If my best friend would ask me "which island in Thailand should I visit?" I would definitely recommend Ko Tao with no doubt.
Why? It has everything you need and it has vibes that you cannot find in the famous sisters islands: Koh Phangan & Koh Samui.
It’s known for the best beaches in Thailand with crystal clear water and soft sand ideal for swimming & snorkelling.
We lived there for a month ‘cause we really wanted to feel like a local and explore most of the places.
In this guide made for slow travellers like me I’ll recommend you:
• where to stay to enjoy the best beaches
• delicious vegetarian/vegan restaurants & cafe
• sustainable survival shops & souvenirs
• how to be part of the community even if only for a short time
• and much more
I wish you to experience Thailand in the most genuine way to come back home full of life. 🫶🏻
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The most convenient & sustainable way to reach this beautiful island from Bangkok is the combination of a BUS (from the station of Khao San Road) + SPEED BOAT (to Ko Tao Mae Haad Pier).
You can book the trip directly in an agency when you arrive in Bangkok but 'cause it's a popular destination sometimes is sold out for few days so my suggestion is to book in advice trough this website:
let's choose a place to stay! I recommend to base yourself close by one of these two beautiful beaches where you can also go out for walk and not always rely on a motorbike.
This is the main beach in Ko Tao. Crystal clear sea and a super soft sand will keep you inside the water for infinite time. It's definitely 10/10.
It's more crowded than Chalok beach and there are not so many shadow spots but if you go in the morning is much more enjoyable. It's the place to be for watching beautiful sunsets and meet new people.
Along this beach is plenty of cafes and restaurants, check out the rest of the guide for my recommendations.
Perfect for relaxing. The vibes are completely different from Sairee beach, it's much more tranquil, mostly people are there to relax or remotely work with a spectacular sea view in a silence mood. Along the beach you can find many restaurants, cafe or bar where you can also place yourself for the whole day.
Good to know: sometimes there is high tide and the beach completely disappear or the opposite, it depends from the moon. It's quite special to see both. Normally the high tide is in the morning and low tide is in the afternoon where you can enjoy the sunset.
We loved this place for two reason: just opposite side of Chalok Beach and all the nice cafes; and because it has very affordable prices. The staff is nice, the rooms are cleaned every day and they also have free shuttle service to the port which is a plus.
I recommend this place only if you'll rent a motorbike during your stay 'cause it's a bit hidden on top of a little hill. We stayed here 'cause we needed a long stay place with a kitchen to cook our own food every now and then. It also has simple & modern double rooms (cheaper than the Villas). The plus is a very nice pool immerse in nature and super relaxing vibe away from the crowd.
Wanna make some friends among travellers? This is the place! Especially during their bbq nights for all the guests and outsiders too. I had the pleasure to visit it and have a great bbq tofu offered by the beach cleaning community. :)
This hostel is famous for organising great diving courses.
I wouldn't say is an every day beach 'cause to have access you need to pay a fee but it's totally worth a visit especially at sunset time. If you feel adventurous you can combine this with a hike to the famous view point: John Suwan (check out my viewpoint recommendation for more info.)
A little clean bay with a nice cafe/restaurant by the beach, Sai Daeng Resort, where you can just order a drink and lay down in their flat cushion for as much as you want.
Here you have the chance to rent a kayak by hour to go around Shark Island.
If you feel adventurous, that's the place to go! I have to say it's totally worth it when you see the view but definitely is not the easiest hike to do so here my tips:
- go with closed shoes, not slippery, you need some grip on the stones while "climbing"
- protect yourself with mosquitoes spray especially if you go for sunset time, there are a lots
- try to be there before sunset to avoid going back with dark
If you prepare yourself with all of these things you'll just enjoy your adventure time and the beautiful view from the top.
The plus is: a sea view pool free to use. Perfect place for any time of the day, you can experience the digital nomad life here working in a beautiful cafe with a splendid sea view, great food and friendly people.
The sandwiches are so yummy! Tofu & Avocado is fresh and tasty perfect for a hot day break. You can eat there but I suggest you to take it away and have your private picnic at Chalok beach (only 100m).
Always busy especially at lunch time but very quick service. The owners are so nice that you'll love to come back just for a chat with them.
It's nice to seat there and have a quite lunch. Food is simple but tasty and the menu features more western food than Thai but sometimes you just need a break from Pad Thai (or not ahah).
Super nice spot to have full breakfast, lunch or a drink with the sea view. Very close to the port so it's very comfortable if you stay around there or before leaving this beautiful island.
If you're on remote working, this is the place you should go!
The ideal space just to be. I would spend hours here if peace is what you're looking for. Just grab a book, order a fresh fruit juice (or if you're hungry they have a great veg food selection) and sit in their hammock or big cushions to admire the beautiful view from the top. Perfect place to meditate too.
Run by an honest and super nice Thai couple. The wife homemade every dish in front of their customers so you can see how fresh and clean is the cooking area. If it's busy the service can be quite slow but no worries, they'll advice you and you're free to come back next time without offend them at all. Also some dishes can be quite spicy but again they are so nice to let you know in advance to avoid disappointment.
Super tasty! Anything you choose from the menu is great! It's quite small, only few tables, so sometimes can be a challenge to find space but if you get your chance you'll definitely wanna go back again and again. Try the Vegetarian Massaman Curry or the Veggie Cashew Nuts, the flavours are just perfectly balanced!
You can find a huge selection of thai dishes and not but all very fresh and authentic. It's super cheap and the service is real quick even if they are always super busy. Don't forget to get one of they handmade banana bread or brownies on the way out, it's a real treat!
Healthy & delicious! What more do you need? Any bowl has the perfect amount of proteins, carbs & veggies all dressed with homemade sauces. Love the vibes in this place, perfect for a solo lunch too.
Do you love Israeli food? Hummus, falafel, pita bread and so much more in this super cute hidden place run by young Israeli people. It's super authentic and delicious! Highly recommended.
It's a MUST try! A hidden gem on top of a little hill close to Chalok beach where they make Thai food with a personal touch. The owner is a Thai-French couple, super nice and welcoming. The perfect spot for a romantic dinner. They have great wine!
Ok, my husband is a pizza chef so we're very fussy & critic about pizza. That's why I'm pretty confident to say this pizza was really good! And the atmosphere just took me back to a little square in Italy, so if you miss home or if you fancy a proper Italian pizza make sure to stop by.
I mean, who doesn't want a gelato while on holiday? and a good one, of course! May, the owner, does a huge research on each ingredients and taste everything to be sure is perfect for her precious customers. I found out about this place while walking on this little street full of cute shops and I'm so happy I did 'cause I would have missed a lot. GO!
Have you ever tried Roti? It's the famous thai pancake perfect at every hour of day. You can choose to eat it sweet with banana, chocolate, condensed milk or sour with eggs and cheese. In this place they make it quite crunchy and for me it's the perfect way. Don't miss it!
I discovered this place our last day, so happy I went it even if from the outside looks like a local travel agency (well, a pretty fancy one for Thailand). They have a nice selection of naturally hand-dyed t-shirts and dresses made with organic or recycled cotton. You can also do a course with them to learn this special practice.
Looking for ethical clothings, accessories or swimwear? Check this place just on the main road to go to Sairee Beach, it's a community area with three super cute shops including a gelateria :)
It's really important to support this shop 'cause they are committed to remove & recycle as much plastic as possible from the tons of garbage they collect during the beach cleaning. In the shop you can see the whole process to create from waste a new useful product like: soap dish, bottle opener, mugs and many more. Perfect for a souvenir that reminds you how good is visit a place and support the community who lives there to have a better place to live.
I just love the owner of this place and her daughter. Genuinely nice, ready to help. They have a little selection of handmade local products like rafia bags, coconut shell objects, cute necklaces and other small souvenirs. They also sell fresh fruit like bananas or watermelon and other snacks.
We found this hidden place accidentally passing by one Sunday night. What a vibe! Mostly local people or long term digital nomad listening to great international and Thai hits while drinking local beer, wine or soft drinks. On the table you can find maracas to shake and be part of the show. Perfect if you want to feel part of Ko Tao community.
Thai community singing international & Thai famous songs. Just enjoy a drink or two, they have happy hour! Only ask to have yours without the straw if it's in plastic, it's a nice way to remind them to avoid the use of it.
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Be Part of the Community
Unfortunately tons of plastic cover up many of the beautiful beaches this Island has to offer, mostly on the west side where tourists are not that frequent as in the East side. The issue is quite serious 'cause the waste management is not really effective that's why there are some local communities taking care of this organising every Saturday morning a Beach Cleaning. When I found out I took part of those for the time I spent in this paradise. I discovered this sad part but seeing how many people, also tourists, join this mission was really fulfilling. So if you're visiting Ko Tao and you want to make this world a better place you should totally contact them on Instagram @plastao_kohtao and be part of this revolution.
PS: after the beach cleaning May (the owner of May+Co, Pippins and Plastao) will invites you for a refreshing drink at Pippins and sometimes they also organise bbq (loved their marinated tofu with sesame seeds) in the same evening... perfect to meet new people, share stories and feel part of the community. Careful, you may not want to leave this island anymore. :)
It's really important to support this shop 'cause they are committed to remove & recycle as much plastic as possible from the tons of garbage they collect during the beach cleaning. In the shop you can see the whole process to create from waste a new useful product like: soap dish, bottle opener, mugs and many more. Perfect for a souvenir that reminds you how good is visit a place and support the community who lives there to have a better place to live.
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Local tips for your stay
Thai greetings:
In Thailand is respectful to greet people with the wai ( Thai: ไหว้, pronounced [wâːj]) which consists of a slight bow, with the palms pressed together in front of your mouth, touching the nose with your index finger.
Useful phrase
If you are male, you end sentences with the word (khrup/krap) similarly if you are female, you end your sentences with the word (ka/kap). This is used to make your sentence or question polite & respectful.
Hello | Sawadee khrup/ka
Thank you | khop khun (khrup/ka)
You’re welcome | yin dee
Yes | Chai (khrup/ka)
No | Mai (khrup/ka)
Maybe | Aaj ja (khrup/ka)
Sorry/excuse me | Khor thoad khrup/ka
No worries | Mai pen rai
Water | Nam
I would like to order | sang aa-haan
No sugar | mai sai nam tam
Not Spicy | mai phet
A little Spicy | phet nit nawy
Really Spicy | phet mak
Delicious | aroy mak
Stay Connected
To avoid getting a physical sim on arrival and maybe not at the best deal my suggestion is to buy an eSIM before travelling and activate once you arrive at destination. It's easy and quick and you avoid to have a plastic sim to waste afterwards.
It has really good plans to choose with depending on how long you decide to stay in the country and the connection works perfectly in any point of Thailand, I used it from North to South without any problem.
Getting Around
To easily go around I recommend you to rent a motorbike 'cause the island is not that flat and I advice you to choose well the renting company to avoid scam. We personally rented from a very nice lady running a small place opposite side of Mar24 Koh Tao. She only asked us 2k deposit (normally is between 4/5k) and she gave a totally new and comfy scooter for 2 people. PS She also does laundry and she's super quick.
In case the motorbike is not your thing I recommend you to stay around Sairee Beach where you can easily walk around and reach most of the places in my guide.
What's the weather like now
And just like that we reached the end of this useful guide about one of my favourite island in Thailand, Koh Tao. I really hope you enjoyed it and you'll make a great use during your stay to immerse yourself into the local life in the most sustainable way to be a conscious slow traveller.
💌 I really appreciate any feedback and if you have any question just send me a message and I'll be happy to help.
Helloooo! I'm Martina, a slow traveller who has the dream to map all the best sustainable shops & restaurants around the world. I’d love to see more people visiting less touristic places but instead immerse themselves more in the local & genuine life of the places they visit.
I'm sure you'd love all the travel maps I created if you recognise yourself with this sentence:
"A tourist wants to escape life, a traveller wants to experience it."
In October 2022 my husband and I left Italy for 6 months to travel around South Est Asia. The aim wasn’t to explore as many spots as we could but to live like a local, simply slow travelling. We alternated backpacking trips like in Vietnam with long stay in places we felt more connected like Chiang Mai & Ko Tao in Thailand or in Uluwatu in Bali.
Travelling a lot can be a challenge if you’re into sustainability like us so I thought how easy would be to have a map with all the sustainable shops selling general survival stuff like soaps, toothpaste or suncream but also clothing, small interiors and souvenirs; or local restaurant focusing their menu in vegetarian/vegan options.
It’s hard to describe how I feel when I discover a place but it’s always more than just a shop or a restaurant for me, it’s someone’s dream made it real curated in every little detail.
In my travel guides you can find all the places I fall in love with.
I’m sharing with you what for me would be such a bless to have every time I travel abroad: a handbook guide with the most beautiful quirky shops & restaurants tested from someone with my same passions.
***Every guide includes an interactive map which means that when you click on a place you can directly open it on Google maps from your phone, call restaurants or book hotels!
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Thanks for saving my guides, I’m grateful to share with you all my UnOrdinary Gems.
