Tourist information about Koh Tao Island (Thailand)

General information about Tao Island

Tao Island (Ko Tao, also Koh Tao, also Turtle Island) is a popular tourist island in Thailand in the Gulf of Thailand. The island is 65 kilometers away from the mainland, and the nearest neighboring tourist island of Phangan is 35 kilometers away (O. Tao on the map of Thailand). The relief of the island is formed by low hills (the highest point is just over 300 meters), covered with dense forests. Throughout the island, including the hills and the jungle, you can move freely.

The island has a small size, only 7 by 3 kilometers, and an area of 21 square kilometers. It looks like a real crumb compared to its famous neighbors, Phangan Island and Koh Samui, and, of course, less visited, developed and popular. However, it can offer tourists something that its large neighbors will not offer: the island is popular among tourists as one of the best places in Thailand for diving, and is also attractive for a wonderful beach holiday.

Translated from Thai, the name of the island translates as Turtle Island. They received such a name, allegedly, based on its similarity to a turtle shell (indeed, if you look from above, there is something). It is also known that sea turtles once bred their offspring on the shores of Koh Tao. In fact, the correct name of the island is pronounced more like Tau, not Tao, but the spelling and pronunciation of "Koh Tao" has strengthened in Russian. In addition, it should be noted that "Koh Tao Island" is also not quite the correct spelling, since "Ko" in Thai also means island, so it turns out to be like the island of "Tao Island".

In the distant past, Tao Island was uninhabited, and in the period from 1933 to 1947 there was a colony with political prisoners on it. At the moment, the prison is closed, and all the prisoners who were in prison received amnesty, many, of course, posthumously.

Every day the population of the island is replenished with new settlers, for whom new residential facilities are being built on the island. Many of the settlers, by the way, are former tourists and even our fellow citizens.

Entertainment and attractions on Tao Island, what to do

Koh Tao was deserted until its coastal areas were explored. Divers who surveyed the coastal water areas were extremely surprised when they found that the island has stunning coral reefs, near which diverse marine life is bustling. The marine inhabitants of the waters around Tau turned out to be simply incomparable! They carried the whole palette of colors, which simply cannot leave any diver or tourist indifferent.

It was this study that gave impetus to attracting divers from all over the world to the island. Currently, dive centers have been built on Tau to provide a tourist or a simple lover of underwater travel with all the necessary equipment. Beginners in this field can seek help from specialized divers by paying for professional courses. The most popular place for diving with a swimming mask is Tahote Harbor, as near it you can dive to a shallow depth and look out for hundreds of beautiful tropical fish and a variety of impressive coral reefs.

Well, those who are not ready for diving yet will still be able to explore the underwater life around the island using snorkeling. The water around the island is very clear most of the year, the visibility for snorkeling is just great.

In addition to diving, there are activities on the island such as rock climbing and Thai boxing, hiking excursions to the jungle and mountains (hills) are very interesting. To get an unforgettable relaxation, you can turn to the services of Thai massage therapists.

Also, the island is a real paradise for those who like to ride a mountain bike or motorcycle. In the process of riding, you can not only enjoy playing sports, but also truly admire the various landscapes that open up during the ride.

In the waters of Koh Tau you can visit the "Shark Cape". It is believed that you can certainly meet formidable predators there, which will undoubtedly excite any tourist and give him the opportunity to get the maximum level of adrenaline. Although in fact the sharks there are completely safe for humans.

In order to make sure of the "turtle" contour of the island, you can make a circle along the coastline of the island by kayak. At the same time, in this way it becomes possible to get acquainted with the many paths that run along the coastal territory and lead to the various attractions of Koh Tao. A tourist vacationing on the island should definitely visit its highest point - "Two kinds" (Two View). Climbing on it, you can look at the whole beautiful view surrounding it. Also, a magnificent panorama of the island can be observed from the John-Suwan Viewpoint, located on the southern edge of the island.

It is impossible to ignore such a landmark as Jor Por Ror. It is a monogram applied to a section of the rock, which appeared as a sign of the king's visit to this island.

At the moment, the most crowded points of Koh Tau are: Chalok Beach (Chalok Ban Kao), Mai Haad Beach (Ban Mae Haad) and Sairi Beach (Haad Sairee). Sairi is recognized as the most attractive beach for tourists on Tau, with a length of 1.7 km. On it, a traveler can always find a cozy hotel, a lot of entertainment and a well-developed tourist infrastructure.

In general, the tourist infrastructure on the island, and especially in the mentioned places, is very developed. There are a lot of hotels; shops; cafes and restaurants; travel agencies; dive centers; nightclubs; rental of bicycles, motorcycles and ATVs.

You can visit the island not only on your own for a long time, but also as part of a group excursion or an individual tour for one or two days. The purpose of such tours, most often, is diving in the waters of Tao, and they are carried out from the neighboring islands of Phangan and Koh Samui.

To learn more about the island, read the information about Koh Tao in the sections:

• How to get to Koh Tao, how to get around the island
• Koh Tao hotels, beaches, where to stay
• Tao Island map with hotels

Weather on Tao Island, tourist seasons

You can relax on Tao Island all year round, it's always warm here. The dry season and the rainy season stand out.

Rainy season (low season) takes place on Tao Island twice a year, from April to June and from September to November. This is not the best time to relax, although it does not mean that it is absolutely impossible to visit the island at this time. A particularly unfavorable weather situation may develop in November- early December, as strong winds are added to increased precipitation, which creates considerable waves. Swimming during this period can be dangerous, ferries due to bad weather can be canceled altogether, and many hotels are closed for repairs and vacations.

Dry season (high season) runs from December to March and in July-August. This is the best time for a beach holiday, as well as for diving and snorkeling.

Koh Tao weather and forecast

Time on Tao Island

The time difference between Tao Island and Moscow is +4 hours in winter and summer.

Useful tips

Accommodation on Koh Tao. The island is popular among Thais and during the Thai holidays all hotels in Koh Tao can be busy. Also in the period a few days before and about a week after the monthly parties Full Moon Party, as a rule, there are no available rooms in hotels, and therefore it is worth take care of booking at this time in advance.

Wiring when renting vehicles. The island is notorious for wiring tourists when renting motorcycles and other equipment. Be sure to photograph the vehicle in detail before renting, so that later you can prove that you did not do the damage that existed earlier. If you are sure that you are right, you should seek help from the police. At least this will cool the ardor of the "extortionists" and they can lower prices or completely abandon their requirements.