Koh Tao or the Turtle Island when translated in Thai boasts the best diving spot in the Gulf of Thailand. Located northwest of Koh Pha Ngan, it has unspoiled coral reefs and a wealth of marine life that attract thousands of divers from around the world.

Located around 120 kilometers from the Surat Thani province, Koh Tao is in the same neighborhood of Koh Nang Yuan. Altogether they occupy almost 18 square kilometers. The island has eight kilometers of coral reefs around its shore.

It hosts a number of diving schools and shops that can cater to specific needs of divers, whether you are looking for tranquil shallow-water coral gardens or close encounters with whale sharks. There are more than 20 dive sites around the island. Many of them are in the vicinity of the shore. Aquatic lives you can expect to see are sea anemones, batfish, schools of pelagics and iridescent barracuda. If lucky, you might spot the Spanish mackerel or scorpionfish. Diving is possible almost year-round, with a short exception during the monsoon season between November and December.
Onshore, the island is teeming with small sandy bays franked by palm trees. The island’s half-moon-shaped western coast is where most of the beaches are found. The most popular beach is Had Sairee on the west side. Its white sandy beach stretches 1.7 km and is interrupted only by a few big boulders. Resorts, bungalows and guesthouses are available in almost every beach.

It is convenient 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.

One of Thailand’s favorite island destinations, Koh Samui is renowned for its beautiful stretches of white sandy beaches flanked by towering coconut trees.

A beautiful island in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui has large green coconut plantations. It was once a haven of backpackers welcoming a flock of young adventurers who like to explore the exoticism of a tropical island. Even though today it becomes a prime destination, it still maintains an aura of a laidback life style. The island is roughly circular in shape and about 15km in diameter. The central part of the island consists of forested hills. Various lowland areas are connected by a single road that covers the circumference of the island.

Beaches like Hat Chaweng and Hat Lamai are the best and, inevitably, the most visited. The 7km long Chaweng beach is a center of entertainment and beach activities. The sand is soft and fine. It offers good swimming and snorkeling facilities. Beachside cafes and sophisticated cocktail bars are plentiful. A large variety of accommodation is on the offer for every budget and style.

Lamai is less busy than Chaweng. The long perfect white sand crescent of the beach is also considered to be the finest on the island. There are many options in terms of accommodation but the majority are simple bungalows and 3 star resorts.
Indeed, the island has about a dozen of nice beaches where you can sun bath and swim with relatively calm atmosphere. At Maenam Beach, the tranquility is still a main draw. It maintains the old charm of Samui. It is home to both backpackers and well-heeled guests. Some of Samui’ most expensive resorts can be found here.

Na-thon Beach, on the southwest coast of the island, is the major port for fishing and inter-island transportation where you can catch a boat to Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and the mainland in Surat Thani. It is the seat of the regional government and a commercial center of Samui islanders. Souvenir shops, bakeries, second hand bookstores, travel agents and Internet Cafes can be found here. The old Chinese shop houses along the middle street exudes an air of exotic history.

Big Buddha Beach benefits from its proximity to the airport and popular Chaweng Beach. It is named after a big-seated Buddha statue that enshrines a local temple. The beach is lined with budget to mid-price bungalows. Many of them have restaurants overlooking the beach. Big Buddha Beach is also a place where you can catch a ferry or speedboat to Had Rin on the island of Koh Pha Ngan – home of the famous Full Moon Party.

Next to Big Buddha Beach is Choeng Mon Beach. It is made up of a series of bays on the northern edge of the island. The relatively peaceful beach is dominated by some three to five star resorts.

The most remote beach on the island, Taling Ngam appeals to those who want to get away from the crowds. Le Royal Meridian Baan Taling Ngam, one of Samui’s foremost luxury resorts, is located here.

Hua Thanon and Bang Kao are perhaps the least developed beaches. Only a few resorts scatter along these serene beaches.

Koh Samui has one airport that services daily flights from Bangkok and some countries in Southeast Asia. Alternatively, you can catch a bus from Bangkok to the pier in Surat Thani; then take a ferry to the island. Reflecting Samui’s growth as a tourist destination, the Cunard ship MS Queen Victoria is scheduled to dock at Samui during its 2008 world cruise.

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 possible to go directly to the beach area by taxi-bus

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

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.

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.

Chaweng Beach: the longest and most beautiful beach
Of all of Koh Samui’s beaches, Chaweng Beach gets top votes among tourists for its length and beauty, with many places to swim, sunbathe and enjoy various water sports, or stop by the shopping markets, bars and restaurants.

Situated on the island’s east coast, Chaweng Beach divides into several beachfront areas such as Chaweng Neu Beach (North Chaweng), Chaweng Klang Beach (Middle Chaweng), Chaweng Noi Beach (Little Chaweng), and Chaweng Tai Beach (South Chaweng). The first two are good for swimming, diving, and nighttime action; the others are quieter and more peaceful. Visitors need to take note that skin-diving in this area is best between May and October.

As the sun slowly ducks under the horizon of the Gulf of Thailand, daytime fun gives way to nighttime pursuits along this two-kilometer beach helped by light and sound from nearby pubs, bars, restaurants, and souvenir shops that stay open till late.
Lamai Beach: sand, sea, and the two phallic rocks
Most tourists visit Lamai Beach when it’s at its best, and most suitable for swimming, between December and May, July and August. The four-kilometer-beach has three distinct areas: Lamai Neu Beach (North Lamai), a fishing village, good for local scenery; Lamai Klang Beach (Middle Lamai), good for swimming and the liveliest spot of all, and Lamai Tai Beach (South Lamai) the rocky location of Hin Ta and Hin Yai (grandfather and grandmother), two phallic-like symbols carved by the forces of nature that have to be seen to be believed.

Taling Ngam Beach: best beach in the west
The private beach of Taling Ngam Beach, with its fine, white sand and safe swimming, is considered by many to be the premier beach on Samui’s western coast. Situated 10 km south of Na Thon, this is the location of Le Royal Meridien Baan Taling Ngam a five-star resort that enjoys world acclaim. The beach overlooks the nearby island of Koh Ha and is a great place to watch sunsets.

A tranquil and peaceful location, with added color from local folk’s cottages dotted along the beach, it is quite easy to access other parts of Samui from Taling Ngam Beach via the coast road.

Thong Yang Beach: beach by the ferry
Northward from Taling Ngam Beach is Thong Yang Beach, a long beach known for its peaceful and quiet atmosphere, where a few tourists drop by for a swim or just to relax.

The quiet stretch of beach from Taling Ngam Beach to Thong Yang Beach is the site of coconut farms and patches of course, brown sand. The beach is bordered by a headland with a small hill with good views over the small island of Koh Ha. To the rear are a number of reasonably priced resorts. Around the headland lies Li Pa Noi Beach.

The waters here are quite deep and serve as a port, making the ferry at Thong Yang Beach another important center of transportation on Koh Samui with two-hour ferry crossings to Don Leuk, the port of Surat Thani. The ferry is large enough for vehicles.
Mae Nam Beach: north coast beach and port
Mae Nam Beach is a long stretch of coastline on Koh Samui’s northern coast adjacent to Laem Na Phra Lan with a 4-km-long beach that shelves steeply making it suitable as a port. Laem Phra Lan port offers speedboat services mainly to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao to the north.

Mae Nam, with its quiet, spacious beach shaded by pines and coconut trees, and clean, clear waters, is one of the oldest communities on Koh Samui. Tourists visiting here will find some bungalows, resorts and seafood restaurants lining the beach area.

Bo Phut Beach: backpackers’ paradise
The peaceful bay of Bo Phut Beach lies between Mae Nam Beach and Phra Yai Beach on Koh Samui’s northern coast; good for swimming in parts, but also offering port facilities and a stretch of seafood restaurants.

Visitors can get a glimpse of the lifestyle of the local fishing community, while Ao Bo Phut is a jumping-off point for trips to Koh Tao or Ang Thong Marine National Park. During peak travel periods, speedboats leave daily from Bo Phut Beach to Koh Tao.

One of the best areas on Koh Samui for seafood, restaurants in Bo Phut beach area offer tasty dishes at palatable prices; there are also a number of economically priced bungalows that makes this spot a backpackers’ paradise.

Thong Sai Bay: a private beach with a world renowned resort
Not too many beaches have gained popularity through their proximity to first-class accommodation, but at Thong Sai Bay on Koh Samui’s northeastern corner, this is evident at the world-renowned resort of Ban Thong Sai.

Although quite small, Thong Sai beach is one of Koh Samui’s most attractive. Curved, with clean, white sand sandwiched between a deep blue sea and lush vegetation, the Ban Thong Sai beach resort management combines accommodation and service with environmental concern.

Cheung Mon Beach: a bay of peacefulness and tranquility
Also in the northeast of Koh Samui, south from Thon Sai Bay and closer to Samui airport, Cheung Mon Beach is a white sandy bay with an exceptionally beautiful beach in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

Far from the local community, Cheung Mon Beach is a curved bay of fine white sand beside a deep blue sea that beckons swimmers. The small island of Koh Fan Noi is a short distance from the beach and can be accessed on foot at low tide. This location is not far from the busier beaches and tourist attractions at Had Chaweng further down the east coast.

Despite its popularity, Koh Samui remains one of the country’s most beautiful island destinations.

Popular Resort Areas
Originally settled by Hainanese from China in the mid-19th century, well-developed Koh Samui has a rather different culture to other parts of Thailand. The descendants of those pioneers now live mainly in the villages, as outsiders populate most tourist-oriented resorts. Known as Chao Samui (Samui folk), many of them still do the trade of their forebears – coconut farming. Indeed, the island is covered with palms, and coconut is a common ingredient of many local dishes.

Beaches & Nightlife
Hat Chaweng and Hat Lamai are Samui’s most beautiful and most popular beaches. Both have a huge selection of places to stay, and prices rise from December to July. The nightlife of each is different: Chaweng is better for couples, women and families, while single men predominate amidst the beer bar culture of Lamai. These resorts, as well as Na Thon (Samui’s most beautiful and most popular beaches. Both have a

Koh Phangan is indeed rich in beaches, the most splendid being Had Rin, Had Thong Nai Pan and Had Mae Had. Had Rin, venue for the island’s ‘Full Moon Party’, is busy day and night with foreign visitors seeking an assortment of accommodation. This spot is not so popular with Thai holidaymakers.

Had Rin
Situated on a cape jutting out from the southeast corner of Koh Phangan tip, Had Rin is 12 km from the district office.

Formerly, Had Rin was not popular with tourists as it could only be reached by boat (no road) and boasted a welcoming army of gnats. That’s all changed; today, armies of visitors drive down to Had Rin and the gnats have largely moved on.

Actually, Had Rin consists of 2 beaches, Had Rin Nok and Had Rin Nai , which are situated on different direction.

To the west of the cape is Had Rin Nai , its beach over 1,000 meters in length made up of powdery sand. Here the sea is a glorious emerald green with safe swimming locations. Ferryboats to Big Buddha Pier on Koh Samui leave from the pier four times a day. The center of Had Rin, this spot has grocery shops, laundry, tour counters and restaurants.

The beach beyond the pier is of powdery sand and quite suitable for swimming and sunbathing. A line of accommodation stretches along the seashore.

Beyond Had Rin Nok , sitting on the west side of the cape – is Had Lee La, a quiet area with a white sandy beach.

Looking down from the mountain, you can clearly see the half-moon-shaped beach of Had Rin Nok ; more beautiful perhaps than Had Rin Nai and the main sight of the Full Moon Party where Thais and foreigners gather in large numbers in a spirit of merrymaking.

This beach is always busy, especially during the high season when vacant guestrooms are hard to find. On bright, sunny days, the sea seems more colorful and tourists throng there to sunbathe on the white sandy beach.

If your preference is to stay near a less crowded beach but close enough the entertainment. You may consider Had Ban Tai area, which is on the north of Had Rin. The beach has easy access to Had Rin.

To get to Had Rin , take minibuses from Thong Sala pier. You can also board a boat at Had Rin to cross over to Koh Samui. If you drive yourself, be careful because the paved road between Had Ban Tai and Had Rin is quite steep in places.

Had Mae Had
In Had Mae Had on the island’s tranquil northwestern tip, accommodation is plentiful. This is a charming area with a long, powdery-sand beach safe for swimming. It is an ideal place to relax or sunbathe.

The most outstanding feature in this area is the neighboring island of Koh Ma , accessible by foot across a sandbar. Koh Ma is the site of a splendid coral reef frequented by tourists who enjoy swimming and diving around this island. Beyond Had Mae Had is the quiet beach of Had Salat that offers shallow water coral reef for exploration.

Of outstanding beauty and a great site for skin diving is the tiny island of Koh Ma opposite Had Mae Had.

Located in the Gulf of Thailand about 100 kilometres east of Surat Thani coast, Koh Phangan is 20 kilometres north of the bigger island of Koh Samui.

Covering an area of 168 square kilometers, Koh Phangan is Thailand ‘s third largest island in the Gulf of Thailand after Koh Chang and Koh Samui. Smaller islands, including Koh Tae Nok, Koh Tae Nai, Koh Ma and Koh Tao, are grouped around Koh Phangan some 40 kilometers distant. It is one of 48 islands in the archipelago that makes up Ang Thong National Marine Park and has been inhabited for a thousand years. Malays were the first group to settle on the island; hence some places carry Malay names like ‘Koh Ra Hum’, which means ‘shadow’ and is the former name for Koh Phangan. Then there’s ‘Loh Da Lam’ the former name for Ban Chaloke Lam.
Buddhism predominates on Koh Phangan, only 5% of the populace being Muslims. The main industry is agriculture, coconut farming and fishing. For some years, the travel industry has taken over as the most profitable pursuit on the island with many landlords selling their land to move on or invest in hotels and resorts.

Thong Sala Pier: gateway to the island
Located on Koh Phangan’s west coast, Thong Sala pier is the dropping-off point for all boats visiting the island and, as such, the main gateway to the island. All visitors have to start and finish their trip at Thong Sala.

As the port is at the heart of things, care needs to be exercised when planning your travel movements. Thong Sala pier is the site of the Siam Commercial Bank, bungalows, restaurants, boutiques, souvenir shops, Internet cafe, and so forth.

To get to Koh Phangan , take an express boat that is run twice a day from Nathon pier on Koh Samui to Thong Sala pier or a ferryboat from Don Sak pier in Surat Thani

This collection of islands is populated by sea gypsies, riddled with spectacular caves and features great diving among its coral reefs.

Island Chain
Koh Lanta actually comprises about fifty islands, many with mangrove forests and coral reef beaches. The largest and most popular island is Koh Lanta Yai; the main village is Ban Sala Dan. Tourists stay in guesthouses and bungalows, although nearby islands have camping facilities.

Fishing Village
The people of Koh Lanta are mainly Thai Moslems, many of whom have mixed with sea gypsies. Most work on plantations, but some live from fishing. Ban Sangkha-U, a traditional southern fishing village, is a good place to experience the character of the local people. There are very few cars in the village, as on most of the island, and the main circular road is unpaved.

Marine Life
Koh Lanta’s beaches do not match those of Koh Samui or Phuket, but they are relatively peaceful: all on the west coast, the nicest are on the northern and southern ends. This coast supports plenty of coral, and dive sites at Hin Daeng and Hin Muang offer rich marine life, including the occasional whale shark. Visibility is best from November to April.
Cave Complex
Tham Khao Mai Kaew, in the center of Koh Lanta, is a vast and disparate cave complex with stalactites, stalagmites, a cavern pool and thousands of bats. Taking a guide is recommended; there is a restaurant and guide service near the start of the path to the caves. Some guesthouses arrange transport to the trail. You can get good views of the island from Deer Neck Cape (Laem Khaw Kwang) in the north.