Things to do in Ko Tao

Famous stones

A large stone bearing the initials of King Rama V, who visited the island in 1899, is located at the south end of Haad Sairee. A small plaque decorates the memorial at the highly-revered site -- don't even think of adding your own initials. The stone isn't worth a special trip, but do check it out if you happen to be passing through. To get here, walk to the south end of Haad Sairee along the beachfront path, and you can't miss it. A statue of Rama V stands facing the sea just before the large stone.

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Haad Sairee

John Suwan Mountain Viewpoint

This once popular viewpoint has become overgrown and difficult to reach. The poorly-maintained loose dirt path above Freedom Beach Bungalows is no longer marked, so ask a local if you want to check it out. Unfortunately, a few coconut trees and other foliage block a good deal of the view that once was. Don't plan on a great photo opportunity, but if you're in the neighbourhood, the bay views are quite lovely from this great height if you're up to a hot, perilous journey. In theory to get here,you should walk up the road above Freedom Beach Bungalows and follow the dirt path. Take a left upward rather than continuing south around the headland. When you simply cannot go any further, you're there.


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Between Ao Chalok Ban Kao and Ao Thian Ok

Thai boxing training camp and gym

Fights take place regularly, announced by posters and noisy vans blaring times and dates. The early fights are local kids, progressing over the evening to the big fights. Usually at least one Westerner, often a dive instructor, will participate in these nights, bringing out the local farang community. The ring has a training camp and gym attached, where daily gym and boxing lessons are held. Longer training camps can be organised too. Ask at your resort, listen out for announcements and check posters for details of fights. To find the stadium, head east on the road running through Sairee village toward Ao Hin Wong.


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Haad Sairee Village
http://www.thaiboxingkohtao.com/

Diving

Diving is Ko Tao's tourism mainstay. The most popular sites, including Chumphon Pinnacle, Sail Rock and Southwest Pinnacle, are some kilometres from the island, where fish gather in larger numbers .Many other sites are a matter of 20 minutes' away and offer great training and fun diving too. Diving visibility and weather conditions tend to be best around the middle of the year. The monsoon kicks into full swing in November and many dive shops close for that month. Things slowly start to pick up again from December, although visibility in March is often obstructed by large amounts of plankton in the water. The plankton, however, heralds the arrival of the whalesharks.

The biggest event on the diving calendar is the Underwater World Festival, usually held early in the year. In February 2006, 750 divers from across the island converged at the same site, a world record. We're sure the fish were highly amused. The festival has lots to offer non-divers too, with music and entertainment over two nights. For more information on the festival and other diving-related events on Ko Tao, check out www.kohtaodoc.com.

Dive schools
More than 40 dive schools on Ko Tao compete for business, with instructors speaking a multitude of languages. Most try to keep their groups small, with four to six students in a PADI or SSI Open Water Course, but be sure to inquire. At some of the bigger resorts you might feel you're diving with more humans than fish. Typical prices are: 9,800B for an open water course, 8,500B for an advanced open water course, 1,800B for two fun dives, and 25,000B for a divemasters' course. Many dive resorts also provide free or discounted accommodations for their students and discounted diving after certification. At busy times some dive resorts will not allow non-divers to stay as they require the accommodation for divers, but sharing a room with a non-diver is usually ok.

Mae Haad
Blue Diamond Dive Resort: T: (077) 456 880, F: (077) 456 881.
Crystal Dive Resort: T: (077) 456 106, F: (077) 456 105. http://www.crystaldive.com
Divepoint: T: (077) 456 231, F: (077) 456 231. http://www.divepoint-kohtao.com
Easy Divers: T: (077) 456 010, F: (077) 456 321. http://www.thaidive.com
LV Dive Center: T: (077) 456 039, F: (077) 456 717. http://www.tommy-lvdive-resort.com
Master Divers*: T: (077) 456 314, F: (077) 456 765. http://www.masterdivers.co.uk
Planet Scuba: T: (077) 456 110. F: (077) 456 110 http://www.planet-scuba.net

Sairee beach
Asia Divers: T: (077) 456 055, F: (077) 456 016. http://www.asia-divers.com
Davey Jones Locker: T: (077) 456 604 http://www.techdivethailand.com
Ban's Diving: T: (077) 456 064 http://www.amazingkohtao.com
Big Blue Diving Resort: T: (077) 456 415. F: (077) 456 772 http://www.bigbluediving.com
Coral Grand Divers: T: (077) 456 432, F: (077) 456 430. http://www.coralgranddivers.com
Island Dive Club: T: (077) 456 296, F: (077) 456 680. http://www.islanddiveclub.com
Koh Tao Divers: T: (06) 0699 244. http://www.kohtaodivers.com/
New Way Diving: T: (077) 456 527. http://www.newwaydiving.com
Phoenix Divers: T: (077) 456 033, F (077) 456 034. http://www.phoenix-divers.com
Sairee Hut Dive Resort: T: (077) 456 815, F: (077) 456 399 http://www.saireehut.com
Sairee Cottage Diving: T: (077) 456 374
Seashell Resort: T: (077) 456 271, F: (077) 456 299. http://www.kohtaoseashell.com
Scuba Junction: T: (077) 456 164, F: (077) 456 013. http://www.scuba-junction.com
Siam Scuba Dive Center: T: (077) 456 628. http://www.siamscubakohtao.com
Simple Life Divers: T: (077) 456 329. http://www.simplelifedivers.com

Chalok Baan Kao
Big Bubble Dive Resort: T: (077) 456 669. http://www.bigbubble.info
Big Fish Dive Resort: T: (077) 456 290, (01) 8945 106. http://www.bigfishresort.com
Blue Corner Dive Club T: (084) 8894151 http://www.bcdclub.net
Buddha View Dive Resort*: T: (077) 456 074, F: (077) 456 210. http://www.buddhaview-diving.com
Carabao Diving: T: (077) 456 635, F: (077) 456 402. http://www.carabao-diving.com
Koh Tao Resort Dive Center: T: (077) 456 133, F: (077) 456 419. http://www.kohtaoresort.com
New Heaven Dive Shop: T: (077) 456 587, F: (077) 456 587. http://www.newheavendiveschool.com
Reef Rider: T: (077) 456 084, F: (077) 456 083. http://www.reef-riders.com
Scuba Shack: T: (077) 456 390. scubashack_diveteam@hotmail.com
Stingray Divers: T: (077) 456 752. http://www.stingray-divers.com
Sunshine Divers: T: (077) 456 597 http://www.sunshine-divers.com
Taa Toh Lagoon: T: (077) 456 503. http://www.taatohdivers.com

Tanote Bay
Black Tip Dive Resort: T: (077) 456 488, F: (077) 456 489. http://www.blacktipdiving.com
Calypso Dive Center: http://www.calypso-diving-kohtao.de

Haad Sai Daeng
Coral View Resort: T: (077) 456 058 F; (077) 456 497 http://www.coralview.net

Snorkelling
If you're not keen on diving, snorkelling is still a fantastic -- and much cheaper -- way to explore Ko Tao's aquatic life. Fins, snorkels and masks can be rented from almost anywhere on the island and usually cost 100B per day. Snorkelling trips or you own personal longtail can be booked at your resort.

Ko Tao's best snorkelling is on the isolated east coast, which has a lack of beaches but an abundance of rocks and boulders to use as jumping off points. Ao Tanote, Ao Lang Khaay, Ao Hin Wong and Ao Leuk are each home to many types of fish and coral. Laem Thian, just around the corner from Ao Tanote, is also home to a number of harmless sharks. It's also where you're most likely to see turtles, which have long bred in the area. Good snorkelling can also be found in the north at Ao Mango and around the rocky bays of the south and southwest.

Sairee Beach has some good snorkelling but when the tide is low it can be difficult to get out and back in over the reef. If you know what you are looking for you will find a lot of juveniles hiding out among the coral. Boat traffic can be quite busy so keep a keen ear out! The northern end of Mae Haad and out around the headland offers some great snorkelling too. A shallow wreck lies just offshore and makes for an interesting poke around. Strong swimmers can easily reach Ao Jan Som too and be rewarded with clear water and lots of fish.

* Travelfish disclosure: Our researcher has a business interest in this listing.

Boat trips

Boat trips can be organised from virtually any beach on Ko Tao, through any travel agency or most hotel receptions. Trips tend to leave around 10:00 and return by 16:00. Costs vary, with a longtail typically charging around 550B per person, and a big boat around 650B. The advantage of the latter is more shade, but the longtails tend to visit more beaches. If you are hiring a whole longtail, be sure to specify exactly which beaches you want to visit before leaving. These trips typically include hotel pickup and lunch. If you want to make your own trip, taxi boats are easily organised too. Expect to pay 200-300B from Haad Sairee to Ko Nang Yuan. Your own longtail around the island will cost you 2,000B so if there are a few of you this can be best and then you can choose where you go too.

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Most beaches

Sea Kayaking

For something different, take a tour of Ko Tao's coast by sea kayak. A surprisingly easy way to get around, particularly if you take a tandem kayak, kayaking is a great way to appreciate the rock formations that cascade into the sea around the non-beachy parts of the island. Kayaks can be rented for about 100-150B an hour or 500-800B per day. Be sure to check the conditions and take plenty or water and a hat with you.

Hiking

Ko Tao is baby-sized compared to neighbouring Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Samui, but its hilly landscape offers some excellent opportunities for exploring on foot. Don't underestimate the distances involved, however: your guidebook might say it's possible to walk around the island in one day, but you will probably have already had enough after a three-hour jaunt along the coast trail from Mae Haad to Chalok Ban Kao. The best idea is to start early in the morning and take plenty of water.

Suggested routes:
Mae Haad to Chalok Ban Kao: One of the more popular hikes on Ko Tao, this will take you around a scenic series of coves and inlets. Starting from Mae Haad, you first negotiate your way past the string of resorts clustered around the beautiful Ao Jan Som. Further south the path gets more challenging and though it's not a particularly steep walk, rocks and overgrown spots present their own obstacles. Soon you'll reach the gorgeous Haad Sai Nual, which has another cluster of resorts. Continue south past Juea beach to reach a viewpoint from where you can take in a sweeping panorama of Chalok Ban Kao. From there it's a simple walk along a beach and then a boardwalk to the village.

Mae Haad to Tanote Bay: Walk over the hump of the island in this challenging walk from the busiest part of the island to the most tranquil. Start by scaling the paved path that leads up to Moonlight Bungalows, and continue on past the sign that says Park. From here it's a rough and ready trail amid a series of huge boulders that look like they might just roll all the way down the side of the mountains at any moment. Soon you'll reach a couple of usually abandoned huts at a lonely summit of Two Views, from where you can take in panoramas of both sides of the island. Follow the path downwards and you'll reach a construction site large enough for at least as couple of soccer pitches. That's the start of a new reservoir project intended to solve the island's water-shortage woes. A little further down and you'll reach a wide, unsealed road. Turn left, and it's smooth stroll and beautiful views all the way down to Tanote Bay. The walk takes about three hours.

Ko Tao Bowling and MiniGolf

Ko Tao Bowling and MiniGolf has a eighteen-hole golf course a 10-pin bowling alley, pool table, and a bar and attached Greek restaurant. The basic bowling lanes are in a dark enclosure behind the bar (240B/lane/hour) and are used primarily by expats and other long-term visitors. The lanes are far from flat and and actual person picks up your skittles to reset them but its a bit of giggle and something to do when it rains.

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Mae Haad, Ko Tao
Opening Hours: Daily 12:00-24:00

Flying Trapeze Adventures

If you fancy something completely different how about learning to fly? Basic lessons last an hour, cost 980B, and include instruction on a practice bar as well as three flights on the full rig. Flyers use a safety harness and a catch net ensures a soft landing once you've finished your acrobatics. Flyers who can assume the correct position will then be offered the ultimate thrill of being caught by a flyer swinging from the rigs second trapeze and fly to the end of the rig. For the addicted, multiple lessons can be purchased, so that you can advance your techniques and learn more tricks. As well as being great fun and exhilarating, trapeze is great for building strength and muscle tone.

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Located behind Oasis Pool Bar in Sairee
http://flyingtrapezeadventures.com

Apache Paintball

Here's your chance to shoot your friends and only cause them mild pain and a welt or two. Daily paintball battles using different scenarios are held in the jungle of Sairee's northern hillside. This is fast-paced action for the commando in us all. The office is situated down the right hand side road next to Sairee Plaza.

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Mae Haad, Ko Tao
Opening Hours: Office open 11:00-16:30; matches held at 16:30 daily.

Cabaret

Located back from the beach, within Sairee Plaza
Walk though Sairee Village after the sun goes down and you are sure to see the lovely ladies from the show handing out flyers and encouraging you to come and visit. The show is a recent addition to Ko Tao night life and good for a giggle. The whole affair is very tongue in cheek. Admission is free but you need to buy one drink to secure your place in the audience. As with any show of this type, audience interaction is strongly sought, so the shy and retiring should hide at the back.

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Sairee Plaza