By air
Samui International (USM), plus a ferry of about 1.5-2 h
Southeast Asia · Thailand
Koh Tao, Thailand
Thailand's diving island
Getting there
Best time to visit
March to September — calm seas for diving
Don't miss
Koh Nang Yuan
Sairee Beach
Shark Bay
John-Suwan Viewpoint
Things to do
Learning to dive
Snorkelling
Viewpoint hikes
Boat trips around the island
Where to eat
What to pack
Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen
A quieter corner
Koh Nang Yuan's sandbar, linking three islets
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Koh Tao?
March to September — calm seas for diving. What to pack: Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen.
How do I get to Koh Tao?
Fly into Samui International (USM), plus a ferry of about 1.5-2 h.
What is there to do in Koh Tao?
Learning to dive, snorkelling, viewpoint hikes, boat trips around the island. A quieter find: Koh Nang Yuan's sandbar, linking three islets.
What should I eat in Koh Tao?
Fresh seafood and Thai dishes.
About Koh Tao
- Island
Where it is
Koh Tao is a small island in the Gulf of Thailand in Surat Thani province, north of Koh Phangan and Koh Samui, ringed by coral reefs.
History
Koh Tao was used as a place of political imprisonment in the 1930s and 1940s, and was later settled by fishing and farming families. From the 1980s it became one of the world's busiest places to learn to dive.
People
Koh Tao's people speak Thai, and the island's small population of local families lives alongside dive instructors from around the world.
Known for
- Learning to dive
- Koh Nang Yuan's sandbar
- Coral reefs close to shore
- Hilltop viewpoints
Did you know?
Koh Tao certifies more new scuba divers each year than almost anywhere else in the world.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.