Getting around Koh Tao

        Koh Tao has one major concrete road which connects the north end of Sairee beach with Chalok Baan Kao in the south, while passing the main villege Mae Haad in the middle.
There is an increasing amount of small concrete roads leading to the other beaches and byas. Everywhere else you will find more or less accessible dirt tracks, most of which will challenge even a skilled driver.
Step trails, sharp curves, sand and grit, potholes, washed out tracks and occasional dropping coconut demand mindful driving and fast reactions.
Vehicles in Thailand drive usually on the left, but traffic rules are often freely interpreted, speed limits are not observed and suicidal dogs prefer sleeping on the orads, which are often narrow. You must always be prepared to make room for the occasional moving or still obstacle.
Yet, it is not as bad as it sounds, as long as you drive carefully and remember that an accident will hurt body and budget as well. Motorcycles can be rented from 150 Bath up, ATV’s from 450 Bath, the deposit of a passport is required.



Pick-up and Motorbikes Taxis
You find them parked in central areas, or just stop them from roadside. They run from early morning until late night. Be aware that taxi fares are not fixed and can increase drastically at night due to seasonal conditions. Always discuss the cost before the ride, not after. Basically fares start with a minimum for one or more persons and then increase per additional customer, group discounts possible.
Remember , always try to keep the haggle polite and friendly. Gasoline prices just went up again , so did the fares.

Guideline (day time)
Mae Haad  - Sairee or Chalok:  100 Bath & 50 Bath per add person
Sairee - Chalok Baan Kao: 150 Bath & 80 Bath per add person
Difficult to reach area like Ao Leuk, Tanote or Hin Wong will start with a minimum of 200 Bath and at least 100 Bath per add. person, but due to road conditions or driver’s mood, prices can vary a log.

Boat Taxi 
The colorful, traditional Long Tail Boats take you conveniently and quickly to stunning secluded bays and snorkel sites. You can find them at all the main beaches and they can be chartered for a short trip or a day tour. Prices are reasonable, but depend on distance and number of stops and people traveling. A trip around the island for 1-4 persons could start from 150Bath.



Biking and Trekking
There are mountain bikes for rent around the island which are not only cheaper than motorbikes, but will also help to protect the environment.
However, to discover the real beauty of Koh Tao, Travel on foot. If you are not afraid of exercise and enjoy a bit of excitement, you will be rewarded with the experience of the rich variety of the jungle, a cool swim in a lonely bay, a fantastic view over cliffs in the surf or a spectacular panorama from a mountain top.
An excursion like this can be very demanding and tiresome, so leave prepared drinking water, sun block, mosquito repellent, tight shoes and a hat are essential and please don’t go alone, like in diving, a buddy can be a life saver and besides, it’s more fun.

Warning: Walking on the main road from Mae Haad to Sairee, especially at night, can be dangerous, better use the dirt road passing school, where is little traffic.

Diving on Koh Phangan and Dive Sites

Koh Phangan is an excellent place to dive and snokel with numerous dive sites an a relaxed yet prefessional attitude to the sport. Groups are usually small, four to ten people a typical size, with the vibrant coral reef that follows the west coast of the island, there are plenty of beach dive sites an areasessily accessible to snorkellera. It is also a very inexpeenaive palce to learn to dive, with PADI Open Water courses at some of the best rates in the world and courses right up to instructor level. Best of all is the location, as we are only 20 kilometres away from the best dive site in the Gulf of Thailand

Dive Sites

Koh Ma

Koh Ma is a small picturesque island connected to Koh Phangan by a snadbar ad Haad Mae Haad on the north west coast. It is possible te beach dive from either Mae Haad or Koh Ma and several local scuba schools do trips by boat. That said, it is far from crawded and is an excellent place to see the local marine life, with schooling fish, bannerfish & bit grouper, barracuda and a vast range of coral

Max depth 24m.

Haad Salad, Haad Yao and Haad Chao Phao

These three beaches are all bordered by the long coral 

reef that thrives on the west coast of Phangan and runs up to Koh Ma. Any one of these beaches offers great beach and   boat dives with a range of hard corals & reef fish

Max depth 19m.

Koh Tae Nok

Koh Tae Nok is located near Thongsala on the south coast of Koh Phangan and is a great local boat dive; with reef fisl, hard corals and the

 odd small reef shak

Max depth 19m

Sail Rock

Sail Rock is undoubtedly the most famous dive site in the Gulf of 

Thailand and is located in-between Koh Phanga

n and Koh Tao. A 

spectucualar rock formation that rises out of the sea, creating and excellent 

wall dive with a great range of marine life, spectacular underwater scenery, 

rock formations and the legendary "Chimney" swim-through! A fantastic site 

that can be explored by all levels of dives

Max depth 40m.

Koh Tao & Koh Nangyuan

Koh Tao has loads of beach dive sites and to major dive sites. 

Shark Island nearby and Southwest Pinnacle about 15kms away. Boat are 

exceptional sites with a great variety of reef fish and alluring rocky formations

Max depth 32m.

My Koh Nang Yuan picture at the top of view point

Ang Thong Marine Park

The Marine Park of Ang Thong consists of a string of about 42 

islands and offers some of the most beautiful, vibrant, undamaged coral in 

Thailand. The boat trip takes about two hours and get to the northernmost tip of 

the Marine Park and Koh Ang Thong has the best reng of fish within the Gulf of Thailand. 

Plumeria ,flower from my house

Plumeria or Leelaawadee in Thai name. In the past , we called "Lantom" and plant it in the temple area. But present , most widely plant in house area after we got the new name "Leelaawadee"

This picture is one of Leelaawadee near my house.

First trip in Larn Island

          My girlfriend and I , we love sea , snorkeling , SCUBA diving and traveling in Thailand. In the free day, we looking for some place to relax away from Bangkok and not so far. Larn Island or Koh Larn is a good choice because it is an island, nice water and far from Bangkok just 2 hours.

 

          Now we started at Ekkamai Bus Station in Bangkok and get the bus go to Pattaya. When we arrived at Pattaya Bus Station then ask the local bus to go to Koh Larn Pier or we called Bali Hai Pier. The boat will arrive from the pier to Koh Larn every hour by 20 Bath per 1 person (very cheap ticket) 

          After boat arrived at Koh Larn . We just walk in to the town and find some motor bike for rent. We rent a bike by 500 Bath for 2 days and ride to find the resort. We got very cheap resort from old woman. There is no name but we just called “Grand mom’s home” . The cost per night is 500 Baths with air condition ,TV and refrigerator. I think , it’s very very very cheap. 

           When we got our place, we have the map of Koh Larn and we have motor bike. Now in the free time, we can ride to find the beach. There are more beach in Koh Larn

Tawan Beach

 

TongLang Beach

 

Ta-Yay Beach

 

Nuan Beach

 

 

Tien Beach

Samae Beach

 

          For 3 days and 2 night in Koh Larn. We can touch the nature, culture and many life in this island. There are beautiful beaches , clear water, nice sky , quiet town and kindly people in Koh Larn. In this time that the first time we’ve been there, Koh Larn make us love it.