Koh Tao · Gulf of Thailand
Island Life & Scuba
Beach hop, find your favourite spot, learn to dive, and swim with turtles
Scuba divingSnorkellingIsland lifeSunsets
See what we love About Island Life & Scuba
A tiny island with a giant reputation. Koh Tao is one of the world's best — and cheapest — places to learn to dive, ringed by coral and granite boulders, with a laid-back, barefoot rhythm all of its own.
World-Class Diving
Cheap, beginner-friendly courses and warm, clear water.
Hidden Bays
Quiet coves and snorkelling straight off the sand.
Laid-Back Life
Beach bars, yoga and a slow, barefoot island pace.
Sunset Views
Granite viewpoints and the best skies in the Gulf.
01Where you'll be
One small island, a few little worlds
Koh Tao is tiny — you can cross it in 20 minutes — but each bay has its own feel. Here's where you'll spend your time.
02How to get there
Getting to the island
There's no airport on Koh Tao, so every route runs through Bangkok and finishes with a ferry across the Gulf. Pick the one that fits your budget and time — we can book every leg except your flights.
Cheapest flights
Fly to Surat Thani
URT airport · ~1h 10 from BKK
฿฿฿ ~5–6 hr total
Often the best-value flights from Bangkok. A short van to Donsak pier, then the ferry across.
Then ferry ≈ 2 hrFrom $37 / person · one way ฿1,100
03When to come
Best time to visit
Sunny & dryMixedRainyHeavy rain
February
Dry, warm and calm. A lovely all-round month above and below the water.
04The people
Meet our local friends in Koh Tao
The hosts, dive instructors and boat captains who call this island home.
Meet everyone we trust05What you can do
Experiences we'd recommend
Every one led by a local friend who knows these reefs inside out.
Stay in Island Life & Scuba
View all staysHandpicked places to rest, hosted by people we know and trust.
Koh Tao Regal Resort
Our Local Friend Mae Haad, Koh Tao
A private-beach dive resort at Mae Haad built around three outdoor pools — one a deep training pool — with an on-site PADI centre and air-conditioned rooms with private balconies, a short walk from the pier.
From $37 / night ฿1,100
Koh Tao Beach Club
Our Local Friend Mae Haad, Koh Tao
A Thai-style beachfront hotel on its own 150-foot private beach near Mae Haad, with a pool, a beach bar and a free shuttle from the pier — an easy, sociable base a short walk from the ferry.
From $50 / night ฿1,500
06Go deeper
Choose your destination
Ready to zoom in? Pick a coastline and see every stay, experience and local friend there.
Got a question? Just ask.
Tell us where you want to go, what you're into, or what you're not sure about. We reply within 24 hours — from real people who live here.
Book with us and we'll send your personal itinerary & local list before you arrive.