Dive sites and full moon lights: Your guide to a thai island escape
Koh Tao, Koh Phangan and Koh Samui they might be only a short ferry away from each other, but the vibes and offerings are so different.
The ferries between each island are easy to navigate, operating in true Thai fashion, using stickers to organise passengers. It is also super affordable.
Koh Tao
The best place to begin is of course, on the island that stole my heart.
To get here though was a bit of a journey. We took a 7 hour bus overnight bus out of Bangkok at 11 PM, rolling into the pier around 6AM, just in time for the sunrise. The coach was anything but comfy, so we ended up catching extra 2 hours on the ferry over to Koh Tao. The trip may have been long, but trust me it was absolutely worth it!
Traveler’s Tip - our bags were weighed by the company before we began our journey, so to avoid any extra costs, put anything heavy in your smaller bag!
What To Do
Snorkelling Tours
Marine life is a huge part of Koh Tao’s appeal. From one day snorkelling tours of the island, to weeks long intensive scuba camps, they have it all.
The one day tour with Oxygen tours was unreal, and insane value for money as it included pick up, drop off and a full Thai buffet lunch.
The snorkelling tour hits all of the top spots: the panoramic views at the top peak of Koh Nang Yuang, the corals and giant clams of Mango Bay, Ao Hin Wong Bay’s reef, Tanote Bay, the water slide comes out at Ao Leuk Bay and finally the main event; swimming with giant turtles in Shark Bay. This was an absolute bucket list moment - to snorkel with a turtle less than a meter away, I was just in total awe and felt a sort of joy that is mostly felt in childhood when everything is new and exciting.
P.S. The bonus of their free underwater photos really makes the day memorable!
Postcard Painting
For wholesome fun and handmade souvenirs all rolled into one, the postcard cafe in Koh Tao is just the place. We spent hours here painting and nattering with a side of lunch too!
Where To Eat
995 Roasted Duck
This humble duck restaurant has gone totally viral over the past few months and there is no wonder why.
Every dish revolves around their roasted duck in their signature soy bean paste sauce, served with either rice or noodles. Most meals here cost between 80 and 100 THB (£1.82-£2.27). A dream for a backpacker budget! This was hands down one of the best meals of my entire trip (I just didn’t know it yet!)
There’s usually an impressive queue out of the door, but it moves quickly - just get there before you’re starving! When it’s time to pay, you just tell them what you ordered, which feels oddly charming. The warm vibes and friendly atmosphere make you feel right at home.
Fun fact - 995 Roasted Duck go through nearly 75 ducks per day!
The food comes out fast, tastes incredible, I wish I could go back, honestly a 10/10!
Living Juices Yoga
Where yoga and brunch meet in perfection. Hearty smoothie bowls and avo toasts are demolished in the garden and whilst the yoga classes ring out from the balcony above. It’s zen, it’s delish, it’s the laid back travelling lifestyle personified.
Where To Drink
Koh Tao Pub Crawl
The only way to experience Koh Tao’s night life is on the Koh Tao Pub Crawl. Starting in the Aussie Pub with half price daiquiris set the perfect tone for the night ahead. We got to know the other people on the pub crawl, all in our matching tops and settled into the free shots too. From the Queen’s Cabaret to The Pool Bar, where you play and iconic duos match up game, the pub crawl is a total laugh. The final stop is at a fire show on the beach. Thailand is famous for having a beach fire show in almost every town, and they truly never cease to amaze me.
The Smoking Dead
Sairee Beach hosts some of the best sunset bars, our favourite was The Smoking Dead, especially their mango daiquiris. With views all along the beach of people playing volleyball and up over the hills, topping it off by watching the sunset over the sea, it’s the best place in the island for a sunset drink to top off a day in paradise.
Where To Stay
Nomads Hostels are peppered throughout Australia and South East Asia and are truly some of my favourite hostels.
Nomads Koh Tao boasts a perfect location. Located just off of the main street in the island centre, around the corner from a 7-Eleven and the best smoothie stall in all of Thailand. Think the freshest mango and passion fruit blended only with ice for only 80THB (£1.83). Being only a 5 minute walk from Sairee Beach.
Sairee Beach is your classic Thai beach - crystal clear waters, diving schools, boats coming in and out and towels laid down on the sand.
Koh Phangan
Famous for the full moon party, this island the place for you if you’re in search of a good time.
The Full Moon Party
Each month, on the night of the full moon, Haad Rin Beach hosts one of the largest parties in all of Thailand. To describe it in one single word would simply have to be ‘neon’. Neon lights, neon paints, neon drinks. It’s like a full-scale festiva; DJ’s all up the beach and food and drink stalls lining the streets. The fire performers are a marvel, as well as those travellers who give it a go too! The party only stops when the sun rises, it reminded me of how Leo lives in his movie The Beach.
Local’s Tip: book a hostel as close to Haad Rin Beach to avoid paying entry to the party and the expensive taxi home.
Before heading to the beach, we had dinner and pres at The One Love Bar. This hippy outpost is the perfect way to start a night. On the left side, there are plenty of different food stalls, so there really is something for everyone, and on the right is the bar itself.
Where To Eat
He Eat My Favourite
Despite its hilarious name, our favourite restaurant on Koh Phangan was He Eat My Favourite, we came here 3 nights in a row, trying a different dish each time, it was cheap, it was cheerful and it was speedy.
Black Slow Bar Cafe
This garden cafe serves everything from Thai brekkies to smoothie bowls and shakshuka. Its Central Perk style set up with sofas and low coffee tables helped us to feel at home after being on the road for a few months already. It was like being in somebody’s living room again having brunch. We came every morning, staying for hours on end chatting and journaling. The staff were absolutely lovely too.
Sand And Tan
Hovering above the sand this more western style beach cafe is a little pricier but well worth it. Fresh salads or club sandwiches - and of course a good old Thai mango smoothie is around £10. The hammocks over the sand make it all worth it, we stayed here for hours in the afternoon. It’s also the coziest refuge when the tropical downpours roll in.
Koh Samui
This is probably one of the most well known islands, and it definitely has two sides to it. On one side it hosts smart hotels and luxury resorts, and in the other side the backpackers.
What To See
Koh Mad Sum - AKA Pig Island
In just a short long tail boat ride from Koh Samui, you reach Koh Mad Sum. We paid 400THB (£9) each for the private longtail boat taxi and 4 hours on Pig Island.
Budget Backpacker Tip:
Shop around down at the pier for the best deal, and negotiating the price is encouraged to get your money’s worth (and not get scammed)!
Once you arrive, a small levy is paid and then you are free to stroll around the island, take a dip, or have a fresh coconut from the snack bar. Meeting and bottle feeding all the pigs and piglets is absolutely adorable.
The warmth and colour sea is unbelievable so you have to take a dip before heading back on your long tail boat as the sun goes down.
Where To Go Out-Out
Koh Samui has a ‘strip’ of sorts so there are plenty of places to go. But here are my favs.
ARK Bar
No Thai beach bar is complete without a DJ and fire show. Between the entrance and the bar lie some gorgeous boutiques too.
ARK Bar really has it all!
Sound
This jungle themed club was unreal. The decor, the drinks, the dancers and the DJ were doing the most. It’s just off of the main strip, and was unlike the other bars we’d been to so far in Thailand.
Ways To Give Back
Koh Samui Dog And Cat Rescue Centre
I’m a strong believer in giving back to a small local community, like the on Koh Samui, we spent the day volunteering at the Koh Samui Dog And Cat Rescue Centre. It was truly eye opening. With two sites on the island there is a lot of work to be done. We were posted at the larger shelter.
All of the animals have been checked for diseases and vaccinated, so it’s a super safe place to volunteer without a fear of catching anything nasty. We began with meeting the other volunteers before splitting into groups of two and meeting the doggies. I’m not going to lie, at first we were a little scared - the dogs were unknown to us, there are around 16 of them in our area and they weren’t breeds we were used to seeing in The West. But, after around 20 minutes, we were totally settled, even naming some of the dogs (pranced, dancer, nelly and sunny). These unfortunate dogs were lapping up on all the cuddles. Some, of course, were more friendly or interested in us than others.
We went to different sections meeting different dogs, we also visited the on-site dog hospital, it was honestly heartbreaking. The cat house was just the cutest, all these kittens running around and one little black kitten with blue eyes even let me pick him up! To be able to give back and make a small difference in between weeks of partying and living such a laid back life felt really important to do. Big thanks to the Koh Samui Dog And Cat Rescue Center, I’d love to go back and visit again.
The gulf islands are beautiful, despite their similarities and differences each is unique and special. These are likely the most popular three to visit - and for good reason. If I had to chose only one island to return to, it would always be Koh Tao. But as always, its onto the next!
Speak soon,
Bella xx
