The best and fastest option is to take the Lomprayah catamaran, which leaves the island 3 times a day, with the first boat leaving at 8:00am and the return boat leaving at 3:30pm the next day (700 both ways).
The journey takes about one and a half to two hours. If you go during the storm season, we recommend taking a seasickness pill (available at any Seven Eleven) 30 minutes before the ride.
The boat also stops at Koh Phangan, so this boat can be used by those who plan to visit this island famous for its full moon parties.
It is possible to rent a scooter in the harbour, there are many rentals there, it is worth to go through the first line of "bidders" and go to one of the rentals on the street from Seven Eleven up the hill. To rent, you will need to pay a deposit of 3000 - 5000 Baht, sign a contract and leave a copy of your passport. We recommend renting at least a 125cc preferably a 150-160cc.
Tao offers a wide range of accommodation, all slightly more expensive compared to other islands.
As we do not have experience with the cheapest accommodations, we can give an example of accommodations that we liked:
Cheaper: Tree House bungalows
Middle price group: Koh Tao Resort
More expensive (but very nice): Blue Heaven Resort
Like everywhere else in Thailand, Koh Tao offers great local and international cuisine.
These places are never missing from our itinerary:
Best roast duck with noodles with soy sauce: 995 Roasted Duck
Excellent French Bakery and Pizzeria: The French Market Koh Tao
Great Thai cuisine with a view and the best Satay: Lung Pae
Tanote bay boasts a large rock in the middle of the beach and a "snorkeling zone". It is possible to climb the stone with the help of a rope and jump among the corals surrounded by large schools of parrot fish. The snorkeling area is quite limited unless you head left to the rocky outcropping. It is possible to see many parrot fish and other species as well as at the other sites. In the water you will notice a large amount of "slime", particles in the sea that are nothing but parrot fish excrement. You can get to Tanote bay for free via the Diamond Beach Resort (the courtesy is to get some of those snacks there).
Shark Bay is another very interesting place to visit. Considering that most of the beach is occupied by the more luxurious Haad Tien resort, to enter the beach you have to use a place called Rocky Resort which is
currently (2023) in semi-operation.
The snorkelling itself offers a glimpse into the micro-life of the various animals and organisms living on the bottom in symbiosis, the water level is usually low between May and September, so snorkelling is suitable for children, but be careful with corals when the water level is too low, you must not touch them, otherwise they will not grow! At such times it is best to carefully use the passage used by boats to anchor off the beach, where the bottom is deeper and you can get to endless areas of table corals among which the Blacktip Sharks are seen.
Credit: Filip Petschke
This bay is suitable for beginners, but it will not disappoint advanced anglers. Groups also come here for diving training and there is definitely a lot to see. Snorkeling is especially popular on the left side by the rocks, where there is a spot reserved for buoys.
Under the surface you can see not only many species of fish, but also different types of corals. There is greater depth and the nature of the underwater life changes accordingly. Further away from the beach there are mainly corals and rocks with schools of parrot fish, a few whimsical triggerfish, rays, morays, butterfly fish and if you are lucky, you will see a reef shark in the sandy area just off the beach.
Entrance to the beach is through the resort, where an entrance fee of 50 Baht is charged
Mango bay is a beautiful place with clear water and a diverse marine life. However, the beauty is redeemed by the road, which is quite "offroad" in places and takes 15 minutes (from the turn off the main road), when you arrive at the place, be prepared to descend 395 steps, and save your strength when snorkeling, because you will have to make the trip back. To get to the water again, go through the Mango Bay resort, paying 100 Baht per person. This resort was closed to guests in September 2023, but you could use their terrace with sunbeds and access to the sea after paying. The hardship of travelling to this place is amply compensated by the underwater beauty of the place.
The information above is as of September 2023, please note that sea conditions are subject to change with the weather and seasons. In the Gulf of Thailand, water levels are known to fluctuate in 6 monthly cycles, from April to October the water level is low even at high tide in some of the shallower areas, then from about mid-October to the end of March there is a lot of water and some beaches have no place to rest.
You can of course pass to a higher level and get certified in one of the diving schools. You will get this certificate cheaper from all over SE Asia!
You can also get really drunk in the centre of Sairee beach and have one of the "Tao Pub Crawl"
You can also definitely check out the various viewpoints, of which there are more than enough on Tao, such as this famous viewpoint Sun Suwan Viewpoint
It is true that the island earned this reputation due to the large number of (un)explained and mysterious deaths. If you behave responsibly, use common sense and avoid dangerous situations, we think you'll be fine. We have never had the feeling of danger on Koh Tao.
Koh Tao is a beautiful island that definitely has a lot to offer to those who go snorkelling, diving or just exploring. The island is a good stop after Koh Samui and Phangan. From Koh Tao you can take a boat to Chumphon and then fly or take a minibus or train to Bangkok.
Oplus_0
Blue Ocean Siam Management Co.,LTD.
Responsible person:
Mgr. Jakub Šafránek
English 
Czech