Best Thailand Beaches: Ko Tao Updated

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Last visited Feb 2015
  Shark Bay (Thian Og)/Ao Thian Ok from John-Suwan Rock viewpoint. Click to expand shot.

Saireee together with Ko Nangyuan (background) from the walking trail close Two Views


Ko Tao is a relatively small-scale mountainous isle to the N of Samui together with the closer Phangan, alongside a diverseness of beaches together with bays.
It is worth visiting over its neighbours inwards that it has the best coral past times far together with the best trekking imho. Its compact size makes it possible to explore the isle past times foot, bike or motorbike inwards state iii days. It has expert partying but zip sophisticated similar some Samui options. Although known as a divers' island, at that spot are plenty of options for both budget travellers together with midrange-upmarket holidayers. And for people who desire to escape from the crowds at that spot are some really set dorsum locations on the eastward together with N coasts addition the south-east together with south-west.
Downsides include beingness a to a greater extent than expensive isle than its southern neighbours past times maybe 10-20%; the beaches although okay are non as expert as the best on Phangan together with Samui, together with inwards peak months (August together with January) accommodation tin hold upward hard to uncovering without booking good ahead.

Ko Tao.
Sai Deng beach, i of the locations I stayed finally visit, is the small-scale bay betwixt Shark Bay together with Aow Leuk inwards the bottom correct - epitome from www.hotelthailand.com
More detailed maps showing bungalow locations - TRAVELFISH MAP OF KO TAO - AND WESTERN KO TAO

Ko Tao from the west-south-west - oblique epitome Google globe - notation Google wouldn't allow me to house SAE DAENG text to the correct of its house dot together with shoved it inwards outer AO LEUK. Google wanted to write 2 YUAN's also (far left). Might hold upward a expert i to click to expand although Google's resolution of Tao aint great.


THE BEACHES

WEST COAST BEACHES

SAIREE
SAIREE BEACH - westward coast central. Longest together with most pop on the island. This is the house for people who desire a fairly dainty beach together with lots of social interraction addition nearness to arrival - starts less than a km from the piers. Not unattractive but the sand flats are exposed together with H2O does instruct shallow at depression tide as inwards this shot. There is a walking lane behind the beach which the primary route parallels a few hundred meters inland - along these is a vast array of accommodation, restaurants, bars, move agencies together with full general retailing. No expert snorkelling hither but I receive got seen snorkellers along the far headland. I receive got stayed farther along the seaside cliffs past times the headland inwards an expanse I telephone yell upward South Sairee cliff route at a budget house perched high inwards a higher house the body of body of water called Silver Cliff. This has bang-up views across towards the mainland together with a rails downwardly to the seaside alongside reasonable snorkelling along the seaside rocks together with the fringing coral reef drop-off close 40m from shore.

Some cliff route places - a expert diverseness from budget to midrange+. The to a greater extent than northern ones out of frame to left similar Dusit Buncha have fabulous elevated views of spectacular Ko Nangyuan unopen offshore. Several side roads climb higher together with are the site of a bunch of novel really flash villa developments.

I modified this oblique Google globe epitome to exhibit Sairee together with surrounds.

MAE HAD MAE HAD- due south of primal westward coast. This is the town beach, dominated past times several piers, dozens of moored boats of all sizes together with is non especially attractive except maybe for the small-scale southern most department past times the pier which tin hold upward seen inwards this shot. Several reasonable places to remain are along hither including the long running Sensi Paradise.

The far southern cease of Mae Had beach. That's i of Sensi Paradise's restaurants at beach cease - hey, pretty dainty resort alongside bungalows/pool etc extending some distance to the correct of that restaurant.

Further correct nearing the cease of the cape are a few small-scale individual beaches alongside rather swish upmarket resorts like Charm Churee Villa.

JANSOM BAY

Jansom Bay is a sweet nicely protected beach towards the cease of the cape, deep at all tide levels. Interestingly, Jansom Bay Bungalows is a less expensive house a piffling closer to town alongside no beach of its ain but quick access to the beach inwards shot. The resort inwards the expanse of the photographic tv set camera is the really nice Charm Churee - it charges a 200baht fee to outsiders to access the beach although no-one hassled me inwards the one-half hr I walked around. The resort behind photographic tv set camera is Bamboo Hut which has a bunch of diverse types of bungalows stretching unopen to the rocks for some distance. I gained the impression its invitee could operate this beach without 200 beingness charged.
Note that this shot gives the impression entry to the H2O is a flake squeezed - inwards fact it is non at all.

Back inwards town at that spot are a  fair few inexpensive places to remain together with it takes close 10 minutes to walk to nicer beach areas similar Sairee (some cheaper places are along the coastal rails betwixt Mae Had together with Sairee) or simply over fifteen to the outset of the due south westward beaches, Sai Nuan 1 which is non also far over the far cape inwards a higher house via the coastal walking track.

Mae Had together with surrounds. Labels volition hold upward clearer if you lot click-expand.
UPDATE - I simply realised Jansom Bay is mislabled - it should hold upward where the Charm Churee house marking is. Charm Churee is located there, but to a greater extent than to the left of the beach. Bamboo Hut is to the correct together with extends unopen to the dot some distance at far right.

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THE SOUTH-WEST BAYS
H5N1 serial of small-scale bays start a few hundred meterss unopen to the far headland inwards the previous images - SAI NUAN 1 is the first, followed by SAI NUAN 2. GUL JEA  is a fair flake farther south. There are several other small-scale bays inwards this expanse addition the primal CAPE JE TA KANG alongside its duad of small-scale patches of sand together with budget resorts.

SAI NUAN 1
 The inwards a higher house shot shows SAI NUAN 1, the outset reached travelling due south from Jansom Bay - at that spot is a really expert concrete rails comes unopen to inwards a higher house the rocks from Bamboo Hut's automobile common upward the loma from Jansom Bay beach arriving behind those headland bungalows - 10 minutes dainty stroll. SN1 above is probably the nicest of the south-west beaches inwards terms of sand together with size. The resort behind this beach is flashpacker/budget Sai Thong Resort which continues for some distance behind the photographic tv set camera together with has some other small-scale patch of sand close reception. Cookies, Char Resort and Tao Thong Villa are unopen together with receive got their ain bits of beach.

Sai Nuan 1 from the other (northern) end.

SAI NUAN 2

There are several smaller patches of sand betwixt hither together with Sai Nuan 1, but I think this is Sai Nuan 2. Siam Cookies has the beach bar foreground left (the famous Banana Bar) together with Char Bungalows is at background right. When I did my latest pass-by inwards July 2013 I thought this expanse had the most genuine budget traveler/backpacker experience of the area, maybe the whole of Tao.

From the opposite direction - from Char Bungalow's restaurant.


CAPE JE TA KANG - aka Jeda Gang

Cape Je Ta Kang is at the one-half way dot of the south-west beach area. This is a few minutes walk due south of Char Bungalows together with is the dwelling of the budget/flashpacker Tao Thong Villa. There is some other small-scale combat of beach on the other side of the cape. I shot this from Tao Thong Villa 2, a newer extension simply south. These places receive got a dainty budget traveller vibe also together with receive got an payoff of a subsidised ride to together with from the pier. Other places wanted 300 baht inwards July 2013 for close 4 (very rough/steep) km - or a similarly priced together with shorter longtail ride.

This due south westward part alongside its handful of budget/flashpacker places together with i upmarket articulation is the most relaxed on the island. Indeed I intended to remain at the wonderful 250baht (low season) Moondance on Gul Jea 2nd portion of my 2011 trip until the fifty-fifty to a greater extent than laid-back Hing Wong Bay won out. Next trip! (yep, consider below)
It is possible to walk over hither from Chalok Baan Kao inwards unopen to 10-15 minutes together with from Mae Had town inwards close 25. There is super-difficult vehicle access together with it is easier to come upward inwards from the ferry piers via longtail - non a long trip, but beingness Tao, non a inexpensive trip (I was quoted 300 a boat inwards June 2010).
The snorkelling inwards this expanse is okay without matching some of the meliorate Tao places.


GUL JEA SOUTH - aka JUN JUA, JUNE JUEA, JUL JEA...and hence it goes

The to a greater extent than southern of the twin Gul Jea Beaches at Moondance Bungalows (now renamed OrchiCliff). Other resorts inwards this expanse include PD Resort, Pinnacle Dive Resort together with Sunset. 

UDPATE JULY 2013. This expanse has undergone a large change. Moondance with the peaked roof bungalows mid shot is at nowadays Orchid Cliff. The old Orchid Cliff which was on the hillside simply correct of frame is no to a greater extent than alongside the huge Pinnacle Resort at nowadays stretching from the body of body of water to the top of the hill. That eatery (very good) at far correct of shot is portion of PD Resort which has gone upmarket from budget into flashpacker/lower midrange. I stayed a few days at the old Moondance/new Orchid latest 2013 trip - to a greater extent than details incl pix together with maps on the TRIP REPORT page.

Pinnacle Resort to the due south of JD. The construction to the correct of JD's seaside eatery is Pinnancle's higher rim puddle - meliorate seen if you lot click expand. Higher rooms receive got fantastic views of the due south eastward coast together with across to the mainland - that construction upward the top is portion of reception together with also looks downwardly over the due south coast's  Chalok Ban Kao. Pinnacle guests operate the Gul Jea beaches together with staff maintain them nicely manicured, but they never seem crowded inwards fairly busy July. If you lot receive got click-expanded you lot may hold upward able to consider the puddle villa's of Viewpoint resort on the headland correct of Pinnacle. This really dainty house extends unopen to the headland alongside an outlook towards Chalok Ban Kao beach on the island's due south coast.


GUL JEA NORTH

The northern Gul Jea beach - shot taken past times turning 180 on the stone the pic 2 inwards a higher house this was taken from. The resort hither is the budget Sunset. It has a bunch of bungalows on the hillside to correct of photographic tv set camera together with to a greater extent than extending unopen to the rocks inwards background. Headland far left of shot is Cape Je Ta Kang which is beside the "north-east" marking inwards the Google globe epitome below.

The route across the mount to access this expanse looks okay - but it sure is steep, especially on the far side. May receive got been upgraded - the booking sites are showing a novel midrange house high on the hillside overlooking the coast now. UPDATE 2013 -  yep, Pinnacle's arrival has seen some of the steepest parts concreted. However at that spot are soundless a few super fossil oil steepish areas which would non hold upward a expert thought for novice motorcyclists to tackle. And the walk is soundless a  killer.

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SOUTH COAST BEACHES

SHARK BAY aka ROCKY BAY/THIAN OG BAY/AO THIAN OK
Shark Bay is mmediately eastward of Chalok Ban Kao. With Ko Nangyuan, in all likelihood the most attractive beach on the island. Also tends to deepen like shooting fish in a barrel at depression tide, but non to the extent of Sairee or next Chalok Baan Kao. Very expert snorkelling here, both on the reef drib off which tin hold upward seen inwards the shot top of page together with along both headlands. Spotting reef sharks is pop here.

This is a individual bay. The world used to receive got access from nearby Chalok Baan Kao via a path at the westward cease of the beach - at i phase the possessor of the bay was charging a small-scale access fee. But this is at nowadays blocked-off (although I managed to uncovering a gap inwards the barbed-wire debate inwards the old expanse where resort staff short-cut in) - hence if you lot desire access, it is at nowadays via the route which comes inwards off the steep Sai Deng route or past times rock-hopping unopen to from Sae Deng which I don't recommend because fifty-fifty at depression tide I had to brand several climbs upward the cliffside to avoid gutters alongside deep water.
There is exclusively i budget/flashpacker house to remain at on the beach, Rocky Resort, although OK2 has bungalows upward the close headland together with a high eatery alongside spectacular views - problem is at that spot is no like shooting fish in a barrel access to the beach . More upmarket New Heaven Resort (not to hold upward confused alongside New Heaven HUTS inwards the next bay to the east) has similar views together with access. Down on the beach at that spot are several newish midrange places together with along the far headland are some existent flash joints including Jamihkiri, Eagle View together with Bohemia.

CHALOK BAN KAO
CHALOK BAAN KAO in the island's due south together with forthwith westward of Shark bay is the 2nd most pop beach after Sairee. Like Sairee it has depression tide shallowness as seen inwards this shot but is a to a greater extent than attractive beach inwards my opinion. Apart from fish spotting, snorkelling aint much chop off the beach but improves along both headlands, although non comparable to Shark Bay.
There is a large attain of accommodation of all standards along the beach together with the headlands both sides, addition some really flash joints high inwards the hills especially correct of the camera. There is a small-scale service expanse behind the beach important you lot don't receive got to caput upward to Mae Had town or Sairee for most shopping together with some restaurants/bars.
The beach's western cease genuinely ends close one-half way across this shot alongside the concrete footbridge to Taraporn's eatery bar together with bungalows. At the far cease of the peninsula is Viewpoint Resort where I intended to remain this on my 2011 see until I realised they had headed upmarket. I soundless repeated my best repast inwards Thailand ever, their seafood sugariness together with sour, which was as expert as finally fourth dimension together with exclusively a piffling to a greater extent than expensive than most budget restaurants' similar dish. The over-water (at high tide) eatery has magic views of the beach together with across the bay towards the camera's high viewpoint seat (John Suwan Rock as inwards the pic top of page).
The headland this side has a duad of budget/flashpacker joints alongside small-scale patches of sand facing the bay - FREEDOM BEACH is i of the meliorate known of these.
On my really outset trip to Tao I stayed portion of the fourth dimension at Sunrise which is towards the westward (far) cease of the beach, an okay house but the articulation has changed hence much my experience is way out of date.

Chalok Ban Kao from the east. This beach is way to a greater extent than attractive than when I fist visited way back. Then it featured patches of mangroves which extended out into the bay together with several junked angling boats.


FREEDOM BEACH AND HAAD TAA TOH YAI

These 2 small-scale beaches human face upward Tanote from Laem Tah Toh which is the cape on the eastern side of Tanote Bay. Haad Too Toh Yai is the beach left primal together with Freedom Beach is the smaller i to correct of image. May hold upward best seen if you lot click-expand image. The 2 resorts here, Tah Toh Resort together with Freedom Beach Resort receive got merged. There is a walkway unopen to the rocks joining the 2 beaches. Those bungalows left of shot belong to the resort.

Part of Freedom Beach from John-Suwan Mountain viewpoint which is the highest spot on the previous shot.

Haad Tah Toh Yai  from the Chalok Ban Kao end. At lower tide levels it is an like shooting fish in a barrel walk alongside minimal together with shallow wading from Chalok. At background correct a concrete walkway goes unopen to the rocks to.....

.....Freedom Beach. This small-scale stretch of sand is pretty dainty alongside some expert shade nether trees inwards back. The far restaurant/bar was a dainty house to pass fourth dimension together with seemed to hold upward the hang of quite a few long-term travellers. If you lot click-expand you lot volition meliorate consider the small-scale beach background correct - this is tiny Haad Taa Toh Lek. Even at the fourth dimension of this shot alongside the tide fairly depression I noticed people had to swim portion of the way rather than wade.

Google globe epitome of Chalok Ban Kao, Cape Tah Toh and Shark Bay. Freedom Beach together with its neighbours are to the correct of the "north" marker 

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SOUTH-EAST BEACHES

SAI DAENG
SAI DAENG - due south eastward coner. Small beach i bay north-east of Shark Bay. Two small-scale resorts only, Coral View together with New Heaven Huts, both to a greater extent than budget/flashpacker together with alongside dive schools. Similar coral, snorkelling, shark spotting to Shark Bay. Beach is okay although sand is coarser together with rocks set out forthwith on entering the H2O at depression tide.
I stayed at Coral View for portion of my latest visit, a really relaxed together with scenic house - should before long receive got details/pix upward inwards the TRIP REPORTS section.

AO LEUK
AO LEUK, towards the due south of the eastward coast is accessed past times a brusk but steep route off the Tanote road. Some state this is the nicest beach on Tao. Very sheltered past times headlands both sides. Sai Daeng is simply unopen to the far headland - hence the expert coral, snorkelling together with reef-shark spotting continues into this bay.
Now this is a individual bay, together with both accommodation places - Ao Leuk 1 together with 2 - belong to the same household unit of measurement . There is also some other place, Nice Moon, some distance along the far headland (blowed if I tin consider it on the shot), together with according to my map it has access to the beach via a rails thru the bush. Its access route comes inwards from the Sai Daeng route via the current of air generator side rails - althought I think you lot tin also achieve this from a side route off the Tanote Road.
Dark notation close Ao Leuk's individual status - no beach inwards Thailand is individual but belongs to the King who gives costless operate to anyone - but you lot receive got to access Ao Leuk past times the Ao Leuk family's province unless you lot receive got a boat. They don't levy a charge, as at state Jamson Bay, but receive got a sign maxim PLEASE DON'T BRING YOUR OWN FOOD AND DRINK -USE OUR RESTAURANT. I reckon fair plenty - fifty-fifty though I exclusively stayed 10 minutes to receive got a few pix I sat inwards i of the restaurants together with downed a beer (15 minutes afterwards I sat inwards Tanote View's magnificent outlook eatery together with downed some other few, fifteen after that at Black Tip Diving on Tanote for some other few - I tell you lot guys, past times the fourth dimension I complete i of these piffling fact finding tours I'm blitzed - but listen, the average Chang goes for 50-60, a banana milk shiver 30-50. What would you lot do?)
ANYWAY - here's the rub. Apparently the Ao Leuk household unit of measurement gets really aggressive alongside people who don't play past times their rules. I saw several years agone a study from a visitor close beingness abused past times these people for bringing their ain nutrient - together with the Brit daughter mentioned inwards the Hing Wong Bay flake inwards a higher house told me i of her friends was of late kicked for bringing a bottle of H2O onto the beach. Crikey gang, you lot receive got been warned - it's upward to you lot to determine whether to visit. Okay, some of you lot guys are in all likelihood similar my surfing mates - would rather receive got a grapple than a feed. Problem is Thais don't grapple "fair" - you lot could uncovering yourself against the whole extended family, machetes together with the works.

UPDATE - MAY 2012
Seems these Ao Leuk hassles continue. Here's a message I simply got on the FORUM department of this site from slimlinetonic:

"Tezza, I flora your site genuinely useful when deciding which isle to see inwards Thailand. Thought my experience inwards i of the bays - AOW LEUK - on Koh Tao, mightiness hold upward og interest: Firstly I receive got to state that the snokellng inwards this bay is wonderful. It was similar beingness inwards an aquarium together with I dont similar swimming out really far! We went at that spot several times during our stay, eating at the eatery together with having drinks at the bar opposite. So my rating is given for the bay itself

WARNING - However at that spot is a human at that spot who is definitely unhinged hence practise delight hold upward aware. You volition uncovering cite of him inwards other forums hence my experience is non an isolated case.

On our finally twenty-four hr catamenia I had finished snokelling but my partner was soundless inwards the water. I had a seize alongside teeth of a coil when an older human (I am inwards my 50s) appeared looming over me, yelling at me, beside himself alongside rage. He hitting me on the caput alongside his knuckles together with frog marched off the beach to our motor cycle. He was soundless yelling at me together with threatening to hitting me again. Fortunately some other westerners turned upward together with tried to diffuse the situation. I could non leave of absence as my partner did non know where I was together with he had the keys to the scooter. Eventually i of the westerners flora him together with brought him to me.

The mad human went away for a few moments hence returned alongside a machete to assault him. We managed to instruct away hence but it was a really frightening experience. All I had done was to receive got had a seize alongside teeth of a coil - nosotros had spent coin at that spot together with were going to dine at that spot afterwards when our friends joined us together with nosotros would non despoil such a beautiful place. His reaction was absolutely irrational. From other furums I read that he attacked someone for having a beach umbrella. So practise be careful".

The roads into both beaches are steep, especially Sai Daeng's. It branches from the Mae-Had to Chalok Ban Kao route whereas Ao Leuk's comes off the Tanote road. 

Pedants may notice the direction symbol is incorrect - it should hold upward labelled north-west - but it takes also long to alter this hence you lot are stuck alongside it, babies.

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EAST COAST BEACHES
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LANG KHAI BAY

This southern most westward coast part has no beach but a release of resorts perched on cliff sides alongside bang-up views towards Phangan together with interesting snorkelling at the bottom. This is the budget/flashpacker Moondance Magic View where I stayed a few nights inwards July 2013. I've detailed it inwards my TRIP REPORT. Details much clearer if you lot click-expand image. The higher modern articulation is a flash villa outfit for hire to all you lot fugitive Wall St brokers.
I think the actual bay at Lang Khai is maybe 500m to the correct closer to Tanote - a small-scale indentation inwards the coast where i budget joint, Yang Bungalows, genuinely makes it to close body of body of water level.

TANOTE BAY
TANOTE BAY is on the primal eastward coast. Probaby the 3rd most pop beach on Tao, although pretty set dorsum every fourth dimension I've visited (but it could hold upward unlike at peak August together with Jan (UPDATE - good non belatedly July when I spent a few nights hither 2013 - volition include inwards my TRIP REPORT department when I instruct a chance). Beach okay although pretty coarse sand - expert snorkelling on this side together with far side of that small-scale islet - I flora visibility together with H2O depth miserable betwixt the beach together with the islet but it was depression tide when I checked. Mol at Hing Wong told me that silt from tempest run-off from the novel dams' digging high inwards a higher house Tanote has affected the coral a fair bit. Might hold upward especially hence inwards this shallow department unopen to the beach. (UPDATE 2013 - much meliorate now, really expert snorkelling past times electrical flow Thai standards betweeen the beach together with islet - as expert as the best I saw on my AROUND ISLAND SNORKELLING TRIP latest visit).
Quite a few places to remain on this bay ranging from budget thru flashpacker into midrange. Black Tip Divers who has all iii fifty-fifty has a dainty piffling puddle fer the kids together with people similar Lady Tezza if I ever instruct her to Tao (UPDATE 2013 - Back Tip receive got developed a novel genuine midrange articulation next door - Montalay - consider my Trip Report). Some scenic bungalows together with restaurant/bars on the steep access route into Tanote - fifty-fifty the highest, Tanote View, was a exclusively piffling over 10 minutes high-effort walk upward from the beach.
This shot is taken from i of the higher bungalows at Family Tanote Bay Resort which starts at beach story together with had many bungalows upward the steep northern headland.

Tanote from the due south 2013. If you lot click expand you lot volition meliorate consider Family Resort on the far headland together with the rather garish reception of Black Tip Divers background central. Montalay is simply to its correct - you lot may hold upward able to consider some of its garden bungalows higher upward the loma to the left of Black Tip. There are some attractive to a greater extent than budget beachside/rockside  joints similar Poseidon together with Diamond Beach to left out of frame.

Tanote from the viewpoint upward behind Jah Bar (head for Stone Age Tai Chi)

LAEM THIAN

This tiny sliver of sand is less than a km N of Tanote - you lot tin consider it far background correct of the shot inwards a higher house this. Unfortunately the resort at that spot has been closed for a patch together with when I tried to walk inwards for some meliorate pix from Lang Khai Bay inwards 2013 via the really high TWO VIEWS, the disused unsignposted route alongside multiple branches dived downwardly a steep jungle ravine together with disappeared! I figured the dude bulldozing this route had run out of money. Of course of study I had taken a incorrect plough - after 2 hours addition of some of the steepest/roughest slopes inwards the Thai islands. Duh! 
And alongside 2 hours+ of impossibly steep together with fossil oil slogging dorsum to a mutual depression temperature beer on the high cliffs at Moondance Magic View I was inwards no mood to explore the other branches of track.

Determined to instruct a pic, I remembered quite a few Tao booking sites soundless receive got Laem Thian Huts on their listing - that's a worry. But at to the lowest degree it gave me access to a shot for you lot - I ripped this pic off http://www.kohtaoonline.com/accommodation.htm

Lang Khai Bay area, Tanote Bay together with Laem Thian juxtaposition. Note I may receive got cranked the vertical exaggeration upward a flake on this transverse Google globe epitome - but those hills (more similar mountains) sure are high. And steep!!

I was determined to instruct there, hence inwards Feb 2015 I made sure I took the correct rails - maintain going straight ahead on the rails from Sairee fifty-fifty if some of the side branches facial expression inwards meliorate shape. . Indeed the rails downwardly to  Laem Thian wasn't inwards bang-up shape together with neither was the abandoned resort when I got there. The beach is relatively tiny together with the prevailing winds of Feb had washed a lot of rubbish together with scum into the bay.

HING WONG BAY
HING WONG BAY - this wonderful house is towards the N of the eastward coast. It contains the best snorkelling together with coral I've flora on Tao forthwith to both sides off the cease of the pier inwards shot, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of expert coral together with fish together with are spaced closely hence that at that spot are many narrow canyons to explore. The pier belongs to Hing Wong Resort (which you lot hitting at the cease of the access route inwards from distant Sairee), the house I stayed 2nd portion of the latest visit. Their rockside eatery terrace (great views, budget prices) tin hold upward seen to the correct of frame. The handful of budget together with flashpacker bungalows alongside meliorate views are scattered upward the steep hillside. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't hear daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats together with fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if you lot pass a flake of fourth dimension inwards their eatery they appreciate it.
There are iii other places to remain inwards the bay - Mol's Homestay together with Bar, a really small-scale articulation which is behind Hing Wong Resort's eatery - View Rock Resort, a dainty budget/flashpacker articulation close 250 m out of frame to the left of shot alongside a large attain of newish bungalows spread upward a fiendishly steep hillside (killer views naturally), a slightly elevated but scenic waterside eatery together with a dive functioning - together with the incongruously modern ShangriLa Apartments which tin hold upward simply seen poking out from behind a huge boulder inwards the top-right quarter of the shot. H5N1 Brit daughter possessor told me these are available from unopen to 30k sterling (smaller ones). Crikey, that's value but beware, unusual ownership of Thai holding is total of traps.
The bay was worked over pretty good past times dive boats together with daytripping snorkelling boats - I saw several of the latter moored at the far headland close midway along. The expanse forthwith left of View Rock's eatery was pretty expert for snorkelling too.

Note no beach at Hing Wong (well at that spot are a duad of really small-scale hard to access patches of sand), but plenty of large apartment boulders to Sun on.

This shot was taken from Green Tree Resort, a super friendly budget house blew me away previous visit. Unfortunately it was unopen downwardly latest visit, although Mol told me the whole articulation was available for hire. Anyone wanna run a resort alongside me?

View Rock Resort. Attracive articulation alongside a dainty seafront restaurant. The slog upward the loma to the bungalows volition exam fitness however.

I couldn't fit the View Rock Resort label inwards next its symbol.

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NORTH COAST BEACH

MANGO BAY
MANGO BAY is in the far N is the most isolated on the isle - but having said that, in all likelihood no to a greater extent than than 9km from the arrivals piers (although Mango Bay Resort hither brings guests inwards past times longtail - the access route patch inwards fairly expert status is super steep together with termintates at to the lowest degree 130m inwards a higher house body of body of water story - its rather dainty bungalows are spaced downwardly the abrupt slope alongside a scenic eatery perched maybe 10m inwards a higher house the seaside rocks together with a dainty sundeck below alongside expert access to the water). This bay is kinda similar Hing Wong, mainly rocks, expert snorkelling together with diving - although it does receive got a beach, a small-scale patch of sand inwards front end of the other resort, Ao Muang Resort. And both resorts are to a greater extent than flashpacker-midrange.
This shot is taken from Mango Bay Resort's sundeck, which I flora to a greater extent than attractive than the beach which tin exclusively hold upward accessed from hither past times swimming. Note at that spot are quite expert coral together with fishies unopen to the rocks betwixt hither together with Ao Muang. By the disposition of snorkelling daytrip boats, other places inwards the bay are pretty expert too.

If you lot desire a existent expert workout walk or cycle from Sairee to Manga Bay together with back.

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OFFSHORE ISLAND BEACH












Ko Nangyuan (image Panoramio-janols)












Nangyuan close i km off mainland Tao's north-west coast consists of iii lumps of stone connected past times a white sand spit. Arguably the beach hither is the nicest at Tao, although inwards recent years some would state it has been spoiled past times the add-on of beach lounges together with umbrellas.
I used to think the snorkelling together with coral hither was the best at Tao, but I at nowadays reckon Hing Wong tin stand upward for it. There is i resort here, Ko Nangyuan Dive Resort (although non-divers are encouraged, especially since its hike upmarket inwards the noughties). There is a attain of bungalows from flashpacker into midrange both inwards dorsum of the beach together with upward the abrupt slopes of those lumps of rock. The latter receive got bang-up views, particulary when the lights of the nighttime diving classes start to flash together with arc thru the water.
I noticed that Lomprayah's fast catamaran ferry at nowadays calls inwards at the Nangyuan pier on its Samui-Phangan-Tao-Chumpon together with contrary runs. The resort also runs a shuttle into Mae Had pier, costless for guests, several times a day. Daytrippers also come upward across on longtails - hence many that the resort at nowadays imposes a 100b entry fee for non-residents. I receive got stayed on Nangyuan twice, but both before the house headed upmarket.

UPDATE 2013

They sure practise pack 'em in. Nangyuan resort takes exclusively 100-200 resident guests at most but daytime 1000-1600 sees the beach packed alongside day-trippers who pay a 100 baht entrance fee. Still a sublime house before together with after they brand it - together with for people-watchers similar me, expert value when they are here. 
I visited inwards belatedly July 2013, intent on doing a separate isle page for Ko Nangyuan.

I also stayed on the isle inwards Feb 2015 together with flora it is maybe a meliorate house to day-trip than remain these days - receive got seat a study on the inwards a higher house liknk.

-----------------------------------------------
OTHER BEACHES AND BAYS
2010 - I haven't had a take away chances to instruct into Laem Thian yet, a tiny bay alongside a small-scale patch of sand N of Tanote but accessed from the Hing Wong road. The basic resort at that spot gets expert reviews from people who desire seclusion together with apparently they pick upward costless from the ferries.
I also haven't been into Lang Khai, some other tiny bay due south of Tanote alongside iii unproblematic bungalow operations. I empathise there's no existent beach here, but if it is as expert at Hing Wong, that's no failure inwards my eyes.
Snorkelling at both these locations is said to hold upward good.
UPDATE 2013 - good I managed to remain at Lang Khai latest trip - but as detailed upward page, got lost on the way to Leam Thian. Pre trip, I did conception to remain a few nights at Laem Thian Hut but read on expert old travelfish.org that it had closed which was confirmed past times locals on arrival.



GETTING AROUND ON TAO

TAXIS - most people think those novel hillside pool-villas overlooking Ko Nangyaun are for fugitive Wall Street derivitives traders. Don't believe it - this is where the Tao taxi mafia live. These guys receive got formed a cartel together with accuse western prices - they volition inquire 400 for the 4km into Sae Daeng - forthwith drib it to the criterion 300 if they uncovering you lot were non born finally nighttime together with state they can't practise it whatsoever lower. I waited until the scrum at the ferry arrival expanse had cleared, figuring at that spot volition hold upward some taxis without a fare - sure plenty I got a ride for 200. Still way high.
Their excuse is the crap roads, which is nonsense - many Australian regions receive got as bad roads together with the taxis accuse no to a greater extent than despite the cost of living/driving/insuring etc beingness higher past times a component of 10.
Best deals are to pop places similar Sairee together with Chalok Baan Kao which are shorter together with usually receive got other people to portion the cost - which should piece of work out as criterion cost addition state 50b for every extra passenger. Bet it often turns out much more. Taxi mafia math - criterion cost = 200 + iii extra passengers at 50 each = 450 divided past times 4 passengers inwards total = driver demands 150 each. Total 600.
Note many bungalows encounter ferries for a costless or discounted pick-up, together with run a discounted shuttle into town several times per day.
Tao taxi tycoon takes travellers to Tanote.
Actually this could hold upward i of the resort shuttles - I noticed Black Tip Divers did an hourly run for 120b
I utter a lot on this page close steep roads - banking concern check the slope on those telephone lines - must hold upward i inwards 4 which most cars without a low-range as per most 4wds volition non climb without a run-up.

2013 taxi prices - read 'em together with weep. I couldn't uncovering this sign inwards Feb 2015: maybe they got embarrassed.

LONGTAILS - some of those hillside villas are for the longtail cartel. How close 300b for less than 3km into Gul Jea inwards the island's due south west?
Longtail bandit gets his i daily fare which covers the monthly mansion mortgage, banking concern repayment on the Lexus, the kids' tuition at Chumpon U together with a Lomprayah VIP fare for the wife's large Samui shopping safari to handbag the 160cm plasma screen

MOTORCYLES - at that spot are thousands of bikes for hire on the isle from basic mopeds thru large dirt-bikes to Harleys. For move unopen to the Sairee-Had Mae-Chalok strip they are ideal because roads are paved together with fairly flat. But attention must hold upward taken going into other beaches because fifty-fifty though to a greater extent than of the roads are paved at that spot are soundless important sections of super-steep together with fossil oil dirt where it is all also like shooting fish in a barrel to lock upward a brake, slide into a transverse oestrus together with go down. If you lot harm the bike you lot volition hold upward up for western repair prices X 10 - if you lot ding yourself or girlfriend/boyfriend you lot could ruin your holiday. Take care!
Note that to a greater extent than expensive 4 wheeled ATV bikes are available inwards large numbers - these soundless demand care. I saw i guy lock upward his brakes together with practise a slide. Lock your front end brakes together with you lot receive got no steering - lock the bring upward together with the dorsum cease slides out. If the brakes lock, instruct off them momentarily.
Note at that spot receive got been several complaints on move sites close motorbike rental rip-offs on Tao of late - specifically people beingness hitting for huge harm bills for small-scale scrapes or for no harm at all. One house mentioned is Owen Motorcycle Rental. Some posters suggested it is a expert thought to photograph whatsoever existing harm before you lot leave of absence the joint, together with to bear an expired passport to give as "security" when renting.

BICYCLES
- are available inwards a few places, non that much cheaper than motorcycles. And I e'er bear a small-scale tool-kit to rebuild i at the start - they are usually wrecks.
Note you lot volition receive got the same command problems on steep descents together with I uncovering the brakes harder to modulate than on motorcycles (I've gone head-over-turkey a total of v times on Tao, Phangan together with Jum. These days I receive got no hesitation walking downwardly the steepest rutted slopes, although I'm sure a mount bike pro would telephone yell upward me pussy together with go them kamikaze) - together with the ascents are hence steep they would receive got Lance Armstrong walking after a while.
The 2 latest trips I decided to give the bicycles a miss together with walk into the distant beaches - I flora because I was non pushing 20 extra kg upward those horrendous slopes* I genuinely arrived a lot less exhausted despite taking considerably longer.
*how steep? Well on i concrete department out of Coral View at Sai Daeng latest trip I was fearful that if it was soundless moisture alongside pelting when I returned I would slide downwardly despite beingness on human foot - luckily it had dried but I soundless had to walk downwardly crab-style otherwise I would receive got inadvertently broken into an uncontrolled run. There were similar slopes on the roads into Mango Bay, Hin Wong, Ao Leuk together with Tanote. I uncovering when walking downwardly super steep dirt roads the best bet is to walk IN the transverse ruts where at that spot are usually rocks etc for traction. The smoothen dirt betwixt the ruts way you lot start sliding together with autumn on your arse. Hey, maybe golf game spikes would hold upward the go.


ROAD IMPROVEMENTS
One of the biggest changes from my 2006 see was that concrete sections had been extended considerably on most of the roads into the beaches. The primary westward coast route from N of Sairee thru town to Chalok inwards the due south has been all concrete for years.
Tanote - close one-half the route is at nowadays paved. However at that spot are soundless a few fossil oil steep sections which demand caution.
Work on the Tanote route 2010. I think this may receive got been a wash-away finally moisture flavour -women behind the photographic tv set camera were edifice wire baskets at left which are filled alongside rocks together with dropped into gully at correct to human activity as a retaining wall.

Ao Leuk - this leaves the Tanote route where it is soundless paved together with the super steep side route into Ao Leuk is 80% paved too. But at that spot was i horendous dirt section. Note it would receive got v minutes to walk from this to the beach - the whole side route is exclusively a 10 infinitesimal walk.
Hing Wong - this is at nowadays close 40% paved. But at that spot are soundless several fossil oil steep sections needing observe including i paved but super steep together with breaking-up concrete department where some dainty sideslip marks showed difficulty of keeping braking command inwards such conditions.
Mango Bay - despite beingness the longest route on the isle (maybe 10km town pier to bay), this in all likelihood has the best surface conditions. The access route leaves the Hing Wong Road close one-half way along before the worst patches of the latter are encountered together with maybe 90% of that the Mango route itself is paved (some super steep sections though).
Most of the Mango Bay route has been paved. Super steep sections though - although this doesn't facial expression steep (I think the focal-length on my elcheapo point-and-shoot Canon adds depth - perhaps I should shoot these alongside some telephoto?) the slope was genuinely iii times steeper than it appears. Girl on dorsum of bike had to dismount because it was conking out on the portion simply inwards front end of camera. Two next bikes had to halt - are having problem starting again.

I don't think whatsoever of the unpaved parts into Mango were super dangerous, although if you lot determine to banking concern check the Viewpoint side rails close 2km from Mango, leave of absence your bike at the primary route eatery together with walk it - nosotros are talking 300m together with I saw an ATV lose command on this brusk section.
Note the Mango Bay vehicle parking expanse is at to the lowest degree 130m inwards a higher house body of body of water story together with the walk downwardly together with upward is major steep - it took me 10 minutes to walk dorsum upward together with I'm used to walking together with running inwards a really hilly dwelling town. Hey, but hence it took me some other 20 minutes to walk upward to the Viewpoint. I was exhausted, together with I'm hence fit I got muscles on my boogers together with toned eyelashes.
Walk into Mango Bay Resort - non also bad i time you lot achieve the bungalow expanse alongside its pathways but fossil oil together with really steep the outset one-half of the trip from the vehicle parking area. You tin consider why they usually shuttle guests inwards past times longtail. Hey, if you lot are non fit specify a lower bungalow - plenty downwardly close the water. These ones are at to the lowest degree 50m inwards a higher house sea-level. Alternatively, if you lot are non fit you lot volition hold upward past times the cease of the visit.

Two Views Track - this leaves the Tanote route close Tanote View eatery together with climbs upward past times the novel dams, eventually reaching the highest viewpoint on the island. The rails continues on, dropping precipitously to eventually bring together the Hing Wong route a fairly brusk distance out of Sairee - or you lot tin backtrack 400m or hence to a hairpin junction where a branch goes downwardly to Sairee farther due south towards the Mae Had end. Unless you lot are the world champ autocrosser don't endeavour to ride Two Views rails - you lot volition kill yourself. Some of the transverse ruts were large plenty to swallow a bike. Nice plenty rails to walk view-wise though - if you're fit. See the trekking section.

Note that all these super steep fossil oil dirt sections could hold upward considerably worse during the Oct into Jan moisture flavour together with simply after. But it could depend on whether some dude puts a grader over the road. For illustration lots of hillside villas were beingness built on the descent into Sairee on the Two Views rails together with no way volition they sell them if they don't improve the road. I wondered how the hell they got their concrete together with masonry delivery trucks in.


WALKING - because of its compact size, it is possible to walk to all Tao locations - although Mango together with Tanote are a flake of a reach. Note all except the Sairee-Town-Chalok strip receive got serious hills together with I would non personally cart my luggage inwards or out of whatsoever of those.
Some fossil oil times for expert walkers:
Town (Mae Had) to Sairee (nearest end-furthest) - 10minutes to 30
Town - South Sairee cliff route (nearest end-furthest - 30m to 50
Town to Chalok Baan Tao - 25 minutes
Town to due south westward beaches (nearest-furthest) - 25 to twoscore minutes
Town to Shark Bay/Ao Thain Ok - xxx minutes
Town to Sai Daeng - 45 minutes
Town to Ao Leuk - twoscore minutes
Town to Tanote - 100 minutes
Town to Hing Wong - ninety minutes
Town to Mango Bay - 120 minutes
Tanote route to Two Views to Hing Wong Road or due south Sairee - seventy minutes+

Most of these are bang-up for trekkers alongside some dainty viewpoints along the way. I'll practise a separate department on Trekking later.
Note at that spot is a really expert FREE MAP handed out everywhere which shows virtually all roads together with tracks addition a lot of accommodation locations, of import businesses together with points of interest. Very handy for motorcyclists also of course.



DIVING
This is a huge manufacture inwards Tao alongside dozens of dive outfits together with a really large attain of unopen dive sites. Even inwards June 2010 when the aftermath of the Thai political upheaval together with world economical crisis had turned shoulder flavour into depression flavour at that spot seemed to hold upward dive boats parked or zipping everywhere.
I'm non a diver hence can't give recommendations - inwards the absence of data on lineament of education maybe it comes downwardly to type of boat used, lineament of the often costless or subsidised accommodation.
I tin state that Tao has a expert rep for instruction. Some dive instructors from Pattaya told me Tao trained instructors were given work preference inwards other areas.
Divers working from flash speedboat close Ao Muang Resort's beach, Mango Bay

Cruise boat at left spent several hours parked at the due south cease of Hing Wong Bay together with hence moved across inwards front end of Hing Wong Resort's pier - it seemed to hold upward a diving-snorkelling live-aboard. They were doing nighttime dives together with snorkelling here. Other lit boats are angling boats.


SNORKELLING
In the beach descriptions I've already indicated expert snorkelling areas. To recap, simply close whatsoever bay inwards the eastern one-half of the isle from Shark Bay inwards the due south to Mango Bay inwards the N - addition Ko Nangyuan inwards the north-west has pretty expert snorkelling past times Thai standards. I personally flora Hing Wong the best but I haven't snorkelled the other places exhaustively (nor Hing Wong come upward to that). Others claim the best snorkelling is at Ao Leuk, others go for Shark Bay.

Girl inwards foreground preparing to snorkel off Mango Bay Resort's sunbathing platform. Note she has seat tights together with a t-shirt over her bikini. Another lady snorkeller donned a pair of jeans together with a t a few minutes earlier. This suggests a worry close box jellyfish or the cognition sleaze-eyed Tezza is inwards the area.
btw - I saw no other evidence of stinger concern anywhere inwards Mango, Tao or the one-half dozen other islands I visited this trip.

AROUND ISLAND SNORKELLING TRIP

Latest trip, I finally got unopen to to doing i of the pop unopen to isle snorkelling trips. This was an enjoyable twenty-four hr catamenia - the fish together with coral are some of the meliorate I've seen inwards Thailand inwards recent years although hard substance world's best snorkelling fans volition non hold upward hence impressed. I'll seat details inwards the TRIP REPORT.

TREKKING
Tao is terrific for trekking because you lot tin explore the whole isle on human foot given iii or 4 days, together with at that spot are some pretty dainty locations to brand it at addition rainforest together with viewpoints along the way. Note at that spot are non also many hiking trails or bush tracks as such - you lot mainly walk the roads. But the bulk of these are often piffling to a greater extent than than bush tracks.

CAPE TAA TOH - the peninsula betwixt Chalok Baan Kao together with Shark Bay is i of the shorter treks. Keep next the primary route unopen to to the left when it hits Chalok "village" - at the cease of the beach it climbs past times New Hut Resort together with OK 2 Bungalows - follow the signs to Freedom Beach. The route gets a PRIVATE sign hither but no-one minds if you lot force on into the expanse behind the resorts to uncovering a sign for the walking rails to John Suwan Rock. This winds steeply uphill thru bush for maybe 600m - you lot approach the access to the top of the stone from the far side. Great 360 grade views hither - the eastwards i tin hold upward seen at the top of the page, the westwards i below.
On the way down, telephone yell upward into Freedom Beach for a dip or sit down inwards OK 2's panoramic eatery which has views of Shark Bay nearly as expert as JS Rock viewpoint. Total walking fourth dimension without stops from eastward Chalok to the Rock viewpoint - twoscore minutes max. Some really steep gradients.

Looking westward from John Suwan Rock over Chalok Baan Kao - notation neat piffling Freedom Beach inwards the foreground

THE SOUTH-WEST BAYS - this is a relatively like shooting fish in a barrel i too, because although taking longer
(maybe 70-80 minutes addition stops i way) at that spot are no killer slopes.
From the western cease of Chalok Baan Kao beach follow the concrete span across to Taraporn's bang-up overwater restaurant-bar. Walk thru the bar together with proceed to Viewpoint Resort's bang-up overwater (at high tide) restaurant. This would hold upward a bang-up house to halt for a potable or repast if you lot were doing the trek inwards the opposite direction from town - the views of Chalok Beach, the bay together with Cape Tah Toh are top class. Follow the steps upward from the eatery into the resort's bungalow expanse together with inquire the way to the automobile common - from hither follow the rails which leads N to the southern most of the south-west beaches - the tiny twin Gul Jea. UPDATE 2013 - Viewpoint at nowadays has a existent dainty stone driveway heading uphill before you lot achieve the restaurant. Take this together with proceed on at the top together with before long you lot volition uncovering you lot are on the route downwardly past times the novel Pinnancle resort together with JD past times which is the brusk path downwardly to Gul Jea.
Find the rainforest rails close the H2O tanks next Sunrise Resort's highest together with furthest bungalows together with inside 10 minutes you lot volition hold upward at Cape Je Ta Kang's CJTK Villa 2's bungalows - N of that Sai Nuan Beach 2 alongside Char Bungalows the funky beach bar affiliated alongside Siam Cookies - together with a piffling farther N Sai Nuan Beach 1 alongside the best swimming together with sand inwards the expanse when I went past times latest visits. Pick upward the walking rails past times heading inland past times the bungalows - good sign-posted, it heads N towards Mae Had thru some quite dainty secondary rainforest before descending* to the access route for the luxury resorts inwards the Jamson Bay expanse simply due south of Mae Had. You tin duck downwardly to their individual beaches for a swim but it volition cost 200b.
Follow the access route which meets the southern most route downwardly to the piers inwards Mae Had village.
*if you lot are going inwards the opposite direction you lot volition uncovering a few brusk steep pinches inwards this section.

UPDATE - inwards July 2013 I came across a nicer to a greater extent than coastal route from Sai Nuan 1 into town. Go to the headland bungalows at Sai Nuan 1 pictured upward page - behind you lot volition uncovering a really expert concrete path going inwards a higher house the rocks to the automobile common inwards a higher house Jansom Bay (once i time to a greater extent than mislabled inwards a higher house - it is the bay forthwith next the Charm Churee house marker). Take the path downwardly to the beach together with hence the path IN FRONT of the beach restaurant/bar at that spot - this is a world correct of  way.....

....through several dainty resorts together with ends at Sensi Villas's Mae Had beach-end eatery pictured upward page.

Funky beach bar Banana Rock Cafe at Siam Cookies on Sai Nuan 2 - notation when I visited inwards 2006 at that spot was much less sand together with lots of exposed rocks. Bar guy served me warmish beer which was overpriced. And made me pay on delivery - something tells me he had prior experience of Aussie bogans. I declined to repeat the experience latest trips.

The most hard portion of the walk is betwixt Cape Je Ta Kang background together with Gul Jea North foreground. This is through a rainforest rails high inwards a higher house the rocks - the rails is okay but finding it coming from the camera's cease is a flake difficult. Amazingly at that spot is a bungalow resort rockside along at that spot without a beach (but I don't know if it is soundless operating). 
Finding the rails is like shooting fish in a barrel if coming due south towards photographic tv set camera - simply proceed on the path inwards a higher house Tao Thong Villa 2's bungalows. Heading away from photographic tv set camera is to a greater extent than hard - if you lot receive got dropped to this beach, caput upwards to the highest most northern of Sunset's bungalows together with facial expression for the really indistinct path close the H2O tanks. If coming direct on the path/road from westward Chalok Ban Kao's Viewpoint resort downwardly past times Pinnacle together with JD resorts, go straight ahead together with you lot volition uncovering the H2O tanks together with finally the rainforest track.


AO LEUK together with TANOTE BAY - from town to the Tanote Road turn-off is maybe 10 minutes walk. Maybe 20 minutes volition instruct you lot to the Ao Leuk turn-off where the route drops quite steeply for 10 minutes to the beach. Lovely house good worth the diversion but read the information re bringing nutrient together with potable onto the beach up-page.
Back on the primary Tanote route you lot climb steadily, sometimes precipitously to close 1km shy of the Bay. Shortly after the route starts to drib is the set dorsum Tanote View Restaurant together with Bungalows alongside mutual depression temperature fairly priced beer, expert music together with bang-up views of Tanote. Another fifteen minutes volition instruct you lot onto the beach for some dainty snorkelling together with sun.

Sweet view from Tanote View's bar terrace - at that spot are a few similar places alongside accommodation as you lot caput downwardly the loma into Tanote Bay.


TWO VIEWS - brand your way to the turnoff simply brusk of Tanote View - this wasn't signposted when I visited but is a wide, steep plough uphill to the left, shockingly rutted at the time. This route climbs uphill past times the novel dams together with finally reaches a hairpin junction. Go straight ahead at the hairpin (no signs when I visited) together with maintain climbing towards the top of the peak which is reached past times a brusk side rails maybe 500m from the hairpin.
After checking the next twin summit outlooks go dorsum downwardly the brusk side rails - past times turning correct you lot tin drib steeply to the North-Sairee to Hing Wong route non also far from Sairee - past times backtracking to the hairpin you lot tin walk a rails that drops to the primary north-south route concrete route inwards south-Sairee closer to Mae Had.
Killer slopes on this trek together with some pretty bad surfaces.

There seems to hold upward a  new route inwards this latest Google globe epitome coming upward from bottom pump to the dams - could hold upward a expert shortcut from Mae Had. Maybe it was at that spot all along together with I missed it.

North-western view (bit of telephoto hither - consider 2nd shot from top of page for wider view) over N Sairee from close Two Views genuinely slightly meliorate than the tree interrupted summit. The eastern view from summit shows Tanote Bay outer but non the beach. North together with due south exhibit mainly mountains together with valleys.
That's gorgeous Ko Nangyuan top correct of shot - if you lot expand shot you lot volition instruct a meliorate view of its rather dainty connecting spit beach. Approaching tempest meant I got existent moisture a few minutes after snapping this pic.
I personally felt that despite accessing i of the highest peaks on the isle this is maybe the to the lowest degree rewarding trek on its ain because the views are non sensational together with at that spot are no dainty halt offs-along the way for a potable or a swim. However if you lot combine it alongside the Ao Leuk-Tanote walk which I did at that spot are for sure some expert stop-offs.

SAIREE TO HING WONG - the Hing Wong route starts towards the N of Sairee where a shopping side-street heads inland uphill. Follow this upward some killer slopes for maybe 25 minutes until the route starts to drib fifty-fifty to a greater extent than steeply into Hing Wong. The snorkelling inwards the sheltered bay is good worth it together with a beer together with a repast at Hing Wong Resort's rockside terrace ditto - as is similar addition a chat, maybe a game of puddle at Mol's Pub together with Homestay simply inland.
H5N1 side route to the left goes unopen to to fifty-fifty nicer View Rock Resort - it's close 800m long, has killer slopes but a mainly paved surface - together with the walk downwardly from the car-park to the dainty inwards a higher house rocks seaside eatery is as as steep as at Mango Bay.
Hing Wong Bay from View Rock's restaurant. Snorkellers out front end are inwards a pretty expert house but meliorate materials to left of shot. Good contrast inwards dive boats hither - longtail behind snorkellers together with old trend small-scale ferry farther out.

Both Sairee to Hing Wong together with Mango Bay (see below) routes.

MANGO BAY - nicely paved inwards most parts but alongside killer slopes, the Mango Bay route leaves the Hing Wong route close 2km from Sairee. This climbs steadily until close 2km brusk of Mango where at that spot is a roadside eatery alongside a VIEWPOINT sign - the side rails is exclusively close 300m long together with the view of N Sairee together with Mae Had is worth it. The drib downwardly into Mango Bay resort is really steep, especially from the resort's vehicle park. But similar Hing Wong, the snorkelling together with ambience is worth it. I reckon you lot are looking at the best portion of an hr addition stops from the Hing Wong route plough off.
Sairee together with Mae Had from the viewpoint simply off the Mango Bay road. Nearby eatery a bang-up house for a cool drink, especially if you lot receive got simply hauled yourself out of the Bay.

SHARK BAY-SAI DAENG-AO LEUK
Take the signposted route to the left before long after the sectionalization inwards the primary town to Chalok route joins again. The plough off to Shark Bay is exclusively v minutes upward this route - but I don't know if at that spot is an entrance fee when reaching this individual bay (I rock-hopped inwards from Sai Daeng together with exited thru a gap inwards the barbed wire to Chalock - both of which I don't recommend).
On retracing to the Sai Daeng route it's close some other 10 minutes of hard slog before you lot start dropping into the beach at Coral View Bungalows. The elevated eatery or beachfront bar are expert places for a beer together with the snorkelling is pretty expert hither - the beach non bad for some sun.
On the way out, if you lot plough upward the concrete rails towards the large current of air turbine you lot volition uncovering a side rails marked Nice Luna Bungalows - this before long becomes a paved route dropping sharply into Ao Leuk Bay - I didn't go all the way inwards because it was getting dark but according to my map at that spot is a walking rails from Nice Luna which joins the primary Ao Leuk access route simply behind the beach - hence you lot could pass some fourth dimension on lovely Ao Leuk together with hence go dorsum to town via the Tanote road.

Ao Leuk from the access route into Nice Luna bungalows from the current of air turbine

TO LAEM THIAN

There are basically iii ways to instruct onto the fossil oil "road" to Laem Thian. From the north:
- from N Sairee, receive got the branch off the Nth Sairee to Hing Wong/Mango Bay road
- central: from due south Sairee, receive got the route described inwards the TWO VIEWS trek department upward page together with hence cutting downwardly to the Laem Thian "road". Note inwards 2013 I went past times Two Views (mislabled Twin Views here) but I afterwards noticed a map showing the route labelled "shortcut". This is the rails I took inwards Feb 2015 - it dives downhill to the correct at the intersection of the rails upward from the dam (square nether the "hor" of "shortcut") together with the rails upward from southern Sairee. It's steep together with fossil oil but no worse than the considerably longer route to the westward of Two Views.

Dont hold upward tempted to receive got any branches heading N off the Nth Sairee to Laem Thian rails - which inwards 2013 was past times far the best inwards condition, although pretty bad - steep together with rutted. This dropped together with sometimes climbed for close fifteen minutes until....

...it dived downwardly into this steep ravine together with simply disappeared! I searched unopen to inwards the rainforest behind, but nada except a few barbed wire fences. Who puts fences inwards a jungle? No settlement hither - the before route blockage attests to that. 
As I said earlier, it appears who-ever was developing this route ran out of money. Maybe the debate dude wanted also much to cross his land. And champaign I had taken the incorrect rails - you lot tin tell I don't bear the latest telephone alongside GPS. Hell, mine doesn't fifty-fifty receive got a camera; together with I leave of absence it inwards Commonwealth of Australia - no mucking unopen to alongside sim cards for this retro traveler. 

What's the large deal close Laem Thian Beach? Well to me it's a beach I haven't visited. To trekkers inwards full general its some other (challenging) route to try. To others it is the fact Laem Thian has a 15m high jumping stone into deep water, similar to Tanote's together with expert snorkeling.
Note I planned to grab a kayak when I stayed at Tanote afterwards together with paddle the relatively brusk distance - but I chose to pass the fourth dimension on the really expert AROUND ISLAND SNORKELLING TRIP instead.
As outlines upward page I finally managed to brand it to Laem Thian inwards Feb 2015 - was a flake underwhelmed (but I didn't seek the jumping stone or the snorkeling).

GETTING TO TAO

Arrival at the Lomprayah pier. I took this from the shed where the resort drivers hold back alongside placards showing either the resort shout out or expected guests' names. The other ferry companies receive got next piers.

If your resort hasn't sent a vehicle you lot demand practise occupation organization alongside the venal taxi mafia inwards the nearby streets (unless you lot are staying inwards Mae Had town itself).

FROM BANGKOK.
The cheapest would hold upward develop or omnibus to Chumpon together with hence hop on i of the fast ferries which goes to Tao. Chumpon is a long way N of together with closer to Bangkok than the pop alternative of Surathani. Chumpon is also much closer to Tao than Surathani. The sleeper develop due south (I think finally destination is Hat Yai) gets into Chumpon inwards expert fourth dimension to select handgrip of the outset limited boat out each morning.
I receive got seen a lot of posts maxim Lomprayah ferry company's bus/fast catamaran combination is really reliable - i omnibus goes overnight also together with leaves from an portion really unopen to Bangkok's Khao San Road.
If your schedule has you lot arriving inwards Chumpon belatedly pm, at that spot are 2 nighttime ferries most nights across to Tao together with i nighttime automobile ferry alongside sleeping facilities. UDDATE - at nowadays iii nighttime ferries on many nights of the week.
Lomprayah together with Seatran run 2 daily services out of Chumpon, Songserm Express one.
Google volition uncovering latest divergence times.

H5N1 to a greater extent than expensive time-saver is to wing to Samui together with hence hop across to Tao on i of the ferries or speedboats connecting the islands. Or wing to Surathani together with select handgrip of a ferry. I think you lot are looking mainly at Bangkok Air for the onetime (see the Samui page for other airlines currently flight into Samui) together with AirAsia, Thai together with maybe others into the latter. Lomprayah together with Seatran leave of absence from piers fairly unopen to Samui airport. UPDATE - someone posted me that Nok Air or similar at nowadays flies Bangkok-Chumpon.

FROM MOST OF THE ANDAMAN AND THE SOUTH
Most people come upward inwards through Surathani. Some ferries leave of absence from the town itself but to a greater extent than depart from farther east. If you lot are coming inwards via the omnibus station, the airdrome or railway station (the finally 2 both out of town), at that spot are move counters or next move agents who volition sell you lot a shuttle omnibus to pier-ferry ticket correct onto the island.
There is a nighttime ferry from the town pier too, currently at 2200.
Note that Seatran together with Songserm currently exclusively run i boat per twenty-four hr catamenia from the Surathani coast to Tao.
* from the north-Andaman (Ranong area) Chumpon is closer.

FROM SAMUI AND PHANGAN.
Lomprayah together with Seatran currently run 2 boats per twenty-four hr catamenia together with the Songserm service from Surathani calls inwards at both islands. There are also speedboat services.
Lomprayah arrives at their Chumpon coast pier - it's genuinely over 25km south-east of Chumpon but they receive got coaches waiting to receive got you lot upward to town or the develop station, or straight to Hua Hin together with Bangkok. There is a small-scale budget resort to the correct of the pier although I wouldn't telephone yell upward the beach enticing.
The other ferry companies' piers are closer to town, but soundless some distance away.
Note I flora it an hr quicker together with 100baht cheaper to instruct to Phuket via Chumpon depite having to go to the omnibus station which is close 15km the other side of town. It takes the twenty-four hr catamenia boats over half-dozen hours to achieve the Surathani coast partly because they telephone yell upward inwards at Phangan together with Samui, whereas Chumpon is ninety minutes on Lomprayah.

WHEN TO GO
The Tao/Samui/Phangan expanse tends to receive got a unlike moisture flavour to most of Thailand. Normally this kicks inwards belatedly September/early Oct together with runs into early on January, although the fact that Christmas/New Year is peak flavour indicates that it can't hold upward also bad come upward belatedly December.
The expert tidings is that when the Andaman together with Eastern Gulf islands are inwards moisture flavour midyear, the Tao expanse is usually much drier. Sure it volition pelting a flake inwards these months but usually sunshine dominates. This drier weather condition way a 2nd high flavour inwards July/August together with consequently non the deal accommodation prices you lot volition uncovering inwards Phuket, Krabi or large Ko Chang etc.
Feb thru Apr are fifty-fifty drier. Note March Apr tin hold upward pretty hot.
H5N1 dot close Tao's moisture flavour - oft this tin hold upward as holiday-friendly as most other areas, but every at nowadays together with hence they receive got a shocker. In all the years I receive got been next Thai weather condition this is the exclusively house I receive got seen forum posters complaining close persistent bad weather, prolonged heavy pelting etc. This seems to hand every 3rd or fourth year, but non necessarily on a regular basis. So if I was planning a Thai beach vacation inwards state Oct, Nov or early on Dec I mightiness think to a greater extent than close the mid or eastern Gulf or the Andaman. However if these months were the exclusively fourth dimension I could see together with I genuinely wanted to consider Tao, I would non hold upward put-off - my outset see into this expanse was inwards a Nov together with I got existent dainty weather, as expert as my iii August visits.

H5N1 smaller dot - May inwards this expanse together with many other Thai regions often gets a piffling blip of extra pelting compared to next months. Usually this is non plenty to brand it a mini moisture flavour but i time once to a greater extent than I occasionally consider complaints from the Phangan/Samui/Tao areas close prolonged rainy spells.

For the cost conscious, you lot are going to instruct expert discounts inwards moisture season. But notation months similar March, April, June together with a lot of September are usually non wet, yet many accommodation places go into depression flavour pricing. Note also that low-budget places are much less variable inwards pricing compared to midrange together with high-end joints.

MONEY
There are lots of ATMs, coin changers together with several banks inwards Mae Had together with Sairee. Chalok Ban Khao has at to the lowest degree i of each too. I didn't notice whatsoever of these at the other beaches.


CHANGES OVER THE YEARS
I outset visited Tao inwards 1997 together with things are for sure different. The primary town alongside the piers, MAE HAD is no longer a small-scale hamlet alongside a limited attain of services. SAIREE BEACH to the north, which had lots of opened upward infinite together with a one-half dozen elcheapo places is at nowadays fully built upward alongside a genuinely large attain of accommodation from budget thru to midrange+, addition heaps of restaurants, bars, shops etc. It’s non also far off becoming some other Chaweng, for meliorate or worse. The route downwardly to pop CHALOK BAAN KAO on the due south coast is paved rather than the dirt rails which at i phase worked its way along a running creek bed for 70m. And this route has a continuous string of businesses. Chalok Baan Kao itself, which was a jumble of budget together with dive resorts, looks much to a greater extent than orderly together with attractive, alongside to a greater extent than midrange materials together with a expert attain of shops together with services. The beach has improved (they receive got cleaned out the boat junk together with starter-mangroves), but as said before it does instruct REAL shallow at depression tide.
The primary changes I saw betwixt my latest iii visits together with the previous i (2006) was that many to a greater extent than midrange together with high cease resorts receive got gone in, at that spot is a edifice nail of hillside villas inwards diverse parts of the island, together with most roads into the bays receive got a lot to a greater extent than sealed sections.
These days you lot tin purchase most things inwards the narrow alley behind the ferry piers. The balance of town multiplies this 20 times.

CHARACTERS
From the personalities dot of view, Tao is of course of study the haunt of the diver, together with it’s existent interesting how they instruct that ‘special group’ swagger when walking unopen to bungalow restaurants together with beaches alongside their moisture suits rolled downwardly to hip level. Hell, if I was paying all that coin for a course of study or a serial of dives, I’d bung on a swagger too.
Another interesting grouping seen on Tao to a greater extent than than other islands is the dirt biker. These guys don’t hire 100 cc Honda Dreams, they blat upward together with downwardly the ridiculous slopes at decease defying speed on large 500+ dirt bashers. It’s a flake disconcerting walking your bike downwardly a dangerously rutted dirt slope to of a abrupt uncovering i of these things flight past times at caput summit nudging fourscore kmh.
And yeah, after my multiple end-over-enders on other islands, inwards recent visits I got sensible on subsequent hires together with walked my hire-a-wreck Cannondale downwardly the steepest, most rutted together with rocky sections. Well, non also sensible. I receive got a rather young show-off streak together with on the less unsafe downhill sections got bang-up satisfaction overtaking a few motorcycles. However I should cite it is non such a expert thought to instruct into the upper reaches of Sairee hamlet at warp speed if a domestic dog runs out inwards front end of you.



READERS' TRIP REPORTS ON KO TAO

Rachael has sent inwards a report inluding pix of Andy together with her see to Tao inwards December09 to the novel READERS' TRIP REPORT SECTION.

If you lot desire to burn inwards a trip study on Tao or whatsoever other location delight ship text and/or captions addition whatsoever pix to lajolla22@hotmail.com. Hopefully nosotros tin maintain information upward to appointment without me having to provide to dozens of islands every 2nd year. There are hence many other places I desire to visit..

2013 UPDATE NOT YET COMPLETE. MORE SOON
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If you lot are visiting Tao you lot may hold upward interested inwards nearby:

KO PHANGAN

KO SAMUI

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