Sairee Beach
First-timersThe social centre.
Koh Tao city guide
Things To Do In Koh Tao
A small, rocky island in the Gulf of Thailand, built around diving: one of the cheapest places in the world to get certified, with clear coves, whale sharks some seasons, and sunsets on Sairee Beach.
74
Hostels in the city
8.4
Average, from 22,502 reviews
3–4 days
An Open Water course
€250–300
The course cost
Oct–Dec
The rainy season
The dive island
Koh Tao, Turtle Island, is a small granite island of coves and jungle in the Gulf of Thailand. It has become one of the busiest places in the world to learn to dive, because courses are cheap, the water is warm and calm, and the dive sites are minutes from shore.
Sairee Beach, on the west coast, is the centre, with dive schools, bars and sunsets. The rest of the island is steep, with coves and viewpoints reached by rough roads and boats.
Most people come for a four-day Open Water course and stay longer.
Where to stay
Sairee Beach, on the west coast, is the island's social centre, with dive schools, bars and hostels along the sand. Mae Haad, the ferry pier, is the transport hub. Chalok Baan Kao, in the south, is a quieter bay with dive schools.
Mae Haad
TransportThe ferry pier.
Chalok Baan Kao
QuietA southern bay.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Koh Tao
Koh Tao, the smallest of the three main Gulf islands, is one of the world's most popular places to learn to dive, with dozens of schools and some of the cheapest courses anywhere.
An Open Water course takes three to four days, usually costing €250 to €300, including accommodation at many schools. Dive sites include Chumphon Pinnacle, where whale sharks sometimes appear, and Sail Rock, between Tao and Phangan. Shark Bay and Aow Leuk have blacktip reef sharks and turtles for snorkellers.
Koh Nang Yuan, three islets joined by a white sandbar a short boat ride away, has a viewpoint over the islands; plastic bottles are banned there. Hike to the John-Suwan viewpoint, at the southern tip, for views over two bays.
Watch the sunset from Sairee Beach. Freediving, rock climbing and kayaking around the island are also popular.
Free things
Free things to do in Koh Tao
The beaches and sunsets at Sairee are free, and so is snorkelling from the shore at Shark Bay and Aow Leuk.
The John-Suwan viewpoint and Koh Nang Yuan charge small fees.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Koh Tao
Koh Tao's restaurants serve Thai food, seafood and food for divers and travellers. The street stalls around Sairee and Mae Haad are cheapest.
A meal is €2 to €6.
Nightlife
Going out in Koh Tao
Sairee Beach has bars with fire shows and parties most nights, with the dive crowd. It is livelier than its size suggests, but less wild than Koh Phangan.
A beer is €2 to €3.
Getting around
Getting around Koh Tao
Ferries and catamarans connect Koh Tao with Koh Phangan, Koh Samui and Chumphon on the mainland, with bus-and-boat tickets from Bangkok.
The roads are steep and rough; taxis and boat taxis are safer than scooters.
Costs
What Koh Tao costs
Koh Tao is mid-priced. Dorms start around €7 and a careful day is €20 to €35.
An Open Water course is €250 to €300, a fun dive €30 to €40, and Koh Nang Yuan's entry about €3.
The currency is the baht (THB), at roughly 37 to 40 baht to the euro; prices here are euro equivalents. Thai ATMs charge foreign cards about 220 baht per withdrawal, so take out larger amounts. Cards work in cities and resorts; street food is cash or QR payment.
Safety
Staying safe in Koh Tao
Koh Tao is generally safe. Its steep, rough roads cause many scooter accidents; take taxis where you can. Scooter accidents injure more travellers in Thailand than anything else. Only ride if you are licensed and insured for it, and always wear a helmet.
Dive only with reputable, insured schools.
On the Gulf islands, the rainy season runs from about October to December, the opposite of the Andaman coast.
Since June 2025, cannabis flower has been a controlled substance: visitors may not buy or use it without a prescription from a licensed Thai doctor, even though some shops still operate.
Since 15 September 2026, eligible visitors get 30 days visa-free, for tourism only, extendable once by 30 days at an immigration office, and fewer nationalities qualify, so check whether you now need a visa. All visitors must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within three days before arriving.
Tourist Police: 1155. Emergency: 191 police, 1669 ambulance.
Day trips from Koh Tao
A sandbar island, a whale-shark dive site and the neighbours.
Chumphon Pinnacle
A dive site known for whale sharks some seasons.
Koh Phangan
The Full Moon island.
Ang Thong Marine Park
Limestone islands.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Whale sharks appear some seasons, usually around March to May.
Some seasons, around March to May
Whale shark season
Dive sites
Not guaranteed.
January to September
Dive season
Koh Tao
The best visibility.
Hostels
Where to stay in Koh Tao
The top-rated places to stay in Koh Tao right now, live from Hostelworld.
Wonderland Jungle Hostel
Dorms from €11 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
Revolution Hostel Koh Tao
Dorms from €9 a night
See dates and book
Deishaview Jungle Hostel & Dive Center
Dorms from €13 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
Where is hostel - Koh Tao
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
Nomads Koh Tao Hostel
Dorms from €11 a night
See dates and book
Jungle Hostel Koh Tao
Dorms from €11 a night
See dates and book
Tiger House Hostel Koh Tao
Dorms from €15 a night
See dates and book
Think Koh Tao
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
Isla Tortuga Diving & Hostel
Dorms from €9 a night
See dates and book
Near Me Hostel and Bistro
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
Savage Hostel Koh Tao
Dorms from €19 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
Buddha View Hostel & Dive Centre
Dorms from €9 a night
See dates and book
When to go
The Gulf islands have different weather: January to August is good, and the rains come from October to December.
Jan
Drying out
Feb
Good
Mar
Excellent
Apr
Whale sharks possible
May
Good
Jun
Good
Jul
Good
Aug
Good
Sep
Good
Oct
Rains begin
Nov
Wettest
Dec
Rainy
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. The wettest months are October to December.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in baht locally; these are euro equivalents. Excludes dive courses.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Koh Tao travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Koh Tao good for learning to dive?
One of the best and cheapest places in the world: an Open Water course is about €250 to €300.
Can I see whale sharks?
Sometimes, at Chumphon Pinnacle and Sail Rock.
Should I rent a scooter?
The roads are steep and rough; taxis are safer.
How do I get there?
By ferry from Koh Phangan, Samui or Chumphon.
How many days do you need?
Four or five for a dive course.
When is the best time to visit?
March to September.
Can I snorkel without a boat?
Yes, at Shark Bay and Aow Leuk.
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