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Island subdistrict in Surat Thani, Thailand
Photo: User: (WT-shared) Whatsinaname at wts wikivoyage, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Ko Tao (เกาะเต่า), literally 'Turtle Island', is an island on the Central Gulf Coast of Southern Thailand.
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Alvaro Diving Courses Koh Tao
Small family-run dive and freedive shop with new equipment, flexible boat schedules and friendly multilingual staff. Teach PADI & SSI diving and SSI freediving courses in small groups in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
Ko Tao's first and longest established freediving school. Apnea Total profits from experienced teachers and a private boat for a safe and successful learning experience.
Freedive off Sairee Beach by longtail boat with accomplished instructor Akim. AIDA and SSI courses available.
Now offers the PADI Freediver course.
Alvaro Diving Courses Koh Tao
Small family-run dive and freedive shop with flexible boat schedules and friendly multilingual staff. Teach PADI & SSI diving and SSI freediving courses in small groups in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
5-star Gold PADI Instructor Development Centre offers a full range of diving courses, including divemaster internships. Multiple languages. The resort's bar is always a nice place to chill out after diving.
PADI open water courses up to professional PADI Instructor courses. A full range of technical diving courses.
PADI dive resort with beach side bar and restaurant, lodging with more than 50 rooms. Offers all courses from beginner to instructor, all technical diving. Also offers eco-internships. Winner of PADI's Project Aware Environmental Achievement Award. One of the longest established dive centres on Ko Tao.
One of the long-established dive centres on Ko Tao. Relaxed, fun diving. Scuba diving lessons from beginner to PADI divemaster training with a well trained, professional staff. Also in Chalok Baan Kao.
PADI 5-star IDC gold palm resort with friendly staff, good facilities and a BBQ and beach bar to relax in the evenings. Dive instructor courses and professional training programmes with a divemaster.
Dive training (hands on, no video teaching) from beginner to pro following CMAS and PADI standards in small groups. Located in quiet and party-free bay with a house reef in front of the premises.
Hotel is more up-market and better suited for families. Operates 2 dive boats plus a speed boat.
PADI scuba diving resort. All PADI dive courses, scuba internships and pro level divemaster and instructor courses. Free accommodation.
PADI open water courses, divemaster internships and PADI instructor training, and MCA boat handling courses in their RIB. Accommodation and gear packages are available for all courses.
PADI 5-star dive shop run by an Austrian. Offering diving classes in German, French, Italian, and English. Small groups and individual care for students special needs.
Concentrates on PADI Go Pro courses on Ko Tao. PADI divemaster course, IDC course, IDC staff instructor course and master instructor training with full dive internship programs are available.
Groups limited to 4 divers per pro dive leader. Courses in 5 languages. European-owned/managed with strong safety record/procedures, but still easy going. Differ from most dive centres because of the daily different locations for the dive trips, long dive times. and non-early morning departures. 12 years of experience diving around Ko Tao.
Does good deals on course and accommodation packages. The Thai staff can be annoying, so deal with the foreigners, they really make the effort. The dive shop is not that busy, meaning you might get an instructor for yourself or be taught in a small group.
A small professional dive PADI 5 Star IDC. They guarantee small groups and offer private tuition and private guiding too. They have an experienced team and time their boat trips to go to dive sites when they are quietest too. They take their diving and environment seriously. They provide free water refills to minimise plastic bottle waste. They re-cycle and provide re-usable containers for take-away food to minimize polystyrene waste.
One of the oldest and most reputable dive shops. This small school has the first dive boat out in the morning. The truck leaves for the harbour at 06:00 to avoid crowds. Small groups, friendly and professional instructors. Basic accommodation is available.
Personal service in small groups. PADI dive courses and 12 scheduled yoga classes per week.
PADI Instructor Courses, full scuba diving internships, gap year programs and lifestyle change.
5-star Instructor Development Centre, full range of PADI scuba diving courses for complete beginner all the way through to instructor.
PADI scuba diving school on Ko Tao. Very friendly and beautiful diving resort right in the middle of Sairee Beach. Sairee Cottage Diving offers PADI courses from beginner to Scuba Dive IDC Instructor courses including free accommodation.
Small locally-run shop with helpful multilingual staff, an OK boat and gear, but no free accommodation.
Popular medium sized Western-owned and managed PADI 5 star dive centre on Ko Tao's Sairee Beach.
All dives and training are offered in small groups with a maximum of 2 divers per 1 staff or private tuition. Specializing in diving for photographers and film makers or those wishing to have a private diving experience. Expeditions are offered on private luxury speedboat or custom-built dive boat and dive schedules change daily to avoid the crowds. Day trips to Ang Thong Marine Park are also available. HQ in Sairee Beach. Dive courses are offered from beginner to professional.
Small family-run dive and freedive shop with flexible boat schedules and friendly multilingual staff. They teach PADI & SSI diving and SSI freediving courses in small groups in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
A good diving centre on a quiet beach. The staff is gracious and helpful. Good accommodation available.
SSI dive centre offering beginner courses, advanced training, fun diving and small-group trips around Ko Tao. English-speaking instructors and courses available for both new and experienced divers.
Friendly dive shop in the heart of Sairee Beach in small groups, fun and friendly atmosphere, from beginners to professional level. Bi-weekly trips to Sail Rock.
Over ten years of experience on Ko Tao. Has been involved with turtle conservation, reef restoration, the We love Ko Tao Festival, the Ko Tao Underwater Festival and other activities which help to create the eco-friendly environment crucial to Ko Tao's future.
SSI, PADI, BSAC and reef conservation courses.
A marine conservation school providing information on marine ecology, corals, fish and how to rescue corals by attaching them to artificial structures.
Wake boarding, tube rides, shark snorkelling trips, cliff jumping, round the island trips, hiking, kayaking.
The bowling is "manual". There is a guy at the end of the alley that sets up your pins for you after each bowl and returns the ball down to you.
Divemaster and dive instructor internships, underwater videographer training, and resort management courses with experienced PADI course instructors.
South Sairee Beach. Small group Scuba Diving courses with flexible schedules. The only shop on Ko Tao with a weekly trip to Sail Rock. A wide range of adventure activities including: rock climbing instruction up to lead climbing and a guiding service, abseiling/rappelling, cliff jumping, snorkelling, wake boarding, boat cruises. Beach Cafe and Bar serves a tasty variety of Western, Thai and Burmese dishes on the beach.
Day and sunset cruises, private charters, Ang Thong National Marine Park safaris and fully customised crewed charters.
A videography company. Run by experienced underwater videographers and instructors who film and teach every day. Each course is tailor made.
For those looking for a serious workout. Muay Thai courses are provided and you can step in the ring for a real bout when you're ready.
3 and 5 day courses in underwater videography and offers professional-level training for those looking to make a career of it. All training done with HD video cameras.
Seamanship courses and competent crew sailing courses Ko Tao-based and liveaboards on ocean-going yacht.
Vinyasa, Yin, Meditation, Hatha and Restorative yoga classes offered daily. High quality equipment provided. All levels welcome.
1-7 month internships in Pro HD video training, muay Thai, free diving, PADI instructor, divemaster and technical dive courses.
Thai massage, oil massage, foot massage, body scrub, reflexology massage. Also waxing hair removal treatments from the face and body – for women and men.
Parawan offers Thai cooking classes at her home on Koh Tao and online.
Simple menu consisting of ten well executed dishes. Their spicy noodle soup with duck (or pork/fish balls) is a Thai local favourite.
Established by an Australian expatriate, Bang Burgers produces 6 varieties of homemade burgers and 6 varieties of homemade sauces. Open for breakfast with fresh ground espresso from north Thailand. Delivery option available.
Authentic French and Italian-style cuisine, home made pasta and pizza, smoked salmon and choice steaks, excellent wine collection and Erdinger weissbier.
Australian sports bar. Live music, live sports, pub grub, and a wide selection of beers.
Run by 2 brothers from Apulia, this place offers traditional Italian cuisine in a cosy ambiance. Lavazza coffee, daily home made pasta and authentic pizza, meats from New Zealand, fresh seafood, home-made desserts, wine bar.
Italian-style pizza and pasta, always busy with dine in or take away. Expect to pay 140 baht for pasta or 200 baht for a pizza from the wood-fired oven. Delivery available.
Full Monty English breakfast bar. Eat in or delivery.
Comfy English pub with tropical beer garden. Draught beers, "wild" buckets. English pub grub. Weekend BBQ's, Sunday roasts, daily specials, live sports.
Authentic Indian chefs, ingredients, and tandoor. Wide variety of tasty dishes in a beautiful garden setting. Relax in the lounge for cocktails and sheesha. Take away and delivery available.
Late-night burgers, chicken pita kebabs, hot dogs, falafel, chips (french fries to the non-Brits) available with curry sauce, chili con carne or just good old salt and vinegar. One of only a few places on the island open after 22:00 to get food other than 7-Eleven. Delivery between 22:00-02:00.
Homemade dishes, large portions, and friendly, relaxed atmosphere made this Trip Advisor's top listed restaurant on Ko Tao.
Wonderful sunset views and a "higher class" feel, but the prices are not much different from the rest of the island. Great for dates.
Italian/Thai/English place. Imported Italian pasta starting from 100 baht along with the usual English and Thai fare. New, clean and well-priced, especially for the pasta.
With only five stools, senseless hours, and good music, this place feels like it's been ripped from an alley in Brooklyn. The menu has five options: beef burger, chicken burger, chicken BBQ burger, fish burger, and veggie burger. The veggie burger is homemade and delicious.
Best pad Thai on the Rock!
Great for coffee, breakfast, and sandwiches. A favourite with the seasonal dive shop employees. Free Wi-Fi, TV always silently tuned to BBC. Friendly, helpful staff. A second location in Mae Haad.
Weekly parties at this out-of-the-way club. Can prove to be a good night out with refreshing tunes and a mixed crowd.
First and only Irish pub on Ko Tao with Irish management, live music, extensive food options, and live sport.
Bar with swimming pool. Friday night pool parties, with free BBQ & shots.
Comfy beanbags, awesome sunsets, fantastic cocktail, authentic Thai or Western food and deep, funky house beats.
Late night club that is open only a couple of times a week. House music.
Swimming pool bar on the beach.
Nightly fire show, sunset happy hour.
Very similar to AC Bar. Popular around sunset.
Enjoy drink promotions, prizes and join the crowd on a tour of the best bars in Ko Tao.
Atmospheric beach bar with happy, funky vibes, fire shows & cocktails.
Bungalows on the beach. Extremely helpful manager, and friendly staff. The bakery offers a variety of good quality food.
Five two bedroom self-contained villas with en suite baths, kitchen, lounge, terrace, ocean views and private swimming pool.
formerly Ko Tao Cottage
On the beach.
Two room typesː whites, a wooden cottage-style room, and a villa, a rounded concrete structure with a king-sized bed, spacious terrace and newly renovated daybed section.
Traditional Thai design and eco-living on a hillside in the centre of Sairee with a panoramic view of Sairee Bay and Ko Nang Yuan Island.
Formerly Koh Tao Backpackers Hostel
Eight and six bed dormitory rooms with air-con, hot water showers, lockers in rooms, free Wi-Fi and swimming pool. Close to many restaurants, shops and bars.
Fan and air-con bungalows and hotel-style rooms. Close to many restaurants, shops, and bars.
Air-con rooms, swimming pool, bar-restaurant, spa and massage room and free Wi-Fi.
The popular Spicy Backpackers chain. Free breakfast, hostel guided tours, peaceful location. One of the best places on Ko Tao to meet other travellers.
Hostel with fan and AC dorm rooms, en suite and shared bathroom facilities, common areas and shared kitchen and Guesthouse with double bed, twin and triple bed private AC rooms with en-suite, fridge and balcony. Short walk from the main party area so quiet of a night. Large 24/7 supermarket opposite.
Small hotel in a quiet area of Mae Haad.
This cozy clean dormitory hostel with air conditioning run by the same company as the Pumpski Apartments. High speed Wi-Fi is available.
Cosy, clean and service minded 10 room hotel.
Two dorms with 12 beds each.
Boutique spa resort with large swimming pools, Jacuzzi, international bar-restaurant, spa treatments, and in-house PADI dive centre.
Cozy clean apartments on the second floor of the Pumski Travel building. Also rents out Honda Click 125i automatic motorbikes for 250 baht.
N.O. Hostel (old name)
Hostel with two mixed AC-dorms (16 and 18 beds) and three AC-double rooms.
PADI & SSI diving in small groups. Small family run dive and free dive shop with new equipment, flexible boat schedules and friendly multilingual staff and a relaxed atmosphere. Small quiet outer beach of Chalok Ban Kao south of Ko Tao with bungalows at the beach. You can play volleyball, go swimming or kayaking.
A resort primarily for divers with a range of budget to deluxe accommodation. Beach side cafe, bar and nightly BBQs.
Beach front bungalows for every budget although many are in need of refurbishment. All the bungalows have air-con and hot water although lack fridges and TV. Two beaches in front and a quiet location 10 min walk to the Chalok Baan Kao Beach. Unfortunately there is quite a lot of old construction material dumped around the resort and nearby coastline. Inconsistent electric supply.
Bungalows
Bungalows with 24 hr electricity, windows have mosquito nets. Some bungalows have no wall electrical outlet. Friendly staff. Western toilets, but with a pail and water replacing the normal flush function.
18 villas, apartments and double rooms within 2 acres of private grounds, set within a natural valley of the jungle, surrounded by coconut palm trees, lawns, tropical gardens and a swimming pool. The closest beach is just minutes away called Chalok Bay.
Free Wi-Fi in the restaurant when it works. Thai food is 80-140 baht. The low-end huts are quite shabby, but are the cheapest no frills fan rooms in the bay.
Peaceful resort great for families, romantic holidays or just to get away from all the rest. On a quiet beach with one of the best bays on the island for snorkelling. 24 hr electricity, swimming pool, Wi-Fi available.
Thai-style eco-resort on the top of the hill with amazing view on the Ang Thong National Marine Park and Ko Pha Ngan. 10 min walk to the beaches.
Eco-friendly, rustic resort with beach near the jungle.
4 private suites on 1 acre of avocado farm overlooking Sairee Bay, 250 m from the beach.
Resort built extensively from bamboo in the interests of environmental sustainability.
Modern, spacious villa in the hills above Sairee Beach. Very quiet with panoramic sea, jungle and sunset views.
2 boutique villas, both with private infinity pools. Private and far enough away from Sairee to offer peace and solitude but still a short walk to the beach.
Occupies an exceptional position 35 m above the sea on the edge of a cape with panoramic views over the ocean, and the nearby beaches Ao Tian Og and Sai Daeng.
A well-known motorbike rental shop in Mae Haad. They almost always have 125 cc Honda Clicks with dirt tires available, which are more than capable of getting you anywhere on the island with some patience. Proper dirt bikes are frequently available also, though these are overkill unless it's the rainy season.
By boat
Lomprayah has an office on the main road in Hua Hin where you can catch its bus/ferry at 23:30 to travel to Ko Tao arriving at 08:45.
Reputable rental shops
Some of the hostels also have motorbikes for rent.
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Na Thon (Ko Samui Island) · International · USM
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