Visitors will find hiking trails of various levels of difficulty that end with the promise of picturesque views, rock-climbing, live jam sessions where locals and tourists showcase their talents, beach barbecues accompanied by fire shows and even trapeze-flying classes. The draw though for many visitors remains scuba diving. With dozens of dive sites, plenty of scuba schools and notably inexpensive scuba certification costs, Ko Tao is the most popular place to learn to dive in Thailand.
It hasn’t always been snorkels and sunscreen on Ko Tao though. Mostly uninhabited aside from the fishermen who would occasionally take shelter on shore here, Ko Tao became a political prison in 1943 when more than 100 prisoners were transferred from Ko Tarutao.
The prison was home to several prominent Thais including the novelist Nimittramongkhon Nawarat, who authored The Dreams of an Idealist. In 1944 the prisoners were issued a general pardon and released to the mainland. Many had been incarcerated for a decade or more and their release to Surat Thani was met with bowls of food and wishes of good luck from local ... Travelfish members only (Full text is around 1,900 words.)
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Find out moreTimetable information for travel from Ko Tao
The following timetable information for travel from Ko Tao is supplied by Travelfish partner 12GO. For timetable information for travel to Ko Tao, please see their website.
| Ferry Koh Tao - Koh Samui ฿ 500–700 1h 50m – 3h 15m | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Phuket ฿ 1,000–1,200 9h – 11h | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Krabi ฿ 800–1,100 6h 40m – 8h 45m | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Surat Thani Train Station ฿ 700–1,050 4h 20m – 7h 30m | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Surat Thani ฿ 900 5h | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Donsak ฿ 600–850 4h – 5h 30m | |
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| Bus Koh Tao - Surat Thani Airport ฿ 1,150 11h 30m | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Surat Thani Airport ฿ 800–1,050 5h 45m – 8h | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Nakhon Si Thammarat ฿ 1,000–1,100 5h 40m – 7h 10m | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Hat Yai ฿ 1,100–1,190 9h 30m – 16h | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Ao Nang ฿ 990–1,200 7h 10m – 9h | |
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| Bus Koh Tao - Khao Sok ฿ 1,190 14h | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Khao Sok ฿ 900–1,150 7h 30m – 9h 30m | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Koh Phi Phi ฿ 1,300 10h – 10h 30m | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Koh Lanta ฿ 1,300 10h 30m – 11h | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Chumphon ฿ 500–600 1h 30m – 3h | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Phetchaburi ฿ 695–1,190 13h 45m – 15h | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Ranong ฿ 750–1,250 7h 45m – 12h | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Khura Buri ฿ 1,050–1,100 9h 45m – 13h | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Railay ฿ 1,300–1,350 7h 30m – 8h 30m | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Prachuap Khiri Khan ฿ 645–1,250 6h 45m – 13h | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Koh Phayam ฿ 1,300 12h 15m | |
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| Bus Koh Tao - Bangkok ฿ 1,100 9h 45m – 10h 15m | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Bangkok ฿ 730–900 14h – 18h | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Koh Phangan ฿ 350–600 1h 10m – 2h | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Surat Thani Town ฿ 700 7h 30m | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Hua Hin ฿ 1,100 6h 45m – 6h 50m | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Songkhla ฿ 1,700 17h 30m – 17h 45m | |
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| Ferry Koh Tao - Cha Am ฿ 685 14h 30m | |
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