Travel tips & local information

Travel tips towards Koh Tao

Some helpful travel tips on how to travel towards Koh Tao. Koh Tao (Turtle Island) is a small paradise island in the Gulf of Thailand and forms a small archipelago with Koh Nang Yuan. One of the most popular vacation destination for foreign-as well as Thai-tourists. Located on the east side of the Surat Thani coastline along with two neighboring islands, Koh Phangan and Koh Samui.

The natural beauty of the island both above and below the water brings thousands of visitors here every year for an unforgettable vacation. The mainly steep, rocky coastline consists of 11 bays with beautiful coral reefs and abundant marine life in (often) clear, warm waters.

The name Turtle Island comes from the island's connection to being inhabited by sea turtles. Although less numerous than in the past, today you can still find green turtles and hawksbill turtles in some areas. It is also thought that the shape of the island resembles a turtle as seen from Koh Phangan.

How to reach Koh Tao

By plane

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from Bangkok to Koh Samui:
www.bangkokair.com

Multiple flights daily, and check the boat transfers section to see how to get on to Koh Tao.
Tip for an overnight stay on Samui on a late arrival: www.Samui-Mermaid.info

from Bangkok to the port cities of Chumpon or Surat Thani:
Nokair.com (to Surat Thani only) and Airasia.com

Multiple flights daily from Don Muang International .
From there you can travel on again with Lomprayah.com

By Train

www.seat61.com/thailand

From Bangkok to Chumphon city:
Night trains depart daily from Bangkok from 7:30 p.m. to 10:50 p.m.
2nd class air-conditioned and fan-cooled “sleepers” and coaches are available.
The night staff wakes you 5 min before arrival at Chumpon station and a constant guard ensures your safety and personal belongings.
If you booked your boat ticket to Koh Tao through Lomprayah.com, they will pick you up upon arrival to take you to the pier.

Often these trains fill up quickly, so make sure you have a reservation!
Bangkok Railway station (Hua Lampong) (66) 02 220 4334

By luxury bus

From Bangkok – Chumphon from Khao San Road:
Daily departure times: 06:00 and 20:00-21.00 .
Comfortable air-conditioned buses, immediately followed by a boat transfer in Chumpon to Koh Tao.
Probably the easiest and cheapest way to get this way.
Lomprayah.com

Boat transfers towards Koh Tao

From KOH SAMUI

Seatran Discovery (Not yet operational)
Daily from Bangrak Pier
Departure times: 08:00, 12:00 and 16:30
But 10 minutes away from the airport!
www.SeatranDiscovery.com

Lompraya Catamaran
Daily from Wat Pra Lan pier
Departure times: 08:00 and 12:30.
Daily from Nathon Pier:
Departure time: 14:30 p.m.
www.Lomprayah.com.

From SURAT THANI CITY

Departure time: 09:00 from Surat Thani city towards Don Sak.
www.Lomprayah.com

Night boat Chor Maetapee
Car ferry, large and safe. Spacious sleeping areas, with air conditioning
from the Ban Don Pier
Departure time around 11 p.m.
Advice: avoid the wooden boat in bad weather
Tip: beware of ‘hotel’ scams; always check with the boat yourself whether it is leaving or not

From SURAT THANI AIRPORT

Various options toward Samui and/or Koh Tao can be booked directly in the arrivals hall of Surat Thani airport.
Lomprayah better book online, especially during the Full Moon party period. Last shuttle bus is at 2:30 p.m.
www.Lomprayah.com

From CHUMPON

Airport: bookings directly in the arrival hall of Chumpon airport
Train station:
bookings office opposite the train station. Facebook: KP Ferry Ticket And Services
Daily departure times: 07:00 and 12:30
www.lomprayah.com

Night boat from CHUMPON:
http://chumphon-nightboat.com/

Accommodations

We recommend that you do not stay too far from the diving school during a dive training.

Only at the Miracle and Nadapa resort can you book through us. Other resorts require deposits. Below we only recommend some resorts, but we are not responsible for how or what.

Also, any cancellation procedures will take place in consultation with the resorts.

Given the higher costs, we can no longer offer a free cab service. Better to stay within walking distance of our diving school anyway.

Eventually, you can rent a scooter so you can see a little more of the island. But be aware of insurance requirements and they are in fact 100cc motorcycles, so upon inspection you may be asked for your license for this.

Nadapa Resort – Mae Haad

This resort is quietly located, on one of the few “free” pieces of land left on Koh Tao.
Very nice Thai owner, just too bad about her partner’s German flag on top of the roof….

A 2min walk from the diving school. Nice stretch of beach, restaurants, supermarket, banks, best massage service in Koh Tao and everything else you are looking for during your vacation just 5min walk from this beautiful Mae Haad resort.

Rate per night / per room:

1,000 Thai baht. Promotion!!! 800 Thai baht * per night for a private room with air conditioning, 1 or 2 twin beds (except during high season July – August)
*bookings only through Impian Divers

www.nadaparesort.com/accommodation.html

Nirvana hostel – Mae Haad

A little further down the street you can find this hostel. Ideal because a lot quieter and neater than the hostels around the diving school, where loud music is often played until late at night.
Free wifi / internet access

Price per night / per dorm bed:
250 Thai baht

Nirvana also has private rooms.

The Miracle Resort –
Mae Haad

The Miracle Guest House is 200 m from Impian Dive Center and a 4-minute walk from the beach. Fresh coffee, wine and European meals can be ordered at the adjoining The Miracle House Restaurant & Bar, open from 07:00 – 22:00
24-uurs roomservice
Cable TV
Free wifi / internet access
Free private parking
Nestled in a nice location

Rate per night / per room:
850 Thai baht per night for a standard air-conditioned room
1,150 Thai baht per night for a suite

*bookng only with Impian Divers

Montra Resort –
Mae Haad

Koh Tao Montra Resort is a 4-star dive resort on the beach on Koh Tao, near the Mae Haad pier.
The resort is only a 5-8 min walk from our dive center.
Large and spacious rooms and bathroom make this resort a favorite choice.

They offer special free pick-up/drop-off service for direct booking.

Montra resort also has the largest pool on the island of Koh Tao, making it very popular, even for families with children. They have a beachfront restaurant, poolside bar and jacuzzi while you soak up the sun!

www.kohtaomontra.com

Sairee View Resort

Sairee View resort has great views, a little pool and a Dutch owner: Frank.
So everything well organized, negotiable ánd…Dutch conviviality!

Somewhat secluded from the Sairee crowds wonderful to relax after a day of diving, watching the sun sink into the sea while making plans for tomorrow’s dive.
This resort is not within walking distance of our diving school so renting scooter is recommended, as long as you know how such a thing works.

The resort has several types of rooms, all with private bathrooms.

Prices room high season 1,400 baht low season 1,000 baht
Prices bungalow high season 700 baht low season 500 baht

Website: http://sairee-view-resort.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Learning to dive is done at a diving school. It is wise to choose a diving school affiliated with a reputable organization such as the IDD, SSI, NOB, NAUI or PADI.

Know that these organizations themselves do not have diving schools, but diving schools themselves choose from one of the many training systems.

Diving is not dangerous, even in Thailand, as long as you are properly trained by a recognized diving school and you continue to follow the basic rules. There are only 3 of them:

  • Always keep breathing
  • Do not take off too fast (10 m / minute)
  • And stay with your buddy

Diving or learning to dive during your vacation is an awesome experience. However, one of the things you have to watch out for here is diver’s disease (also called caisson disease or decompression sickness). This is caused by if you stay underwater too long and/or if you ascend to the surface too quickly after a dive.

Main reason for this diver’s illness is dehydration, poor physical condition, medication use or flying too fast after your last dive. So everything is easily prevented by: eA good training, good preparation, good dive planning, staying healthy and not flying for 24 hours after your last dive.

Diving for kids is a dream, but can become extra fun if you can dive together with your kids or as your whole family.

Impian Divers Tao is happy to help make that dream come true. For families with young children as well as families with teenagers, we think about customized solutions.

How about a diving course tailored exclusively to your family? Learn together, dive together and get your diving license together.

When to Thailand to dive is a common question. Logical when you fly 11,000 km with.

Thailand has a tropical climate and it is about 26 -30 degrees all year round. The best travel time is from December through June. Then there is little rain and lots of sunshine, exactly what you want when you are at the beach!

During the months of July and August there is a bit more wind and normally November is the rainy month here on Koh Tao.

Koh Tao is fine to visit all year round, but sometimes there is a chance of a daily tropical shower. The advantage of this is that everything is in bloom nicely and it is a little less hot!

However, for a diving course, it doesn’t matter. Wet we will get anyway!
There are dive sites all around Koh Tao, so we always find a sheltered spot for the shallow water exercises.

Sometimes visibility is a little less, but this can also occur during the dry season.

This is because the Gulf of Thailand is relatively shallow, and because of the heat, algae grow in abundance . A little wind (often around the turn of the moon) and visibility will be a little less for a while.

Please email us about what the weather is like. We ourselves do not like nice weather talk and we will give you an honest answer. However, as in the Netherlands: nothing remains as unpredictable as the weather.

We check the wind and rain daily on this website

All costs clearly listed for you in this list.

All other training certificates are equivalent for the required training levels.
The course requirements and minimum ages are based on the I.D.D. standards & procedures 2022

Please email us for information on SSI or PADI course prices and ages: booking@impian-divers.com

We of course offer the IDD as e-learning, easy as preparation. Actuell the course in Dutch, English and German, is available. If you would like to sign up for an e-learning course, please let us know at booking@impian-divers.com

Upon arrival Koh Tao is just a short walk away! You can find us very easily on the main street of Mae Haad.
Impian Divers can be found 50m after the Seven/11 on the left. You can find a map on our contact page.

Impian Divers focuses mainly on the Dutch and Belgian divers, who want to visit Koh Tao.

However, we are as international as any other diving school here on the island, as we give diving lessons in English, French, German and Thai. In other words, should you travel with non-Dutchman(s), everyone is more than welcome with us.