Koh Tao Beaches
Somewhat unusually for a Thai island, the main attraction of Koh Tao isn’t its beaches, but rather the stunning marine life that envelops its shores. However, this doesn’t imply that the island lacks beautiful sandy shores. In fact, there are several well-developed bays with upscale resorts, laid-back bars, restaurants, and even a few hidden tranquil coves.
Haad Sairee
Haad Sairee, situated on Koh Tao’s friendly west coast, is quite the gem. With a stretch of 1.7km of inviting white sandy beach, you’ll be treated to lovely views of the mainland on a clear day. The beach is framed by swaying palm trees, cool beach bars, dive shops, and a variety of restaurants to satisfy your cravings.
Here’s the bonus: It’s a sheltered bay, which means you won’t have to deal with those pesky strong winds and rough waves that tend to bother other Koh Tao beaches during the monsoon season. However, when the May-Oct southwest winds season decides to throw a stormy tantrum, you might encounter waves of up to two meters – just a heads up!
Even on its busier days, don’t fret about finding a spot to settle in with your towel. Being the longest beach on the island, Haad Sairee always manages to offer a cozy nook for you to relax and enjoy the surroundings.
The sea here is renowned for being the clearest on the island, and a coral reef, only 10m from the shore, provides great snorkeling straight off the beach for a distance of 400m. It can be a little tricky to navigate your way into the water at low tide, so bring some jelly shoes or wet suit socks if you’re worried about your feet. Once out snorkeling, you will be able to see many juvenile species as well as the ever-popular clown fish. Keep an ear out for motors, however, as there is a fair amount of longtail traffic coming in and out of the bay.
As it is only 10 minutes from the main port town of Mae Haad, Haad Sairee has become one of the most popular beaches on Koh Tao, catering to backpackers, families, couples, and groups of friends alike. Although a couple of hawkers do walk the beach selling sarongs, jewelry, fruit, and massages, they generally offer fair prices without too much haggling and are not too bothersome compared to Koh Samui.
Sairee Beach is the best spot to enjoy a sundown cocktail, with the bars at the northern end tending to have the most laid-back vibe throughout the night. The majority of bars are situated around the middle of the beach while towards the south is where the late-night clubs get raucous from 23:00 – 06:00.
Peace seekers or light sleepers should avoid staying in this part of town. A paved path, known locally as ‘the yellow brick road’, runs along the beachfront offering a host of amenities, such as clinics, ATMs, convenience stores, and massage and tattoo parlors.
Sairee village has a range of accommodation, dive and tour operators, internet cafes, restaurants, clothes stores, and bars set back from the beach. Generally, the atmosphere on Sairee is very laidback, but it does get quite busy during the high season.
Daytime tends to be more peaceful as the divers are all out under the water but, come sundown, things begin to liven up as the bars open, the drinks flow, and the DJs get on the decks. The village spreads 200m in every direction from the four-way intersection on the main road and contains everything you could need for the entirety of your trip.
There is a great range of accommodations on this part of the island, with everything from budget backpacker choices to some of the swankiest resorts around. There are a few bungalows perched on the rocky headland in the north, but most are found stretching back from the beach. Bargains can be haggled for if you plan to stay for a few days or more, but it is advisable to book ahead in the busy season if you don’t fancy traipsing around with your luggage.
Chalok Baan Kao
Chalok Baan Kao, at Koh Tao’s southernmost tip, gazes out toward Ang Thong National Marine Park. It’s the island’s second most popular beach due to its serene shallow blue waters and stunning beauty.
Smaller and quieter than Sairee, Chalok Baan Kao still offers essential amenities—dive shops, mini markets, ATMs, travel agents, bars, and restaurants. Over time, the area has grown, upgrading facilities. Now, alongside basic beach huts, you’ll find private luxury villas, beachside hotels, and family bungalows.
Reaching Chalok Baan Kao from Mae Haad is convenient via a good road. Taxis or pickups go for around 100 baht. You can even walk the distance in 30 minutes. If you seek a laid-back beach accessible to other areas, Chalok Kao Baan is an excellent pick.
Boasting one of the island’s major dive centers, Chalok Baan Kao sees a fair amount of boat traffic. Longtails serve as taxis while divers, snorkelers, and day-trippers populate the area. This makes it less serene, with sometimes slightly murky water—especially on the western side.
For a splash, head to the eastern end of the beach. Keep in mind, though, that the water can be shallow at times—great for cooling off, but not ideal for serious swimming. If you’re into that, explore other nearby beaches with deeper waters.
The bay is flanked by beaches on both the east and west, so you’re never far from another paradise spot. Heading west toward Mae Haad, you’ll find Haad Saal Chao. While the water here can be a touch cloudy, the beach itself is tranquil and lovely.
Tanote Bay
Tanote is one of the more remote bays on the east coast of Koh Tao and is best reached by taxi or boat. The overland route is a journey itself as you climb Mount Koh Tao and take in the amazing views over the whole island. There are only a handful of small resorts but snorkelling is excellent directly off the beach.
Rocks here provide a haven for countless small fish, with shoals of fusiliers constantly darting in sight. An abundance of barred rabbit fish, tripletail wrasse, and sergeant fish will delight snorkelers. There is great swimming off the beach and kayak tours can be arranged to get further afield. Snorkeling gear can be hired from most of the resorts.
Tanote Beach is split in two by rocks at the center, which is great for snorkeling. Fiercely bright coral can be spotted. Despite the prevalence of resorts, the course sand beach is usually quiet and only the most relaxation-seeking holidaymakers choose to stay here.
Access to Tanote Beach is improving all the time but can be challenging after heavy downpours. Motorcycles can tackle the oft-sandy path during dry spells but may struggle during wet weather. However, the vistas from the summit towards the bay itself are spell-binding.
There are a couple of little restaurants along the beach serving good-value Thai food and seafood during the day. For nightlife, you are better off getting a ride into Mae Haad or Sairee where all the bars are. Tanote Bay is really a place to hang out in the resort restaurants meeting people and having a chilled relaxed time rather than a party beach.
Nang Yuan Island
Koh Ngan Yuan is very close to Koh Tao and is effectively three small islands joined by sand dunes, creating a trio of beautiful swimming bays with coral reefs that are perfect for snorkeling.
If you fancy a walk there is a good path up to the top of the small mountain from where you can enjoy the views.
Koh Ngan Yuan’s position makes it perfect to catch both sunset and sunrise. There are day tours from Koh Tao you can take or you can arrange a private excursion with a longtail boat it if you want to spend the whole day there.
The island gets extremely crowded from 10:00-14:30 with day trippers from Samui, so avoid this time if you want a little solitude.
Only 400m off Koh Tao, the mini-archipelago is one of those must-see treats and growing in popularity among day-trippers from Koh Samui and Chumphon. Nang Yuan is government-owned so it is strictly forbidden to take plastic bottles, drink cans, or other waste onto the island. It costs 100 Baht to visit Koh Ngan Yuan which will probably be a bargain for your entire holiday.
Although there are regular ferries to the island from Mae Haad’s main pier, longtail boats can be privately chartered to make the journey at any time. Remember to haggle hard in order to get a decent price and perhaps club together with other visitors to share the cost. Only agree pay upon your return journey otherwise you may find yourself stranded there!
The island boasts an average restaurant offering overpriced food and drink, and there is a beach bar for a few sundowners at the end of a hard day. The beach here is long, wide, and virgin pure with a lagoon on one side and the open ocean on the other. There is a zip line between two of the islands which allows visitors to skim over the coral-rich ocean and costs 1,000 baht for four trips.
It is safe to swim in the shallow water of the bay with awesome snorkelling the further out you travel. An acclaimed dive site called the Japanese Gardens lies just offshore with a kaleidoscope of wondrously bright diverse coral and fish. Eagle rays and turtles have even been sported here.
Thian Og
Next to Chalok Baan Kao, separated by a peninsula, is the large private bay of Thian Og. It is one of the most beautiful Koh Tao beaches and a very quiet spot that rarely gets very busy. Ao Thian Og is perfect for chilling out and enjoying the serene side of Koh Tao.
From the end of the peninsula, you can walk to John Suwan Viewpoint, with spectacular vistas overlooking Ao Chalok Baan Kao to the left and Ao Thian Og to the right. The access road between Chalok Baan Kao and Thian Og has been closed, however.
The snorkeling is not as impressive as a storm killed a lot of coral in the bay, although this is slowly recovering farther out. Visitors are virtually guaranteed to see lots of black-tip reef sharks, however. To pamper the aching muscles after your swim or walk, you can treat yourself to a treatment at Jamahkiric Spa.
Known locally as Rocky Bay or Shark Bay, this is a good spot on Koh Tao for snorkeling with groups of two-meter-long black-tip reef sharks. They may look impressive but are essentially harmless, although it will be hard to convince yourself of that when half a dozen start circling you!
Thian Og is a stunningly beautiful bay boasting soft squeaky sand and bejewelled by coconut palms. There are a few small restaurants offering a standard array of Thai staples and Western tourist favorites and a variety of accommodations. Local ladies offer massages on the beach and there are kayaks and snorkeling gear for rent.
Going for a swim at low tide can be tricky due to the abundance of coral which can be damaged, so extreme care is mandatory. Renting a kayak can be a better idea at these times. Other than the proliferation of reef sharks, other species including green turtles, barracuda, titan triggerfish, rabbitfish, parrotfish, and skunk anemones can be commonly spotted here.
A large proportion of Thian Og’s reef was severely damaged recently and efforts are being made to encourage re-growth. Although it is a popular beach and often has a few visitors, it is rarely crowded enough to make one feel uncomfortable.
Aow Leuk Bay
A popular spot for novice divers, Aow Leuk Bay can be reached by land and also offers superb snorkeling. Equipment can be rented here although it’s not the best place for relaxing. This is a private beach, and they don’t allow you to bring your own drinks and food.
Mango Bay
Mango Bay stretches wide and shallow, providing exquisite coral reefs for snorkeling enthusiasts and deeper rocky sites for scuba diving enthusiasts. Recently, a new resort has been inaugurated, and a road is currently under construction in the area. However, the usual way of accessing this breathtaking rocky cove is still by taking a longtail boat.
Sai Daeng
Sai Daeng Beach stands out as one of the most secluded shores on the island. You can reach it either by longtail boat or via a decent, albeit quite steep, road. While there isn’t a flurry of activity here, a handful of bungalows are available for rent along with a spot to grab a bite to eat. The location is undeniably picturesque and peaceful.
Freedom Beach
Freedom Beach is small compared to other Koh Tao beaches, yet pretty with good snorkeling and soft white sand. It can be reached via a walkway from Taa Toh Lagoon. There are coral outcrops in the bay and stingrays shelter under rocks here. There is a smaller inlet for getting away from it all just a few minutes paddle south.
Laem Thian Bay
Laem Thian can be reached via a rough track from Sairee Village. Although the restaurant and resort have closed down, it is possible to find very good snorkeling in the rocky surroundings. This is the easternmost point of the island.
Hin Wong Bay
Hin Wong Bay has a standout attraction of a pinnacle rising from 30 meters below sea level to just below the surface with a wide variety of colorful fish species. Although mainly a diving destination, and too far to swim to the diving site, there are a few pockets of sand for those who want to scramble across the rocks.
