Where to Stay in Koh Tao Thailand: My Top Areas & Hotels 2026

One of the biggest questions when visiting a new place is always: “Where should I stay?” I’m exactly the same, where I’m going to book my hotel is always one of my biggest concerns.

Luckily, in Koh Tao, that’s pretty straightforward. With the island being fairly small, I would go as far as saying that in many cases, it almost doesn’t matter where you stay! Koh Tao is tiny compared to somewhere like Koh Samui, for instance, which is huge and where location is absolutely essential.

I just spent about a week in Koh Tao and I stayed in different hotels in different parts of the island, so now I want to help you guys out. 

I’m going to tell you all about my experience, but I also want to show you which areas are worth staying in and which hotels might be a good pick for you. Let’s get into it!

Where to Stay in Koh Tao – My Experience

Usually, when I visit a new place and have enough time, I do this thing where I try to stay at more than just one hotel. I love seeing multiple areas and different vibes of whatever city or island I’m visiting, and I did the exact same thing here in Koh Tao.

For my first three nights, I stayed at Sairee Beach, which is definitely the busiest and most walkable area on the island. It’s packed with bars and restaurants, so you’re right in the heart of the action. I stayed at a super cute little boutique hotel called Mar Ozo Koh Tao, and I loved it. The location was spot on, the pool was crystal clean, and the beds were amazingly comfortable. The whole place felt very new and well-maintained, which is always a win in my book.

After that, I was ready for a bit of a quieter experience. Sairee Beach can get a little noisy at times, but I guess that’s the price you pay for being so close to all the best cafes and bars! I moved further south towards Chalok Bay, which is only about a 10-minute scooter ride away but feels worlds apart.

Personally, I prefer it down south. I just love the quieter, more laid-back atmosphere, though both areas definitely have their pros and cons. 

While I was there, I stayed at a place called Shiva Lodge, and it has to be my absolute favorite accommodation in Koh Tao. I’ll make sure to include some photos below because it is stunning! It’s another boutique hotel, but it’s basically a super modern, high-end treehouse with insane views right in the middle of the canopy. Honestly, I could have stayed there for weeks. It’s easily one of the most unique places I’ve stayed during my entire time in Thailand.

1. Chalok Bay (My Favorite Area I Stayed in Koh Tao)

Even though it’s not the most popular area on Koh Tao, it is my personal favorite, which is why I’m starting with it! Chalok Bay (or Chalok Baan Kao) is located in the very south of the island.

What I loved most about it was the accessibility. I could easily walk to multiple beaches, like Shark Bay and Chalok Beach, but there were also loads of local Thai restaurants around. It’s also home to my favorite cafe on the island, Dough Koh Tao (you seriously have to check it out), and one of my absolute favorite little beach clubs, Koppee Beach Club.

The biggest pro for me, though, is that it’s just so much quieter down here. Most of the bars and tourists are clustered near the pier or Sairee Beach, so the south feels way more chilled. Since I usually have a scooter, I can drive into the “action” within 10 minutes anyway, so I much prefer having a quiet sanctuary to come back to at the end of the day.

Shiva Lodge

Shiva Lodge is hands down my number one accommodation in Koh Tao. I spent three nights here in a double room with a mountain view, and I literally loved every single thing about it.

The staff was incredibly helpful and friendly, and the design of the place is just stunning. I loved how open it was, with so many windows and that incredible, modern treehouse vibe. And of course, the highlight was those amazing views. I will 100% stay here again the next time I’m in Koh Tao!

Book Here: Shiva Lodge Koh Tao

Cape Shark Villas

I also took a very close look at Cape Shark Villas while I was researching. The only reason I didn’t stay here was that Shiva Lodge was quite a bit cheaper, but man, these villas look incredible. 

They are beautiful private villas with their own pools set right on top of a cliff overlooking Shark Bay. You can literally sit in your private pool, look out over the ocean, and maybe even spot some sharks from your balcony. If I come back next time with a bigger budget, there is a high chance I’ll be checking in here!

Book Here: Cape Shark Villas

2. Sairee Beach Koh Tao (The Most Popular Part of Koh Tao)

Sairee Beach is basically the main hotspot on Koh Tao. It’s located very close to the ferry pier, and if the island had a “town center,” this would definitely be it. I stayed here for my first three nights and honestly had a great time. I have to admit that it’s much busier and more built-up than the south, so the overall vibe is a bit more hectic.

But on the flip side, I could literally just walk from my hotel to some of my favorite brunch spots and cocktail bars, which was a massive perk. 

Since I usually ride a scooter, I’m pretty flexible with location, but if you’re someone who doesn’t want to rent a bike and plans on walking most of the time, I’d probably recommend staying here. Grab and Uber aren’t a thing on Koh Tao, so getting around without a scooter can be tricky and expensive and staying in Sairee solves that problem!

Mar Ozo Koh Tao

Mar Ozo is where I spent my first three nights, and I really enjoyed it. I wasn’t looking for a massive resort vibe at the time, since I personally prefer smaller boutique hotels, so this worked out perfectly. 

The rooms were spacious and spotless, and the beds were super big and comfortable. I ended up using the pool almost every morning; it gets great sun and is kept really clean.

Even though I didn’t ask, the hotel felt brand new or very recently renovated because everything was just flawless. The staff were also so attentive; they even insisted on carrying my bags up to the room themselves, even after I told them I could handle it!

Book Here: Mar Ozo Koh Tao

Palm Leaf Resort Koh Tao

If you’re the type of traveler who prefers a traditional resort experience, there are some great ones available, and Palm Leaf Resort has one of the best locations near Sairee. It’s tucked just a little outside the main hustle of town but still well within walking distance.

What I love about this place is the very traditional Thai design, I love it when a resort actually “looks the part.” Also, it’s located right on the beach, which is pretty awesome if you want to wake up next to the ocean.

Book Here: Palm Leaf Resort Koh Tao

3. Mae Hadd 

Mae Haad is the part of Koh Tao where the ferry pier is located, so it’s basically where you will arrive and from where you will eventually leave. I’ll be honest—I’m not the biggest fan of this area. It feels a bit built-up, but it’s just not quite as cool as Sairee Beach, so I personally wouldn’t necessarily choose to stay here for my whole trip.

However, there are a couple of big pluses for staying here. For one, it’s one of the cheapest parts of Koh Tao to stay in, and there are some really affordable dive schools right in the neighborhood. Plus, it is honestly the easiest area to get to. If you’re arriving late by ferry, it’s a huge bonus to be able to just walk to your hotel without worrying about transport.

Sunrise Koh Tao

Sunrise Koh Tao is probably one of the best value-for-money spots I found on the entire island. If I were backpacking through Thailand again, I would probably stay here! It’s kind of a half-hostel, half-hotel setup, so they have dorms but also plenty of regular hotel rooms. It’s located literally right on the beach with incredible views over the ocean. For budget travelers, the combination of price, location, and comfort here is really fantastic.

Book Here: Sunrise Koh Tao

Lücke Boutique Hotel

If you’re looking for something a bit more upscale, Lücke Boutique Hotel is one of the coolest boutique spots I found in Koh Tao. In fact, I actually planned on staying here first instead of in Sairee Beach, but it was fully booked for my dates! This place is right on the water with private beach access and a super unique, beautiful design. It’s easily one of the prettiest boutique hotels I came across while doing my research.

Book Here: Lücke Boutique Hotel

4. Remote Resorts & Hotels in Koh Tao

Lastly, I want to mention that there is a whole world of hotels and resorts on Koh Tao beyond the main hubs I’ve talked about above. Even though the island is small, only a fraction of it is actually “developed” in a town-like way. 

A huge chunk of Koh Tao is still raw jungle, palm trees, and stunning  hills, which means there are some incredible secluded hotels and resorts hidden away all over the island.

I really considered staying in one of these more remote locations. I love the idea of having my own little paradise sanctuary, especially since I always rent a scooter, it gives me the freedom to retreat to my quiet spot and then zip back into the action whenever I feel like it.

Nangyuan Island Dive Resort

This is easily the most unique stay in the area, and technically, it’s not even on Koh Tao! It’s located on Koh Nangyuan, a small stunning little island just a stone’s throw away from Koh Tao. 

The resort runs a boat shuttle service to get you back and forth, and the whole property is amazing: multiple pools, restaurants, beach villas, and its own professional dive shop. If you want a one-of-a-kind experience where you can roll out of bed and straight into some of the best diving in Thailand, this is the place.

Book Here: Nangyuan Island Dive Resort

Tanote Villa SHA Extra Plus

Tanote Villa is probably my favorite resort on the entire island of Koh Tao. It’s located right at my favorite beach, Tanote Bay, and the setting is just spectacular. 

It’s located on a hillside with two incredible pools that overlook the entire bay. They have an amazing restaurant and the rooms are super spacious. I would absolutely love to stay here next time I visit, it’s definitely the most “resort-style” option in this guide, perfect for when you want to treat yourself.

Book Here: Tanote Villa SHA Extra Plus

FAQs About The Best Places to Stay in Koh Tao

What are the best Koh Tao hotels?

From my own experience, I really enjoyed Shiva Lodge a lot because it’s a beautiful, unique treehouse-style boutique hotel where I stayed myself and loved it. I also think that Tanote Villa seems like a really special resort where I definitely want to stay on my next trip.

Is Koh Tao worth visiting?

100%! Koh Tao is one of my favorite islands in Thailand and it’s definitely my favorite Gulf island. I love the more laid-back vibe here, and the scuba diving and snorkeling are just incredible.

What is the best hotel in Koh Tao?

Well, I can only speak from my own experience here, but again, I thought Shiva Lodge was a really special and unique place to stay. I can only recommend it, especially for couples, I think this is one of the most unique places to stay in Koh Tao.

Where in Koh Tao should I stay?

I would say stay in Sairee Beach if you like to go out and be able to walk to restaurants, bars, and cafes. Otherwise, I would recommend the south of the island because it’s a little quieter and more serene in my opinion.

How do I get around in Koh Tao?

Even though Koh Tao is pretty small, it’s unfortunately not very walkable unless you stay right within the town at Sairee Beach. There are taxi services, which are expensive, and many hotels offer drivers too, but I just rented a scooter. It was by far the best way to explore the island.

Final Thoughts on The Best Hotels in Koh Tao

Koh Tao is so small that, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter as much where you stay, at least not compared to huge islands like Phuket or Koh Samui. In Koh Tao, there is always a way to get around easily and quickly, either by scooter or taxi.

Where I enjoyed staying the most was in the south of Koh Tao around Chalok Bay. It has just enough going on with some nice beach clubs, beach bars, Thai restaurants, cafes, and dive shops, but it’s not anywhere near as busy as Sairee Beach. 

That’s just what I personally prefer, but if you’re looking for a more lively vibe, then Sairee would be great for you.

I hope that my little guide on where to stay in Koh Tao gave you a bit of an idea of the different areas and which hotel might be a good fit for you!

Check Out My Other Koh Tao Guides

Is Koh Tao Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

The Best Cafes in Koh Tao: My Favorite Coffee Shops & Brunch Spots

The Best Restaurants in Koh Tao: My Favorite International & Thai Food Spots

The Best Beaches in Koh Tao: My Top 7 Beaches in Koh Tao

How to Get to Koh Tao: My Travel Tips for Koh Tao

The Best Things to Do in Koh Tao: Activities in Koh Tao I Enjoyed the Most

Where to Stay in Koh Tao: My Top Areas & Hotels

Check Out My Other Thailand Guides

Is Thailand Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

Is Thailand Expensive to Visit? How Much I Spent in Thailand

How Many Days in Thailand: How Much Time I Spent in Thailand

Thailand Itinerary: How I Spent 10 Days in Thailand

Thailand eSIM: What eSIMs I Use in Thailand