Koh Tao travel guide

Background

The accessibility of interesting marine life at depths available to beginners, the fairly gentle currents and the relatively low costs all contribute to making Koh Tao a particularly good place to learn to dive. The presence of giant manta rays and whalesharks (plankton feeders which can reach 6 m) means that more experienced divers will also find something of interest here. With these attractions in its favour, Koh Tao’s reputation as a good, low-cost dive centre has grown rapidly, and in the space of just 10 years the island has made the transition from backwater to mainstream destination. Improved transport links with the mainland have also made the island more accessible to the short-stay tourist, and so it is no surprise that the former economic mainstay of coconuts has now been eclipsed by the still-expanding tourist trade. Already, the number of rooms for tourists outnumbers the Thai residents on the island. Sensibly, though, as on Koh Samui, there are height restrictions on new buildings and this, in conjunction with the poor infrastructure, means the ‘palm tree horizon’ has not yet been blotted by multi-storey monstrosities. However, there do seem to be a worrying number of tall hotels being built. While most people come here for the swimming, snorkelling and diving – as well as beach life – the fact that most paths are not vehicle-friendly makes the island walker-friendly and there are some good trails to explore. Land-based wildlife includes monitor lizards, fruit bats and various non-venomous snakes. If planning to go on walks it is worth purchasing V Honsombud’s Guide Map of Koh Phangan & Koh Tao.

Getting around

There is just one surfaced road on Koh Tao, which runs from the north end of Sai Ri to Chalok Ban Kao, passing through Ban Mae Hat. Motorbike taxis and pick-ups are the main form of local transport. These can be found just north of the dock next to the exchange booth. They operate from dawn to 2300; rates tend to double after dark. Motorbikes, jeeps and bicycles are available for hire. Long-tailed boats can be chartered to reach more remote beaches and coves, either by the trip, hour or day.

Ins and outs

Getting there

Several companies operate regular express boats from Chumphon, Surat Thani, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan as well as a slow, night ferry direct from Surat Thani. Songserm, http://www.songserm-expressboat.com, sells a combination ticket to and from Bangkok to Koh Tao, ฿฿550. Leave Bangkok at 1800 and arrive in Chumphon at 0200. Passengers then sleep on the office floor before getting the 0700 boat to Koh Tao. The return journey leaves Chumphon at 2030 to Bangkok. The rail connection from Bangkok to Koh Tao leaves Bangkok at 2250 and arrives in Chumphon at 0552. Ticket price depends on class.

Koh Tao

Bicycle hire

Mountain bikes are available for hire from guesthouses and travel agencies.

Boat

There are boats of various speeds and sizes going to and from Koh Tao. Connections are with Chumphon , and Koh Samui, via Koh Phangan.

To Chumphon with Lomprayah, T077-456176, office hours 0830-1900, 1015 and 1425, 2hrs, ฿฿550; with Songserm, T077-456274, 1430, 3 hrs, ฿฿400; with Seatran, T077-456907, 1000, 1600, 2hrs, ฿฿550; with Ko Jaroen, T08-1797 0276 (mob), the nightboat at 2200, 5 hrs.

To Koh Samui, Lomprayah is the most comfortable, with a/c and TV and shortest journey time, 0930, 1½ hrs, ฿300, and 1500, 1½ hrs, ฿฿450; with Songserm, T077-456274, 1000, 2 hrs 45 mins, ฿฿250; with Seatran, T077-456907, 0930 and 1500, 1½ hrs, ฿฿550.

To Koh Phangan with Lomprayah, 0930 and 1500, 1 hr, ฿200; with Songserm, T077-456274, 1000, 1½ hrs, ฿฿170; with Seatran, 0930 and 1500, 1 hr, ฿฿350.

To Surat Thani with Songserm, 1000, 6½ hrs, ฿฿550; with the nightboat, 2100, 8½ hrs, ฿฿550; with Seatran, 0930 and 1500, ฿฿550, free transfer from Bang Ruk pier to Nathorn on Samui for boats to Surat Thani

To Hua Hin with Lomprayah, 1015 and 1425, ฿฿850.

To Bangkok with Lomprayah, with boat and VIP bus, 1015 and 1445, ฿฿850.

Motorbike hire

Unless you are an experienced dirt bike rider this is not really an advisable form of transport as reaching any of the isolated bays involves going along narrow, twisting, bumpy, severely potholed tracks.

Lederhosenbikes, Ban Mae Hat, T08-1752 8994 (mob), http://www.cycling-koh-tao.com. Rents bikes from ฿200 per day.

Taxi

Taxis and motorbike taxis wait at the end of Mae Hat pier. Sharing taxis makes sense as the cost is per journey, not per person. From Mae Hat to Ao Ta Not costs ฿200-300 with a minimum of 4 in the car. To Sai Ri or Chalok, ฿฿150-200.

Banks

There is an exchange office just east of the pier in Ban Mae Hat, run by the Krung Thai Bank, 0900-1600. Siam City Bank, Pier Rd, Ban Mae Hat, east of the pier on the left with ATM, exchange and TCs changed, Mon-Fri 0830-1630. There are also a couple of ATMs between Ban Mae Hat and Sai Ri and in Chalok.

Internet

There are numerous internet cafés in Ban Mae Hat and Sai Ri and Chalok, ฿฿2 per min everywhere.

Medical services

Badalaveda Diving Medicine Centre, Sai Ri, T077-456664; Koh Tao Physician Clinic, Sai Ri T077-456037, T081-7375444, 0800-1900; Koh Tao Health Centre, Mae Hat, T077-456007.

Post office

Thongnual Rd, Mae Hat, straight up from the pier and turn left, Mon-Fri 0830-1630.

Telephone

Facilities are easily available on Sai Ri Beach, Ao Chalok Ban Kao and Ban Mae Hat.