Southern Thailand · Surat Thani

Koh Tao travel guide: diving, Sairee Beach and Koh Nang Yuan

Koh Tao — Turtle Island, named for the green turtles that once nested on its beaches — is Thailand's most popular scuba-diving destination, as TAT describes. The small, mountainous island has 11 bays and 10 capes along its 28.6-kilometre coast, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports' directory, with coral reefs in both shallow and deep water and many dive schools for beginners.

AsiaVela editorial teamUpdated 1 October 20263 min read

The three islets of Koh Nang Yuan joined by white sandbars seen from the viewpoint — Koh Nang Yuan's sandbars.

Suggested time: 4–5 nights
Where to stay: Sairee Beach or Mae Haad
Season and timing: Roughly January to September is best in the Gulf; storms and rough seas are more common from October to December.

The short answer

Stay four or five nights. Take a beginner's dive course or fun dives with an operator that follows Green Fins practices, base yourself near Sairee Beach, and visit Koh Nang Yuan, three islets joined by sandbars. Snorkel in the quieter bays on the east coast. Koh Tao is reached by ferry from Chumphon on the mainland or from Samui and Koh Phangan.

Diving and snorkelling

The directory describes Koh Tao's underwater world as ideal for both snorkelling and scuba diving, with coral reefs in shallow and deep water and many dive schools along the coast.

In 2020, UN Environment and Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources recognised Koh Tao's community commitment to coral reef conservation, TAT reported, and praised dive operators for following Green Fins practices. Choose such an operator, never touch coral or marine life, and use reef-safe sunscreen.

Sairee Beach

Sairee, almost 2 kilometres long and 10 minutes from Mae Haad pier, is the island's longest beach and has the most accommodation, according to the directory, which notes that rocks make some stretches better for strolling than swimming.

It is lively in the evening, with sunset views to the west.

Stacked granite boulders of Hin Tha Toh at the southern tip of Koh Tao — Hin Tha Toh, the southern tip of Koh Tao.

Forested hills and bays of Koh Tao seen from the John-Suwan viewpoint — Koh Tao from the John-Suwan viewpoint.

Make time for the local food

What to eat and where to look

Seafood dinners

Grilled seafood at beach restaurants around Sairee.

Where to look: Sairee Beach.
Fit it into your day: Dinner at sunset.

Prices often by weight.

Thai street food

Pad thai, curries and rice dishes from small restaurants and stalls.

Where to look: Mae Haad and Sairee village.
Fit it into your day: A cheap lunch between dives.

Ask about chilli.

Island cafés

Breakfast and coffee for early dive starts.

Where to look: Near the dive schools.
Fit it into your day: Breakfast before diving.

Avoid heavy meals right before a dive.

Koh Nang Yuan

Just north-west of Koh Tao, Koh Nang Yuan is three small islands linked by sandbars, as the directory describes, with clear water around them.

Boats leave from Mae Haad. An entry fee and rules on plastic may apply; check before you go.

A school of striped sergeant-major fish swimming over a reef off Koh Tao — Fish on a reef off Koh Tao.

A traditional wooden dive boat anchored off Koh Tao — A dive boat at Koh Tao.

Getting there

Koh Tao can be reached by speedboat or ferry from the mainland and from Samui, TAT notes. Chumphon is the nearest mainland port; boats also connect with Koh Phangan.

Fly to Chumphon, Surat Thani or Samui and continue by boat; crossings may be cancelled in rough weather.