We think Koh Tao is the best Thai island for backpackers, here’s why:
Where is Koh Tao in Thailand?
Koh Tao is one of the three islands located off the east coast in the Gulf of Thailand. The two other islands, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, are often chosen over Koh Tao. In the last year or so, Koh Tao has surged in popularity, due to its cleaner waters, superb dive sites, budget-friendly accommodations and relaxed vibe, relative to its neighbouring islands.
Why is Koh Tao the best Thai island for backpackers?
It is definitely worth visiting Koh Tao. We visited Koh Tao for a week and I would have stayed there for a month if I had the time to be honest. Don’t skip Koh Tao. I would personally prioritise it over Koh Samui and Koh Phangan because of the following reasons.
Koh Tao is the best island for backpackers in Thailand because:
- It has a focus on both wellness and social activities
- It’s bustling with other backpackers who are equally as interested in a sunrise hike as they are in raves on the beach until 6am
- You can find a wide variety of cuisines which suit all dietary needs
- It is cleaner than other Thai islands
- There aren’t as many families visiting Koh Tao compared to the other islands in the Gulf of Thailand
Where to stay on Koh Tao
When we visited, we stayed at the Good Dream Hotel. This was located near Sairee Beach. Most people stay in this part of Koh Tao when they come to visit. There are plenty of bars, brunch spots, shops and restaurants in this area, and of course, Sairee Beach, which has the best sunset on the island.
The accommodation was of really good quality but the staff were a little rude, even limiting us to one toilet roll a day! Other than that, they cleaned the room daily, there was a balcony and the air con worked really well.
Check out this interactive map of Koh Tao’s accommodation in this blog post.
The top things to do on Koh Tao
The number one activity on Koh Tao is scuba diving. There are world-famous dive sites here and excellent dive shops all around the island who can get you set up for the experience.
Diving in Koh Tao
We did a try dive with Roctopus Dive, who are located just off Sairee Beach, towards the north. It was phenomenal. I would really recommend them as they were super professional and I felt so safe all of the time.
A try dive is perfect if you don’t have enough time or money to take a PADI course but you want to experience what it is like to breathe underwater. They teach you all of the basics in a classroom first and then before you know it, you’re putting on the heavy tanks over your back and jumping into the sea! It is a half-day experience, split across two dive sites. There were two divers assigned to every guide. You travel out on a large trawler-style boat with a large group of divers who are all at different stages of their scuba career. It was really nice even to just listen to others and how they got into diving. It is so evident how addictive it is!
What to do if you don’t want to go diving in Koh Tao
Snorkelling in Shark Bay
We spent a day at this beach. I think it was the nicest beach I visited in all of Asia. The water was literally perfect. It was warm, crystal clear and I’m not joking when I say, there were small sharks swimming in it! They quickly disappeared when they spotted you, however.
There is some really good snorkelling in this bay too. I’d recommend renting your snorkelling gear from near Sairee beach as they’ll cost you a lot of money if you purchase them out at shark bay.
There is a fee to enter Shark Bay beach as it is owned by a hotel, but it is quite small – a couple of euros. To get to Shark Bay, head towards Haad Tien beach resort- the drive there is relatively quick from Sairee Beach.
Yoga & Smoothie Bowl Mornings
There are plenty of yoga studios on Koh Tao island. They also cater towards those of us who don’t just want to drink beer and party late into the night every night. For those of you looking for something a little more wholesome, Koh Tao is an island that provides you with some healthier options. A lot of cafés serve traditional Western brunch options which you can indulge in after an early morning flow class.
Living Juices Yoga and Café was ideal, with the best priced yoga classes on the island and delicious coffee and smoothie bowls to delight yourselves with after. It was one of the main things that made Koh Tao so worth visitng.
One of the many smoothie bowls we had Living Juices.
Nightly Drag Shows
There is a drag show every night in Queen’s Cabaret on Koh Tao island (located near Sairee Beach). The atmosphere in this bar was phenomenal. Make sure to get there before the shows start (9:30pm) to get yourself a spot with a view of the stage. The show goes on for 90 minutes and involves a lot of audience engagement. You get a free drink with your entrance ticket. It’s around 100 to 200 Thai baht. This was my favourite aspect of the Koh Tao nightlife.
Other beaches to visit on Koh Tao Island
You’ll need to rent a scooter to access a lot of the beaches which are further away from the action. Tanote Bay (which has this massive rock which people jump off into the sea) also hosts incredible snorkelling spots. Mango Bay is very chill and has a lot of shade. There were thousands of jellyfish in the water the day we visited but I presume the water is mostly swimmable. The beaches on Koh Tao are safe to swim at.
Where to eat on Koh Tao Island
The food on offer on Koh Tao was superb. There was such a variety of cuisines, which were really good quality. You’re gonna eat really well when you’re here. We dined around Sairee Beach for the most part, as that was where our accommodation was but I also checked out a few brunch spots at different parts of the island. Here are some of my favourite spots we ate at on Koh Tao.
Best Coffee Spots and Brunch Spots on Koh Tao
- Living Juices and Yoga
- The Factory Café
- Coconut Monkey
- Shaka Café (vegan, gluten-free options)
Best Local and Thai food on Koh Tao
- Chuchu Thai Food & Pizza
- Zest (go here for a sandwich for lunch)
Best Other Cuisines on Koh Tao
- Indian: High on Chai
- Burgers: Hippo Grill BBQ
- Mexican: Centrico Café and Mexican Restaurant
- Pizza: La Pizzeria da Claudio
Best Bars and Nightlife on Koh Tao
- High the Moon (amazing viewpoint, great for sunset but difficult to access)
- Any bar on Sairee beach (to watch the sunset)
- Fishbowl (for a dance)
- Queen’s Cabaret