Koh Tao - All You Need to Know Before You Go
Visiting Koh Tao: Come for the Diving, Stay Because You Lost Your Passport at a Bar Called “The Bucket List”
Ah, Koh Tao, the little Thai island that somehow manages to be a diving mecca, a party hotspot, a hippie hideaway, and a sunburn factory all at once. It’s like if Ibiza, Bali, and your local CrossFit club all had a baby, and that baby lived off mango smoothies and bar crawls.
People come here to get scuba certified, find themselves, lose themselves, and occasionally wake up next to a Canadian with a sea turtle tattoo. Let’s dive in (pun 100% intended).
Beaches: Yes, There’s More Than One, And Yes, They’re Ridiculously Pretty
Sairee Beach – The main strip. This is where the action is. Sunsets, parties, regret, and sand in places sand shouldn’t be. Also the best people-watching spot on the island: expect half-naked tourists pretending they’re not checking their ex’s stories.
Ao Leuk – Clear water, good snorkeling, and far fewer tourists. A good beach for when you want to feel smugly superior to people on Sairee.
Shark Bay – Don’t worry, the sharks are chill. Great for snorkeling and confronting your fear of things that look like they could eat you.
Tanote Bay – Instagrammers love it, mainly because there’s a big rock you can climb and jump off. Warning: not for the acrophobic or the sober.
Where to Stay: From Dive Dorms to Bougie Treehouses
Budget (Under $25) – Dive school dorms, bamboo huts, and rooms where the fan doubles as white noise. Cozy, sweaty, and full of personality (and possibly ants).
Mid-range ($30–80) – Air-conditioned bungalows, boutique hotels, and accommodations that come with actual sheets and a non-rusty showerhead. The sweet spot for most travelers who want to dive but still respect their backs.
Luxury ($100+) – Cliffside villas with ocean views and staff that pretend you’re a VIP even as you show up in flip-flops and a hangover. You’ll feel rich for 36 hours, and that’s what matters.
How to Get There from Bangkok: It's a Journey, Not a Destination (But Also a Destination)
There’s no airport on Koh Tao, because nothing good is ever easy. Getting there is a combo of planes, trains, buses, and boats. Think of it as the Southeast Asia version of a triathlon, but with less cardio and more Pringles.
Option 1: Fly to Koh Samui + Ferry
Quickest way (if your bank account is feeling frisky).
Fly to Koh Samui (1 hour from Bangkok).
Ferry to Koh Tao (1.5 to 2 hours).
Total damage: about $100–$150. But hey, you’ll be there before your friends finish their bus nap.
Option 2: Fly to Surat Thani or Chumphon + Bus + Ferry Combo
Budget option for people who like “adventure” (aka long transfers and questionable roadside coffee).
Flights are cheap, and combo tickets are widely sold.
Expect 6–9 hours total travel time depending on delays, sea mood, and whether Mercury is in retrograde.
Option 3: Overnight Train or Bus from Bangkok + Ferry
The budget traveler’s rite of passage.
Overnight train to Chumphon, then a Lomprayah or Songserm ferry.
Bonus: you get to sleep on a train, which is weirdly charming and mildly traumatic.
Getting Around: Scooters, Flip-Flops, and the Occasional Scream
Scooter rental: Popular, affordable (around 250–350 baht/day), and a great way to see the island, assuming you survive the potholes and don’t get scammed by a rental shop that wants to charge you for pre-existing scratches from the Jurassic era.
Walking: Totally doable in Sairee and around the main beaches, unless it’s midday — then it’s “walking” with bonus heatstroke.
Taxis (songthaews): Expensive, slow, and mostly useful if you’re lost, lazy, or carrying a backpack the size of a refrigerator.
Nightlife: Buckets, Fire Shows, and “Where Are My Shoes?”
Koh Tao punches way above its weight in the party department.
Sairee Beach is the nightlife nucleus. Fire shows, EDM (click here if you don't even know what that means), beach bars with beanbags, and at least one guy who brought his own speaker for reasons unknown.
The Pub Crawl – Legendary, messy, and filled with people who forgot their own name by 11 PM. Includes free t-shirts you’ll never wear again and memories you’ll probably black out.
Fishbowl, Lotus, and Leo Bar – These are your main dance/party bars. Enter at your own risk (and probably barefoot).
Pro tip: don’t accept a bucket from a stranger. It’s like a hangover in a souvenir cup.
Daytime Activities (You Know, For Sober Hours)
Scuba Diving – If Koh Tao were a person, it would be a scuba instructor who says “dude” too much. The island is famous for its cheap and solid Open Water certification. You can get certified in 3–4 days for around $300. Dive sites like Chumphon Pinnacle and Sail Rock are bucket-list-worthy.
Snorkeling – Not ready for tanks? Snorkel tours are cheap, easy, and involve minimal commitment, kind of like that guy from last night.
Hiking – Lots of great viewpoints if you're into sweating profusely while being chased by mosquitoes.
Kayaking, Paddleboarding, or Floating Aimlessly – All equally valid.
Eating your bodyweight in mango sticky rice – Culturally enriching and emotionally satisfying.
Final Thoughts: Koh Tao Is That Flirty Ex You Always Come Back To
It’s beautiful, a little chaotic, weirdly romantic, and sometimes leaves you questioning your life choices, but in a fun way.
Whether you’re diving, partying, detoxing, or just pretending to do yoga on the beach while watching TikToks, Koh Tao offers something for everyone. And by “everyone,” we mostly mean 20-something backpackers and slightly older people still pretending to be 20-something backpackers.
Go for the diving. Stay for the beaches. Leave because your visa’s about to expire.
And don’t forget where you put your passport.
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