Looking for the best beaches in Koh Tao?
Koh Tao is my favorite island in Thailand (so far, at least).
It has everything you could ask for: a lively atmosphere, rolling hills with splendid views, amazing marine life, and most importantly some absolutely incredible beaches.
I spent over a week riding a scooter around to every beach I could possibly find on the island in search of the best, and I’m going to count down my 10 favorite in Koh Tao.
Each beach will receive a score out of 10, with 5 points being given for natural beauty, 2.5 points for aquatic life (snorkeling), and 2.5 for other factors (how busy, hidden costs, special features).
Top 10 best beaches in Koh Tao
10- Jansom Bay (5/10)
I’ll start out by saying this- even the lowest beaches on this list are still pretty beautiful.
Jansom Bay is a smaller beach that’s not very well known and therefore often less busy then most other beaches on the island.
It faces west, making it a nice place to go for sunset. There’s also pretty decent snorkeling here by the rocks.
The main critique I have is the 100 baht cost to enter the beach- and don’t lose your ticket, they may check. Some guy on the beach with me lost his ticket in the wind and the patrol whisked him out of there without apology.
Natural Beauty- 3/5
Snorkeling- 1/2.5
Other Factors- 1/2.5
9- Freedom Beach (6.5/10)
Freedom Beach is located on a peninsula sticking out of the south end of Koh Tao. It’s a tiny peninsula, but home to three of the beaches on this list- as well as one of the best viewpoints on the island. I’ll get to that in a future post.
The beach is on the west-facing side of the peninsula, making it a great sunset spot. It’s quite small, giving it a charming vibe with lots of little trees close to the waters edge.
Snorkeling is also good here- the water is shallow, and if you walk out and simply duck your head under the water, you’re likely to see swarms of fish. The shallowness loses Freedom Beach some points, but it does make it great if you have young children- they don’t even have to snorkel, just give them a pair of googles and let them explore.
Now I think of it, that’s not the best tip as I don’t think I saw a single child on this island. Oh well- maybe it can still come in handy if you’ve got a friend that still hasn’t learnt to swim.
As a last note, there is a 50 baht charge to access Freedom Beach. However, this will also give you access to another beach on this list as well as the viewpoint I referred to earlier, so things could be worse.
Natural Beauty- 3.5/5
Snorkeling- 1.5/2.5
Other Factors- 1.5/2.5
8- Aow Leuk Beach (7/10)
Aow Leuk Beach is one of a group of three beaches located in the southeast part of the island.
These beaches- and don’t worry, we’ll get to the other two later- have the best snorkeling on the island, in my opinion. Which automatically gives them an advantage.
Aow Leuk lands on this list for its snorkeling and its overall beauty. As far as the snorkeling goes, it’s equally nice by either side of the beach near the rocks.
But if I’m being honest, were I going to this area I’d opt for Tanote Bay or Hat Sai Daeng instead (more on them later).
The reason for this is largely in the cost- while the other two are free to enter, Aow Leuk Beach charges an entrance fee of 100 baht.
However, this price includes a free soft drink and lounger. So, if you’re that type and want creature comfort on the beach, maybe make a day out of it and relax. It does get pretty packed though, that’s another thing.
Natural Beauty- 4/5
Snorkeling- 2/2.5
Other Factors- 1/2.5
7- Shark Bay (7/10)
Shark Bay is on the same little peninsula as Freedom Beach.
That’s about it for the similarities. For one, it’s on the other side. It’s also the more typical picture perfect beach- long and wide, with perfect white sand.
The name Shark Bay was not chosen without thought. This beach is one of the best chances you’ll have to see a blacktip reef shark, the most common shark that inhabits the waters of Koh Tao. Unless you’re afraid of them, of course. I don’t see how- I happen to find them quite adorable. Something about the uneven, crooked, razor-sharp teeth.
In any event, go snorkeling here in the late afternoon for the best shot. The same goes for turtles.
Shark bay lost points for two main reasons. One is that it can get quite busy. The other is that you have to pay 100 baht to access the resort at Shark Bay, which you’ll need to do as it’s the only entrance to the beach.
Unless you drive further down the road, where you can pay 50. However, you won’t have access to the sand beach– only to rocks along the side. The snorkeling is still nice though, and that’s really the main draw here.
Natural Beauty- 4/5
Snorkeling- 2/2.5
Other Factors- 1/2.5
6- Ao Hin Wong Beach (7.5/10)
Ao Hin Wong is a great little spot. It was the closest beach to where I was staying, and it became my morning spot.
It’s super small- maybe 10 meters across. It’s on the eastern coast of the island so you get full morning sun and a very quiet atmosphere (later in the day it can get busy).
The sand here is also cool- it’s not perfectly smooth and white, but actually composed of very small, multi-colored rocks. Fascinating how beaches on a small island can have such different sand. Figure it must have to do with wind and wave patterns. Something for me to research in my free time.
Anyway, nice little spot. Note that there is a 20 baht parking fee for scooters.
Natural Beauty- 3.5/5
Snorkeling- 2/2.5
Other Factors- 2/2.5
5- Freedom Secret Beach (8/10)
So secret that I wasn’t even able to find it on the map- a great sign.
This isn’t the official name of this beach, just what I’m deciding to call it. So don’t try plugging it into google maps.
What you’ll do is park at the same spot you’d park at for Freedom Beach. Then walk, and you’ll reach a fork in the road: the right hand path goes down to Freedom Beach, and the left hand path heads up to John Suwan Viewpoint. You’re going to take the left hand path, and just continue straight. The viewpoint diverges off the path to the left at some point, but continue and you’ll arrive within a few minutes.
It’s a nice, small beach with similar benefits to Freedom Beach. Great snorkeling, sunset views.
Just without most of the people. There’ll be some, sure- there’s even a small bar on the right-hand side of the beach, so it may not be a complete secret, my deepest apologies- but it’s about as close as you’ll get on this island.
Natural Beauty- 4/5
Snorkeling- 1.5/2.5
Other Factors- 2.5/2.5
4- Tanote Bay (8.5/10)
At it’s face, Tanote Bay is nothing special. Sure, it’s super beautiful. But it can get real busy, and is not your lie down and meditate sort of place.
But that’s fine with me for a couple reasons. First, the snorkeling is great. There are some incredible reefs here, and they’re full of life- I saw a school of what must have been 30 barracudas here.
There’s also some artificial boxes set up to attract fish where scuba divers go. You can see them from afar from the surface, or free dive down if you’re comfortable with that. They’re just to the right of the huge rock out in front of the beach.
Which leads me to the second reason why I can bear the crowds at Tanote Bay. Which is that you can climb said huge rock, admire the views from the top and then jump off into the sea below.
It’s a pretty good jump- I’d guess around 10 meters (35 feet), although you can jump from a bit lower if you like (probably 7 meters).
Natural Beauty- 4/5
Snorkeling- 2/2.5
Other Factors- 2.5/2.5
3- Artlantis Beach (8.5/10)
So one of the best beaches in Koh Tao isn’t really a beach.
I’m not particularly sure if it has a name either. It’s a small enclosed area with sand and chairs and pathways down to the water. I’ve named it Artlantis Beach due to its proximity to the Artlantis resort and restaurant.
So this probably doesn’t sound all that appealing yet.
But this “beach” happens to be one of my favorites. For a few reasons.
One, it’s quiet. Hardly anyone knows about it. The ones who do are mainly the people who stay in the nearby resort.
Second, the snorkeling by the rocks is magnificent.
And the view. You get a direct view of the Nang Yuan islands, with the sun setting over them if you come at the correct time. They really seem so close, it was tempting to try and swim. Don’t. Unless you want to be minced by a rusted propeller.
Natural Beauty- 3.5/5
Snorkeling- 2.5/2.5
Other Factors- 2.5/2.5
2- June Jaea Beach (8.5/10)
June Jaea is a beautiful little collection of coves.
The water here is always super calm, and while it can get a little busy here you can usually find your own little cove and relax.
It’s one of two beaches in the southwest of the island, the other being Sai Nuan. June Jaea is far superior. It truly is just stunning- I’ll let the picture tell the rest of the story.
The only thing stopping June Jaea beach from taking the top spot is its snorkeling. Which is still quite nice- I saw a turtle with a bunch of remoras on its back when I went. It’s just not nearly at the same level as the last, and best beach on this list.
Natural Beauty- 5/5
Snorkeling- 1.5/2.5
Other Factors- 2/2.5
1- Hat Sai Daeng (9.5/10)
Hat Sai Daeng. The best of the beaches in Koh Tao. It checks practically every possible box.
First, you park up at the top and are treated to some magnificent panoramic views of the beach. Then you walk down through a really beautiful resort to get down to the water.
I generally would dock more points for a resort on the beach, but this one is really very low-key and tasteful, with the beach maintaining a natural feel. Still, it prevents Hat Sai Daeng from getting a perfect 10.
Now, the beach itself- the water is probably the clearest I’ve seen on the island. From above, you can see the alternating patterns of deep blue and bright sea green from the intermingling corals and sand on the ocean floor.
And the snorkeling is the best on the island. Specifically on the left side of the beach and around the corner (which you can see in the image at the top of this page). You’ve got a good chance of seeing turtles and blacktip reef sharks here, especially later in the afternoon.
Just be careful with the currents if you do go around the corner- they can get quite strong and you can get swept out pretty easily.
Natural Beauty- 5/5
Snorkeling- 2.5/2.5
Other Factors- 2/2.5
Mango Bay and Koh Nang Yuan
These two are a little bonus.
The only reason neither appeared on the list is because you can’t access them by scooter. And Koh Nang Yuan is a completely different island. But if you’re willing to put in a little extra effort (and money), neither are particularly hard to get to.
And you should- I’m not positive where these would have ranked on the list, but it’s safe to say they’d have been high. I went scuba diving off of each of them, and while I got pretty close I was never on the beaches themselves so I can’t give a final verdict.
But they would have given some of our top beaches a run for their money.
Mango Bay is the only beach on the north side of Koh Tao, and it’s really magnificent. The water is definitely some of the calmest and clearest there is here.
You can access it by water taxi, or possibly by hiking. I think there are technically roads, just not ones that you can ride through on a scooter. I got here by scuba boat so I’m not entirely certain how hard it would be to access by land, but you can read here for more details.
And Koh Nang Yuan is pretty exceptional. It’s a collection of three small islands that are connected with a sandbar (unless it’s high tide). This sand bar is the beach, and it’s certainly unique.
The only problem is that it’s no secret. Koh Nang Yuan has become one of the most popular places to visit for travelers in Koh Tao.
Well, there you have it. A full, comprehensive list of the best beaches in Koh Tao. Try and hit them all!
