Koh Tao

Koh Tao means “Turtle Island”, because of the abundance of marine turtles that used to breed in its rich and fertile waters.  Koh Tao is located in the Gulf of Thailand approximately 45 kilometers north of Koh Phangan and 70 kilometers east from the coastline of mainland Thailand.  However given the new fast ferry services from Koh Samui and Chumporn, this idyllic unspoilt island is now easily assessable for the more discerning travellers.

At 21 sq miles Koh Tao is a small island compared to its more famous neighbours of Koh Phangan and Koh Samui, however because of the historical inaccessibility of the island in the past, it has not suffered from the overdevelopment of its larger neighbours.  Many tour books sum up the island as being today as Koh Samui was 30 years ago.

However do not think that this means there is little to do on the island apart from laze on its 11 coral white beaches.  As Koh Tao’s reputation for natural beauty and its stunning marine life grew, it became one of the major dives sites in Thailand.  So today the island benefits from high quality services, restaurants and tourist activities ranging from the obvious large no’s of dive schools, moped hire, guided island tours, health and beauty spa’s, fishing and many more.

Island Facilities

Money and foreign exchange

A few years ago Koh Tao had no ATM, but now happily they are situated at convenient locations all over the island. Koh Tao has three banks - Siam City, Siam Commercial and Bangkok Bank, opening hours from 8.30am to 3.30pm Mondays to Fridays. BKK bank is also open on Sundays. There are also several ATMs and exchange booths around the island, and for those in need of quick cash, Western Union is available on several locations.

Hospitals and Clinics 

There are no hospitals on the island, however there are a number of independent clinics staffed by medical professionals, as well as this the island does have a resident doctor for more serious cases.  As well as the clinics there are a number of good pharmacies which can supply prescribed medicines and stock the usual pharmaceutical products.  If you have any specific medical condition then please contact us before arrival and we can check the provision for treatment here on the island in advance of your stay.

Shopping

The island has several 7-11 stores for everyday purchases as well as one “big” department store for a wider range of items (please do not expect too much….) Other than this there are numerous artisans with boutiques and tiny stalls selling all manner of those holiday purchases that remind you of your stay, as well as clothing stores, CD stores, sunglasses etc…etc…

Recompression Chamber

Koa Tao has two companies that deal with recompression and diving accidents. A mono-place chamber is located at the Mae Haad on the island, and the nearest multi-place recompression facility is in neighbouring Koh Samui.

Restaurants

The island has a diverse range of restaurants, from simple beach bars serving a basic selection of Thai or western food, through to high quality establishments serving a wide selection of international cuisine.  Some current favourites are the Café del Sol grill house, with a French chef serving up delectable steaks and homemade Italian dishes and the open-air Thipwimarn Restaurant on a hill top at Sairee, offering Thai cuisine with a view.

As Koh Tao is an island and still has a strong traditional fishing community, seafood is a particularly strong item and a visit to the island would not be complete without trying a dish or two of Spanish Mackerel, which is a succulent meaty fish that is abundant in the local waters.

Nightlife

Koh Tao has a wide range of bars and clubs, the heart of which is Sairee beach, approximately 10 minutes by taxi from The haadtien Beach Resort.

Sairee beach has a number of beach bars that open out onto the sand and at night they place cushions and lights onto the sand itself, which creates quite a magical environment when coupled with the chill out music emanating from the bars, and the lapping of the waves against the shore.  Most bars close at 10pm, but should you wish to continue, as you head to the far end of the beach there are a number of late night bars that carry on going until the morning light.

Koh Tao gets very quiet around the full moon, as every party person in Thailand heads to the world famous Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan, the island adjacent to Koh Tao.  A popular option to avoid being room-less in Koh Pha-ngan is to actually stay on Koh Tao and just take the Full Moon "party boat" over.   The boat leaves at 6pm, gets you right to the party beach by 7:30pm, before bringing you back at 6am  No worrying about trying to find accommodation at one of the worlds biggest parties.