Turtle Island (Ko Tau)

The small island of Ko Tau is one of the gems of the Gulf of Thailand, discovered by the tourist industry only in the early 1980s. The best time to visit Tau is from December to April or August to September.

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General Information

The length of the island of Koh Tau is only 8 km, with a maximum width of 3 km. But the distance from the mainland is quite significant – 38 km. During summer vacations in Thailand (from late April to mid-May), Tau Island is hopelessly crowded as local vacationers rush here as well.

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The six hundred residents of Tau Island are spread across the villages of Mehat, Hatsai and Chalok. The bulk of them live in the first village, a beautiful settlement surrounded by granite cliffs. Here there are also useful establishments for tourists, such as restaurants and a bank. The ferry pier is also located in this village.

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Until half a century ago, the island of Tau served as a prison. Evil tongues claim that the Thai government transferred prisoners (mostly political) from here simply because the island was too beautiful to be a place of punishment.

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Koh Tau Beaches

A few years ago, it was easy to imagine yourself as Robinson on the deserted beaches of Tau Island. But now there are bungalows everywhere. The most beautiful beaches are in the west of the island, and they are easier to reach than the narrow coastal strips in the east and south.

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Snorkeling

Tau Island is especially prized by sophisticated scuba divers. The underwater world here has hardly been spoiled yet. Especially good for underwater forays are the three small islands adjacent to Tau from the northwest and collectively called Nangyuan. There are about a dozen scuba diving schools on the island of Tau, where you can rent the necessary equipment, as well as get a diploma in the PADI system.

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How to get there

  • By ferry:Travel from Chupmhon by ferry takes about 6h, by speedboat -h. There is a daily express boat service from Thongsal on Phangan Island (travel time about 2 h). There is also a speedboat connection to Samui Island.
  • By airplane:The nearest airport is on the island of Samui.

There is very little transportation on Koh Tau, but the distances are so short that it is quite possible to cover them on foot.

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