The Ultimate Travel Guide to Koh Tao, Thailand.

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Updated January 2026

Heading to the Gulf of Thailand? Don’t miss a visit to Koh Tao, the so-called Turtle Island and smallest of the trio with Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Though small, Koh Tao is jampacked with cool things to do and see – above and below the water. For some of my personal favorites read on – my very biased travel guide Koh Tao!

My Personal Koh Tao Travel Guide

I admit that I’m very much a creature of habit and while there are many great islands to explore in Thailand, Koh Tao is still one of my favorites. I usually come here for at least a month, do dive training, eat my way around the island, and find an ‘office’ with a beach view to work from.
Whether you come for a week or planning a longer stay, Koh Tao should not be missing from any Thailand itinerary. After over 10 trips to Koh Tao and many months spent on the island here are my best tips for your trip.

Best Time to Go to Koh Tao

It seems that every month has its perks for a Koh Tao holiday depending on what you are looking for. The hottest weather is between March and May, but these months are also best for Whale Shark spotting. High season continues with balmy temperatures in June through early September and vibey and busy for the Christmas season, January, and February.

The only months I would avoid is November for full on monsoon season and June. I recently learned that it is called “windy June” for good reason. While many might be tempted to go before school holidays, prices in Koh Tao are already in high season and the weather can be nasty. This means rough crossings to get to Koh Tao and bad visibility when diving. Rather wait until July or August.

Also do check the Koh Phangan full moon party schedule as a lot of party goers stay Koh Tao and just hop over for the night, so accommodations and ferries tend to get rather crowded for big party dates. Alternatively check out The Sanctuary Thailand on Koh Phangan if you are looking for a secluded retreat and yoga haven. 

How to get to Koh Tao

The easiest way to get to Koh Tao is to board a flight from either Bangkok or Phuket and fly to Koh Samui. At the airport, you can easily get a ferry ticket with a transfer to the pier and either take the ferry.

In case you are an anxious traveler like me, you can book your tickets online before, but in most cases, you should be fine just getting them once you land. Just give yourself enough time to get off the plane, get your luggage, and an hour to get from the airport to the pier. And of course, check the ferry times beforehand to make sure you can still hop over to Koh Tao on your arrival day!

Samui has the prettiest airport, orchids and cute boutiques included, so if you need to spend some time there until your ferry leaves, don’t despair. The ferry takes about two hours and stops in Koh Phangan on the way.

Powered by 12Go system

Once you need to leave Koh Tao, allocate enough time and then some because ferries do run late at times. And needless to say, if you miss the connection for your flight you will have to pay for it.

Alternatively, you can take a bus/ferry combo with Lomprayah from Bangkok to Koh Tao or Phuket to Koh Tao. The Lomprayah crew will pick you up at your hotel or you start directly from the airport. A few hours on the bus and then you will need to take the ferry again – after all, you are going to an island so there is no way around it. Unless, of course, there is a helicopter pad I didn’t know about?!

To be honest, this option isn’t the most comfortable depending on what kind of bus you get (sometimes you will get a comfy minivan). However, if you are on a budget it is by far the cheapest option and will take about the same time as a domestic flight & ferry considering how much time you will spend waiting around at the airport.

There is also a night ferry to/from Koh Tao, however, it takes quite a long time compared to a ferry ride during the day. I would only consider this option if you need to make use of every waking moment of your holiday and don’t mind getting only a few hours of uncomfortable ferry-sleep.

More Infos on How to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao.

Once you arrive at Mae Haad pier you will need to pay a 20 baht tourism/ island tax. If you arrive very late (I think after 6pm) the people collecting the fee are all gone and you can get through for free.

Tip: When you leave, make sure you weigh your luggage before. During my most recent visit, I noticed that Lomprayah has put up a scale before you step onto the pier – 20 kg is all you get. While that is not a new rule I never had my luggage weighed before, but this time, they did and I had to pay 200 baht extra for my 23,5 kg suitcase!

How to get around on Koh Tao

Once you have arrived on Koh Tao there are a few options to get around:

a) You are an expert on a scooter. And by expert I mean expert – roads are not the best and I saw quite a few people getting nasty injuries. Regardless of what you see other drivers do, please please wear a helmet and make sure that your insurance covers any scooter-related incidences – many don’t so check the fine print!

b) Ride a bicycle. I guess a bike is as good a way to get around Koh Tao as any other, however, the island does get quite hilly.

c) Take a taxi boat. This is the perfect option to get from one secluded bay to another and is quite scenic. Mind you, you will have to pay a bit more as fares go for a boat. Thus this option is best if you are traveling in a group and can share the costs.

d) Take a taxi. And by taxi, I mean a 4×4 bakkie, perfect for larger groups and Koh Tao roads. However, unlike other places, they are quite expensive for Thailand standards thanks to a taxi cartel. Current rates ask for 300 baht from Mae Haad to Sairee beach or Chalok for maximum of 3 people. Other rides to say Mango Bay or Hin Wong will cost you even more.

Where to stay in Koh Tao

There are plenty of accommodation options in Koh Tao for all sorts of budgets and travelers. However, much has changed when it comes to accommodation on Koh Tao in the last year. Quite a few new boutique resorts have popped up offering a bit of luxury – a welcome addition to the usual somewhat tired bungalows in Sairee and too lively hostels if you are above the age of 40. I will share some of my new favorites in a bit. 

Tips when searching a Koh Tao Hotel

• If you come for diving like most visitors and don’t want to break the bank you should check with your dive center beforehand as many have their own hostel/guesthouse or can liaise with a hotel nearby for great prices. Many even offer package deals for courses & accommodation that are great if you want to save some money.
• If you want to stay longer you should check with a hotel you like as many still offer great deals for weekly or monthly stays. While you can arrange these deals in advance chances are you want to check out the area and the rooms first so I recommend booking a couple of nights beforehand and checking options in person once you have arrived.
• Note that for some odd reason, most hotels on Koh Tao don’t offer breakfast. You will need to find a bigger resort for that or just head to one of the many cafes on the island. 
• Always check if they offer transfer from/to the pier – most but not all Koh Tao resorts will include a complimentary pick-up at certain times. 

First, you need to decide where you want to stay: Chalok Bay, Mae Head, Sairee Beach, or somewhere up in the hills. I would only recommend the latter if you have decent motorbike skills or are looking for a secluded weekend spot. 

Hotels in Chalok Bay

Chalok Bay is a somewhat sleepier but oh-so-beautiful area in the south of Koh Tao. Resorts that offer good deals for a longer stay are Tropicana or the Greenery. Alternatively, head to New Heaven Dive Center as they offer accommodation right on the beach in Chalok. 

If you wanted to treat yourself stay at Baan Talay, their jungle resort up in the hills. It is secluded, to say the least (they do offer a daily shuttle to/from the dive center though) but incredibly beautiful. It is perfect for someone who wants to disconnect or if you are looking for a romantic place to stay in Koh Tao. One word of caution – there is some wildlife to consider. If you are a complete princess or have an animal phobia, it may not be for you, for everything else there are mosquito coils. It truly is one of the best hotels in Koh Tao albeit with a twist.

Book a room at Greenery

Get a bungalow at Tropicana

Book a cottage at Baan Talay

Hotels in Mae Haad

I will use the term Mae Haad losely as honestly, you don’t want to stay in Mae Haad directly. However, in the vicinity, you will find Big Tree Boutique Hotel & Cafe, a little boutique hotel between Mae Head and Chalok. 

It is an absolute gem and simply beautiful. If you don’t need a sea view and are looking for a proper design hotel with a cool interior this is the place you should go. The service is impeccable, the price is just right, and the on-site cafe makes one of the best brekkies on the island.

Book a room at Big Tree Boutique Hotel

Then there is Shiva Lodge, a new resort a little further towards Chalok and up a very steep hill that leads to one of the viewpoints. 

I cannot rave about it enough even though the hill is one to remember (whether you have a bike or walk). Shiva is basically a modern tree house lodge. The design of the tree houses built around the typical Koh Tao bolders is just impeccable – two stories connected by a ladder, an outside net for reading in the trees, a little balcony, a proper coffee maker and a shower with a glass roof. 

And yes, the bedroom has aircon and it gets incredibly cozy in the evenings – especially if you happen to catch a stormy night. They also work with French Market so you can easily order pizza and wine. Whether you need a refuge for a solo trip or a romantic getaway – this is your place! 

Book a tree house at Shiva Lodge

Hotels in Sairee Beach

If you rather want to be a bit closer to the action, Sairee Beach is the place to stay. I like staying at Sairee Cottages which is the perfect choice as it is right by the ‘promenade’ and close to all the bars and restaurants yet tucked away to be quiet enough. They have different room categories depending on what you need and your budget.

I recently stayed at Silver Sands and got an awesome deal on a monthly rental. Check with them before booking where your room is – in the building behind Big Blue Diving it can get quite loud at night from adjacent party street while the building behind Chu Chu is great plus the rooms are nicer. 

If you are looking for a hostel in Koh Tao – Savage has reopened! Especially if you are looking for a cool party hostel this might be the spot for you. In addition, they have an awesome pool on their roof and the interior is very sleek and modern. That said, I am not sure I would recommend it if you want privacy as their single rooms are tiny and expensive for what they are. Alternatively, there are plenty of other Koh Tao hostels here that you can check out.

Book a room at Sairee Cottages

Book a room at Silver Sands Resort

Find a bed or room at Savage

If you wanted to stay a bit fancier you now have a few different options. One is Blue Tao, a little beach resort in Sairee. The rooms are sleek and simple, they have great coffee, and if you want to splurge – the bottom rooms even have a small balcony with a hammock overlooking the beach. That said, I find them quite pricey for what they are. 

Get a room at Blue Tao

Alternatively, there is the newly opened Cactus Boutique, part hostel part boutique guesthouse. It is not on the beach but tucked in a little side alley thus offering way better prices. The rooms are modern, nicely furnished and it doesn’t get too loud at night though you are close to some of the best party hotspots on the island. 

While I don’t think a hotel on Koh Tao needs a bathtub I really liked the interior otherwise and the bed was super comfy. You also get a 10 % discount if you eat at Cactus Cafe or Lazy Coconut, alas you will have to ask for it explicitly. 

Book a room at Cactus Boutique

For those wanting something a bit fancy, Natural Boutique Cottages is your place. While there are quite a few resorts in Sairee with bungalows on the beach, most of them are really old and dated. You are paying a premium simply due to their location. 

Not so at the Natural Boutique Cottages. While they are quite pricey for Koh Tao, they are beautiful, modern, and very roomy. They have two beach cottages (though I am not sure how much privacy you get here) and a whole lot of garden cottages. 

Once you see the room the price is easily explained: comfy bed with bedside lamps (so rare!!), great AC, a hot shower in a bathroom that doesn’t flood (also rare), a desk, a daybed, all the amenities as well as a separate outside drying area and a whole pantry/kitchenette. 

Plus the service is lovely –  I was able to check in way earlier and they organized a very inexpensive transfer when I moved to Shiva Lodge after. 

Book a bungalow at Natural Boutique

Things to do in Koh Tao

What to do in Koh Tao? Massage, swim, snorkel or diving, yoga or a pub crawl in Koh Tao. Repeat in random order and as often as necessary. Oh and don’t forget to eat your way around the island! There are some great food options on Koh Tao – from vegan to fancy to the best pizza in Thailand!

The best Koh Tao restaurants

Scuba Diving

One of the things to do in Koh Tao is, of course, scuba diving. I spent a lot of time diving here and I still think it is a good and easy spot to get certified. You cannot beat the prices for courses and the dive sites, as well as conditions, are perfect for beginners. 

If you are already a certified diver ask when they do trips to places like Chumphon Pinnacle and Sail Rock – some of the best scuba diving in Koh Tao!

Whether you are brand new or looking to get advanced certifications, I wholeheartedly recommend Big Blue Diving. They also have their own tec diving division for those who are inclined to dive deeper or penetrate a wreck or two – ask for Fiona and Andrew!

Finding Underwater Love – A Guide to Koh Tao diving.

Snorkel & Free dive

Even if you are not a diver, you can still enjoy the crystal clear waters and Koh Tao’s amazing underwater world. Many companies offer snorkel boat trips around the island, usually visiting 4 – 5 sites in a day. I did it once and must honestly say that it wasn’t my cup of tea – too many people scattered around in life vests, scaring the Nemos.

I’d recommend you check with the dive schools instead as they sometimes take snorkelers at a fraction of the price. Just make sure that the dive sites of the day, usually depending on weather conditions, are also suitable for snorkeling so you will have enough to see. Great options are Japanese Garden and Shark Bay where I got lucky and saw baby reef sharks while snorkeling. If bigger trips are on the agenda you may even get lucky and snorkel with a whale shark.

For those interested in freediving head to Blue Chitta and ask for Masha. She teaches free diving according to Apnea Total (a free diving agency founded in Koh Tao) and is absolutely amazing.

Beach Hopping

Rent a scooter and go beach hopping in Koh Tao! While I am perfectly content with lounging at Sairee Beach all day long there are many beautiful bays to explore all around the island. Mind you, to get to most you will need a boat or at least a scooter.

Some local favorites are Hin Wong, Mango Bay, Shark Bay, Freedom Beach, or the little beach by Siam Cookie Bungalows (yes, that is their name).

Go for a hike

There are many amazing viewpoints around Koh Tao and if you are done with all the water fun, hiking is a great alternative.

If you want to combine them both, head to Nangyuan Island which is off the coast of Koh Tao. You can snorkel, tan, and also climb the hill on the island for a great view of this pretty little bay.
Plenty of boats and tours will offer to take you there, make sure to go early to avoid the masses or at least save yourself a sun lounger on the sandbank which connects both parts of Koh Nang Yuan.

Get a workout

If diving and hiking aren’t enough for you, you will also find an above-average amount of gyms in Koh Tao. Many locals head to Monsoon Gym & Fight Club or Pankom Muay Thai on the main road. If you are into CrossFit check out The Box Koh Tao.

Yoga in Koh Tao

Most of the Koh Tao yoga studios have reopened – hurrah! I recommend you check what is in your vicinity and try a few classes, as those things are quite personal. 

I will recommend you go to Blue Chitta at least once. They are both a free diving school and a yoga studio but also offer some amazing workshops throughout the week. 

I went for my first ice bath session which I was terrified of. Instructor Tara was super patient and kind and there was a wonderful camaraderie in our little group. So much so that I managed 3 minutes and 5 minutes in the ice bath and felt exhilarated afterward. 

In addition, I did a sound-healing session at Blue Chitta, a beautiful experience that requires nothing but a slightly open mind from you. You literally just lie on the floor and listen, and let the sounds do their magic. 

You can also try Koh Tao Yoga that offers ice baths and sound healing.

Get pampered

There are plenty of great little massage places around, depending on where you stay in Koh Tao. For the perfect massage remember your Thai: nàk-nàk if you like it harder and bao-bao if you are, ahem, sensitive like me and prefer it softer. Go for an aloe massage if you got too much sun!

Koh Tao spas aren’t really fancy as such but luckily there is Majestic Spa in Sairee which is as good and as fancy as it gets. They offer both an open area for foot treatments and Thai massages, as well as a more private room in the back for oil massages and waxing.

While prices are definitely on the higher end for Koh Tao massages, they are worth it if you are looking for some serious pampering. In addition, they do a great Brazilian wax, usually not so easy to find on a small Thai island.

I also always liked Kayo as it is airy with a nice ocean breeze and I had two of the best massages there thanks to therapist Pen. Both the Thai and the oil massage she gave me were amazing and perfectly bao bao for my liking.

Island Massage is newly opened and almost looks like a copy of Kayo Massage, and is basically next door to it. While I wanted to be faithful to the former, eventually I caved and walked into Island Massage. 

Unlike Kayo they have a special coconut oil massage at the same price as a regular oil massage and they have proper massage beds with a donut for your face. This is what tipped the scales for me as I like oil massages and find them quite uncomfortable when done on the floor. Ask for Toy here!

Tips for your Koh Tao Visit

Thailand Immigration: For all that want to stay longer in Koh Tao or Thailand overall, there is good news: Koh Tao now its own immigration office. If you want to extend your tourist visa you won’t have to leave the island anymore and can forgo a trip to Koh Samui – hurrah!

The office opens at 8.30 am and is usually very quiet and chilled. At the bottom of the road, you will find a little coffee shop where you can make copies of your passport (you will need a copy of the main page, entry stamp, and your departure card). You will also need to bring a passport picture.
The officers can show you which forms you will need, depending on your visa and the extension you are applying for. A regular 30-day tourist extension is 1,900 baht + 100 baht office fee.

Find Surat Thani Immigration Koh Tao on Google Maps

Money: There are plenty of ATMs around the island. Regular fee to draw money is 220 baht. Plenty of restaurants and hotels do accept credit card payments though many will still charge about 3-5% for it. If you need to pay a larger amount it might be more cost efficient to do a Wise transfer to the business’ Thai account.

I also recommend getting the Moreta Pay App. This allows you to pay with scan at Thai businesses (personal accounts don’t work yet) – cheap and easy. You can use your bank, credit cards, Wise, and many other options to top up your account. 

Wifi: Many places have decent wifi in Koh Tao. This includes accommodation as well as cafes and restaurants. If you want to stay mobile on the beach or while hiking, I recommend an eSIM from Airalo. 

• Get an Airalo eSIM and get 15% off with this link

Laundry: You will find many laundromats or minimarts where you can get your laundry done. The further inland you go, the cheaper. Usually you will pay 30-50 baht per kilo and about 80 baht per kilo for express service.

Medical: There are a few clinics on Koh Tao in Sairee, Mae Haad and Chalok. To be honest, they are not the best equipped and for any big issues you will want to make the trip to Koh Samui. Pharmacies are well-stocked and you get most medication including antibiotics over the counter. There is also a chamber on Koh Tao now for diving accidents.

Shopping: Most islanders will order stuff online because the next mall is in Koh Samui. However, there are a few supermarkets on the island, 7-Eleven and other minimarts as well as some fruit and veggie vendors. On Walking Street in Sairee you will find a few clothing boutiques and May and Co. has lovely sustainable products for home and body.

Is it safe to travel to Koh Tao?

To round up this travel guide Koh Tao I want to touch on the subject of safety. I didn’t think I had to, but there have been a lot of rumors about the island’s safety and many ask: Is Koh Tao safe? I cannot possibly comment on it and what is true and what isn’t, I do not know. All I will say is that I have always felt really safe there and have heard the same from many others who lived on Koh Tao for a while. Obviously, each place has its issues, however, I always felt safe while applying a good dose of common sense.

The one issue I had was my health. There was something about being in the water all the time and the humidity that was really hard on my body. Even small mosquito bites got infected and wouldn’t heal, I had tonsillitis, and then for some unknown reason, my joints started swelling. Not fun!

In addition, a lot of the nurse’s stations you can find everywhere are a bit too liberal with the antibiotics and according to my friend the only real clinic couldn’t even diagnose a broken toe. If you have an issue, I suggest heading to Sawasdee right next to the Chalok Bay 7Eleven. Fai, the nurse there, is amazing and takes a more holistic approach to health and well-being.

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