Koh Tao tourist information
Koh Tao is Thailand’s premier diving mecca and attracts thousands of visitors every season who are keen to delve into the clear water of the Thai Gulf and spot a medley of marine life including sharks, turtles and exotic fish. There are regular whale shark sightings near Koh Tao and many of the beaches have superb snorkelling close to the shore.
But there are still plenty of reasons for visiting Koh Tao from Koh Phangan even if you so not intend to try your hand at diving. The island has a bevy of beautiful beaches and some top class resorts at cheap prices. Divers get the best value through ‘dive and stay’ packages, but even regular tourists can seek out a few bargains through our hotel booking partner Agoda.
 | Bungalows & resortsThere are plenty of accommodation options in Koh Tao for all budgets with 'dive and stay' packages offering great value for those intending to attend PADI courses on the island...more |  | BeachesKoh Tao may be the smallest of the popular Thai Gulf trio, but it still boasts a superb array of beautiful beaches with soft white sand and great snorkelling with reef sharks just offshore...more |
 | Nightlife & barsDespite being a popular destination for the diving fraternity, Koh Tao is not all early-to-bed with a decent smattering of bars which pump out dance tunes on the sand until dawn...more |  | TransportationEveryone reaching Koh Tao must do so via ferry or catamaran, with the crossing from Chumphon taking under two hours and slower boats from Koh Samui for those that fly into the region...more |
Visiting Koh Tao from Koh Phangan
The main port from Koh Tao is at Mae Haad on the island’s western coast. The most popular beach area of Haad Sairee lies around ten minutes north of here, while there are secluded bays with high-end accommodation all over and touring the different coves is a great way to while away some time.
The hilly interior of Koh Tao makes for interesting trekking and rock climbing with fantastic vistas over nearby Koh Phangan and Ang Thong Marine National Park, while other activities open to visitors include ten pin bowling, mini-golf, kayaking, sailing and even a circus trapeze school.
Getting to Koh Tao is relatively simple with direct high speed catamarans from the mainland port of Chumphon, or slower ferries from Surat Thani via Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Koh Samui International Airport is the most direct route for those arriving from abroad to reach Koh Tao, while there is also a smaller terminal on the mainland at Surat Thani which has cheap connections with Bangkok through Air Asia. Those on a budget can get inexpensive trains or bus services from the Thai capital or direct minibuses from Phuket or Krabi.
