Getting there and choosing your base
- Catamarans from Chumphon: Chumphon is the closest port to Bangkok, with high-speed boats and slower night boats to Mae Haad. Combined air-and-sea or bus-and-sea tickets include the transfer to the pier, so an overnight stop on the mainland is rarely needed.
- Ferries from Surat Thani and Ko Samui: Catamarans and overnight ferries come up from Surat Thani, and boats from Ko Samui call at Ko Pha Ngan on the way. Any of these suits an island-hopping route but adds hours if you start in Bangkok.
- Mae Haad pier: Taxis wait at the pier but are expensive for Thailand. Many hotels and dive resorts send a pickup, so ask before you leave the mainland, especially if you are staying away from Sairee or Mae Haad.
Areas to consider
Sairee Beach
Suits divers and social travellers, with the island's longest beach lined with dive schools, restaurants and bars. The southern and central parts of Sairee are the loudest at night; the northern end is calmer but still a walk from the bars along the beach path.
Mae Haad
Suits short stays and early boats, with the pier, banks and government offices on the doorstep. Rooms by the pier hear boats and traffic from early morning, so ask for a room set back from the harbour road.
Chalok Baan Kao
Suits travellers who want a more relaxed bay in the south with its own restaurants and dive shops. Some bungalows nearby report an unreliable power supply; ask whether the hotel has electricity round the clock.
Tanote Bay and the east coast
Suits snorkellers who want coral just off the shore and very few other guests. There are no ATMs or shops of note and roads over the hill can be rough after rain, so check how the hotel handles transfers and bring enough cash.
When to go
Ko Tao is busiest from December to March and again in July and August, and it can be almost fully booked over Thai public holidays. November brings choppy seas and much poorer underwater visibility, so diving courses are harder to plan then. Outside these peaks, rooms are usually easy to find on arrival.
Before choosing a room
- Most dive schools have attached accommodation that is discounted or free with a course, but in busy periods some will only let rooms to guests who dive with them regularly.
- Water is scarce and electricity costly on the island; ask whether air conditioning and hot water are available all day, especially at cheaper bungalows.
- If you plan to hire a scooter, ask the hotel to recommend a shop, as rental firms often take your passport as a deposit and disputes over damage are common.
Sources and planning resources
Facts checked on . Transport services, taxes and hotel offers can change. Confirm the details for your trip before booking.