Introduction

Koh Tao, a little island that attracts many sea turtles to its clear waters, acquired its name, ‘Tao’ meaning turtle. With a land area of only 21 sq km and situated around 70 km from the coast between Suratthani and Chumphon, Ko Tao is a tiny spot in the ocean, a little tropical paradise, that offers beginner divers and certified divers, more than 20 dive sites, among the best in the archipelago.

History

Since 1933, the island served as a prison of political prisoners, and in 1947 the Prime Minister at the time, Khun A-Paiwong, pleaded for royal pardon of all of the prisoners; pardon granted, the island was deserted. But the same year, Khun Ueam of the neighboring island, Koh Pha-Ngan and his brother, in testing their fishing boat rediscovered ‘turtle island’, after a very long boat journey for this period, they decided to bring their families to live there. They cultivated fruits and vegetables that were used for their own cooking, and the first generation of inhabitants was born!

Koh Nang Yuan

A small island, just a few meters from Ko Tao, Koh Nang Yuan is connected by two sand bars to two other small islands. It is surrounded by sought after dive sites and offer the possibility to rent bungalows on the island. You can also hire a ‘long tail’ (typical Thai style fishing boat) for around 100 baht for 1 to 2 people. On top of that there is an ‘entry fee’ to pay on the island, 100 Baht per adult and 50 Baht per child.

How to get here

Koh Tao can be easily reached in 1 ½ hours on high-speed catamaran from Chumphon and 2 hours from Koh Samui, with a half hour stop in Koh Pha-Ngan, by normal boat. However, the fastest journeys can be made by speed boat, taking around 1 hour.

Getting about on Koh Tao

There are four possible options available to explore Koh Tao. Rent a Motorbike or a mountain bike (for the more energetic…), take local taxis (motorbike taxis or pick up cars) use the traditional taxi-boats that stop at various beaches around the island, or just have a pleasant walk along the beach, or up in the tropical mountains of Koh Tao, where you can enjoy the most incredible view over the Gulf of Thailand. Click here for a Map of Koh Tao.

What else you can do on Koh Tao, besides scuba diving

Koh Tao is undoubtedly the Diving Mecca of South East Asia. But this paradise island offers enough activities to keep non-divers busy throughout their stay.

The advantage of exploring Koh Tao in the daytime is that almost the whole island is off diving during the day, allowing you to explore the island in peace! Start by taking advantage of the magnificent views, a venture to the hilltops will allow you to see the entire length of Koh Phangan, descent to the deserted beaches and take advantage of refreshments offered by many beach side bars and restaurants; cover the island on foot, on bicycle, scooter, motorbike, or, if you want to escape all civilisation, by quad.

Do you want to develop your body and spirit? Switch off with a session of Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, Reiki, Chi Gong, massage or reflexology and relax.

Feeling energetic? Why not go Rock Climbing and take in the magnificent views or go out and discover the thrill of jet ski or wake boarding? Rent a sea kayak and take off on a tour of the island, complete with romantic picnic? Or rent a long tail boat and discover the fishing spots and try out the joy of free diving?

Had enough of water? Are you feeling out of shape and want to lose those few extra pounds before returning home? Why not come and stay fit at the gym or even try some Thai Boxing. If you want to test yourself, why not slip on those boxing gloves and have a go at Muay Thai with some of the best Thai Boxing instructors in the south of Thailand?

If you think that all of these activities will leave you feeling weak or if you want to purely and simply relax, then take advantage of the pleasures of the spas and essential oil massages. Traditional Thai massage is an ideal way to feel your body buzzing with energy without exerting yourself at all!

And if you would rather stay in the shade and have a good laugh with your friends and family, Koh Tao offers now a beautiful Mini golf (Crazy Golf) course and a Bowling Alley too!

Turtle Island is not anymore just a destination for young people and scuba divers! So let your mind wander in your hammock, come and discover the under water world or simply daydream in a garden brimming with palm trees and coconut tress, and these are just some of the unique pleasures that Koh Tao has to offer!