is shallow, so at low tide the water goes out a long way.
Three small islands joined by a white sandbar, just off the north-west of Koh Tao — the island’s most famous view.
Koh Tao’s neighbours have long, sandy beaches and lots of resorts — both are a short fast-boat ride away.
Sairee is Koh Tao’s longest beach, about 1.7 km of soft sand on the west coast, facing the sunset. Most of the island’s dive schools, beach bars and restaurants are here, along the sand and in the busy little village of paths and lanes behind it. It is the easiest place to stay for a first visit: you can walk to food, bars and your dive school, and the sunsets are lovely every evening.
Koh Tao’s longest beach — soft sand, calm water in the dry months and a sunset every evening.
One of the best-known dive schools on Koh Tao, right on Sairee, with thousands of excellent reviews.
A hugely popular, very highly rated restaurant in Sairee village, with thousands of glowing reviews.
A very busy, very highly rated brunch café in Sairee — a favourite after a morning dive.
A well-reviewed bar on the sand at Sairee — a lovely spot for a sunset drink.
A well-reviewed massage shop on Sairee for Thai, oil and foot massages.
Mae Haad is the little port town on the west coast, where every boat to Koh Tao arrives. It is a busy, friendly place, with cafés, shops, dive schools, ATMs and restaurants around the pier, and small beaches just to the north and south. It is a great choice for a night or two, for early boats, or if you want to walk to everything without the bars of Sairee.
One of the highest-rated restaurants on the island, near Mae Haad, with thousands of happy reviews.
A very highly rated coffee shop in Mae Haad — great before an early boat.
A very highly rated steak restaurant just south of Mae Haad.
A very highly rated rooftop bar in Mae Haad, with views over the town at sunset.
A very highly rated dive school between Mae Haad and Sairee, with thousands of reviews.
A very highly rated massage shop near Mae Haad pier.
Chalok Baan Kao is a wide, sheltered bay in the south of Koh Tao, with a small village, very good cafés and restaurants, and several dive schools. It feels calmer than Sairee, and it is close to some of the island’s prettiest spots: Freedom Beach, the John-Suwan Viewpoint and Shark Bay are all nearby. It is a lovely base for a relaxed stay or a dive course.
A small, beautiful beach at the southern tip of Chalok, with clear water and rocks for snorkelling.
Koh Tao’s most famous view, over Chalok Bay and Shark Bay from the rocks above Freedom Beach.
A very highly rated restaurant in Chalok village, loved by visitors.
A very highly rated bakery and café in Chalok, with fresh pastries and coffee.
A very highly rated dive school on Chalok Bay.
A relaxed, well-reviewed bar on the sand at Chalok Bay.
On the east and south-east coast, small bays sit between green hills and big, smooth granite boulders: Tanote Bay, Aow Leuk, Shark Bay and Sai Daeng. Each has only a few resorts, clear water and some of the best snorkelling straight from the beach on the island. Come here for peace, nature and the sea, rather than for nightlife.
A sheltered bay on the east coast with clear water, coral and big boulders — one of the best snorkelling bays on the island.
A small, pretty bay with soft sand and easy snorkelling straight from the beach.
Known for turtles and small, shy reef sharks. Snorkel out from the rocks in calm water.
A tiny beach facing Shark Island, with clear water and colourful coral.
A very highly rated café on the road to Aow Leuk, perfect for a stop on the way to the bays.
A viewpoint on the hill above Tanote Bay, with big views over the east coast.
Diving is the main reason most people come to Koh Tao. The water is warm, many dive sites are sheltered and close to shore, and there are dive schools all along Sairee, Mae Haad and Chalok — Koh Tao is one of the most popular places in the world to learn. Snorkellers can swim straight from the beach in many bays.
New to diving? Three simple choices:
1. Try dive — one day, no course needed, with an instructor right beside you.
2. Open Water course — about 3 to 4 days. After it, you can dive almost anywhere in the world.
3. Fun dives — for people who already have a licence. Famous sites include Chumphon Pinnacle, Sail Rock, White Rock and the Twins.
Diving needs basic health, so dive schools ask you to fill in a short medical form first. Don’t fly for at least 18 to 24 hours after diving.
All very highly rated on Google. Book direct, or ask your hotel.
One of the best-known dive schools on Koh Tao, on Sairee Beach, with thousands of excellent reviews. Courses from beginner to instructor.
A very highly rated dive school in the middle of Sairee, with thousands of reviews.
A very highly rated dive school at the north end of Sairee.
A very highly rated dive school between Mae Haad and Sairee, with thousands of reviews.
A very highly rated dive school in Mae Haad, with thousands of happy reviews.
A very highly rated dive school in Mae Haad, with thousands of reviews.
A very highly rated dive school on Chalok Bay, in the calmer south of the island.
A well-rated dive school in Chalok, known for its work looking after Koh Tao’s reefs.
Bring or hire a mask, and use reef-safe sun cream. Don’t stand on or touch the coral.
Clear, shallow water with coral right beside the famous sandbar — easy snorkelling for beginners.
Known for turtles and small, shy reef sharks. Snorkel out from the rocks in calm water.
A small, sheltered bay with easy snorkelling straight from the sand.
Clear water and big boulders on the east coast, with coral along both sides of the bay.
A tiny beach facing Shark Island, with colourful coral close to the shore.
A day on a boat to the best bays and Koh Nang Yuan, with snorkelling stops and lunch — easy and sociable.
Koh Tao is a lovely island for families with older children who like the water. The snorkelling is some of the easiest in Thailand, the boat trips are short and fun, and many dive schools run gentle try-dives for children. It is better suited to children who can swim than to babies and toddlers, because the island is hilly and you arrive by boat.
Getting there with kids: the easiest way is to fly to Koh Samui, then take the fast boat to Koh Tao, about 1¾ to 2½ hours. The boats can be bumpy, so bring seasickness tablets for anyone who needs them.
A long, sandy beach with gentle, calm water in the drier months — the easiest beach on Koh Tao for children.
A short boat ride to three little islands joined by a white sandbar, with shallow, clear water — children love it.
A day on a boat around the island, with snorkelling stops in sheltered bays — a big adventure for children.
Many dive schools run short, gentle try-dive sessions for children from about 8 years old, with an instructor right beside them.
A very highly rated adventure company on the west coast, running rock climbing and other outdoor activities — great for older children and teens.
Sairee faces west, so you can watch the sun go down over the sea while the children play on the sand.
Genuinely well-rated hotels on flat ground, close to the beach.
Quiet bays, clear water, snorkelling together and a sunset over the sea every evening — how to plan a romantic trip to Koh Tao. For the most peace, stay in the quiet bays or at the north end of Sairee.
Sairee faces west. Find a spot on the sand or a beach bar and watch the sun drop behind the sea — the most romantic hour of the day.
Take an early boat to the famous sandbar, climb the viewpoint together and swim before the day trips arrive.
Hire your own long-tail boat and driver to visit quiet bays and snorkel spots at your own pace.
Koh Tao has lots of very well-reviewed massage shops — a perfect way to end a day in the sea.
Climb together above Freedom Beach for the famous view over Chalok Bay and Shark Bay.
Many couples add a few nights on Koh Samui, with big resorts, spas and pool villas — under 2½ hours away by fast boat.
Between dives, Koh Tao is made for slow days — sunsets, quiet bays and lots of very well-reviewed massage shops and yoga studios.
A very highly rated massage shop near Mae Haad, for Thai, oil and foot massages.
A well-reviewed massage shop on Sairee, easy to pop into after the beach.
A very highly rated yoga studio near Mae Haad, with classes for all levels.
A very highly rated yoga and healthy-food spot in Sairee.
A relaxed resort near Aow Leuk with a yoga focus, on the quiet east side of the island.
Koh Tao is on the Gulf side of Thailand, and the wettest months are usually about October to December — but a shower can roll in at any time. Here are some cosy, indoor ways to spend a wet afternoon.
One of the highest-rated cooking classes on the island — learn to cook Thai dishes indoors, then eat them. Perfect when it rains.
A very highly rated home-style cooking class above Sairee — warm, friendly and fun.
Rain is the perfect excuse for a 90-minute massage. Vcare near Mae Haad and IMPRESS on Sairee are both very well reviewed.
A very highly rated small cooking school above Sairee — another cosy, indoor way to spend a wet afternoon.
A busy, well-reviewed café in Sairee — a cosy place to sit out a shower with coffee and food.
Out to Koh Nang Yuan and the best snorkel bays — or on to Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, Bangkok and Hua Hin. Use 12Go to book your own boat, bus or train.
Three small islands joined by a white sandbar, about 10–15 minutes by long-tail boat from Sairee or Mae Haad. Climb the viewpoint for the famous view, then snorkel the clear water at the Japanese Gardens.
A boat trip to the best snorkelling bays on Koh Tao, often including Koh Nang Yuan, with lunch on board.
Two of the best dive sites in the Gulf of Thailand, reached by boat with Koh Tao dive schools. Whale sharks are seen here now and then — with a lot of luck.
Beautiful beaches, jungle and the famous Full Moon Party at Haad Rin. About 1 to 1½ hours by fast boat.
Big beaches, resorts, spas and the nearest airport. About 1¾ to 2½ hours by fast boat, stopping at Koh Phangan.
Boat to Chumphon, then a bus or train to Bangkok — about 9 to 12 hours in total. You can also fly from Chumphon or Koh Samui.
A relaxed beach town on the train line between Chumphon and Bangkok — a good stop on the way north.
A simple Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao plan (10 nights):
1. Koh Samui, 3 nights — fly in, then beaches, resorts and a spa day.
2. Koh Phangan, 3 nights — about 30 minutes by fast boat from Samui. Quiet beaches, jungle and sunsets.
3. Koh Tao, 4 nights — about 1 to 1½ hours by fast boat from Koh Phangan. Diving, snorkelling and Koh Nang Yuan.
From Koh Tao, take the boat back to Samui for your flight, or the boat to Chumphon and the bus or train north to Bangkok.
Where to actually eat — home-style Thai cooking, fresh seafood, great brunch cafés and good-value restaurants all over this little island. Here are the best-reviewed places.
A hugely popular, very highly rated restaurant in Sairee village, with thousands of glowing reviews.
A very highly rated Thai kitchen in Sairee village — simple, tasty and good value.
A long-time favourite in Sairee for home-style Thai cooking, with well over a thousand reviews.
A very highly rated Thai restaurant in Chalok, loved by divers and locals alike.
A very highly rated spot in Mae Haad for som tam (papaya salad) and north-eastern Thai dishes.
A very highly rated Thai restaurant on the road above Sairee.
A very highly rated Thai restaurant in Sairee — a lovely choice for a special evening.
Well-loved places worth a visit.
One of the highest-rated restaurants on the island, with thousands of happy reviews.
A very highly rated steak restaurant just south of Mae Haad.
A very highly rated restaurant in Chalok village.
A well-reviewed dumpling and noodle spot on the road above Sairee.
A very busy, very highly rated brunch café in Sairee, with thousands of reviews.
A very highly rated bakery and café in Chalok, with fresh pastries and coffee.
A very highly rated café on the road to Aow Leuk — a lovely stop on the way to the quiet bays.
Sunset bars, beach bars and rooftop gardens — from lively Sairee to quieter Mae Haad and Chalok.
A well-reviewed bar on the sand at Sairee, with a lively feel in the evening.
A popular, busy beach bar in the middle of Sairee.
A well-reviewed cocktail bar and restaurant on Sairee Beach.
A friendly, well-reviewed beach bar towards the north of Sairee.
A very highly rated rooftop garden bar in Mae Haad.
A well-loved, well-reviewed bar south of Mae Haad — a lovely spot at sunset.
A relaxed, well-reviewed bar on the sand at Chalok Bay.
Koh Tao is fun but relaxed after dark. Sairee Beach has the beach bars, music and fire shows, Mae Haad has a few rooftop and sunset bars, and Chalok and the quiet bays are calm. Pick your base to match.
Most of Koh Tao’s nightlife is on Sairee Beach: beach bars, music and fire shows on the sand most evenings in the busy months.
Many of the beach bars on Sairee put on fire shows in the evening — fun to watch with a drink.
A very highly rated rooftop bar in Mae Haad, for a calmer drink with a view.
Chalok Baan Kao has a calm evening feel, with good restaurants and a few relaxed bars by the bay.
The famous beach party at Haad Rin on Koh Phangan happens once a month. Boats from Koh Tao get much busier around party nights.
Roads are dark, steep and sandy at night. Walking within Sairee is easy, but take a taxi for anything further.
Festivals, busy times and things to plan your Koh Tao trip around.
Every evening the beach bars and the sand fill up as the sun sets over the sea and Koh Nang Yuan.
A beautiful festival on the November full moon, when people float candle-lit krathongs on the water to make a wish.
Busy weeks on the islands, with fireworks and beach parties on New Year’s Eve. This is often a wetter time of year on the Gulf side, so check the forecast.
The Thai New Year water festival in mid-April, with water fights in the streets — friendly and fun.
Once a month the famous party on Koh Phangan makes the boats between the islands much busier.
A short boat ride to the famous sandbar islands, with the viewpoint and the Japanese Gardens snorkel spot.
A day on a boat around Koh Tao’s best snorkelling bays, usually with lunch.
A one-day beginner experience with an instructor — shallow water first, then a real dive. No licence needed.
Get your diving licence in about three to four days — Koh Tao is one of the most popular places in the world to learn.
Boat dives to sites like Chumphon Pinnacle, White Rock and the Twins, for divers who already have a licence.
Learn to dive on one breath — Koh Tao has several well-known freediving schools.
Cook and eat a Thai feast at a very highly rated school such as Thai Cooking with Joy.
Climb Koh Tao’s granite boulders with a local adventure company such as Goodtime Adventures — beginners welcome.
Beginner pad-work sessions with friendly trainers at gyms like Monsoon Gym near Sairee. No experience needed.
Morning and evening classes for all levels at studios like Blue Chitta and Living Juices & Yoga.
Climb the John-Suwan Viewpoint above Freedom Beach for the island’s most famous view.
Tap the one that matches your trip. You’ll get the best areas and what they’re like.
You want a beautiful bay, a lovely room, good dinners and calm nights.
Best areas: The Quiet Bays (Tanote, Aow Leuk, Shark Bay and Sai Daeng) for peace and snorkelling, or the north end of Sairee for sunsets with restaurants close by
What it’s like: Clear water, granite boulders, green hills and quiet evenings.
Do together: Sunset on Sairee · Koh Nang Yuan early in the morning · the John-Suwan Viewpoint · snorkelling at Shark Bay · couples massage
Good if: You want peace and nature more than nightlife.
🚕 Safety tip: the roads to the bays are very steep — use taxis rather than a scooter.
Quiet Bays →Sairee →You want to learn to dive, or dive every day.
Best areas: Sairee or Chalok Baan Kao, where most dive schools are, or Mae Haad for the boats
What it’s like: Early starts, friendly dive schools and evenings swapping stories over dinner.
Good if: Diving is the main reason for your trip.
✈️ Safety tip: don’t fly for at least 18 to 24 hours after your last dive.
Diving guide →Chalok guide →Koh Tao has no airport. Everyone arrives by boat at Mae Haad pier on the west coast. Taxis wait at the pier, and most hotels are about 5 to 20 minutes away — more to the quiet bays.
From Koh Phangan: about 1 to 1½ hours by fast boat. Several boats a day with Lomprayah, Seatran Discovery and Songserm.
From Koh Samui: about 1¾ to 2½ hours by fast boat, usually stopping at Koh Phangan on the way.
From Bangkok: a joint bus-and-boat (or train-and-boat) ticket through Chumphon takes about 9 to 12 hours in total. The boat from Chumphon to Koh Tao takes about 1½ to 2½ hours.
Flying: fly to Chumphon and take the boat, or fly to Koh Samui and take the fast boat from there.
Times are about and change with the season. Aim to arrive before dark, book boats a day or two ahead in busy times, and in the wetter months (about October to December) boats can be delayed or cancelled when the sea is rough. See our Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Bangkok guides.
Tap a plan to see it day by day. Koh Tao is a short fast-boat ride from Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, so it is easy to add to an island-hopping holiday. Give yourself at least three nights — or a week if you want to learn to dive.
Koh Tao is on the Gulf of Thailand side, like Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, so its weather is different from Phuket and Krabi. Thai weather is never fully predictable, but Koh Tao is usually best from about February to August. The wettest months are usually about October to December, and heavy rain can carry on into January. Always check the forecast before you go, and choose bookings with free cancellation.
Quick pick: Want the best chance of sunshine → aim for February to April. Want warm seas and good diving → May to August is usually good too. Travelling from December to March? The east-coast places with the most reliable dry weather are usually Bangkok, Pattaya, Koh Samet and Koh Chang.
Usually best: about February to August · Usually wettest: about October to December
While Phuket and Krabi get their rainy season from about May to October, the Gulf islands usually stay drier then. Their wet season comes later, usually about October to December, and some years the rain carries on into January — we have seen a full week of non-stop rain on the Gulf side in January.
Effect on travel: In the wettest months the sea can be rough, so boats can be delayed or cancelled, and visibility for diving drops. Leave a spare day before any onward flight.
Best areas when it’s wet: Sairee and Mae Haad, where cafés, massage shops and cooking classes are close by.
💡 Always check the forecast before you go, and book rooms and boats with free cancellation.
Diving runs all year · Usually best visibility from about March to August
Dive schools on Koh Tao run all year, but the calmest seas and clearest water are usually in the drier months. In the wettest months some days are too rough for the boats, and dives may move to sheltered bays.
Effect on travel: If a dive course is the main reason for your trip, avoid about October to December and leave a spare day or two in your plans.
Best areas for diving: Sairee and Chalok Baan Kao, where most dive schools are.
💡 Book your course for the start of your stay, so you have spare days if the weather changes.
March to August · Mid-April (Songkran) · Around each full moon
Koh Tao is busiest when the weather is best, from about March to August, and over Christmas and New Year. Around each full moon, the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan makes the boats between the islands much busier.
Effect on travel: Popular hotels and dive courses fill up, and boats sell out on party days.
Best areas when it’s busy: Chalok Baan Kao and the Quiet Bays stay calmer than Sairee.
💡 Book rooms and boats a few weeks ahead for the busy months.
| When | What happens | Effect on travellers |
|---|---|---|
| February – April | Usually the best weather | Mostly dry and sunny, calm seas and good visibility for diving — busy, so book early |
| May – August | Often good on the Gulf side | Warm, with some showers; usually still good for diving and snorkelling |
| September | Showers increase | Still plenty of good days, but more rain |
| October – December | Usually the wettest months | Heavy rain and rough seas are common, and boats can be delayed or cancelled |
| January | Unsettled | Can still be very wet on the Gulf side — check the forecast and book free cancellation |
| November (full moon) | Loy Krathong | Candle-lit krathongs floated on the water |
| Mid-April | Songkran | Thai New Year water fights — friendly and fun |
| Every month | Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan | Boats between the islands get much busier |
Planning rule: On Koh Tao, aim for about February to August, check the forecast before you travel, and book rooms and boats with free cancellation. From December to March, the dry side of Thailand is usually Bangkok, Pattaya, Koh Samet and Koh Chang.
It can be, but we don’t recommend planning around it. The Gulf side is often still wet in December and January, and some years February is unsettled too. If you are travelling then, Bangkok, Pattaya, Koh Samet and Koh Chang are usually drier — or come to Koh Tao later, from about February.
At least three for a taste, and five or more to enjoy the snorkelling, Koh Nang Yuan and the viewpoints. If you want to learn to dive, allow about a week.
Yes — especially from about March to August and over Christmas and New Year. Prices are usually lowest in the wettest months. Tap a hotel’s booking buttons to see today’s price.
Tap any tip for the short version. Practical stuff that saves you a bad first day.
Koh Tao is small — about 7 km long — but very hilly. Sairee and Mae Haad are easy to walk around, and it is about 5–10 minutes by taxi between them. Taxis (often pick-up trucks) wait at the pier and in Sairee, and your hotel can call one — agree the price first. Long-tail boats run to Koh Nang Yuan and some bays. The roads to the east-coast bays are very steep, so taxis are the easiest and safest way to reach them.
Sairee is the easiest first base — it is the longest beach, with most of the dive schools, restaurants and bars within walking distance. Mae Haad, by the pier, is great for a night or two or for early boats.
The quiet bays on the east and south-east coast — Tanote Bay, Aow Leuk, Shark Bay and Sai Daeng — are the most peaceful, with great snorkelling from the beach. The roads are very steep, so plan to use taxis. Chalok Baan Kao in the south is a calmer choice with more restaurants.
Take a fast boat from Koh Samui. It takes about 1¾ to 2½ hours and usually stops at Koh Phangan on the way. Several boats run every day. See our Koh Samui guide.
Fast boats run several times a day from Thong Sala pier on Koh Phangan to Mae Haad on Koh Tao, taking about 1 to 1½ hours. See our Koh Phangan guide.
The easiest way overland is a joint bus-and-boat or train-and-boat ticket through Chumphon, about 9 to 12 hours in total. Or fly to Chumphon or Koh Samui and take the boat. See our Bangkok guide.
No. Everyone arrives by boat at Mae Haad pier. The nearest airports are Koh Samui and Chumphon, both with fast boats to Koh Tao.
Koh Tao is usually best from about February to August. The wettest months are usually about October to December, and rain can carry on into January. Thai weather is unpredictable, so always check the forecast and book with free cancellation.
Yes — it is one of the most popular places in the world to learn. The water is warm, many sites are sheltered, and there are lots of very highly rated dive schools. An Open Water course takes about three to four days.
About 100 baht per person, paid in cash when you arrive. Plastic bottles are not allowed on the island, so bring a refillable one. Fees can change, so carry a little extra cash.
Sairee and Mae Haad are easy to walk around. For anything further, take a taxi — they wait at the pier and in Sairee, and your hotel can call one. The roads to the east-coast bays are very steep, so only hire a scooter if you are very experienced, and always wear a helmet.
Yes, for families with children who can swim and love the water. The snorkelling is easy, the boat trips are short and many dive schools run try-dives for children from about 8. Stay on the flat in Sairee or Mae Haad, close to the beach.
Hotel prices on Koh Tao change a lot by season and with special offers, so a fixed price would often be wrong. Tap Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia or Trip.com on any hotel to see today’s live price in your own currency.
Our guides to the places nearby, with how long it takes to get there.
Quiet beaches, jungle and the Full Moon Party
Big beaches, resorts and the nearest airport
Temples, markets, food and rooftop bars
A relaxed beach town on the way north
