Once you get off the boat and find yourself on the pier, Sairee Beach is often the best bet in terms of finding accommodation if you have not booked anything earlier. There are hostels with like-minded people traveling on a budget, small hotels with cable TV and air conditioning, rustic bungalows on the beach and high-end villas with swimming pools and sunset views. To summarize, you will have a choice of how and where you want to spend your time. Here are some of our personal recommendations of well-kept villas and resorts at Sairee Beach Koh Tao:

The Monkey Flower and the Koh Tao Star Villa are an excellent choice of accommodation for couples that are looking for staying on Koh Tao a bit longer and want some more privacy. These villas are located a bit further from the hustle and bustle that is Sairee Beach, but the views and the comforts that these villas have to offer. Each villa has all the modern amenities of home with an Asian twist to the décor. These villas are run by long term Koh Tao locals; with that said, you have many years of experience at your fingers tips. The owners can provide you with information about the island that you may not be able to get on your own. Experience Koh Tao and Sairee in a way that few have done. For more information about these villas, please see our more detailed and descriptive section within our website.

If you desire to get further off the beaten path, the new Dusit Buncha Resort located above north Sairee Beach is an option. Although it may seem like it is in an area all its own, Sairee is still accessible by taxi or a ten minute motorbike ride. With a wide variety of villas suitable for individuals, couples, small groups and families, Dusit Buncha provides their guests with a quiet jungle surroundings, a beautiful swimming pool and dining with a sea view. You can find more information about this resort and other in more detail with our section on specially featured accommodations.

With accommodations stretching from each end of Sairee Beach, the choices are up to you. Whether it be wooden huts on the beach or air-conditioned units in the center of town, you are sure to find a place that suits you needs and budget.

Budget Accommodation:Close Budget Accommodation

Mid-Range Accommodation:Close Mid-Range Accommodation
High End Accommodation:Close High End Accommodation

Once you have gotten your tan on the beach and want something more exciting to do, you have plenty of choices. Naturally, scuba diving is something that the majority of the people who come to Koh Tao partake it in. With over 15 dive schools located all over Sairee Beach, travelers can find the one that fits their needs – they range from smaller and more intimate schools to larger ones that can help add to your social circle or traveling party. All the schools offer a wide range of courses for those who want to learn as well as fun dives for those who want to put their skills to the test in the Gulf of Thailand.

Scuba Diving Schools in Sairee:Close Scuba Diving Schools

However, if diving does not suit you, many schools can rent snorkeling equipment or kayaks if you still want the ocean experience (but just on the surface). Sairee Beach has plenty of reefs to explore just a few meters out. For those who want to be a bit more adventurous, the normally calm seas are ideal for paddling out towards the less developed northwestern side of the island where you can do a bit of rock climbing and snorkeling.

If you want to stay dry, check out the daily yoga schedule at some resorts and dive schools. Getting stretched out and more flexible with a certified yoga teacher is a great way to relax after being crammed on a boat, a bus, a train, a taxi or a mini-van in hot temperatures. If you want other ways to stay in shape after too many Singhas or plates of pad thai with prawns, there is a Muay Thai school that has regular classes for beginners and advanced level students. The facility is a training center for the professionals on Koh Tao and they offer their services to travelers so people can see what it takes to be a kick-box champ!

For activities off the beaten track, there is a Flying Trapeze school where you can defy gravity with other beginners. Lessons are everyday so feel free to just drop by. Of course, if you prefer your feet on the ground, grab a beer and simply watch the show! Goodtime Adventures in central Sairee Beach has rock climbing lessons and expeditions as well as the worlds only ‘island-to-island’ zip line. Get to Koh Nangyuan from Koh Tao in no time flat – on a sturdy zip line over the sea and into the jungle.

Additionally, there are ways to educate yourself with Thai culture in between the parties and socializing. A newly opened Thai language school can help you move past just ‘Sawatdee ka/krap!’ and get you practicing more local phrases to impress the Thais you meet on your journey. There are also Thai cooking classes where you can test your Asian culinary skills and make some of the signature dishes Thailand is known for.

If you have enjoyed happy hour drinks while watching the marvelous sunset of Koh Tao, you may want to consider seeing that same view from a different angle. Island Cruises, the sailing company of the island, will provide a sailing cruise from two to ten people for a sunset cruise on one of their sailing yachts. Feel free to step by at our office in Mae Haad and get more details on the tours, we are right next to Cafe Zest, or simply visit our website at www.island-cruises.org.

Activity Companies in Sairee Beach:Close Activity Companies

What better way to experience a place is to get a taste of the local flavor? Even though Koh Tao is a small place, there are a great variety of dishes to experience – ranging from lighter northern cuisine to the rich spicy curries of the south. Experiment with some of the smaller stands and carts that offer noodle soup, papaya salad with sticky rice, barbeque chicken and pork on bamboo skewers, fried chicken and Thai style pancakes with banana and chocolate or tuna and chili sauce. In addition, there are carts stocked with fresh fruit that come with a chili shrimp paste and a spicy sugar dip if you fancy eating a green mango or pineapple in another fashion. With some of the snacks and meals ranging from 20baht to 60baht, you do not have to break your budget in order to taste a variety of foods.

In terms of other sit-down Thai restaurants, there are many of excellent options. Simply walk down the beach road or the main road and follow your nose. Most restaurants open at 7am and close at 10pm so there is no shame if you crave fried rice for breakfast or a fruit shake for dinner. If you want something a bit more indulgent, most resorts have fresh barbeques in the evening. There is a wide variety of fresh fish (caught far off of the dive sites and no endangered species served), chicken kabobs, steaks and plenty of side dishes.

Since Koh Tao has had a strong Western influence, you can indulge in some home style cooking if you simply cannot look at another prawn or plate of rice noodles for a few days. There are many bakeries that service a full English breakfast or the healthier Muesli with yogurt and fruit. The cafes also offer a wide range of sandwiches with imported cheeses and meats, baked goods often made by international chefs and plenty of coffee options. Zanzibar and Zest Coffee House are some of the most popular ones in Sairee.

There are plenty of other Western restaurants within walking distance on Sairee. The dining lounge Fizz is a hot spot for sunset drinks and dining. With beanbag chairs and classy outdoor atmosphere, this is a great spot for relaxing, good quality food and good music. Portobello is also an excellent choice for Italian and Mediterranean food. With a great selection of pastas, meats and pizza, people will enjoy dining on high quality cuisine. Slightly off the beaten path is A Taste of Home, a restaurant that serves up authentic German dishes made by a professionally trained and experienced chef. It is rumored that she makes some of the best goulash this side of Thailand! If you want something a bit more rowdy, Choppers Sports Bar is one of the most well known spots on the island. A crowded bar that serves up pub-grub with the latest sporting event is a place that is both popular for travelers and locals. Sometimes, you simply have to watch the football with a burger and chips while having a cold beer on draft.

Restaurants in Sairee Beach:Close Restaurants

A tropical island would not be complete without an active nightlife and Koh Tao is no different. While Sairee Beach has not yet reached the seedy level has Chaweng in Samui or Patong in Phuket has, there are still plenty of places to grab a beer (or a bucket) and dance the night away. The evening usually begins with some sunset happy hour drinks on one of the many beach bars. The bars that are associated with dive schools usually get busy after 5pm when the fun dives and courses are completed for the day and people want to clean the salt from their mouths with a bottle of beer.

Once the evening progresses, the most popular spots to start the night with are Choppers or Diza Bar. Some people venture to Fishbowl operating at Ban’s Diving Resort for the happy hour specials and the live music. For dancing and excellent people watching, Lotus Bar is often so packed with people, it can be difficult to order a drink. The fire shows that go on are some of the best on the island and the music blares until early in the morning. When people want a different scene, they walk up the street to Office Bar, a tiny little hut on the beach road covered with graffiti and pictures of customers, both past and present. Usually, the crowd spills out on to the road (causing headaches for motorists) so do not expect to have much of a place to sit down. Maya Bar, Cave Bar and A/C bar are located at the southern end of Sairee Beach. A more spacious place for drinking and dancing, they usually do not generate a bigger crowd until 1am.

If the sloppy scene is not for you, there are plenty of places to go and simply enjoy yourself without the intense hangover in the morning. Fizz is one of those places. With a clean and sophisticated atmosphere, you can still have a drink and hold a conversation with the person next to you without having to shout over the blaring house music. The new Darawan restaurant, owned by Ban’s Diving, is also a lovely place for drinks, food and views of Sairee Beach in a serene setting.

Bars and Pubs in Sairee BeachClose Bars and Pubs