Travel to Koh Tao, Thailand

By Filipe Morato Gomes

Why travel to Koh Tao, Thailand? If you enjoy white sand beaches with crystal clear water; if you like relaxed atmospheres; if you're easy going and prefer a simple hut to a luxury resort; if you fancy being with other travellers for a while; if you like beach bars; if you're looking for exciting night life but not as extremely wild as other islands of southern Thailand; and if you want to learn how to dive at the same time, you should give Koh Tao a try.

ABOUT KOH TAO

Koh Tao is an amazing place. It has a hard to describe atmosphere, a sexy mixture between a cosy tropical paradise and a lovely party place. Beautiful beaches, good vibe, beautiful people. You'll hear many times people saying “I´m leaving tomorrow” and the next day you'll meet them diving, swimming, having a fruit shake on a beach bar, or drinking a beer and dancing all night long on a beach party. I met people that said that for the first time 4 years ago... and they're still there!

Travel Koh Tao: dive lesson on Sairee beach, Koh Tao

A group of divers getting ready for their first dive lesson on Sairee beach

It is true that most travellers go to Koh Tao to become a PADI certified diver. But Koh Tao is not just about diving. If you're a non-diver you can have a great time as well, as long as you don't mind being surrounded by dive students, regulators, BCDs, fins, masks and all kind of dive gear most of the time. It could be worse, right? Even if you don't feel like diving, you'll learn a lot about the wonders and mysteries of underwater world.

MAE HAAD

All boats arrive and depart at Mae Haad. Mae Haad is a little over-developed now but it still has some kind of a fishing village charm. You'll find ATMs, post office, dive shops, travel agents, medical centres, restaurants, tons of internet shops, Seven Eleven supermarket, bars and party places, scooter rentals and any other services you may need.

SAIREE BEACH

Within walking distance of Mae Haad, Sairee beach is the most popular area of Koh Tao. It is also the longest beach and it's where some of the main dive centres, a wide range of accommodations, restaurants and some of the most popular beach bars are located. Sooner or later, you'll probably end up spending most of your time in the area.

ACCOMMODATION IN KOH TAO

There are literally dozens of places to stay in Koh Tao. In fact, there's a huge variety of accommodation for every budget on the island, but most resorts, bungalows and guesthouses are located on the main areas of Sairee, Mae Haad, and also Chalok Baan Kao. Although most hotels are clean and good value for the money (not the cheapest in Thailand, though), don't expect luxuries in most of them. You can find affordable nice rooms or bungalows with a fan and shared toilets, but if you need air-con, private bathrooms or hot water expect to pay for it.

Be aware that some dive resorts don't accept non-divers especially during high season (from mid December to March and also from July to September). That's because dive resorts earn more money with divers, of course. Others may charge you double the divers' price if you're not diving or taking diving lessons with them.

If you're travelling out of the peak season there's no need to book your hotel room in advance. Hotels, guesthouses and dive resorts will find you as soon as you leave the boat at Mae Haad. On the other hand, if you're going to Koh Tao in high season, you'd be safer if you give a hotel a call in advance. Koh Tao is not that big and it can get very crowded sometimes.

DIVING IN KOH TAO

Diving in Nangyuan, northwest of Koh Tao

That's why most people go to Koh Tao. Not because the dive sites are the most spectacular in Thailand, but because there's a huge dive industry on the island, the prices are very competitive and it's a great place for young travellers have a good time. To give you an idea, the biggest diving centre in Koh Tao alone - Ban's Diving Resort - certifies around 7.000 PADI students a year.

When I was in Koh Tao, travellers recommended me Ban's Diving Resort and Asian Divers as reputable diving centres for PADI diving courses and fun dives but there are many others you can trust. Talk to other travellers when you get there.

KOH TAO NIGHTLIFE

It's very interesting to notice that in Sairee beach area, for example, beach bars are organized in a way that there's only one main party each night. You just have to pay attention to the flyers on the trees or look at the sea after dark. If you see a line of lights entering the ocean, that's exactly where the party is going to happen that night.

You'll find different atmospheres on different bars, from dance music to artists performing live Jack Johnson's style music on the beach. Koh Tao nightlife is interesting, funny and sometimes wild. I would say that at least two things are almost guaranteed if you go out in Koh Tao: you'll have a great time and you'll meet many attractive young people. Just don't forget that, in case you have to dive early in the next morning, drinking alcohol and diving doesn't go along very well.

A final advice for male readers about the infamous Thai ladyboys. There are not as many of them in Koh Tao as in other tourist places in Thailand, like Bangkok, Phuket or Koh Phangan, for example. But still, it is advisable to keep your eyes open specially if you go out partying and you end up drinking too much. You know, male travellers usually get very upset when they find out a little bit too late that they have a “different” kind of girlfriend.

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