Koh Tao Travel Guide & Money-Saving Tips

Koh Tao pairs world-class beginner diving with easy shore snorkelling, viewpoints and practical ways to keep ferry, food and island transport costs down.

Learn to dive beside turtles, pinnacles and bright Gulf water

Koh Tao is the island we recommend when learning to dive is the main reason for the trip. Its warm Gulf waters, busy dive scene and wide choice of schools make a first certification feel easy to arrange, while experienced divers have Chumphon Pinnacle and Sail Rock to look forward to.

There is plenty beyond the dive boats. Swim out from Shark Bay or Ao Leuk for reef life close to shore, then take the steep rope-assisted climb to John-Suwan Viewpoint for a wide look across the southern bays.

This hub brings together what to know before going to Koh Tao, with practical ways to save money while still getting the most from the island.

Good to know

Koh Tao is one of the most popular and affordable places to get dive certified. Many dive schools include discounted or free accommodation with courses, so compare packages.

Top tips

Currency: THB (฿)
Daily spend: 700–1000+ THB per person
Hotels: 200–1000+ THB per night
Plug: American 2-prong / Europlug / Thai
Tipping: Welcomed
Timezone: GMT+7
Taxis: KOHME
Food: KOHME

Best time to visit

Weather, prices, crowds and the events worth travelling for.

Cool and dry season

Great

Dec – Feb

Mostly dry with calmer seas; rooms rise 20–30% around Christmas and New Year, when the island is busiest.

Hot season

Good

Mar – Apr

Hot air, calmest seas and 25–30 m visibility; whale-shark sightings peak while crowds ease after Songkran.

Green season

Good

May – Oct

Short afternoon storms and continued diving; fewer visitors bring softer prices, with September and October often especially clear.

Monsoon season (SEASON OVERRIDE)

Off-season

Nov – Nov

Heavy rain, rough seas and ferry cancellations; visibility falls to 5–15 m and some dive schools close.

Cost saving tips

Hire a scooter for ฿200–250 a day instead of paying ฿400 for the Mae Haad–Sairee taxi hop.
Withdraw larger amounts less often because ATMs charge ฿250–350 per transaction, then decline the machine's currency conversion.
Book a dive course directly with the school and compare instructor-to-student ratios rather than choosing through an agent.

Top tips

Agree the taxi-truck fare before boarding; short daytime rides quoted at ฿100 can cost more than ฿300 after dark.
Carry cash for market stalls, beach bars and taxi trucks, since many island businesses do not take cards.
Eat in back-street Mae Haad or Chalok Ban Kao, where Thai meals cost much less than beachfront Western menus.
Choose morning dive boats, especially in green season, when afternoon squalls can make the sea choppier.
Use KOHME for food deliveries and booked local drivers, since Grab and Bolt do not operate on Koh Tao.
Finish drinks before boarding for Koh Nang Yuan because plastic bottles are not allowed on the island.