So after landing and spending a week in Bangkok my next destination on my bucket list was Koh Tao and you guessed it I was going to learn to dive. I must admit I was a bit apprehensive about learning a relatively difficult skill on the other side of the world, but once I arrived all of my anxiety was put to rest.
The island is located in the Gulf of Thailand and part of Chumphon Archipelago and is easily accessible from Bangkok which is most likely where you will be coming from. If you are coming from the south of Thailand you can make your way to either Surat Thani or Chumphon.
OK, a huge bit of advice here. I strongly recommend you do not book a ferry which is advertised as overnight, every single person I have spoken to about this has said it was awful, you can even see from reviews on Google it’s not going to be fun. Just knowing you will have to do the return trip overnight will put a damper on your stay especially if your journey to Koh Tao was awful!
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What to do in Koh Tao?
So if you are off to Koh Tao, you are going to encounter the ocean at some point! So almost everything on Koh Tao revolves around the ocean apart from a cheeky night out or a hike up to a viewpoint. However, bear in mind that those views will be of the sea. If you don’t like the ocean or beaches I wouldn’t recommend going to Koh Tao.
Diving
The main attraction in Koh Tao is diving, why? The water visibility is high, it’s cheap and the water is warm. There are so many diving schools on the island and the one I decided to learn with was Black Turtle Dive, they offer every type of diving course you would want as far as I’m aware. I did my PADI open water with them which cost 12000 Baht (£261*) it included a day in the pool doing confined diving and 2 days on their boat learning in the open water. After getting this certification you are qualified to dive and rent diving equipment worldwide, great if you’re planning on diving while travelling all over South East Asia. This was the main reason I travelled to Koh Tao first so I wouldn’t miss out on any diving.
Beaches
Koa Tao also has some great Beaches to enjoy, think sipping on a beer or cocktail while enjoying the sun instead of big waves crashing on the beach and surfing. The most popular beach on the island is Saree Beach, which is next to the pier when you get to the island. Saree Beach is long and has many bars and beach clubs lining it, worth a look both in the day and night.
My favourite beach on the island is Freedom Beach, mainly because the beach is secluded and nowhere near as busy as Saree, there is a fee to park your motorbike but if you park it around the counter and walk for 5 minutes you can avoid paying the fees.
Where to Stay on Koh Tao?
Even though Koh Tao is small it has many options when it comes to accommodation, a few posh resorts for the rich, hotels for the families, and 37 different hostels for the backpackers. 23 out of the 37 hostels are less than £10 a night so in terms of accommodation, Koh Tao is very affordable. Unfortunately, there are no gay accommodations on Koh Tao. I have 3 accommodation recommendations for Koh Tao as I stayed on the island for 2 weeks; a party hostel, a more chilled-out hostel, and finally a chilled hostel close to the main pier and loads of dive schools.
Revolution
Revolution Hostel is a party hostel and on my first trip to Thailand, it was the best party hostel I stayed at. They offer great activities such as boat parties and pool parties and it’s usually kicking off most nights. The staff are great and ready to help and usually get involved with the drinking. Just bear in mind that even though the bar closes at around midnight and most people move onto other venues on Koh Tao from about 3 am onwards it gets quite loud again, with this in mind make sure you have packed your headache pills and Berocca and you will be fine in the morning.
The highlight of this stay for me was the boat party and yes of course my head ended up down the toilet, not a good night out if it didn’t in my mind. They also offer free dinner for all guests so that’s a great time to socialise before starting the night. The hostel also offers discounts for dive schools however they didn’t for the dive school I knew I wanted to go with so I didn’t book it with them. I wouldn’t recommend doing a diving course while staying here unless you can handle a night out and then go diving, which I know I can’t!
Here’s what sets them apart:
- Bar and restaurant
- Free dinner
- Close to nightlife
- Very Close to the beach
Prices vary between the time of year but as always book the dorm room that has the most beds to keep the price as low as possible.
Dorms from £14.61* per night
Save House Poshtel
Even though they have Poshtel in the name I wouldn’t call it a poshtel, it’s a nice hostel with good facilities and service and they clean your room daily and make your bed but that’s the only thing posh about it. This hostel is close to Revolution and the strip of bars on Koh Tao. I would recommend staying here if you want to have a good night’s sleep, beds are super comfy and breakfast is provided. Next door is a great restaurant called Muchines House, definitely check it out even if you don’t decide to stay in this hostel.
My highlight of this hostel is the calmness of it compared to Revolution, it was a great hostel to wake up in and go explore the island. The social space is large but not busy, a great place to meet other travellers, chill, and see if anyone wants to come and explore the island with you.
Here’s what sets them apart:
- Super comfy beds
- Free breakfast
- Chilled vibe
- Super cheap for what you get
Dorms from £7.06* per night
Isla Tortola
This hostel is close to the pier and many diving schools and it’s where I based myself for my first few nights on Koh Tao, the hostel has a great Spanish flair and the dorms have a maximum of 4 beds each. This is the hostel I stayed at while doing my PADI course at Black Turtle Dive, it’s super close by and generally a very conveniently located hostel.
The hostel has a pool and the staff members at the hostel are great with a really friendly vibe. This hostel also had a few gays staying at it which Grindr helped me find so I did sneak off in the middle of the night to connect with someone in the dorm next door, lucky for me it was only him in his dorm that night.
Here’s what sets them apart:
- Pool
- Spanish flare
- Dorms are small
Dorms from £10.59* per night
Bars
There are no Gay bars in Koh Tao however there is the next best thing a Cabaret Bar! Nightlife on the island may not be as hectic as in Bangkok, but many of the hostels put on bar crawl nights or you can go off and do your own thing.
The Queens Cabaret
The Queens Cabaret bar features live performances by Ladyboys and Drag Queens, similar to the ladyboys of Bangkok. The performers, part of the troupe since 2009, showcase impressive fitness and flexibility with fast-paced, entertaining routines infused with drama and humour. My favourite performer was Amanda, she was funny and she was the one who enticed me into the bar to begin with. It’s a popular stop on the Koh Tao Pub Crawl, particularly busy on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights. No food is available, so dining beforehand is recommended.
Another one of the Queens Bam Bam took me and some fellow gay travellers on a night out after the show, I was introduced to joss shots which as far as I’m aware are illegal in most of the world, it’s simply energy powder that you put into a shot of vodka and it makes it tasty and is full of caffeine. It was a night to remember!
Fishbowl Beach Bar
Ok, it’s time to get your best outfit on, I’m thinking Aussiebum undies, short shorts, and a tight tank top… Ok maybe not, but that’s what I decided to wear because I just well wanted to, did I stick out like a sore thumb in the club surrounded by young backpackers, yes. Did I give one of the ladyboys a big snog and go back to hers for a party, yes! It was an all round amazing night the drinks were flowing and the entertainment was great. The drinks were a little pricy for my liking but it was the best night out in Koh Tao I experienced. Think Thai buckets of drink and Rihanna playing on the dancefloor, what isn’t there to love? Apart from the hangover but we don’t think about that.
Getting Around
Getting around the island is easy, there are a few ways to achieve it but my preferred method was renting a motorcycle. Once you get to the island depending on how far away your hostel is either walk or get a tuk-tuk, just bear in mind you are going to have to haggle to keep the price low. Once you get to the hostel have a chat with the reception and see what they recommend when it comes to who to hire a bike from, why ask the hostel staff? Because if they are sending their customers to doggy motorbike rental places it’s going to show up in the reviews on Hostelworld.
Tips for Koh Tao
- Book your transport to the island in advance
- Stay in a hostel either attached to your dive school or a calmer hostel while you are doing your diving course
- Get on Grindr, it’s a small island so you will easily be able to see who is on the island
- Book your hostel/hostels before you arrive on the island
Conclusion! Is there even a gay Koh Tao?
To conclude this gay guide to Koh Tao is it even a gay destination? No, but it’s a destination you need to go to because of the diving, which is the main attraction of the island. If you are limited on time then 5 days will be enough for you to enjoy most aspects of the island. If time is on your side however I would recommend at least a week. Koh Tao is such a contrast to Bangkok, Chiang Mai and most of the mainland so enjoy it while you can!
*Prices Accurate in early 2024
