Kok Tao is a premiere place for diving and boasts the most beautiful and fertile coral reefs in Thailand. Located next to Koh Tao is Koh Nang Yuan, the smaller of the three islands. While its dimensions may be less, its views certainly are not.
Location These islands are located in Amphoe Koh Pha-ngan in the Surat Thani Province. The majority of the area is mountainous, with the hills gently sloping into the beaches. While the island is only 3.4 by 7.6 kilometers large, the coral reef stretches for eight kilometers in front.
Highlights
Despite the small size, this peanut shaped island has eleven bays and ten peninsulas. The total length of the coastline is twenty-nine kilometers. Each beach has ample accommodations for the
visitor. Among the more popular beaches are:
Had Mae Had, which is the commercial center of the island, Had Chalok Ban Kao, which is a viewpoint on the hill, Ao Thian Oft with its clean water and picturesque views, Had Sai Daeng, which in addition to its unique red-sand beaches also has excellent diving amongst the sharks, Ao Tanod where the dive school is located, and Had Sai Ri where you can enjoy the long gardens that outline the equally long beach.
Had Sairee
Sairee's white sandy beach stretches about 1.7km over most of the west coast, interrupted only by a few huge boulders. Mae Haad is only a 10 minute walk away.
Being the most popular area on Tao, Sairee offers a wide range of accommodation, dive centers, restaurants, shops, beach bars, travel & email services, nurseries, etc.
Here, you can have the best view on Koh Nang Yuan island. A cluster of rocks called Suan Hin Jor Por Ror highlights King Rama V's inscription that he made on his visit in 1899. You will also find the Fishery Museum, and on the way to Mae Haad the police station, the public school and the local Buddhist temple.
CHALOK BAAN KAO
Third largest beach, located on the southern coast facing Koh Phangan and Koh Samui. This bay is smaller than Sairee, but offers a similar range of accommodation, eateries and nightlife.
The Last Paradise, a helicopter pad, offers a spectacular view of the bay and the surrounding beaches. Partytime is on Sat's. Chalok Baan Kao is beautifully framed by Taa Toh Lagoon to the east and Saan Jao Beach to the west. It also connects to Thian Og Bay and Sai Daeng Beach. The rock formation at cape Taa Toh resembles a sitting Buddha, this is best to be seen from the viewpoint opposite (Buddha Rock).
Hin Wong Bay
North-east coast; this bay is abundant with intact coral reefs. Four small hillside resorts and one diving school (Hin Wong Divers).
There is currently one or two resorts in Hin Wong Bay and a couple of restaurants, so it is a great spot for weary travelers wishing to get away from it all.
Hin Wong Bay also offers great snorkelling. The sheltered bay is teeming with marine life in many colours and sizes.
Aow Leuk
Also known as Deep Water Bay, Aow Leuk is a top spot for snorkelling. The bay is surrounded by steep hills and is only accessible by boat or by a small path from Rocky Bay. Nevertheless it is well visited by travellers who know a quality beach when they see one.
The beach itself is around 200 meters long and absolutely crispy white. There is one resort in Aow Leuk with offers very basic accommodation and one restaurant.
Haad Sai Daeng Beach
Really part of Rocky Bay, Haad Sai Daeng is a beautiful little cove on the southern tip of Koh Tao.
Haad Sai Daeng is very nice spot to relax in solitude with a book on the beach or going for
a swim to Shark Island. Haad Sai Daeng Resort offers bungalows and a nice restaurant for guests.
Jansom Bay
Jansom Bay is a small protected cove offering it's visitors a great place to relax and snorkel. It's especially good for kids because there is no currents and the water is clear and quite shallow. There is a wealth of marine life including many colorful reef fish. There is also a good chance of spotting a Green Sea Turtle.
Laem Thian Laem Thian is known as Swimthrough City among local scuba divers. The reason for that is the many caverns, tunnels and swim throughs you'll find just beneath the waters surface.
It's a great place to snorkel and one of the only places on the island you'll find the strange looking Unicorn Fish.
Lighthouse Bay
Lighthouse Bay sports Koh Tao's only snorkel and diveable wreck. It's the wreck of a small wooden fishing boat, roughly 15 meters long, which sank in September 2000.
Lighthouse Bay is uninhabited and there is no access from land, so renting a long tail boat or a sea kayak is the only way of getting there.
Mango Bay
Named for all the mango trees that grow on it's steep hills, Mango Bay is a favorite spot for day trippers from Koh Samui. It's a crescent shaped bay with a small coral beach and great snorkelling only 20 meter off shore. Mango Bay is uninhabited since it is only accessible by boat. A beautiful spot and a must if you are visiting Koh Tao.
Rocky Bay Famous for its Blacktip Reef Shark population, Rocky Bay is also a beautiful little beach on which to spend a lazy afternoon sunbathing. There is only one resort in Rocky Bay, namely Rocky Bay Resort which offer a variety of sizes of bungalows.
Sai Tong Beach is a secluded little beach on the southern side of Koh Tao. Only a few bungalows are scattered in the vicinity off the beach making ir a perfect spot for anybody wishing a bit of privacy.
Tanote Bay
To get to Tanote Bay is a thrilling experience. The road there will take you over 'Mount Koh Tao' and offers a breathtaking view of the island's eastern hilly slopes.
Diving: The coral reef offshore is a perfect place for both snorkeling and scuba diving. On the island, there is a diving school, which attracts novices from all over the world because of their competence and low prices.
Views: There are many places on the island, like the John-Suwan and Sai Ri viewpoints, where you can see nature at its finest.
Koh Nang Yuan: Koh Nang Yuan is close to Koh Tao, but smaller in size. It consists of three separate islands all connected by a shallow sandbank.
Map Koh Tao Koh Nangyuan
Map Google Earth Koh Tao Koh Nangyuan
Koh Tao Koh Nangyuan Map Google Earth
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