Thailand

Looking for amazing places to stay in Koh Tao? Somewhere to fully enjoy your holiday and relax with your partner? Want to unwind from stressful corporate life on one of the best islands to visit in Thailand? Then Bamboo Huts Koh Tao might be something for you! The isolated Bamboo Huts Resort is one of the best places to stay in Koh Tao. Start your stress free holiday here. Located on the rocks of the southwest coast of the island all bungalows have a prima oceanfront location with magnificent ocean views. Because every bungalow is facing west great sunsets are guaranteed. 

After two lovely nights in the Alisea Boutique Hotel in Ao Nang I switched hotels and checked in at the Aonang Cliff Beach Resort on the other side of the town. The hotel arranged a pick-up and at 10.30am sharp there was an air-conditioned mini van waiting outside the hotel to escort me to my new Ao Nang hotel.

After 7 years I decided to go back to the picturesque town of Ao Nang in the Krabi province in Thailand. I remembered the lively streets, the Krabi beaches, the lovely boulevard and the amazing food culture and was eager to go back. On top of that finding a place to stay ended in 5-night collaboration with the Alisea Boutique Hotel and the Ao Nang Cliff Beach Resort.

Koh Tao is one of the most popular islands in Thailand. It is famous for scuba diving, backpacker life and beautiful beaches. But if you search the island online, you will quickly see another side of the story. Headlines, rumors and past incidents have given Koh Tao a controversial reputation.

So let’s answer the question clearly: Is Koh Tao safe in 2026?

Yes. Koh Tao is generally safe for tourists, and the vast majority of travelers visit without any problems. Every year thousands of backpackers, divers, couples and solo travelers enjoy the island safely.

The Fool Moon Parties in Thailand got hyped so much through Social Media that it has problems satisfying the expectations of the tourists. Thousands of youngsters from all over the world are still visiting Koh Phangan to go completely wild on the famous beach of Haad Rin. The entire bay will be filled with crazy party people that dance the night away. But is Full Moon Thailand worth going? Let me talk through this in this Thailand travel blog.

Why do you think people on Tripadvisor chose this as the most romantic hotel in the world 2015? No explanation needed, right? This picture above says it all! I was looking for the best Koh Tao hotels and I wanted to find some spots on the island that were not really well known to the big audience. At least that is what I thought. But winning a Tripadvisor award made me think I was too late. Still The Place Koh Tao is not a mass tourism destination and II was happy I got the chance to review this Koh Tao Boutique hotel. 

Scuba diving will always be the main attraction on Koh Tao, but there are many more things to do on the island besides getting certified. I lived on Koh Tao, completed my Scuba Divemaster training here and I have visited Koh Tao more than 10 times. That also means I explored a lot of the island above the surface and found plenty of Koh Tao activities that most people miss.

This is my personal list of the best things to do in Koh Tao in 2026. I also checked the latest updates with friends who still live on the island, so this guide is not just personal, but also up to date.

Although I just had 5 amazing days in Koh Samui I can’t wait to go home! Yes, this is how I feel when I am boarding a boat to Koh Tao. Right now I am on the Lompraya high-speed ferry that takes me from Koh Samui to Koh Tao in 2 hours. Price? $17! It was my 6th time visiting Koh Samui, I really like it, but what I learned in 3 days Samui? I really adore Koh Tao, by far my favorite island to visit in Thailand. 

Things are changing! Where the island has always been a divers paradise, more and more travelers make the trip to Koh Tao just to enjoy their Thailand holiday and indulge on island vibes. Diving still is big business and the main thing to do in Koh Tao and pre pandemic there were almost 100 dive schools in Koh Tao.

An increasing amount of people island hopping in Thailand come to experience the laid-back vibe, to snorkel in the stunning remote bays, drive a scooter around and Koh Tao, party on the beach for sunset, experience the amazing hiking trails in Koh Tao or just chill out and watch incredible sunsets from Sairee Beach.

Renting a motorbike in Koh Tao is a must if you want to the best tourist spots on Koh Tao. Though at the same time this island is very infamous for its motorbike scams. So what to do? Miss the cool spots? Or take a leap of faith and go for it? In this Thailand travel blog I will point you out to a motorbike rental in Koh Tao with scratch insurance and explain why it is hard to drive around the island. For more general tips for renting a motorbike in Thailand click on this link.