Ko Tao

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View of Shark Bay, a snorkeler's paradise on the island's south side.

Ko Tao (also often Koh Tao, Thai: เกาะเต่า, lit. "Turtle Island") is an island in Thailand located near the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand.

Area: About 21 km²
Province: Surat Thani
District (Amphoe): Ko Pha Ngan
Population: approximately 5000
Main town: Ban Mae Hat

The economy of the island is almost exclusively centered around tourism, especially scuba diving.

Koh Tao was named by its first settlers for the island's turtle-like geographic shape. Coincidentally, the island is an important breeding ground for Hawksbill turtles and Green turtles. Development of tourism has negatively impacted the health of these grounds but a breeding program organised in 2004 by the Royal Thai Navy and KT-DOC, a coalition of local scuba diving centres has reintroduced hundreds of juvenile turtles to the island's ecosystem[1].

1 Tourism
2 Transportation
3 See also
4 External link

[edit] Tourism

The island is well known for scuba diving and snorkeling, and offers also some hiking. The most popular place for tourists is Sairee on the West coast, which has a white sandy beach of 1.7 km interrupted only by a few huge boulders. Resorts are scattered with varying density, however, along the many small bays of the island.

Ko Tao is less developed than Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan, but has become increasingly popular especially with the mid-20's backpacker crowd in search of relatively inexpensive scuba diving certification.

Sairee-Beach

The main street at Ko Tao.

As of December 2005, Ko Tao had about 150 resorts offering accommodation and approximately 50 bars/clubs. Most of the resorts are still bungalow-style, not hotel/resort style. Accommodation prices are lower than nearby Ko Samui. Most dive shops offer scuba diving PADI certification classes as well as hostel/bungalow accommodation. Accommodation rates are generally significantly reduced upon registering for scuba classes. PADI open water certification classes typically cost around 9000-9800 Baht ($210-$250) and last 3-4 days.

The island does have cell phone towers, internet access and ATMs, all added within the last 3 years.

Internet access can be expensive, running at 120 Baht per hour in most places though access is available costing 1 Baht for two minutes.

Anyway, now in 2007 there is a trend to more upmarket resorts which don't concentrate singularely on diving. Free WIFI is provided in increasing numbers and even the first sailing charter company on Koh Tao has opened.

[edit] Transportation

With few execptions, almost all roads on Ko Tao are dirt roads and generally are in poor shape. However, new roads are being paved at a quick rate. 95% of all traffic on the island is motorbike, with mopeds and dirt bikes being the main mode of transport. Mopeds can be rented for around $5 (200 Baht) per day. Motor bike accidents are the most common injury on the island. Poor roads, sand, reckless taxi drivers and drunkenness are all a factor. It is generally known that motorbike repairs are a better business than renting motorbikes. Inspect your motorbike completely before driving away.

Ko Tao is serviced by ferry services from Surat Thani (4 to 9 hours) (only night boats), Chumphon (1.5 to 3 hours), Ko Samui (4 hours) and Ko Pha Ngan (2.5 hours). All ferries dock at Ban Mae Haad.

Ko Tao has no airport.