The 7 Best Beaches in Koh Tao Thailand I’ve Visited in 2026

I feel like beaches everywhere in Thailand are just gorgeous, so it probably won’t surprise you when I tell you that yes, the beaches in Koh Tao are stunning, too.

Even though they’re beautiful, I think they fly a little under the radar in the sense that Koh Tao is always just known for its amazing diving and no one ever seems to mention the actual beaches!

I’ve spent quite some time in Koh Tao, so I was fortunate enough to visit quite a few of them. I went to the most popular ones, but I also found some that I would personally class as “hidden beaches,” and of course, I’ve included them in this little guide.

To help you guys out so you don’t have to figure it all out yourself, I’ve decided to put together this guide on the best beaches in Koh Tao that I’ve actually been to myself and would totally recommend visiting.

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The 7 Best Beaches in Koh Tao Thailand I’ve Visited in 2026

Best Beaches in Koh Tao – My Experience

I had a really great time exploring the beaches in Koh Tao because the island is much more rugged than, let’s say, Koh Samui or Phuket. That means the beaches are often harder to get to and usually have zero facilities, but the payoff is that they’re way less crowded and much more beautiful.

That is definitely more up my alley because I’m 100% Team Remote Beach over Mass Tourism Beach.

While I was in Koh Tao, I tried to see as many beaches as I could, and for that, I had to rent a scooter. Even though Koh Tao is fairly small, it’s not really walkable.

On my very first day, I called a taxi to get to some of the beaches and, wow, they overcharge so much it’s a joke! I just grabbed a scooter for the rest of my time there; it made everything so much easier.

My absolute number one favorite beach I’ve been to in Koh Tao is for sure Tanote Bay. It’s more remote and not nearly as busy as the main beach, Sairee Beach. It’s amazing for snorkeling, but the highlight for me was the cliff diving. Naturally, I spent hours jumping off the rocks, which, I’ll be honest, was a little sketchy, but it was so much fun!

Another shoutout for my favorites has to go to Taa Toh Lagoon. It’s tiny, but I got lucky and snagged one of the six sunbeds they have there. It was just perfect, with some of the bluest water I’ve ever seen. Absolutely incredible.

1. Tanote Bay

Even though this list isn’t a ranking, this first beach is definitely my favorite in Koh Tao for quite a few reasons. Tanote Bay is much more remote than the main beach. It’s located on the east side of the island and it took me about a 10-minute drive there on my scooter from the west side of the island.

The beach is fairly empty with just a few local beachfront restaurants on it, but that’s about it. By the way, we had lunch at one of the restaurants and it was really good!

However, my highlight here was for sure the cliff jump which is located on a huge boulder in the ocean. Swimming out there was quite the mission! Once I reached it, I had to climb up using a rope. Honestly, climbing up the boulder with that rope felt more sketchy than the actual jump itself.

We jumped off and repeated the process a few times, and I had so much fun. But due to how far out the boulder is and the climb involved, it was definitely one of the more difficult rock jumps I’ve done. Please be careful if you do it, and I’d recommend being in at least somewhat decent shape too!

2. Sairee Beach

Even though I’m not the biggest fan of Sairee Beach, mostly because it’s your typical main beach with loads of restaurants, sunbeds, and people, it’s still a great spot, and I felt like I had to put it on this list.

I’ll be honest, I personally wouldn’t come here just to put my towel down and relax; for that, I think there are much better beaches in Koh Tao. But I definitely found myself here many times for sunset drinks and dinner because, for that, it is absolutely perfect.

I loved all the little beach bars and beach clubs here like Fizz or Cactus which are right on the water. They were amazing for me to just hang out in a bean bag, order some wine or a beer, and just chill.

Especially Cactus, as I mentioned before, it was one of my favorite brunch spots where you can sit right in the sand. I definitely recommend it!

Yes, I’ve said I usually prefer a more remote beach, but at the same time, I also love a good beach bar or beach club… I mean, who doesn’t?

3. Freedom Beach

Freedom Beach is located in the very south of Koh Tao, in an area that also includes Taa Toh Lagoon and the John-Suwan Viewpoint. When I arrived on my scooter, I had to pay for parking and an entrance fee to the whole area, but it was only around 100 THB, so it really wasn’t the end of the world.

The beach itself is undeniably beautiful, with plenty of daybeds and really stunning water. However, I arrived at about 11:00 AM and it was already super packed. Because of the crowds, we only stayed for a short amount of time, but I can’t deny how pretty it is.

If I were to go again, I would definitely make sure to get there much earlier because space is fairly limited and it gets busy so quickly.

While I was inside the paid area, I made sure to make the most of it. I went up to the John-Suwan Viewpoint, and I also found a super cool boardwalk that connects Freedom Beach and Taa Toh Lagoon Beach. Honestly, walking that boardwalk was stunning and a real highlight for me.

4. Taa Toh Lagoon Beach

As I just mentioned above, Taa Toh Lagoon Beach is the tiniest beach I’ve been to in Koh Tao, and it’s right next to Freedom Beach.

I actually only found it by accident, since Freedom Beach was so busy, I followed that beautiful boardwalk around the cliff and ended up here.

It’s essentially just a small stretch of sand with a restaurant and a few sunbeds, but we ordered a bunch of cocktails and beers and just hung out on the beds for free, which was honestly perfect. It’s not the flashiest place, but it was really nice, quiet, and just absolutely beautiful.

5. Shark Bay

Shark Bay is such a gorgeous stretch of sand, but honestly, it’s a bit controversial in my opinion, and no, it has nothing to do with the name (there are no big sharks, only small reef sharks).

The issue I have is with the resort there, Haad Tien Beach Resort. They really don’t seem to want people on the beach unless they’re staying there. They try to charge visitors an entrance fee or shush you off to a tiny area away from the hotel guests.

It’s so annoying because, as far as I know, you can’t actually own a beach in Thailand, they are all technically public property. But compared to many other countries I’ve been to, this rule just isn’t enforced at all here. Resorts will always try to charge you or push you off “their” sand, which just feels wrong.

However, I did find a way around them! There is a walkway marked as “Free Beach to Shark Bay” on Google Maps that leads you right onto the sand.

Even using that, the resort staff can still be super annoying and might try to give you a hard time. It’s such a beautiful beach that it’s still worth a visit, but just be prepared to stand your ground since they technically don’t have the right to kick you off.

6. Ao Hin Wong Beach

I absolutely love Ao Hin Wong Beach because it’s just so much fun and has such a cool vibe. I only made it here once on my very last day, but I’m so glad I did.

I rode my scooter there and found plenty of free parking, but I did have to pay a 60 THB entrance fee. I know that kind of thing bothers some people, but it’s literally like $2 and I’m honestly happy to pay it. Even if it is just some locals trying to make a bit of money since they don’t technically own the beach, it’s worth it for the spot you get.

The beach itself is small but gorgeous, with crystal-clear water and palm trees everywhere. There’s a little rasta beach bar right there where they sell really strong cocktails and cold beer, exactly what I want on a hot day.

Just a heads-up, though: this place is pretty popular and does get busy. I’d definitely recommend coming here early if you want to snag a good spot for the day.

7. Ao Laem Thian

Ao Laem Thian is the last one on my list, and it’s actually the only beach here I haven’t personally stepped foot on yet. However, I had some locals recommend it to me, and they told me that if I wanted a real adventure, this is the place to go.

It’s located on the east side, not too far from Tanote Bay, but getting there sounds like a bit of a mission. Apparently, there’s a fully abandoned resort right on the beach, and the trek to get there takes about 30-40 minutes through the jungle.

It’s supposed to be completely remote and empty, which sounds like an absolute dream to me. Exploring an abandoned resort and having a whole beach to yourself? Yes, please!

I also heard that on a calm day, you can kayak there, which is meant to be much quicker and easier than the hike. It’s definitely at the top of my list for when I head back to Koh Tao!

FAQs About The Best Koh Tao Beaches

What is the best beach in Koh Tao?

I personally like Tanote Bay the very best because it’s quiet, it has a couple of cute local restaurants, and honestly, I really enjoyed that cliff dive from the massive boulder. It’s super unique and just a lot of fun.

What is the best beach in Koh Tao for snorkeling?

For snorkeling, I would say Shark Bay by a mile. When I was there, I saw blacktip reef sharks, don’t worry, they’re tiny and don’t do anything! I even managed to spot a turtle as well, which was amazing.

What are the best beaches in Koh Ta for swimming?

For swimming, I think Tanote Bay as well as Sairee Beach are both great. To be honest, I felt like most beaches all around Koh Tao were great for swimming because there weren’t many rocks in the water and the ocean was fairly calm the whole time I was there.

Is Koh Tao worth visiting?

Absolutely! In fact, Koh Tao is one of my favorite islands in the whole of Thailand. I really love that laid-back traveler/backpacker/boutique type vibe, if that makes sense, which is why I prefer it over places like Koh Samui or Phuket.

Final Thoughts on What is the Best Beach in Koh Tao

At the end of the day, I really enjoyed the beaches in Koh Tao a lot, even more than the ones in Koh Samui or Phuket.

Even though Koh Tao didn’t really have those endless white sand beaches like you see in Samui, I still much preferred it here. The beaches felt a little more remote and secluded, which made me feel a bit more like an adventurer on a hidden island (even though I know I wasn’t!). It just has that traveler/backpacker vibe that I personally love.

And then, of course, on top of that, the snorkeling and the water are both incredible. With turtles everywhere, it’s kind of hard not to love it here.

I hope this little guide gave you a good idea about the beaches in Koh Tao so you can hopefully plan your next trip here!