8 Best Beaches on Koh Tao, Thailand

8 Best Beaches on Koh Tao, Thailand

A quick guide to finding the best beast on Koh Tao. From secluded white sandy beaches to sprawling party centers, Koh Tao has you covered!

You might be surprised to learn that some of the best beaches in Thailand are also the best beaches on Koh Tao!

Whether you want to snorkel, swim, jump off cliffs, or just relax after a day of diving, this list of Koh Tao beaches is sure to inspire you to explore.

How to get to Koh Tao

There are several options for travelers wanting to get to Koh Tao. The quickest way is to take a flight to neighboring Koh Samui and then take a quick ferry to Koh Tao.

However, if you can't get a cheap plane ticket to Koh Samui, this option is most likely the most expensive.

FIND ALL BUDGET TRANSPORT TO KOH TAO

The cheaper options: bus and ferry

Typically, flights to and from Bangkok and Phuket are the cheapest in Thailand. Luckily, there are also several buses that run from Phuket and Bangkok and are connected to Koh Tao via a bus.

You can sew a bus and ferry combination together yourself. However, if you want to save time and pay the same money then I would recommend just buying a combined bus and ferry ticket from Phuket or Bangkok for $30.

BOOK: BUS AND FERRY TICKET FROM BANGKOK TO KOH TAO FOR $30

BOOK: BUS AND FERRY TICKET FROM PHUKET TO KOH TAO FOR $30

These combo tickets are the faster catamarans and air-conditioned coaches that will take you all the way. You won't be ripped off for an expensive transfer at the ferry terminal, as this is also included.

The best beaches on Koh Tao

I spent just over two months on Koh Tao completing my Dive Master program, so I had plenty of time to explore these beaches and make a good call as to which ones would make the list. Keep in mind that this list is in no particular order and depends on what you are looking for.

Check out the map to find the locations of all beaches on Koh Tao in the list below.

MORE THAN JUST EPIC BEACHES: 14 BEST THINGS TO DO ON KOH TAO ISLAND

1. Shark Bay (Haad Thien Beach)

Shark Bay is on the south side of Koh Tao. This beach is famous for its snorkeling and the blacktip reef sharks that visit the shallows in the early morning hours. If you want to swim with the sharks, read this post that details how and when to visit this beach.

The actual beach (Haad Thien Beach) is privately owned by the resort. You can either drive to the resort and pay the entrance fee or simply enter the bay using the stairs on the cliff. The best way to get to the beach is to go to the OK2 Bungalows and walk down the ramp on the cliff until you reach the water.

Once you're at the water's edge, a bamboo walkway leads over the craggy rocks on the side of the bay. You can either relax once you reach the smooth rocks and snorkel in the bay or move on to do some small cliff jumps of 2 to 3 meters.

Check out the full guide to where to swim with reef sharks on Koh Tao.

2. Freedom Beach

Freedom Beach is one of my favorite beaches on Koh Tao. This small, protected, white sand beach has epic turquoise waters and a calm surfing ambience with no waves. There are some hammocks hanging from the trees directly behind the water.

Freedom Beach is on the opposite side of Shark Bay and can be reached by driving approximately 3 minutes past the turnoff to OK2 Bungalows. There will be a short stretch of gravel road before you reach a resort parking lot. Continue down and you will see a sign for Freedom Beach.

The owners of the small restaurant do a pretty good job of keeping the beach clean. So if you want to thank them, buy a drink or a snack. Just remember to take your trash with you.

BOOK: Top-rated snorkeling trip on Koh Tao

3. Koh Nang Yuan

Koh Nang Yuan is not actually one of the beaches on Koh Tao, but rather a very small double-headed island about half a kilometer off the northwest coast of Koh Tao. This is one of the most famous and well-known photo spots in the area, with a fantastic viewpoint overlooking a narrow white sand beach that connects the two island heads.

You can get here by paying one of the many taxi boat drivers on Sairee Beach. The general price for a longboat from Sairee will cost you around 250 baht per boat for a round trip.

Alternatively, if you are in a group and want to snorkel, consider this private speedboat tour.

4. Tanote Bay

Although Tanote Bay is on the other side of the island from the hustle and bustle of Sairee, it is one of the most popular beaches on Koh Tao. This is mainly due to the fantastic snorkeling and cliff diving.

To get to Tanote Bay from Sairee, head towards Cha Lok until you see a large sign on the left. You pass the small and only animal hospital on the island and continue up and over the hill. Continue straight on this road until the end where you will see a small dirt road that leads to the beach.

This main street is one of the most scenic in Koh Tao and offers epic panoramic views. We stopped most of the way along the road to take in the epic views of the island coast.

In Tanote Bay there is a large rock that rises about 4m from the water. This rock has some of the best snorkeling of the other beaches on Koh Tao. You can also climb to the top of the rock to jump into the deep water below.

5. Hin Wong Bay

Hin Wong Bay is another epic bay with a small rocky beach on Koh Tao. This place is a bit quieter than other beaches on Koh Tao, mainly due to the monster hill you have to drive up to reach it.

To get to Hin Wong Bay, head towards Smile Mart from the main Sairee Beach area. Continue on this main road, past Smile Mart and up the hill. It is quite steep and you will most likely need at least a 110cc scooter to get up it. Once you reach the top of the hill, you can enjoy the spectacular views of Sairee before heading down the other side of the hill towards Hin Wong Bay.

Many people like to visit Hin Wong Bay for snorkeling or just relaxing on the rocky beach. There are also many dive boats that dock here when the weather is rough on Sairee, western side of Koh Tao.
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6. Cha Lok Bay

Cha Lok Bay is a large beach stretched by a long strip of white sand. There are a few boats moored in this bay, but the water is clear and much better for swimming than Poplar Sairee Beach.

This beach is fairly easy to find as there are many dive shops scattered along the stretch of beach. To get to Cha Lok Bay, head towards Cha Lok town and continue past the Tanote Bay turnoff. Once you reach the Koh Tao resort, you can walk through the gaps in the many resorts and dive shops and onto the beach.

Although the snorkeling isn't as good as some of the other beaches on Koh Tao, Cha Lok Bay is great for spending the day on the beach or in one of the beach bars.
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7. Sairee Beach

Everyone who travels to Koh Tao will end up at Sairee Beach at some point. Whether it's for the famous Koh Tao pub crawl or finding dive shops to arrange a Padi certificate, Sairee Beach is the main tourist area of ​​Koh Tao.

It's not hard to miss this beach, but I found that the best spots were on the northern tip of the beach, away from the longtails and dive boats that come in and out of the bay.

There are also some great bars along the stretch of beach. Sairee is great for sunset as you can watch the sun disappear below the horizon.

Tip: Be sure to check out the fire throwers that perform every evening on Sairee Beach.

8. Deserted Resort Beach (Laem Thian Beach)

The Abandoned Resort is one of my favorite beaches on Koh Tao. A once bustling resort is now empty and abandoned. Because of the wall, which takes about an hour to walk, you usually have the entire bay to yourself.

After checking out the deserted resort, you have the option to snorkel in Laem Thain Bay or jump from the cliffs on the other side of the bay, where some tall rocks jut out of the deep water.

Check out the full post on how to get to the Abandoned Resort here.

Book your trip to Koh Tao

Book cheap flightsAre you still in the planning phase of your trip? Currently the best and easiest way to find cheap flights is to use Momondo and Skyscanner. You are guaranteed to always find the cheapest flight between the two, anywhere in the world. Book your accommodationWhether you're looking for hostels, hotels, guesthouses or resorts between Booking.com and Agoda, you'll always get the best deals. I always search using the map feature to find accommodation in the best places. Sometimes when I want to stay in one place for a little longer, I use Airbnb. Book Tours and TransportationYou already know that I prefer independent travel. Sometimes the best and cheapest way to get things done is to simply book a tour or package. For Thailand I always use Klook and Viator. To find cheaper transportation in Thailand such as buses, trains and ferries, you can also visit 12GoAsia. Don't forget adventure travel insurance If you're reading this blog, you're probably looking for adventure while sipping poolside. After having my entire bag stolen in Barcelona (including camera gear), I vowed to always have travel insurance. My favorite company for the most comprehensive adventure travel insurance is by far World Nomads. If you're on the fence, you can read my article to see if it's right for you.

Where to Stay on Koh Tao – Accommodation Guide

There are several options for travelers who want to stay on the island of Koh Tao. To save you time, I've listed some of the best options below.

HOSTEL RIGHT NEXT TO MAE HEAD PIER FOR $6/NIGHT - BLACK WOOD HOSTELBlack Wood Hostel is one of the top rated hostels on Koh Tao and is just a 5 minute walk from Mae Head Pier. This is the perfect place to stay if you're arriving on a later boat or looking for a central hostel close to the pier.

BEST HOSTEL FOR BACKPACKERS IN SAIREE FOR UNDER $10/NIGHT – BP HOSTELBP Hostel offers shared accommodation options, all of which include air conditioning for the hotter nights on Koh Tao. It is also in the heart of Sairee and close to the beach, Smile Mart and the Koh Tao pub crawl.

TOP GUESTHOUSE ON KOH TAO – NIRVANA GUESTHOUSEThis guesthouse has the best reviews on Koh Tao. It is also very close to Mae Head Pier and several world-class diving schools. It is also another budget-friendly option for couples or solo backpackers.
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More Thailand travel guides

I hope this guide to the best beaches on Koh Tao has inspired you to explore this island gem! For more travel guides from Thailand, check out the list below.

Or, if you want more Koh Tao travel tips, check out this list of the absolute best things to do on Koh Tao!

The 7 Best Things to Do in Khao Lak, Thailand Fighting Muay Thai in Thailand as a ForeignerTanote Bay – Cliff Jumping Beach on Koh Tao

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