Lying north and west and around 45km distant from Koh Pha Ngan and approximately 75 km from the Suratthani mainland, Koh Tao – Turtle Island – with an area a little over 20 km², is just visible from Baan Bophut, as a distant smudge on the horizon on very clear days. From the village it’s around 75 km distant and takes an hour and a half or so by speedboat on calm seas.
Ferries from mainland Suratthani and Chumpon, as well as from neighbouring Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Sumui, all arrive and depart from Mae Had, the only formal entry point to the island. The town, which acts as the island’s capital and transport and communications hub from where the small network of roads emanate, is nestled to the south of Sai Ree Beach and village, which is easily the most developed and popular destination for Koh Tao’s visitors to stay. The beach stretches all the way to Mae Had. It’s a just walkable 1.5 km between the two villages, but most visitors use a songtheaw or taxi for the short journey from or to the ferry piers. Dotted in and around Koh Tao’s 11 bays and 10 rocky headlands are many, picturesque beaches: some long and sandy like Sai Ree, Had Mai Had, Chaloke Ban Kao Bay; others with smaller, rockier beaches.
Koh Tao has made a reputation for itself as the best dive location in the Gulf of Thailand and one of the most popular within Asia among international divers, within a space of little more than twenty years. Globally, Koh Tao is second only to Cairns, Australia, as an issuer location for PADI diving certificates. Such is island’s focus that non-diving visitors may find it difficult to find accommodation during the peak diving seasons.
Like neighbouring Koh Pha Ngan, visitors may find it easier to use taxi boats to explore some of the myriad isolated beaches, particularly those of the south and east coasts, which are especially attractive.
Koh Tao
Lying north and west and around 45km distant from Koh Pha Ngan and approximately 75 km from the Suratthani mainland, Koh Tao – Turtle Island – with an area a little over 20 km², is just visible from Baan Bophut, as a distant smudge on the horizon on very clear days. From the village it’s around 75 km distant and takes an hour and a half or so by speedboat on calm seas.
Ferries from mainland Suratthani and Chumpon, as well as from neighbouring Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Sumui, all arrive and depart from Mae Had, the only formal entry point to the island. The town, which acts as the island’s capital and transport and communications hub from where the small network of roads emanate, is nestled to the south of Sai Ree Beach and village, which is easily the most developed and popular destination for Koh Tao’s visitors to stay. The beach stretches all the way to Mae Had. It’s a just walkable 1.5 km between the two villages, but most visitors use a songtheaw or taxi for the short journey from or to the ferry piers. Dotted in and around Koh Tao’s 11 bays and 10 rocky headlands are many, picturesque beaches: some long and sandy like Sai Ree, Had Mai Had, Chaloke Ban Kao Bay; others with smaller, rockier beaches.
Koh Tao has made a reputation for itself as the best dive location in the Gulf of Thailand and one of the most popular within Asia among international divers, within a space of little more than twenty years. Globally, Koh Tao is second only to Cairns, Australia, as an issuer location for PADI diving certificates. Such is island’s focus that non-diving visitors may find it difficult to find accommodation during the peak diving seasons.
Like neighbouring Koh Pha Ngan, visitors may find it easier to use taxi boats to explore some of the myriad isolated beaches, particularly those of the south and east coasts, which are especially attractive.