Where to Stay in Koh Tao (for All Budgets)

Written By Lynne Lessard

Koh Tao is truly a slice of paradise in the Gulf of Thailand. It’s a small, hilly 21-square-kilometer island that unveils itself as a green oasis when you approach by ferry, surrounded by turquoise waters. What’s not to love? And while this little paradise, along with its siblings, Koh Phangan and Koh Samui, is well loved by backpackers and divers, it’s also a beautiful place for all travelers who want to bask in nature’s blue and green hues for a few days.

Taken from a viewpoint on a hilltop, a peninsula of Koh Tao island in Thailand is dotted with homes, villas and hotel, with several snorkeling boats in the bay.

Welcome to paradise aka Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand! Now, for picking where to stay…

I was surprised to find that hotels on Koh Tao are priced quite wildly by Thai standards — even in low season. Plus, on average, their reviews aren’t great… many places are in the 3-star review range. It’s hard to say if that’s because of travelers’ expectations or a lack of quality standards by the hotels, so I did some digging while I was on the island to help scope out the best stays for different budgets. And by digging, I mean I studied Google Maps, Booking, and Agoda… and then drove around the island checking out accommodations in person to see the quality for myself.

IN THIS ARTICLE:

When to Book Your Stay in Koh Tao

Koh Tao has two high seasons: February to May and July to September. This is when the weather is the least rainy, still warm but not painfully hot, and most comfortable overall. It’s also when the island gets packed with tourists.

I visited in April, which is considered low season. At this time of year, it is painfully hot during the day, often over 35°C. It’s still quite busy on the roads, but you can find availability at most hotels, guest houses, and dorms the same day.

Assuming you want to visit during the high season, if you are in any way picky about your accommodations or your budget, you need to book early. In April, hotels told me they are already nearly full for February!

What You Need to Know Before Booking Your Koh Tao Hotel

Koh Tao accommodations are a bit different from most I’ve seen in Thailand. Here are a couple of things to note when choosing where you’ll stay on the island:

Breakfast Isn’t Typically Included

  • Note that most accommodations don’t include any breakfast, or perhaps only coffee/tea and toast with jam, so in most cases you’ll need to budget additional funds for your morning meal.

It’s Not Only for Parties

The Thai Gulf islands have become synonymous with backpackers and Full Moon Parties, but they are great for anyone who loves the ocean and island vibes. If you stay in a hotel or diving hostel, you’ll find a relaxed vibe. That said, there will be loud music on the main road until late, so keep this in mind when booking your hotel.

Stairs & Hills are Very Common

Koh Tao is very hilly, so some of the accommodations have lots of stairs or hills to walk. This is part of the tropical island charm — it’s a simple place, built into nature, and you won’t find elevators here. If you have any mobility limitations, be sure to check carefully that you can have a ground-floor room in a place that doesn’t require stairs.

In a forest garden in Koh Tao, hotel rooms peek out from behind trees, with hills and steps needed to reach each one.

Be extra careful where you book your stay in Koh Tao if you have mobility issues, because hills and stairs are quite common within properties here. Check for ground floor availabilities if that’s a concern.

Prices Shift Drastically by Season

In some cases, hotels double their prices during the high season — especially those near the pier and beaches.

Getting Around Takes Planning

If you choose to stay in a more remote area, away from Sairee Beach, just keep in mind that you’ll need to either hire a taxi through your hotel or a local service, or rent a scooter. This is entirely doable, but it is something to take into consideration when planning. It’s just a small trade-off for those looking to stay in the hills with views or a more secluded beach.

Power Outages & WiFi reliability

Being on a paradise island means infrastructure can be slightly tricky. While this island in particular is quite well put together, don’t be surprised by occasional power outages and WiFi issues.

Water Shortages

It is difficult and expensive to get potable water to Koh Tao, so please do your part by being mindful about water consumption in your hotel sinks and showers.

Reviews Can Be Unreliable

I felt the Google reviews for hotels weren’t super reliable here. Some places with 3.5-4 stars were maybe just slightly outdated or small, but clean and comfy enough. In other cases, the reviews were completely correct 🫣. Make sure to always filter reviews to “newest” (not “most relevant”) so that you can see what recent visitors are saying.

Where to Base Yourself in Koh Tao

The most developed part of Koh Tao is near the piers — Mae Haad Pier, Lomprayah Koh Tao Pier, Songserm Koh Tao Pier (all are next to each other) — on the south-central side of the island’s west coast. The small “main road” in front of the pier is narrow, crowded with foot and scooter traffic, shops, cafes, and restaurants, and then things ease up as roads branch off. I liked this area as there are loads of walkable options for food, drink, beaches, and activities.

Sairee Beach (also spelled Sai Ri Beach) is a popular spot just a few minutes north of the pier, which remains a walkable and sociable area.

Less than a 10-minute drive from the pier, you’ll find some luxurious options over in Shark Bay, which is a beautiful area with higher-end beach or day club-style spots.

The north of the island is the most barren part, with fewer roads, hotels, and restaurants. This could be an option for those looking for more of a secluded-feeling nature getaway, alongside the small island offshoot of Nang Yuan.

Got your ideal area in mind? Check out the best places to stay in Koh Tao based on your budget and travel style ↓

Best Places to Stay in Koh Tao (By Budget & Travel Style)

Where you stay in Koh Tao makes all the difference. After exploring a range of spots myself (and swapping notes with other travellers), I’ve pulled together this guide to help you choose what suits your travel style—whether that’s budget-friendly, mid-range comfort, something with a view, dive-focused stays, or a more elevated, tucked-away experience.

Budget: Hostels under $25

There are loads of hostels in Koh Tao, but you’ll be shocked by the variety in prices for just a bed, ranging anywhere from 350-1300 THB ($10-40 USD), for a spot in a 4-12 bed dorm.

The lobby of White Jail hostel in Koh Tao, Thailand. Industrial in style with concrete walls and orange and purple accents, a reception area, lockers and cafe-style seating.

I went super budget and convenience, staying at White Jail Hostel within a short walk from Mae Haad Pier in Koh Tao.

Here are a few Koh Tao hostels worth considering, from the lower end of hostel prices:

  • White Jail Hostel: If possible, stay in their boxtel, which are the newer dorms offering a lot more privacy than the old ones. Warning: the boxtel rooms do require you to go up and down quite a few steps, but I found it worthwhile for the privacy and space in those dorms. They have beds as low as 339 THB or $11 USD per night in low season.

  • Think Koh Tao: More private and spacious than your average dorm with multiple showers and toilets en suite, even in the 8-bed dorm. It’s located right across the street from the 7-Eleven, ideal for those cheese toastie runs. Bonus: guests get 20% off at the gym next door. Dorm beds start at 822 THB or $25 USD.

  • Tiger House Hostel: A very simple but well-rated hostel with a cozy outdoor beanbag hangout space. Starting from 605 THB or $19 USD in high season.

  • Buddha View Hostel: It doesn’t get closer to the pier than this, which is convenient. This is a highly rated and well-equipped hostel with the benefit of a work area if you need a spot to plug in to work remotely with wifi. Starting from 819 THB or $25 USD in high season.

If you want something social and more inclusive than just a room, and you have some budget, you could consider Wonderland:

  • Wonderland Jungle Hostel: They are tucked a bit into the jungle, making for a beautiful nature ambiance, and they include breakfast, free sunrise yoga, and on-site activities like hangout areas and a pool table. That said, you’re paying a premium for everything offered here, with prices starting around 2,300 THB or $70 USD for a dorm bed in high season, with a minimum stay of two nights.

Hostel beds sell out early for high season, so you want to book ahead if possible!

A large capsule hostel bed seen from outside the bed, with a cubby for luggage, light, plug and curtain for privacy, at White Jail Hostel in Koh Tao, Thailand.

The ‘boxtel’ beds at White Jail hostel provide a lot more privacy and comfort than their older dorms. Definitely request one of these if you can handle some stairs to get to the dorm.

Mid-Range: Guesthouses & Rooms under $90

Nicer hotels are costing a pretty penny in Koh Tao, but if you are planning to spend your time relaxing in an oasis, you want to make sure you’ve got a comfortable, clean space to enjoy the island from. Here are some options to consider:

Otherwise, the gap from low to high budget is bizarrely wide here in Koh Tao, so if you’re budgeting in the mid-range, you’ll probably be looking at guest houses or lower-end hotels. Consider these ones, which all have over 8 stars on Booking reviews:

  • Kohtao Heritage Hideaway: One of my favorite spots in Koh Tao for its beautiful, unique design. There are lots of stairs, but if you want comfort and character at a reasonable price (in low season at least 👀), it would be worth it. It’s just outside the main Sairee/pier area, so expect to need a few taxi rides. They also have two very unique connecting family rooms, perfect for friends traveling together, too. The basic bungalow here starts at 2,025 THB or $63 USD in high season.

A unique family room interior is seen at a hotel in Koh Tao, Thailand, with a textured grey ceiling resembling waves, tropical style lamps, a large living area and bed in the back.

The family rooms at Koh Tao Heritage Hideaway are unique and they connect (this is the downstairs one), making it a cool option for groups of friends or family traveling together. The lower cost bungalows are much simpler and smaller than these family rooms.

  • Koh Tao Heritage: Probably the simplest of the accommodations listed here, but if you’re looking for basic with privacy at a low price, this is one of the better bets, starting at just 1,053 THB or $33 USD.

  • Marine House Koh Tao: It’s just slightly off Sairee Beach, making the location optimal, plus they have homey rooms at a fair price range, starting from 2,200 THB or $68 USD in high season.

  • Giggling Tree Resort: A great location near the pier, this simple but comfortable accommodation is ideal for mid-range travelers who don’t need a pool and like a touch of rustic. Rooms start from 1,970 THB or $61 USD in high season.

  • Wind Beach Resort: I love the location of this hotel (right on the beach!), and the rooms are nice, even if slightly outdated, and there is no pool (but I mean, the whole ocean at your doorstep 😉). But make sure to book a room on the other side of reception, as the noise from the beach bars can be loud at night. Prices start from 2,430 THB or $75 USD in high season.

Location-wise, Wind Beach Resort is a real winner, right on Sairee Beach. The rooms are bright and clean. If you’re happy with a hotel without a pool, this is a good mid-range budget option!

  • Ko Tao Paradise Resort: If you’re after more of a resort feel, you may like this hotel for its layout, amenities, and hilltop location — all in the mid-range budget. Just note this is not a walkable location. Deluxe ocean view rooms start at 2,880 THB or $89 USD per night in high season.

  • Sairee Sairee Guest House: Simple but modern style rooms with lush gardens outside your window. It feels more secluded than it actually is, not far from Sairee Beach. Rooms start at 1,955 THB or $60 USD.

If you want privacy but still like to meet others and be a bit social, you can book a:

  • Private room in a hostel like Think Koh Tao or White Jail Hostel — but you’ll want to book early since private hostel rooms tend to go very quickly!

Luxury: Private Villas & Resorts from $250++

If you’re traveling in a group or just looking to live it up in Koh Tao, these are some spectacular private villa properties to check out for a once-in-a-lifetime kind of vacation:

  • Overthemoon Luxury Pool Villas: This villa is very modern with wooden touches to give it a tropical spin. The location is truly paradise-like with breathtaking views. It’s an investment, starting at 12,255 THB ($377 USD) per night for their 1-bedroom villa in high season.

  • Blue Tao Beach Hotel: A modern, clean hotel right on the beach — what’s unique is that some rooms open directly onto the sand, just steps from the ocean. It’s well-maintained and centrally located near restaurants and bars. Prices are on the higher side, but for a beachfront stay in the heart of it all, it delivers. Due to its prime location, this is one of the more expensive options listed, starting at 11,982 THB or $367 USD per night in high season. Beachfront rooms start at 35,100 THB or $1,000 USD/night.

Wooden frames with nets hang over a Sairee Beach in Koh Tao, steps from the ocean, with boats on the water in a bay, and a green hilly peninsula in the background.

The Blue Tao hotel itself is your usual modern build, but its rooms with direct beach access are definitely special for ocean lovers.

  • Villas Sabai Jai: Each of these multi-bedroom villas has its own sunset-facing private pool overlooking the island and ocean. A 3-4 bedroom villa here starts from 13,365 THB or $410 USD per night on weekdays, with higher prices on weekends.

  • Perfect View Pool Villa: Now we’re getting really bougie — this 5-bedroom villa starts at 33,705 THB or $1,035 USD per night in high season, but can house up to 10 people. It looks like something out of a movie, and the reviews are tremendous. This could be an ideal group escape, especially for a special occasion trip.

  • Naroua Villas: Modern sea-style villas with colorful accents and turquoise ocean views. Starting at 8,415 THB or $259 USD per night in high season for a 1-bedroom villa, but they have options for 2 and 3-bedroom villas, too.

  • Pahili Pool Villas Koh Tao: If you like ultra-modern style villas, you’ll love this. These are smaller 1 and 2-bedroom villas in the Shark Bay area, perched cliffside for wild views. Outdoor dining setup is a nice touch! Starting at 9,295 THB or $285 USD per night in high season.

For Divers: Dive Resorts & Stay Packages

If you’re in Koh Tao for diving, or want to learn to dive, then staying with your dive shop can provide great value as they’ll package your dives with your accommodations. Plus, it can make logistics nice and easy.

There are loads to choose from, and I haven’t tried any, but you might want to check out highly rated dive shops like:

For something more luxurious and unique, check out:

  • Nangyuan Island Dive Resort: This is much more secluded and the perfect pairing for divers seeking an oasis vibe. Nangyuan is a small offshore island in the north of Koh Tao, and guests at this resort rave about the views and recommend it for a minimum 2-night stay. Rooms start at 5,600 THB or $173 USD per night in high season.

For dive center and resort pricing, contact the dive center you’re interested in — they typically offer package deals and have seasonal promotions.

P.S. Always read reviews carefully and look for dive centers that have high safety standards — this is not an area worth cutting corners on. Stay safe and have fun! 🤿

Final Thoughts

Koh Tao has something for every kind of traveler; it’s just about finding the right fit for your style and budget. Choose your base wisely, book early, and you’ll be well on your way to an incredible stay.

Travel well,

Lynne

Please keep in mind that pricing is based on research at the time of writing and is subject to change by each property. View the links in the article to see prices for your dates. All properties listed here had a rating of at least 8 on Booking or 4 on Google Reviews at the time of writing.

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Lynne Lessard
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