Koh Tao is yet another popular destination in the Gulf of Thailand due to its colorful coral reefs that make it popular for diving because it attracts a large variety of sea creatures. In addition to that, there are many beach huts and ocean resorts on the island making it a lively place. “Koh Tao” actually means “Turtle Island”, and you can see that a lot of the islands within it resemble turtles due to their leafy green foliage and surrounding rocks.
I chose to go to Koh Nang Yuan (on the northwest coast of Koh Tao) which is a chain of 3 gorgeous islets that are great for scuba diving. Once arriving by speedboat, you can reach all of them on-foot by using a sandbar that spans in-between them. If you climb up a trail from the boardwalk you can see one of the most amazing views in Thailand! The emerald oceans glisten beautifully from above, and it truly feels like paradise.
In order to reach Koh Tao, I took a speedboat from my resort in Koh Samui. I booked an affordable tour from Klook in advance, and had more than enough time to go swimming, hiking, and eat a buffet meal that was included in the tour. Though some articles I’ve read online warn tourists to stay away from Koh Tao due to a series of murders that were found on the island (source: News.au), I did not sense any hostility while I was on this tour, and I think it is more than fine to visit even as a solo traveler as long as you are responsible.
During my trip here, I decided to stay in Tango Bay Resort on Koh Samui (for around $50 per night), because it is conveniently located and there are more activities to do on the island. I enjoyed staying on Chaweng Beach because it is lively but still feels like a private beach. My resort came with a private hut, a pool, a delicious restaurant and bar with a happy hour every day, and a beach, so I felt more than welcome!
When I walked into my room, both of the towels were folded like elephants! It was truly a sight to behold and I couldn’t get over how cute they were. I was impressed at how beautiful the beach was at night with the lanterns hanging from the trees and reflecting off the ocean. I saw many people having weddings here and felt luxurious since I came here by myself. Whether you’re with people or alone, it’s really hard to be sad here.
There are 3 foods that I recommend trying in Thailand: Seafood (any kind), sticky mango rice, and coconut ice cream (ideal if it’s from a real coconut). I was fortunate that I could have all three on the beach!
It was great to relax here after being trapped in an office for so long. I can’t stress how important it is to get away from the city and take an island vacation! It doesn’t have to be expensive because countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and more are very affordable, and the quality of service is usually quite good. I hope that everyone reading this is inspired to come here some day!
