Planning on heading to Koh Tao at some point in the near future and looking for the best places to stay?
As I find myself mentioning at the start of nearly every post I write about Koh Tao, it’s my favorite island in Thailand- hands down.
Koh Tao has something for everyone, whether you’re 20-something and backpacking or a little old for partying and looking for a beautiful place to settle down and relax.
Which brings me to the topic of this post- the best places to stay in Koh Tao. A microcosm of the island itself, the accommodation options here also have something for everyone.
From the best and cheapest backpacker hostels to the most luxurious infinity pool top-of-the-jungle villas, I’ve found the best places to stay for every type of visitor to Koh Tao.
Let’s get into it.
Note: To skip the fluff and go straight to my list of recommendations, click here. But I will warn you- it’s some pretty useful fluff.
Another note: If you’re planning a trip to Koh Tao, make sure to check out my 2–4 Day Koh Tao Itinerary to help organize your time on the island!
Why You Should Book Your Stay in Koh Tao Early
Koh Tao is a small island, so the best hostels and resorts tend to fill up quickly — especially during peak season (December–April and July–August).
If you’re visiting during peak season, it’s a good idea to check availability and book your accommodation a bit in advance rather than waiting until the last minute.
Even in shoulder season, the best places to stay in Koh Tao- especially in areas like Sairee Beach can sell out a few weeks ahead. And even if they don’t sell out, the prices can increase drastically.
In the middle of peak season, it can sometimes be difficult to find anywhere to stay at all- especially on a budget.
On my final two days in Koh Tao I was left with no other option but a hammock that one hostel was gracious enough to provide- so trust me when I say it gets busy!
Note: If you’re already in Koh Tao in peak season and haven’t booked, click these links from Hostelworld and Booking.com to see availabilities sorted by lowest price & ratings. Unfortunately, the time to be picky may have passed!
Koh Tao Accommodation Map
Best Areas to Stay in Koh Tao
Sairee Beach
Let’s start with Sairee Beach.
Sairee Beach is the most lively area in Koh Tao. If you’re young and looking for a party-oriented experience on the island, this is the spot for you.
That being said, the party scene here isn’t much compared to other islands like nearby Koh Phangan. So it’s still a nice area, and definitely not a complete mob scene.
Mountains & Jungle
Once you diverge from Sairee Beach and the main road that runs parallel to it, much of Koh Tao is taken up by lush jungle and steep hills.
Staying up in the mountains is the nicest, provided you’re OK with the price point. The accommodations up here have the most spectacular views, and if you have the money to spend it’s probably worth it.
There are also spots in the jungle closer to Sairee Beach, which give you a degree of convenience and sense of secrecy without breaking the bank. There’s a hostel in the jungle that I deemed the ‘Best Social Hostel’- more on that later.
Chalok Baan Kao
Chalok Baan Kao is a quieter, more laid-back area located on the island’s southern coast.
Compared to the busy energy of Sairee Beach, Chalok has a slower pace with more of a small village feel. It’s got a relaxed beachfront lined with a handful of cafés, dive shops, and restaurants.
The town is in a prime location, located very close to many of my favorite spots on the island, including Hat Sai Daeng and June Juea, two of my favorite beaches; and John Suwan, one of my favorite viewpoints on the island.
It’s important to remember that even if you do want to spend time in Sairee Beach at night, the island is very small- so if you have a scooter, driving from Chalok won’t take more than 15 minutes.
East Side
Other than the north side- which has almost no infrastructure- the east side of Koh Tao is the most isolated.
If you have a scooter and like to explore, staying on this side of the island would give you a great starting point. Many of the best beaches are located on the eastern side of the island.
Most accommodations here are on the mid-high end. I’m not aware of any hostels on the east side.
Best Hotels & Villas in Koh Tao
The time has come to get into specifics. So without further ado, let’s jump into this next section- which gives the best stays in Koh Tao for those of you with a higher budget.
Best Luxury Stay: Phandara Luxury Pool Villas
Price: $470 USD
9.6 rating from 150+ reviews on Booking.com
Location: Mountains
We’ll start with my recommendation for the rich people. Or for those of you that are spending more than you probably should.
If you’re going to splurge, there’s no better option than Phandara.
There’s a very steep road leading up into the mountains from Sairee Beach. The higher you go, the nicer it gets. These villas happen to be at the very top of the road. Do the math.
You’ll have a private villa, with your very own infinity pool and the best views you can possibly get on the island. You face directly west, so expect to see some unforgettable sunsets.
Included is a shuttle service that will take you wherever you want, whenever you want.
Basically, this place is utter perfection. If you can afford it, this is where you want to stay.
Best Mid-Range Hotel: Ecotao Lodge
Price: $120 USD
9.5 rating from 900+ reviews on Booking.com
Location: East Side
Moving on to the more reasonable.
The Lodge is built into the jungle overlooking the coast, and has a beautifully hidden feel to it.
It’s location on the eastern side of Koh Tao adds to this more remote vibe as well. It’s also means that it’s nearer to many of my favorite beaches on the island (which you can check out here!).
There’s an infinity pool overlooking the coastline, though unfortunately you’re going to have to suffer through sharing it with others, unlike the luxury option earlier.
One thing to note: if you aren’t planning on renting a scooter, this may not be the best choice for you- cabs are expensive. If you do have a scooter though, you’re golden.
Best Budget Hotel: Sunrise Koh Tao
Price: $38 USD
8.5 rating from 1600+ reviews on Booking.com
Location: Sairee Beach
This is the definition of a value stay.
Especially if you’re a couple (and even if you’re not, honestly), this is an absolute steal.
Divided two ways, this beachfront spot would cost you less than most hostels on the island.
It’s located on Sairee Beach, so it’s centrally located and in the thick of the lively atmosphere of Koh Tao.
If you’re looking for a cheap but nice option and prefer to be centrally located, this is the one for you.
Best Hostels in Koh Tao
Best Party Hostel: Nomads Koh Tao Hostel
Price: From $35 USD
9.6 rating from 150+ reviews on Hostelworld
Location: Sairee Beach
This one’s no secret, as it’s arguably the most popular hostel on the island.
Nomads won the 2026 Hoscar Awards for Koh Tao. For those of you who aren’t Hostel-heads, that’s the ‘Oscars’ for all things hostels (‘Oscars’, ‘Hoscars’, get it?).
Nomads prizes itself on being a vibrantly social hostel with a party atmosphere, with something going on every single night until 11:30 PM (Koh Tao doesn’t have any all-night party hostels like some of the other islands, though there’s always something open later).
As you may have guessed, it’s located right in thick of things on Sairee Beach.
If you want to stay at Nomads, you really have to try and book in advance- being the most popular hostel on the island has its consequences.
Best Social Hostel (but not crazy party): Jungle Hostel
Price: From $22 USD (tents available for less)
7.8 rating from 300+ reviews on Hostelworld
Location: Jungle
The Jungle Hostel has a really amazing balance.
While not being a ‘party hostel’, the Jungle Hostel has something going on every night- whether it be movie night, quiz night, or just hanging out at the bar.
It’s also located near enough to the Sairee area where you can easily walk there in 10-15 minutes, but far enough where you have a sense of remoteness that can be nice for a lot of people (like me).
There are also a few dogs on the property which is always a plus.
Just don’t let them out of the front gate.
Best Extra-Cheap Hostel: Assava Dive Resort
Price: From $14 USD
8.7 rating from 140+ reviews on Hostelworld
Location: Chalok Baan Kao
Assava Dive Resort is a beautiful and charming hostel located at the beachfront in Chalok Baan Kao.
Assava’s one of the cheapest current options on the island, but it gives you maybe the best bang for your buck of any option on this list.
Getting both a pool and beachfront location for this price is rare, and you’re really not lacking for much else here.
The location in Chalok Baan Kao is great, in my opinion. If you didn’t skip that section early you’ll know why. Wink.
Assava also has their own diving program. So if you’re planning on diving this is a great way to kill two birds with one stone.
