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Located around 120 kilometres from the Surat Thani coast, Koh Tao and neighbouring Koh Nang Yuan, occupy an area of almost 18 square kilometers.
With mountains and rocky cliffs accounting for 70% of its land area, the island has eight kilometers of coral reefs around its coast. The island's half-moon-shaped western coast is where most of the beaches are found.
Dotted in and around Koh Tao's 11 bays and 10 rocky headlands are many, picturesque beaches: some long and sandy like Had Sai Ree, Had Mai Had, Chaloke Ban Kao Bay ; others with smaller, rockier beaches.
Acclaimed to be the best dive location in the Gulf of Thailand , tourists tend to make diving their first priority as soon as they arrive on Koh Tao. It's not surprising therefore that each year Koh Tao's dive school turns out a number of proficient divers from around the world.
If you are looking for an alternative to diving, you might enjoy exploring the island, and swimming from its many beaches, or kayaking, or climbing hills to check out the vistas from numerous viewpoints. Alternatively, you can take a tour to its nearby islands of Nang Yuan, which is only 15 minute away by local boats.
Getting to Koh Tao
Despite being part of Surat Thani Province, it’s more convenient and faster to go to Koh Tao from Chumphon Province. The island is only one hour ride on a high-speed catamaran from Ao Makham Noi Pier in Chumphon - a speed boat from Koh Samui takes you around 3 hours to get to Koh Tao. Nowadays, more travelers choose Chumphon as their starting-off point.
Beaches on Koh Tao
Western Beaches
Koh Tao’s west coast is the focal point for transportation, the site of the main port of Had Mae Had, and where to find accommodation, restaurants, shops, bars, access to the Internet, and road links to all other parts of the island. This is the jumping-off point to visit all the other beaches on Koh Tao.
West coast beaches are the most popular among visitors, especially Had Sai Ree and Had Mae Had where there is greater activity than on the other, smaller and quieter western beaches; however all are great vantage points from which to watch spectacular sunsets.
There is a choice of different styles of accommodation on the west coat of Koh Tao, ranging from inexpensive cottages to fully furnished lodging houses, along the beachfront and on hillsides.
Mae Had Beach (Had Mae Had)
Situated on the western side of Koh Tao, Had Mae Had is the first point of contact on the island, and Koh Tao’s “front gate”. The beach area is the center of transportation for traveling around the entire island offering taxi-buses, rental cars, speedboats and motor launches for diving, fishing or crossing to the neighboring island of Koh Nang Yuan.
As the island’s focal point, Had Mae Had has all the facilities sought by tourists including variously priced accommodation, restaurants, shops, banks, Internet service, pubs, bars, and gas stations.
Although a port, Had Mae Had is still a fair spot for swimming, with its one-kilometer beach of yellowy-red sand. But with much of the area covered in resorts and restaurants, beach space is at a premium. At the southern end of the beach, there is a strange looking pile of rocks from where visitors can walk to Ao Ta Saeng.
This beach is a favorite spot with tourists who stroll around till sunset and then explore the shops and bars and absorb the lively, nighttime atmosphere. There is ample accommodation lined up from the port to the southern end of the beach.
Sai Ree Beach (Had Sai Ree)
Sai Ree Beach or Had Sai Ree is on the west coast, north of Had Mae Had. At two kilometers in length, Had Sai Ree is Koh Tao’s longest beach, separated from Had Mae Had by a rocky escarpment. Its red-brown sandy beach, which enjoys shaded spots from coconut trees and pine trees, is suitable and safe for swimming and sunbathing. Although this long beach attracts more visitors than others, there is no sense of overcrowding.
The hills behind Had Sai Ree contain a number of interesting viewing points. The hills aren’t steep, but visitors should take along a skilful and experienced driver.
Tourists can go by motorcycle or catch a taxi-bus from Had Mae Had to Had Sai Ree, which is about two kilometers away after a left turn to go north, at Had Mae Had junction. Visitors who rent motorcycles should take the beach route to Had Sai Ree to absorb the nature and beautiful scenery.
Yai Nee Cape (Laem Yai Nee)
Located on the northwest coast north of Had Sai Ree, Laem Yai Nee is an excellent location from which to view sunsets because the sun goes down right between the sandbars joining the three islets that make up Koh Nang Yuan. For the most spectacular results, go there between March and April.
On the way to Laem Yai Nee there’s a small beach called Ao Ta Sak where visitors can walk on the beach or take a swim. Nearby Ao Ta Ten does not have a beach and is accessible only by boat.
Chan Som Bay (Ao Chan Som)
Ao Chan Som is on the western side of Koh Tao, south of Had Mae Had. It is a small bay accessible only on foot or by boat. It’s possible to catch a glimpse of many species of wild animals along the path leading to the seaside, at the end of which is a white, sandy beach suitable for swimming and snorkeling. There are also excellent viewpoints looking over the whole bay.
Jutting out into the sea is a raft-house built by the owners of the a cottage resort for guests to relax or sunbathe, with a restaurant and drinks stand on the beach. Non-guests of the cottage are welcome to use this private beach by purchasing a 100-baht coupon for snacks, drinks and a sun bed.
Ma Muang Bay (Ao Ma Muang)
Accessible by motorboat only, Ao Ma Muang is on the north coast of Koh Tao. It is the most popular spot of the north of the island even though it is difficult to reach. The coral reefs at this spot are worthy of attention, so it’s not surprising that boatloads of divers congregate at that beach everyday.
More than just coral reefs, Ao Ma Muang has an excellent sandy beach with long stretches suitable for swimming and sunbathing. Tourists can also get across to Laem Nam Tok (waterfall cape) on the northwestern tip of Koh Tao close to the neighboring island of Koh Nang Yuan, to see the stream of water that runs from the hills down to the sea.
Hin Wong Bay (Ao Hin Wong)
The scenic bay on the east of Koh Tao. Ao Hin Wong has a rocky beach with a headland at the southern end protecting a picturesque cove. Tourists are drawn to this beach by the colorful coral reefs, second only to those at Ao Ma Muang. It’s also a place where giant clams are found. The hill to the north of the beach is an excellent viewing point to take in the entire beach and to watch the sun rise in the east.
Most accommodations on this bay are dotted along the hillside, so guests are among wonderful scenery the whole of the time.
Southern beaches of Koh Tao
Southern Beaches
The southern coast of Koh Tao is made up of two large bays, Ao Chaloak Ban Kao and Ao Tian Oak, which are separated by a long peninsular.
A paved road from Had Mae Had, the island’s gateway on the west coast, makes it possible to get to the southern beaches by taxi-bus, motorcycle or by boat.
Of all the beaches on the south coast, Ao Chaloak Ban Kao is the largest. Other beaches including Tian Oak Bay and the smaller ones are accessible by foot from Chaloak Ban Kao Bay.
Some of the beaches have small bungalows and moderately priced resorts, along with restaurants, night-bars, tour counter services, and dive schools. Beaches in this area are not as busy as those in the western side, so tourists are able to maintain a degree of privacy, while relaxing in peaceful and quiet surroundings.
Chaloak Ban Kao Bay (Ao Chaloak Ban Kao)
From Had Sai Ree and Had Mae Had on the west coast, the main road cuts across the hills to Ao Chaloak Ban Kao in the south, so it’s possible to go directly to the beach area by taxi-bus or motorcycle. Chaloak Ban Kao Bay has the biggest beach in the south and become the central point for all southern beaches with plenty of accommodation, restaurants, beach-bars and other facilities and services. Yet, it’s quieter than both Had Sai Ree and Had Mae Had.
The beach at Ao Chaloak Ban Kao is curved with headlands at either end protecting a particularly calm and safe bay for swimming. The long, white sandy beach is ideal for sunbathing or for taking a stroll. Tourists can walk to viewpoints on the hill. The path to one viewpoint starts at the rear of the Koh Tao Resort. There is a great view of the entire area from the balcony of Marina restaurant overlooking Ao Chaloak Ban Kao, Ao Kul Jeua to the west, and Had Ta Toh to the south. On a clear day, it’s possible to see as far as Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, and Ang Thong Marine Park. Also, quite stunning sunsets can be viewed from this vantage point.
Being the second-largest residential area on the island after Had Mae Had, it isn’t hard to find different grades of accommodation, restaurants, Internet services, and dive-tour agencies along the beach. However, the overall atmosphere is relatively quiet and peaceful compared with Had Sai Ree or Had Mae Had.
San Chao Beach (Had San Chao)
The southwestern tip of Koh Tao, Had San Chao is a small peaceful beach with rocks at either end, but the central part is sandy and safe for swimming. From the beach tourists get a good view of the tip of Ta Toh Cape and the spectacular scenery of Chaloak Ban Kao Bay.
From Had Mae Had tourists can take a taxi-bus along the paved road to Chaloak Ban Kao, and then walk along a beach and across a small bridge to Had San Chao. Alternatively, hire a motorboat from Had Mae Had directly to the beach.
Most of accommodation, restaurants and bars here can be found along the beachfront, mostly at the foot of the hills.
Tian Oak Beach (Had Tian Oak)
Another attractive beach on southern part of Koh Tao, Tian Oak Bay has a curved sandy beach with some 300 meters in length. The sand is clean and white and coconut trees provide some shade from the sun. Since Tian Oak Beach is a private beach that belongs to Koh Tao Resort, the environment remains quiet and peaceful.
Shark sightings are not uncommon at Tian Oak Bay. Just a short swim from the beach and you come upon lots of harmless sharks, up to a meter in length, giving this place the name “Shark Point”. You can rent sun beds and diving equipment or just sip your favourite drink from a beachside bar.
There are a number of spots to take in the scenery at Ao Tian Oak, for example from the restaurant of New Heaven Bungalow, a hillside resort, which has views of the entire bay as well as Sai Daeng Beach and Koh Chalarm. Tourists at the John-Suwan viewpoint can also see Tian Oak Bay and Chaloak Ban Kao Bay at the same time. Another good spot to view Ao Tian Oak is along the road and uphill from Chaloak clinic towards Jamakhiri Spa and Resort.
Other Islands
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