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10 BEST KOH TAO BEACHES – The Ultimate Guide

The Koh Tao beaches are amazing unspoilt paradise gems with all their own beauty. There is a beach for everyone. The more touristy and busy Koh Tao beaches with lots of beach bars and nightlife. Or the more remote Koh Tao beaches with only a small beach shack and some tropical fishes around. In this ultimate guide we share our 10 best Koh Tao beaches including all the information you need!

Best Koh Tao tours

If you want to explore Koh Tao then it is highly recommended to book your tour in advance. Choose your favorite tours here and secure your booking! All of these tours include air conditioned transport with hotel pick up and drop off, certified guides and sometimes also lunch and the entrance fees. You can reserve now and pay later, with cancellation up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund.

  • Thai Cooking Class Koh Tao. Rainy afternoon or just interested to learn Thai cooking? Then this activity is for you! In a small group you will learn how to cook Thai from a local expert. After cooking the dishes you will enjoy them and leftovers can be taken home.
  • Half Day fishing experience Koh Tao. Enjoy this private half day fishing tour around the waters of Koh Tao. Learn how to catch fish and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
  • PADI 4 day diving course Koh Tao. Get PADI certified during this 4 day scuba diving course. All lesson material, dives, equipment and the official certificate are included.
  • Half day snorkeling trip to hidden bays of Koh Tao. Start your morning at 8AM with snorkeling in some of the hidden bays of Koh Tao. You will visit Freedom Bay, Shark Bay, Aow Leuk Bay and Tao Thong Bay during this half day snorkel tour.
  • Private Photo Session with Local Photographer in Koh Tao. The perfect way to capture your solo trip, honeymoon, family vacation or couples photoshoot with 100% money back satisfaction guarantee on Koh Tao.
  • One day diving experience Koh Tao. If you don’t have your PADI certificate but you want to go diving in Koh Tao, then this is the tour for you. During this one time scuba diving experience you will explore the underwater world of Koh Tao at 12 meters depth.
  • Koh Nang Yuan snorkel day trip by speedboat. Explore the best snorkel spots around Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan during this half day snorkel trip. You can see many tropical fishes, turtles and maybe even black tip sharks!

Tanote Bay

How to get to Tanote Bay

Tanote Bay Koh Tao is located just down the hill from Love Koh Tao Viewpoint. It is only a 15 minute drive away from Sairee beach which is the main tourist area. The road to Tanote Bay is easy and there is no parking or entrance fee. From the parking area it is only a short 2-minute walk to the stunning Tanote Bay.

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What to expect at Tanote Bay

Tanote Bay Koh Tao is located on the east side of the island, so it’s the perfect place to watch the sunrise like we did! The sand is super soft and there are enough spots to spread out your towel and relax on the beach. With a variety of marine life, beautiful corals and tropical fish just a few steps into the water, Tanote Bay is also one of the best places to go snorkeling in Koh Tao! You can also book a scuba diving tour on this beach. There are a few beachside restaurants and resorts along Tanote Bay beach. Enough choice to get something to eat and drink without having to leave the beach. Definitely one of the more relaxing Koh Tao beaches!

Read more about Tanote Bay in our complete guide

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Shark Bay

How to get to Shark Bay

Shark Bay is located at the Haad Tien Beach Resort, so when you put your Google Maps on Shark Bay you will arrive at the entrance of the resort. You can walk though this resort to get to the beach. It is definitely ok for outsiders to walk through the resort, there are even signs pointing to the beach.

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What to expect at Shark Bay

Shark Bay Koh Tao, also known as Ao Thian Og Bay in Thai, is located on the Southern tip of the island. It is a beautiful quiet beach which is one of the best Koh Tao snorkeling spots on the island. Shark Bay got its name from the blacktip reef sharks that frequently enter the bay, especially around Shark Island. The turquoise waters and fine white sand at Shark Bay Koh Tao make it the perfect place to relax. It is a private bay, part of the Haad Tien resort. Therefore not many other tourists visit Shark Bay, except the guests of the resorts lining up at the beach. This makes it the perfect place for couples or families seeking for a quiet beach. There are a few restaurants along the beachfront, so if you get hungry you don’t have to go far for a good meal.

Read more about Shark Bay in our complete guide

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Freedom beach

How to get to Freedom Beach

Freedom beach Koh Tao is located on the southern tip of the island. From the same car park you’ll also have access to Taa Toh Beach and John Suwan viewpoint you can enter Freedom beach. The entrance fee is 100 Baht per person and from the car park it is only a short 2-minute walk to the beach.

What to expect at Freedom Beach

Freedom Beach Koh Tao is the most popular secluded beach on the island. It is tucked away beneath the mountain and has incredible clear blue waters. The fine white sand, mangrove jungle and crystal clear water makes it the perfect spot to relax, swim and snorkel. You can sunbath or relax in the shadow, order some food at the restaurant or go to the amazing viewpoint at John Suwan mountaintop to have a great view over the bay.

Read more about Freedom beach in our complete guide

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Sairee Beach

How to get to Sairee Beach

Located on the west coast of the island, Sairee Beach is only a 5-minute drive from the Mae Haad Pier. Sairee Beach Koh Tao has easy road access and there are no parking or entrance fees.

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What to expect at Sairee Beach

Sairee beach is a beautiful 2 km stretch of sand and is the main tourist hub of the island. It is the biggest, busiest and one of the most popular Koh Tao beaches. Because the beach is facing west, you can watch a beautiful sunset from Sairee. And because many beach bars are located along the beach, you can get your drinks and find a good spot to end the day in a relaxing way. Sairee beach seriously has it all, from beach bars & restaurants to dive shops and night markets.

Read more about Sairee beach in our complete guide

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Sai Daeng Beach

How to get to Sai Daeng Beach

Sai Daeng Beach can only be accessed through the Sai Daeng Beach Resort. There are signs pointing where to park you motorbike in front of the resort. You don’t have to pay an entry fee or parking fee at Sai Daeng Beach. After you have parked your motorbike, you can follow the signs to the stairs and find your way down to the beach. 

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What to expect at Sai Daeng Beach

Sai Daeng beach is a very quiet beach with a well preserved coral reef. There is enough shade provided by the trees and sun beds are available for rent. The beautiful beach stretches out for only 200 metres and is enclosed at both ends by massive rocks. The beautiful beach is also a good starting point to get to Shark Island, the best Koh Tao snorkeling spot on the island. 

Read more about Sai Daeng beach in our complete guide

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Sai Nuan Beach

How to get to Sai Nuan Beach

Located on the southwest coast, you are only 10 minutes away from the more crowded Sairee beach. But at Sai Nuan Beach you’re in such a different vibe, as if time stood still. The road access towards Sai Nuan Beach is good and there are no parking or entrance fees. Sai Nuan Beach Koh Tao is only a few minutes walk from the parking area.

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What to expect at Sai Nuan Beach

This lovely hideaway spot with its unspoiled beach of fine white sand and shallow turquoise water feels so peaceful and reminiscent. People even say that the atmosphere of Sai Nuan Beach reminds them of the early tourism days of Koh Tao in the 80’s and 90’s.

Tucked away under the hills of Koh Tao’s west coast, you will find this cozy bay shaded by coconut palm tree forest. Because this bay isn’t that popular under tourists, you might even have the chance to get this beautiful bay completely for yourself! There are a few restaurants where you can have a snack and a drink. And at Sai Nuan beach 2 is a resort located, but it is allowed for outside visitors to relax on their beach.

Read everything about Sai Nuan beach in our complete guide

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Koh Nang Yuan beach

How to get to Koh Nang Yuan beach

Koh Nang Yuan is only a 15-20 minute boat ride away from Koh Tao. If you arrange a long tail boat by yourself from Sairee beach, the price is 200 Baht for a roundtrip. Make sure to arrange the time for your way back with the boat man beforehand. Swap contact info so you won’t end up walking around, trying to find a boat that will take you back to Koh Tao for a higher price.

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What to expect at Koh Nang Yuan

Koh Nang Yuan consists of three islands on the North west coast of Koh Tao. The white sand paradise beach, picturesque rocks and beautiful viewpoint of Koh Nang Yuan island makes it the perfect setting for an idyllic day-trip. If you want to rent 2 sun beds with an umbrella on the beach you will have to pay 150 Baht. There are a few separate swimming areas on the island. One is more for snorkelling where you can find the Japanese Garden and many tropical fish. The other areas are where people just chill out. If you want to be active you can hike to the Koh Nang Yuan. viewpoint which offers an incredible view over the island and beaches. 

Read more about Koh Nang Yuan in our complete guide

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Chalok Baan Kao Beach

How to get to Chalok Baan Kao Beach

Chalok Baan Kao Bay is located on the southern coast of the island close to Freedom beach and John Suwan viewpoint. The road access to the beach is great, it is located just a few meters from the road with parking spots available all along the beach. There are no parking or entrance fees at Chalok Baan Kao Bay.

What to expect at Chalok Baan Kao Beach

Chalok Baan Kao beach is one of the biggest Koh Tao beaches but not as popular and busy as Sairee beach for example. The long white sand beach with crystal clear shallow water is ideal for a day of relaxing. It makes it also a perfect beach for families with young children or couples who are looking for a more relaxing beach. If you head east from Chalok Baan Kao Bay you can walk along the beach boardwalk to Freedom beach and John Suwan viewpoint.

Read more about Chalok Baan Kao beach in this complete guide

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Aow Leuk Beach

How to get to Aow Leuk Beach

Aow Leuk Beach is easy to access from the main road with nearly all concrete road until the parking lot. There was a fee of 100 Baht charged when we wanted to enter the beach in 2019 and no outside drinks or food were allowed!

What to expect at Aow Leuk Bay

The scenery at Aow Leuk Bay is stunning. With the white sandy beach, crystal clear water with varied shades of blue and Shark Island in the background, Aow Leuk Bay is one of the best Koh Tao beaches for snorkelling and is amongst the most beautiful Koh Tao beaches. There is a coral reef on both sides of the bay and it begins right off the beach. You don’t have to go very far to see an abundance of marine life. The large sandy sea floor makes it ideal for swimming and lounging in the water and it is used a lot for scuba diving training.

Read in our complete guide everything about Aow Leuk Bay

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Hin Wong Bay

How to get to Hin Wong Bay

Hin Wong Bay is located on the east coast of Koh Tao Island, just a little above Tanote Bay. The main road goes all the way down to a small carpark. There are no parking or entrance fees for Hin Wong Bay and it is only a short 2-minute walk to the beach.

What to expect at Hin Wong Bay

Hin Wong Bay is a beautiful beach located on the east coast of the island. The beach is surrounded with large boulders on the edge and crystal clear water in the bay. Hin Wong Bay offers one of the best Koh Tao snorkeling spots with an abundance of marine life. Due to the rock formations it is difficult to walk around Hin Wong Bay, but you can rent a kayak to explore the surroundings. Hin Wong beach is not as popular as the other Koh Tao beaches, which makes Hin Wong Bay the perfect place to relax for peace seekers.

Read more about Hin Wong Bay in our complete guide

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Koh Tao weather

The climate on Koh Tao is hot and humid for most of the year. The rainiest months are October, November and December, so avoid these months. The best moment to come to the Koh Tao is from January to April but the island is also enjoyable during the months of March until August. At this time of the year Koh SamuiKoh Phangan and Koh Tao have the best weather of all Thai islands.

Where to stay on Koh Tao

Luxury

The Place Luxury Boutique Villas

The Place Luxury Boutique Villas offers amazing one-bedroom villas in Koh Tao with an incredible view on the ocean located on the west coast of the island. We stayed at The Place for 2 nights and had the best time! You have complete privacy with your own dining area at the spacious terrace. A fully-equipped kitchen with a wide-range of cooking equipment. The air-conditioned bedroom offers a direct access to the outdoor infinity pool with an amazing view on the mountain and sea wit sunset view. The bathroom is beautiful with details of plants and the living room includes a flat screen TV and a DVD player for entertainment. Breakfast is not included but you can order at local restaurants and get it delivered to your door! This villa has so much privacy, we havent experienced before!

Prices start around €245 per night.

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Mid Budget

Simple Life Cliff View Resort Koh Tao

Simple Life Cliff View Resort is located at the southern tip of Koh Tao’s Sairee Beach and offers luxury studios, 1 and 2 bedroom suites. The rooms with view on the swimming pool start around €65 per night wile the more luxury rooms with breathtaking view of Sairee Beach and the ocean start around €198 per night. This 3 star resort offers a private beach area, free Wifi and room service The cascading swimming pool runs through the centre of the resort and their restaurant serves fantastic Thai and international cuisine. A continental breakfast is daily available at the resort.

Prices start around €65 for the pool view rooms up to €198 per night for the sea view rooms.

Budget

The Ozo Koh Tao

Here you will enjoy a peaceful hillside location located in the south of the island. The cozy, comfortably furnished rooms offer a living space of 32 – 40 square meters and are equipped with all the necessities for a relaxing stay. The amenities available in the rooms include air conditioning, refrigerator, TV, safe, hot shower, tea and coffee making facilities, free WiFi Internet and a private balcony or terrace from where you can enjoy views of the pool and mountains. Some of the rooms also have a kitchenette with a microwave. The outdoor pool with sun loungers makes it perfect for a lazy afternoon. We stayed for a few days at the Ozo and it was a great budget deal!

Prices start around €33

Of course there are also even cheaper accommodations on Koh Tao, like hostels and guesthouses where you can stay for around €10 per night. Have a look at booking.com to find your perfect spot!

More Koh Tao travel inspiration

We hope you enjoyed reading about the best beaches of Koh Tao.

For more inspiration about Koh Tao Thailand, read these blog posts:

Best things to do in Koh Tao

Best snorkeling spots Koh Tao

Koh Tao viewpoints – The Ultimate Guide

Koh Nang Yuan – The Complete Guide

For all best tips about Koh Phangan, head over to these blog posts:

Best things to do in Koh Phangan

The best beaches of Koh Phangan

Thong Sala Night Market – The Complete Guide

Is your plan to travel to Koh Samui? Then read this blog for all the best things to do in Koh Samui

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One Comment

  1. Ronald and Marjoleine says:

    Hello Ilse, your pictures and information are always top of the bill 🙂 Thank you for sharing the best beaches to go to at Koh Tao.

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