Koh
Tao
Koh Tao
is a small island of approximately 21 sqm km
and receives over a 100,000 visitors per year.
Its shape looks like a peanut, west coast is
full of tourists and beaches. Ferry Pier is
also on this side.
Koh Tao
is less developed than Koh Samui and Koh Pha
Ngan, but has become increasingly popular especially
with the mid-20's backpacker crowd in search
of relatively inexpensive scuba diving certification.
For the last two years the demographics of the
island has seen an age increase with many of
the visitors that first visited the island over
ten years ago are now returning with their families.
Koh Tao
is famous in terms of scuba diving and snorkeling.
Also offers some hiking, rock climbing and bouldering.
The most popular place for tourists is Sairee
on the West coast, which has a white sandy beach
of 1.7 km interrupted only by a few huge boulders
and a scattering of medium budget resorts and
restaurants.
Diving
conditions have improved dramatically in the
past few years with the continuing education
of locals by the dive community. The El Nino
weather pattern of 1997 caused a warming of
the waters which resulted in the loss of a great
deal of the shallow corals near the island.
Since then, the recovery has been swift and
dramatic. And with help by island conservation
groups the island environmental outlook is strong.
Koh Tao
is increasingly becoming a mecca for game fishermen
on a budget. Species targeted include marlin,
sailfish, king mackerel, cobia, baracuda, trevally
and snapper.
There are
more modern resorts on the island, price range
between 1500 Bht to over 9000 Bht per night.
Most of the budget resorts are still bungalow-bamboo-style,
not hotel or resort style. As of 2007 there
is a trend to more upmarket resorts which do
not concentrate only on diving.
Peak seasons
in Koh Tao begin from December to March and
July to August. It is a quite popular destination
amongst Thais also, so it can be nearly fully
booked on Thai holidays.
Getting
to Koh Tao
is easier than you might think, though, being
a small island with no airport it does mean
a boat trip. Don't worry there are plenty of
them! Click here for boat schedules.
If you
are comming from the north of Thailand (most
people arrive in Bangkok) you need to get to
Chumphon!
If you
are comming from the south of Thailand (from
Phuket or even Malaysia) you need to get to
Suratthani!
For trains
to and from Chumphon and Suratthani check out
the State railway of Thailand Click here
The Thai
government runs buses all over Thailand from
Bangkok. To get to Chumphon, Suratthani or even
Penang via Hat Yai, they leave from the Southern
bus terminal. They leave every hour or so from
early in the morning till about 9pm.
Many tour
operators can also arrange VIP buses, often
with connecting boats or flights. Though a little
more expensive they are newer, cleaner and more
reliable!
