If scuba isn’t your thing but you love the simplicity of snorkelling then free diving might just be for you. Free diving or breath-hold diving had been around for eons — it existed long, long before scuba. Traditionally it was a way of collecting sponge and fishing, but free diving has evolved into a competition sport … read the full post

If you need an Italian fix while on Ko Tao, then there’s no other place than Dolce Vita. While not the cheapest, if you love Italian food then it’s worth every baht as it’s a cut well above a run of the mill pizza joint. Dolce Vita is in Mae Haad, on what most locals, … read the full post

Raw Art Moovment is a kind of creative hotspot and space, a unique concept for Ko Tao that has very quickly been embraced by the community and visitors alike. Lisa, who is one of the owners and an artist too, simply needed a studio. Her husband Denny, a writer, needed somewhere to write. One thing … read the full post

Visitors to Ko Tao are sometimes a little perplexed by the notion of  beach dogs or street dogs, who often have names but no specific owners. They’re well looked after, well fed, sociable and roam with abandon. Years ago when I was first here the dogs tended to look a little scrawny, mange was rife … read the full post

Ko Tao has a range of restaurants offering some solid deals when it comes to saving money… And while streetside is always cheapest of all, here’s a selection of places to eat that are a step up with good specials. Barracuda Restaurant and Bar is arguably the tastiest eatery on Ko Tao. Its specialty of … read the full post

Thailand has long been synonymous with beautiful palm-fringed beaches and idyllic, calm blue waters, but like beaches in many places, they’re getting dirtier. So what’s happened and what can you do to help keep Ko Tao’s beaches pristine? The ocean is simply choking with trash, predominantly plastic: bottles, bags, lighters, straws and flip flops are … read the full post

Ko Tao’s A Taste of Home, just out the back of Haad Sairee, is one of those places mostly only locals know about — if you wander past, it looks like a little eatery set out on someone front porch, which in fact is exactly what it is. Serving up wholesome, unpretentious food at good … read the full post

Accommodation options on Ko Tao have changed. Once there were rustic huts on the beach but now the island is home to some top class resorts as well. There are indeed still fan-cooled bungalows and rooms in the 500 to 600 baht range, and some even have hot water. If you are happy to share … read the full post

Sunday roasts are a tradition for many in the West — but can you get a decent one on Ko Tao if you ever tire of the delicious Thai food on offer? The good news is yes, you can, and although you wouldn’t need a month of Sundays to try each there’s certainly enough options … read the full post

You could be forgiven for thinking that Ko Tao is just about diving and partying, with no thought to healthy lifestyles and fitness pursuits, but you’d be wrong. Here’s a wrap on fitness activities on the island. Yoga is an island mainstay in Thailand, Ko Tao included. The longest running sala, Shambala, is in Sairee … read the full post