Koh Tao Accommodation: Where to stay in Koh Tao

Posted on 01/13/2019

One of my favourite islands in Thailand is Koh Tao. I’ve written about my favourite things to do on the island and this post is all about Koh Tao Accommodation.

The island of Koh Tao has hundreds of places to stay are spread over a dozen different bays and beaches. There are three main areas to stay including southern Sairee (noisy), northern Sairee (quiet) and Sairee Village (off the beach). There are lots of places to stay in Koh Tao, including 1 star hostels with 18-bed dorms, to five star luxury hotels with infinity pools and spas. Here are some suggested Koh Tao accommodation to make planning where to stay in Koh Tao a lot easier.

Koh Tao is one of Thailand’s most popular islands, located on the east coast of the mainland, the island is famous for it’s snorkelling and diving. But even if you don’t dive it’s still worth a visit to this magical island. I visited Koh Tao twice, my first visit was in 2011 and my second trip was in 2014. There are so many activities and things to do in Koh Tao, that a week on this tiny island won’t be long enough.

Where to stay in Koh Tao Accommodation

Mae Haad

Although close to Ko Tao’s main pier, the southern stretch of Mae Haad is quite pleasant and is home to one of Ko Tao’s best resorts. There are also a few newer guesthouse options back from the beach along the two main roads that run out of town. The southern extreme is tranquil, and the sea here provides some decent shallow-water snorkelling with soft and hard corals, plenty of fish life and even a shallow shipwreck to explore.

Haad Sairee (southern stretch)

The southern stretch of Sairee Beach includes a party strip that gets a little crazy late at night – beware that noise can be an issue in this vicinity. You’ll also find resorts closer to the village which are slightly removed from the wildest nightlife. This is a popular and tightly packed part of Ko Tao. Not as mental as the southern stretch of the beach, this northern strip is home to larger resorts (which climb up and around the headland) and more specious bungalow villages. This is a reaasonable area to consider if you prefer to have Sairee Village within walking distance rather than the pubs and clubs of the south and prefer a beach bar than a beach club. We found much of the accommodation here to be of decidedly mediocre value.

Sairee village

A pulsating swirl of restaurants, bars, boutiques, guesthouses and hostels, Sairee village is the centre of the action. Below we’ve spotlighted a terrific hostel and a couple of solid flashpacker options; if looking for something cheaper you could try one of the many rooms found above shops and eateries or head down to a fan-cooled bungalow off Sairee Beach. If you’re after a dirt-cheap hostel, Mae Haad village has a better selection.

Best place to stay Koh Tao

The island of Koh Tao has hundreds of places to stay are spread over a dozen different bays and beaches. There are three main areas to stay including southern Sairee (noisy), northern Sairee (quiet) and Sairee Village (off the beach). There are lots of places to stay in Koh Tao including 1 star hostels with 18-bed dorms to five star luxury hotels with infinity pools and spas. Here are some suggested Koh Tao accommodation to make planning where to stay in Koh Tao a lot easier.

Luxury: Viking House Villa, Over The Moon KT, The Place Koh Tao

Mid-range: Thalassa, Koh Tao Seaview Resort

Budget: Gecko Republic Jungle Hostel, BP Hostel

Koh Tao Accommodation: Where to stay in Koh Tao