Where should I stay on Koh Tao for a diving course?

Sairee Beach. Most dive schools are based there, many bundle accommodation with courses, and being able to roll from bed to briefing to boat is exactly the convenience you want mid-course.

Which part of Koh Tao is best for non-divers?

Chalok and the southern bays for calm swimming and an easy pace, or an east-coast cove like Tanote if snorkelling is your thing — some of the island's best reef sits within fin-kick of the beach.

Is Koh Tao good for families?

Yes, with the right base. Chalok Baan Kao and Shark Bay offer sheltered, shallow water and a quieter scene than Sairee. Just note the island is hilly and taxis are pricey, so pick a bay you're happy to mostly stay in.

Do I need a scooter on Koh Tao?

Not if you stay on the west side — Sairee and Mae Haad connect by an easy flat walk. For the east and south coasts you'll want wheels or boat rides, but be honest about your riding: Koh Tao's hills are steep and its roads unforgiving for beginners.

Where to Stay on Koh Samet: Bay by Bay

A small island, and everyone arrives at the same end

Koh Samet is only about six kilometres long, and almost all of the beaches sit on the east coast, facing the sunrise. The ferry from Ban Phe lands at Na Dan at the northern tip, and the further south from there you go, the fewer people you meet.

The rocky shoreline between two of Samet's bays

The island is a national park, so there is a park entry fee on arrival — budget for it, and keep the ticket. Beyond that, the geography is simple: pick a bay, and know that walking to the next one along the coast path takes ten or fifteen minutes. You do not need a vehicle here, though shared songthaews run the spine road.

Transport

Tickets & connections

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Tours

Tours & activities

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Quick guide

Which bay

Hat Sai Kaew — biggest, busiest, closest to the pier
Ao Phai and Ao Hin Khok — younger, cheaper, still lively
Ao Tubtim — small and calm, a short walk from the noise
Ao Wong Duean — crescent bay, mid-range, its own ferry
Ao Thian to Ao Kiu — quiet, rustic, very few places
Ao Prao — the west coast, sunsets, more expensive

The busy north: Sai Kaew, Ao Phai, Ao Tubtim

Hat Sai Kaew is the big one — wide, white and lined end to end with restaurants that put tables on the sand and run fire shows after dark. It is the loudest and most convenient beach on the island, and the closest to the pier.

Ao Hin Khok and Ao Phai just south are smaller versions of the same idea, with a younger crowd and cheaper rooms. Ao Tubtim is the first bay that genuinely quietens down: a neat little curve with only a couple of places to stay, and a short walk over the headland back to the noise if you want it.

Good to know

Before you book

There is a national park entry fee when you arrive. Keep the ticket.
Weekends and Thai public holidays are busy and dearer; midweek the island is half empty.
The east-coast beaches face sunrise. For sunset over the sea you need Ao Prao.
You can walk between most bays on the coast path — a vehicle is rarely necessary.

The quiet south and the sunset side

Ao Wong Duean is a near-perfect crescent halfway down the island, with mid-range resorts and its own ferry service — a good compromise if you want somewhere with life but not a party. South of it, Ao Thian, Ao Wai and Ao Kiu get progressively smaller, emptier and further from a shop.

Ao Prao is the exception to everything: the only developed bay on the west coast, which makes it the only place on Samet with a sunset over the water. It is the upmarket corner of the island, quiet and green, and a fifteen-minute walk or a short ride from the east-coast bays.

Frequently asked questions

Which beach is best on Koh Samet?

Ao Tubtim or Ao Wong Duean for most people: proper swimming, a few restaurants and far less noise than Hat Sai Kaew, without being isolated.

Is Koh Samet good for a weekend from Bangkok?

It is the closest island beach to the city, which is exactly why it fills up at weekends. If you can travel midweek, the same island is far quieter and cheaper.

Do you need to pay to enter Koh Samet?

Yes. The island is a national park and there is an entry fee collected on arrival, with a higher rate for foreign visitors.

Can you see the sunset from Koh Samet?

Only from the west coast. Almost all the beaches face east, so for sunset over the water you want Ao Prao.

Where to stay on Koh Samet