Sairee
The longest beach on the island and the centre of everything: the largest concentration of dive schools, most of the restaurants and bars, and a sunset that fills the beach every evening.
Skip it if: you want quiet after ten at night.
Thailand · Koh Tao
Where to Stay in Koh Tao: Which Area Suits You
Sairee, Mae Haad or Chalok Baan Kao: the diving island, who each bay suits, and where to book.
Quick answer
Sairee for the longest beach, most of the dive schools and the evening scene. Mae Haad, at the pier, if you want to be close to the boats and the shops. Chalok Baan Kao, in the south, for a calmer bay away from the crowds.
01 / Compare
Which area suits you
| Area | Best for | Feel | To the beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sairee | Diving courses, evenings out | The island's main strip | On the beach |
| Mae Haad | Boats, shops, short stays | Working pier village | Small beach by the pier |
| Chalok Baan Kao | Calm, couples, families | Quiet bay | On the bay |
See where the places are
An interactive map of available stays, loaded from our booking partner. Nothing reaches them until you open it, and once open their own measurement tools run inside the map.
Star ratings are the ones declared on the booking platform. We do not rate hotels.
Hotel class:
Star ratings are the ones declared on the booking platform. We do not rate hotels.
02 / Areas
The areas, one by one
Mae Haad
Where the ferries arrive, with the island's shops, clinics and a second cluster of dive operators. Convenient for a short stay or an early boat, and a short walk or ride from Sairee.
Skip it if: you came for the beach itself.
Chalok Baan Kao
A sheltered bay on the south side with a slower pace, several dive resorts and far fewer bars than Sairee. The usual choice for people who want to dive by day and sleep at night.
Skip it if: you want nightlife within walking distance.
03 / On the ground
Where locals actually go
Places we can point to by name, checked on the date below. No ratings, no sponsored entries: if a listing ever becomes a paid partnership, it will say so on this page.
Diving
- Open Water courses · Sairee and Mae Haad — The reason most people come: entry-level certification over several days, at some of the lowest prices in the world, with dozens of schools to choose from.
- Koh Nang Yuan · A short boat ride north — The three small islands joined by a sandbar, the island's most photographed spot and its busiest snorkelling day trip.
Before you dive or ride
- Travel cover · Diving and scooters — Check that your policy covers diving to the depth of your course, and scooter riding: both are routine here and both are where claims come from.
Compare travel cover
Independent businesses
- Roctopus Dive · Sairee Beach — Beachfront dive centre in Sairee offering fun dives, PADI courses, professional training and eco diving programmes.
- Master Divers · Mae Haad — Scuba diving centre in Mae Haad running dive trips and PADI diver education courses around Koh Tao.
- Koh Tao Divers · Sairee Beach — Beachfront dive centre on Sairee Beach, operating since 1987, offering beginner to technical dive courses and fun dives.
- Freedive Koh Tao · Koh Tao — AIDA freediving school on Koh Tao offering freediving courses and training with a personal teaching approach.
- Monsoon Gym · Sairee Beach — Training gym near Sairee Beach offering Muay Thai, 10th Planet jiu jitsu, HIIT boot camp and a weights and cardio area.
- Parawan Thai Cooking Class · Sairee Village — Small-group and private Thai cooking classes led by local teacher Parawan at her rooftop home cooking school in Sairee.
- Cooking Class by Idjang · Jitsin village — Thai cooking classes on Koh Tao taught by Idjang, with online booking for classes covering favourite Thai dishes.
- Koh Tao Yoga · Mae Haad (near Songserm Pier) — Yoga and wellness centre near the pier with daily drop-in yoga and Pilates classes, sound healing and ice baths.
- Royal Mariblue · Koh Tao (island-wide pickup) — TAT-licensed operator running snorkelling day trips to Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao bays, plus road trips and private charters.
- Unseen Tours Koh Tao · Koh Tao (Moo 2) — TAT-licensed company running private boat trips to Ang Thong Marine Park and full-day snorkelling trips around Koh Tao.
- Apnea Total · Sairee — Freediving school headquartered on Koh Tao since 2004, teaching courses from beginner to instructor level plus coaching and fun dives.
- Kaizen Freediving · Koh Tao — PADI and AIDA freediving school on Koh Tao that has trained students since 2014.
- Goodtime Adventures · Mae Haad — Started on Koh Tao in 2008 as a dive centre and rock climbing school, and runs a beach club on the Mae Haad beachfront.
- Dive Point Koh Tao · Mae Haad — Dive school in the heart of Mae Haad running PADI courses and fun dives from its own dive boat.
- Ocean Sound Dive + Yoga · Chalok — Boutique dive and yoga company on Koh Tao since 2011, holding Tourism Authority of Thailand licence 44/00172.
- Oxygen Tours Koh Tao · Mae Haad — Snorkelling boat trips around Koh Tao on early bird, morning, afternoon and private schedules.
- Kohtao Diamond Tour · Koh Tao — Boat trips around Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan with snorkelling, as full-day, half-day and private charter trips.
- Oli's Motorbike Rentals · Koh Tao — Motorbike and scooter rental on Koh Tao with a pick-up and drop-off service for guests staying on the west side.
- Island Travel Koh Tao · Sairee — Travel agency on Sairee Beach selling ferry and train tickets, visa runs and trips, with its own scooter rental.
- Harmony Koh Tao · Koh Tao — Bistro on Songserm Road blending Western comfort food with Thai flavours, open daily from 3 pm to 10.30 pm.
04 / Things to do
What there is to do here
Guided tours, tickets and day trips in this area, booked through our partner. Prices and availability are theirs at the moment you click. We do not rank tours and we do not sell them.
05 / Getting there
Arriving, and staying connected
Flights, the airport transfer, an eSIM for your phone and car rental, through our partners. Prices and availability are theirs at the moment you click.
Flights to BangkokFlights to PhuketBangkok airport transferPhuket airport transfereSIM for ThailandRent a car
06 / Questions
Frequently asked
How do you get to Koh Tao?
By ferry. From the mainland via Chumphon or Surat Thani, or from Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. There is no airport on the island.
How many days do you need to learn to dive?
An entry-level certification usually takes three to four days, which is why most visitors stay at least four or five nights.
Is Koh Tao good if you do not dive?
It is small and pleasant, with good snorkelling and viewpoints, but the whole island is built around diving. Non-divers often prefer Koh Phangan or Koh Samui.
What is the best season?
Gulf of Thailand calendar: broadly good from February to September, with the heaviest rain and roughest seas from October to December.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
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