The 5 Best Beaches on Koh Tao in Thailand (Turtle Island)

From our recent family backpacking trip around Thailand - island hopping - we found the best beach on the island of Koh Tao (Turtle Island)

The whole of Koh Tao island in Thailand, is simply beautiful. And we must point out here - there is no bad beach on Ko Tao. You will find many beautiful beaches on Koh Tao.

Every blink you take in any direction could be a picture postcard. The diving is simply wonderful on the island of Koh Tao, in fact many people come just for the diving and we had the pleasure of diving with a green turtle on our last dive, which was magical. On Koh Tao, the beach vibe is less touristy than it's sister islands of Koh Samui & Koh Phangan - which is what we love about Koh Tao. When I talk about beaches, the below are our personal favourites as a family of 5 that like the chill life.

So what is the best beach on koh tao?

This is our families pick of the best beaches on Koh Tao, our favourite beaches for different reasons and the BEST beach that we think you’ll love too.

1. Freedom Beach – The best beach in Thailand - everybody has their favourite beaches where you find a vibe. And for us this was at Freedom Beach Koh Tao.

But it has to be said that there are so many beaches on Koh Tao, every beach could be considered 'the best beach'! Freedom Beach is on the south coast of Koh Tao this is our all time favourite beach on Koh Tao... and quite possibly the whole of Thailand!!! I know, I know, this is bold. It's set on a private beach so is very secluded and quiet. Soft white sands, shallow crystal clear calm waters and trees for shade (that we like to climb and dangle off). There is also a shallow reef to snorkel with the kids not too far out with lot’s of fish to see. The fact that it’s so quiet here means that you can chill as parents without worrying about dangers of the kids playing out of sight. It really felt like I could relax and read a few pages on my book here. Which let’s face it, doesn’t really happen with kids does it. There is only one wooden restaurant to the side. The John – Suwan Viewpoint is nearby if you fancy a walk. From Freedom Beach you can see Hin Tao Toh (Buddha Rock) a group of boulders that look like a buddha and believed to be ‘spirit rocks’, worshipped & treated with respect by the locals.

2. Shark Bay (Thiang Og Bay) – A private bay with wide beach with super soft beautiful white sands & coconut tree shade and luxury resorts.

It’s quiet and laid back pace , and you may see green turtles and Blacktip Reef Sharks. In fact it's really common to see turtles here. We have snorkelled within metres from a majestic green turtle, and she was huge, peaceful and magnificent, blinking as she went about her business.

3. Sairee Beach – On the west coast of Koh Tao, it’s the longest and most developed on Koh Tao with a wide choice of accommodation, hotels of all budgets, restaurants, cafes and bars.

It’s ideal for families and children as it’s very sandy with shallow waters and coral reef very close to the shore. Sairee beach has a vibrant atmosphere with lots of places to eat & drink of an evening. Sit at a beach bar in the evening as the sun sets with twinkly lights all around you watching the kids play on the beach. Bliss. Next time we visit, we want to stay at Koh Tao Cabana.

Check out our Koh Tao with kids post for more beach bum & island life info.

Koh Nang Yuan Island

4. Koh Nang Yuan Island - Not on Koh Tao but very close by. A must see if you're on Koh Tao.

This is the perhaps the most famous Koh Nang Yuan viewpoint on the neighbouring island (Nang Yuan Island). You'll probably have seen this all over social media. Nang Yuan Island is actually a set of three small islands, with crystal clear waters, separated by a sand bar - can we just appreciate those views for a few seconds.

To get to Nang Yuan Island you can hire a boat on your own or hire an excursion on Koh Tao that can take you. And spend the day there. The beach here is simply wow. A Longtail boat will cost around 200-300 baht £5 return per adult (kids are free) from Sairee Beach. Plus 200 baht / £4.50 entry to the island. It's worth it because it's so pretty. It takes around 15 minutes to get to the top and we recommend going early to avoid the crowds as it gets v busy up there.

5. Chalok Baan Kao Beach – Whilst not Koh Tao 's best beach, it's location is good to get to many beautiful beaches with a short walk.

The beach here slopes down gently into shallow water so it’s ideal for families with children. You can walk easily to Freedom Beach and Shark Bay from here (our favourite beaches on Koh Tao). It’s not that good for snorkelling, but it’s got everything your family might need. Our hotel was based here on our last stay and it was handy to have access to a pharmacy, 7-eleven store as well as a wide choice of restaurants / bars. On our next visit to Koh Tao we want to stay at Taa Toh Seaview Resort at Chalok.

How to get to the best beaches in Koh Tao Thailand?

Koh Tao lies in The Gulf of Thailand and is easily accessible from anywhere in Thailand. You will always need to get to the island by sea of course. But from where you depart, there are many options. If you are coming from another island, you will of course get the ferry over by Lomprayah High Speed Ferries. The ferry across from Koh Samui to Koh Tao for example. The ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Tao Mae Haad Pier costs around 600 baht per person (£13) and takes around 1.5 hours.

Or you can come straight from Bangkok by taking an overnight train to Chumpon, then a bus to the pier, and then the ferry onto the beautiful island of Koh Tao.

How long ferry Koh Samui to Koh Tao?

1.5 hours to 3 hours depending on season and sea. Here's a handy link for you to check out current ferry prices / times

These are our favourite best beaches on the beautiful island of Koh Tao, but Koh Tao is part of the Ang Thong Marine National Park (a protected area) you are spoiled for choice on the number and beauty of beaches. There are over 42 islands spread over the Ang Thong Marine Park altogether. Each boasting their own unique beautiful bays and beaches to explore. Our favourite beaches in Thailand are on Koh Tao & Lombok. Lombok post coming soon. We can not wait to re-visit Koh Tao again!

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