Located on the west coast of the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Tao is one of the best places you should visit on your Thai travel itinerary. In the local language, Koh Tao means Turtle Island, because many sea turtles are living here. The island has many wonderful beaches and other interesting fun activities for tourists. Besides blue water and a breathtaking view of the bottom of the sea, Koh Tao is also popular for "scuba diving" activities to explore the ocean.
Koh Tao is one of the best places you should visit in your Thai Travel itinerary.
With more than 10 years of development and service improvement, Koh Tao has become the world's second-most famous diving destination. In addition to being a training ground for professional divers, you can also come here to relax and enjoy the beach with rays of sunshine. Are you excited about the other interesting activities here? Come and visit this island Asia Private Travel!
Koh Tao Weather
Koh Tao Weather
If you are wondering when is the best time to visit Koh Tao, the good thing is that this island is open all year round, welcoming tourists from Thailand and around the world to visit and discover. However, the most appropriate time for tourists to come to Koh Tao is from February to April. This is the time with the least rain, the sky is clear, and the sea is calm. Also, the sea is clearer so it is very suitable for scuba diving activities to see coral systems. If you still want to go in the rainy season, remember to bring equipment such as raincoats, and umbrellas as well as quick-drying clothes.
Koh Tao Transportation
If you take a boat from Koh Phangan, it will take about 2 hours to get to Koh Tao Island. From Koh Samui, it takes only about half an hour. In addition, you can also go directly from the island's mainland to Koh Tao with the Chumphon - Koh Tao route in only about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Taxi:
This is the most popular means of creating Koh Tao. You can stand anywhere on the island to catch a taxi. Freedom of time and safety are the great advantages of traditional taxis. However, please remember to ask about the price before moving.
Taxi is the most popular means of creating Koh Tao.
Taxi Boat:
To easily move around and visit the small islands around Koh Tao, you can use Taxi Boat. The average price is not too expensive, and the drivers are friendly and ready to wait for you. These are the advantages of this type of traffic.
Taxi Boat in Koh Tao
Scooter:
Scooter - an interesting choice in Koh Tao
If you want to walk around the island and enjoy the fresh air, renting a motorbike will also be an interesting choice. Remember to ask local people about the route and check the weather.
If you still have many questions about local transportation or need to book and rent a vehicle at a preferential price? Contact Asia Private Travels now for more details.
Koh Tao Tourism
As a beautiful pearl island in Thailand Bay, Koh Tao is a great destination for beach break holidays for people from all around the world. Let's take a look at places to visit in Koh Tao.
Sairee Beach
Let's explore Sairee, which is located on the west coast of Koh Tao and stretches for 1.85 km, making it the longest beach on the island. Sairee Beach is one of the best places to visit on Koh Tao Island. The surrounding areas have a variety of accommodations, restaurants, bars, cafes, shops, and a bustling nightlife. It provides an enormous number of activities to experience all day.
Sairee Beach is one of the best places to visit on Koh Tao Island.
Don't forget to experience scuba diving, the most prominent activity on Koh Tao. Soaking in the cool blue water and watching the diverse marine life with many species of fish and colorful coral will bring extremely memorable memories to tourists.
Freedom Beach
If you want to visit a quiet space with fresh air on Koh Tao Island. What about taking a look at Freedom Beach - a small beach shaded by Thian trees? This is a great place for you to immerse yourself in the wonderful sunshine and lie down, read a book, and drink coconut water on the sand. The crystal-clear sea water is great for swimming and snorkeling. A shallow coral reef is not far away and you can see Hin Taa Toh (or Buddha Rock) standing out in the vast natural space. Before reaching the cape, you will pass Haad Taa Toh Lek, a small beach, surrounded by pristine coconut forests.
Freedom Beach - a small beach shaded by Thian trees
You should also spend time visiting Koh Tao's most famous peak - John-Suwan Viewpoint. This is where you can watch the romantic sunset and record extremely artistic footage.
Shark Bay
Shark Bay, one of the best places to visit on Koh Tao Island, will bring a peaceful natural space. The name “Shark Bay” comes from the frequent appearance of blacktip sharks at Blacktip Reef in this area. You can reach the bay by boat or kayak. This part of Koh Tao also serves as a baby shark sanctuary, making it possible to spot them at certain times of the year. To see the larger sharks, you need to swim about 250 meters from the beach. They are typically found near the east coast, near Sai Daeng Beach. It's truly an enjoyable experience, isn't it?
Shark Bay - a peaceful natural space
If you love turtles, this will be a must-see destination for you. For many species of sea turtles, they can be up to a meter long. These creatures are all adorable and friendly to tourists. However, keep your distance from them because bacteria from human hands can negatively affect their health.
Mango Viewpoint
One of the very popular activities in Koh Tao is conquering Mango Peak (or Mango Viewpoint). The route to conquer is quite complicated, but once you get there, you will realize that your effort was not wasted. The beautiful scenery that this place has such as majestic rocky mountains, lush trees, and vast blue sky will bring extremely unforgettable memories. There is also a small bar here where you can enjoy delicious local food and drinks.
Mango Viewpoint - The beautiful scenery in Koh Tao
Baan Koh Tao School
Besides diving or swimming experiences, it is impossible not to mention the conservation and sustainable development activities on the island that visitors can participate in such as planting and restoring coral, releasing turtles back to the sea, and collecting trash and waste on the seabed.
Baan Koh Tao School - the only school on the island.
If you are interested, you can volunteer at Baan Koh Tao School - the only school on the island. Typical activities here are building fish houses with fishermen, planting and restoring watershed forests, participating in a class on making jewelry from bottles and broken glass on the beach to make souvenirs, or taking cooking classes using local ingredients. Are you ready for this meaningful experience?
Koh Tao Cuisine
To complete the Beach Break Holiday journey in Thailand, besides swimming and diving, we cannot miss the delicious typical local dishes. Let's see what it is!
Gaeng Jued: This is a popular appetizer in Koh Tao. Gaeng Jued is made from ingredients such as Napa cabbage, carrots, baby corn, onions, garlic, mushrooms, and cilantro, plus minced pork and tofu. Sometimes it is also added to vermicelli. This dish, with its delicate flavor, can satisfy any diner.
Khao Pad:
It is one of the famous foods for first-timers during their Thailand travel itinerary. It is made of steamed rice stir-fried in a wok with other ingredients such as vegetables, eggs, and meat or seafood. If you worry about the spicy levels of Thai cuisine, you can try the no-chili version of this dish.
Khao Pad - one of the famous foods in Thailand
If you are not familiar with Thai ingredients, people there also create a special recipe for foreigners called Khao Pad American – with ketchup and raisins added to the rice, which is served with an egg, ham, deep-fried chicken, and sausage.
Mango Sticky Rice:
Sticky rice with delicious ripe mango, poured over a layer of coconut milk, will create the perfect combination of flavors for this famous dish. Would you like to taste this sweetness?
Mango Sticky Rice - A perfect combination of flavors
Koh Tao Accommodation
Are you feeling confused when looking for a suitable place to stay on Koh Tao Island? Please refer to our extremely useful suggestions below.
Mae Haad
Mae Haad, a town located near the island's ferry terminal, is home to many affordable motels for tourists. If you are a person who loves tranquility, this will be the perfect resting place for you. The minus point is that the travel distance is quite far to the center, and there are not many restaurants and bars for young people.
Mae Haad is home to many affordable motels for tourists
Sairee Beach
Are you a lover of excitement and bustle? Don't hesitate, and choose Sairee Beach right away. This is the most famous area of Koh Tao Tourism. Near Sairee Beach, there are many places to eat, play, and relax. Accommodation locations also have a variety of prices for many different audiences. This is also a convenient central location to travel to tourist destinations on the island.
Sairee Beach in Koh Tao
Besides Koh Tao, there are still many other destinations waiting for you to explore in ‘the country of Golden Pagodas’. Visit the Asia Private Travels website immediately to choose the most suitable Thailand Travel vacation for you.
