My favorite beaches in Koh Tao are the quiet ones where locals go.
Koh Tao might be small, but this little island in Thailand packs in some of the best beaches you’ll find anywhere. This tiny island in the Gulf of Thailand is known for world-class scuba diving and amazing snorkeling.
It’s also incredibly budget-friendly which is why so many people come for a week and end up staying five years.
It’s known for crystal clear water, soft sand, and some of the top snorkeling and scuba diving spots in the country.
But here’s the thing – Sairee Beach gets all the attention. It’s beautiful and has everything you need, but the island’s best beaches are the small coves tucked away from the main strip.
I’m going to tell you exactly where to go.
But if you’re craving that quiet, tropical vibe with fewer crowds, you’re in luck.
Watch on YouTube: Best Beaches in Koh Tao
After spending a week exploring the sandy beach on Koh Tao, I found five beaches that really stand out.
These are the best beaches in Koh Tao, perfect if you want something peaceful, beautiful and easy to reach.
Disclaimer: We Didn’t Stay on a Beach!
Ko Tao was much smaller than we expected and easy to get around. But I loved our no frills hotel, which didn’t have amenities but the deluxe double room was huge and looked out onto the jungle.
I loved it. Wifi was strong. Staff were so nice and offered free snorkeling gear. Although ours leaked both days so it could be me?
Below I’ve listed hotels that are within 10 minutes walking of each beach, have great reviews and good prices.
We stayed at the Good Dreams hotel and I’d definitely recommend it if you don’t mind walking to the beach.
Freedom Beach
Head south from Sairee Beach on a motorbike or catch a taxi. Freedom Beach sits near Chalok Baan Kao. There’s a small entrance fee, but it helps keep the beach clean.
This beach on the east coast used to be super low-key, but it’s becoming more developed. You can see the change happening, there are more buildings, more infrastructure, more people discovering it. There was a full-on bar when we visited, which is nice if you want a drink.
The trees are what make this beach stand out. They’re huge and provide natural shade all along the shoreline.
It’s gorgeous.
Local Beaches in Koh Samui
The sand is nice and the water is clear. There are a few spots to eat and drink along the beach. It’s a popular spot for sunset.
It’s probably one of the beaches that will see the most change over the next few years as more people discover it. If you want to see it before it gets too built up, go sooner rather than later.
Best Accommodation:
Budget Option: Echo Beach Hostel, close and affordable.
Mid-Range: Chintakiri Resort, offers wooden bungalows nestled in the greenery. It is less than a ten minute walk to both Freedom Beach and Shark Bay.
Luxury: Sai Daeng Resort sits on the peninsula, providing direct access to the water and views of Shark Island.
Sai Nuan Beach
Maybe my favourite beach because it’s almost hidden.
It’s on the western side of Koh Tao, it isn’t easy to find. Use google maps to reach Mae Haad or Charm Churee Villa and there’s a walking path to the right.
You’ll see a lot of delipidated villas but just keep going and it opens up to a small beach front area with places to sit and a beach bar.
The unofficial price is 100 baht toward something at the bar, but for a very good reason.
This area is a local beach but the land owner wants to sell it to inevitably become a resort and a private beach.
So one of the locals made a deal to pay him every month NOT to sell the land. And so the beach fees, events and monthly music festivals keep the beach local.
Pick up a coconut juice and some fresh Thai fruit and enjoy the day.
It’s also a pretty good place to snorkel to see turtles.
Best Accommodation:
Budget Option: Koh Tao Bamboo Huts, rustic beach huts.
Mid-Range: Tao Thong Villa 2 sits on the small rocky outcrop right next to Sai Nuan Beach
Luxury: The Place Luxury Boutique Villas, private luxury villas.
Hing Wong Beach
If you only have time for one snorkeling spot in Koh Tao, make it Hin Wong Bay.
This small cove on the northeast coast has some of the best snorkeling on the island. We saw tons of fish just wading into the water.
The beach itself is more pebbles than sand, but nobody comes here to sunbathe anyway. You come for the emerald green water and the incredible underwater visibility.
There are a couple of small beach bars where you can grab a drink and they’ll let you use their chairs. The vibe is super relaxed, with mostly travelers and a few locals.
The water here is typically very calm, which makes it perfect for snorkeling even if you’re not really experienced.
We went on a cloudy day which affected the visibility a bit, but you could still see so much marine life. On a sunny day this place must be incredible.
The drive from Sairee Beach is only about six minutes. Despite being one of the most popular snorkeling spots, it never feels crowded because the cove is so small that there’s a natural limit to how many people can be there.
Best Accommodation:
Budget Option: Jungle Hostel, simple but close.
There aren’t a lot of options out here that have good reviews. It’s best to stay elsewhere.
Sairee Beach
Sairee Beach is Koh Tao’s main beach and for good reason. It’s right in town.
This two-kilometer stretch of sand has everything from beach clubs, budget bungalows to expensive resorts, restaurants and bars. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it here.
And it’s long enough that you can avoid the crowds. At the south end you get shade from the trees and you’ll see lots of local families with kids in the late afternoon. It feels more residential and less touristy and you’ll get local food classics like laab moo.
The sand is soft and the water is nice, though the color isn’t quite as stunning as the smaller coves.
Sairee’s the social heart of Koh Tao, with soft sand, shallow water, and plenty of places to eat, drink, and relax. This is also the best beach for sunset. The west-facing location means you get those golden hour views right from the beach.
Best Accommodation:
Budget Option: Savage Hostel, cheap and central.
Mid-Range: Sairee Sairee Guesthouse
Luxury: Blue Tao Beach resort has the best part of the beach
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