One of the first things you’ll have to decide is where you want to stay on Koh Tao Island. It’s not a big island, but there are a lot of choices when it comes to picking a place to stay. And a bunch of different areas too. How do you know which one is best for you?
In this blog, we’re going to look at the three most popular areas on the island – Sairee Beach, Mae Haad and Chalok Baan Kao.
Sairee Beach
For visitors looking to experience the best sunsets Koh Tao has to offer, this lovely 1.8 km long beach on the west side of the island is the place to be. Most of the beach is idyllic coconut palm-lined, with the occasional Australian Pine providing much-needed shade. It’s the perfect beach for a walk during the day, or at night. The snorkeling here is pretty decent with angelfish, bannerfish, parrotfish, a few giant barracuda and the occasional turtle to be found in the shallow coral gardens just off the beach. Sairee Beach is also a great place to depart for Nang Yuan Island, especially if you want to try a quick 20-minute paddle out there in a kayak, or on one of those SUP boards.
With the largest range of shops, bars, cafes, restaurants and dive centres, Sairee Beach is where most people choose to stay when they visit Koh Tao. It’s no surprise, then, that Sairee Beach is also home to the most social hostels on the island and some very luxurious beachfront resorts. Sairee Beach is the number one choice for families, couples, singles and really any adventurous travellers.
Hungry? Then check out Duck 995, Tik, Seasons, Lazy House and the ‘7/11 Food Court’ for local Thai food. If you’re looking for more Western-style food then try Baia Burger Concept, Barracuda Restaurant, La Pizzeria, Blue Water Café and Portobello’s. Vegetarians and vegans should take a look at Vegetabowl, Lanta Restaurant, and Shalimar for the most delicious meat-free options in the area.
For those wanting to let down their hair and enjoy some of the best parties that Koh Tao has to offer, then Sairee Beach is definitely the place to stay. Popular places include BND Beach Club, Choppers Bar, Fizz Beach Lounge, Lotus Bar, Fishbowl, Maya Beach Club, Diza Bar, AC Pool Party and SO many more!
Well worth checking out are Duck 995, Tik, Seasons, Lazy House and the ‘7/11 Food Court’ for Thai food, while those looking for Western/Fusion should try Baia Burger Concept, Barracuda Restaurant, La Pizzeria, Blue Water Café and Portobello’s.
Mae Haad
This is the pier area of Koh Tao Island and is where you would have disembarked the ferry. Mae Haad has a lovely charm about it with the narrow streets revealing hints of what the island used to be like before tourism really hit. It’s got a good selection of clothing and souvenir shops and there are also a few stores specializing in scuba equipment for those looking to start a new diving career on the island.
The narrow beach is okay for swimming and snorkelling, but the boat traffic in and out can get annoying and also contributes to a litter problem that the beach suffers from. Swim here if you must, but there are far better options within walking distance of Mae Haad.
Home to a few excellent places to eat, it’s not as lively as Sairee, so it tends to attract a slightly older crowd and those just a bit too relaxed to go any further after getting off the ferry. It’s also a pretty good place for sunsets, which are often the backdrop to hundreds of swooping birds out for their evening meal – one hell of a sight for bird-lovers out there! The town has a handful of excellent eateries for all tastes, in particular, Whitening with its Thai/Western fusion and international dishes, Kakureya for delicious Japanese cuisine, Neptune and Dolce Vita for authentic Italian delights and Pranee Kitchen or Yang’s Restaurant for good yet cheap Thai food. Vegetarians and Vegans would be fools to miss La Carotte Qui Rit, and Coconut Monkey is also very popular with those with a penchant for veggies over beasties.
Party lovers may find Mae Haad a little too quiet for their liking, but with Sairee Beach just a twenty-minute stroll (or a one-hour drunken stumble) away, Mae Haad is not completely cut-off from the action.
Chalok Baan Khao
Chalok Baan Khao is the third-largest beach on Koh Tao and the quietest one of the three we’ve talked about here, Chalok Baan Kao is home to the majority of our French and Spanish-speaking visitors. The shallow bay is perfect for those not too comfortable with swimming, and it’s often quite popular with families because of this fact. Unfortunately the snorkeling here is not so great due to the shallow depths.
Since Chalok Baan Kao faces southwest, it’s not the best place on the island for those classically famous Koh Tao sunset photos. But it is near a handful of incredible viewpoints that more than makeup for the lack of perfect sunsets. The real draw of Chalok Baan Khao is how quiet it is for its visitors. Even in high season, you get a real feeling of being away from it all, but still with a 7/11 just a few minutes away.
With far more Thai food options here than any other type of cuisine, Chalok Baan Kao is a nice place to see what real Thai cooking is all about. Yin Yang on the main street is always very busy and the seafood BBQ is always a very popular beachfront option. But anyone staying here absolutely must pay a visit to The Cape Restaurant, located in Viewpoint Resort, on the west side of the beach. While it’s not for those on a tight budget, the quality of food is worth splurging on, especially the Black Angus and the Tuna steaks! Another worth getting excited over is Suda, a Korean restaurant just a five-minute stroll from the beach. With absolutely delicious treats simply all over the menu, it’s a nice way to sample Korean food without having to take that long flight to Pyongyang.
Nightlife options are a lot more limited here but you still have options. Pirate Bar and High Bar both have super chilled vibes with incredible views of Chalok Bay.
Have questions about Koh Tao that you just can’t seem to find the answers for? We’ve been here for 30 years so we know everything about the island. Contact us and let us know how we can help plan your trip to paradise!
