Sairee Beach
Koh Tao's main beach: two kilometres of sand, dive shops, bars and the island's best sunset.
Sairee Beach is the main beach on Koh Tao, 2km of sand on the west coast and the centre of the island's dive industry. It is free, the swimming is good at high tide, and the sunsets are the best on the island.
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Koh Tao's main beach: two kilometres of sand, dive shops, bars and the island's best sunset.
Koh Tao has no natural freshwater and was uninhabited until the 1940s, when political prisoners were sent here. The dive industry arrived in the 1980s and Sairee became its hub — there are more dive shops per metre of beach here than anywhere else in the world, which is why the beach is lined with them rather than hotels.
Everything on Koh Tao happens within a kilometre of Sairee. It is not quiet, but it is convenient and the sunsets over Koh Nang Yuan are excellent.
What you’ll actually see
- Sunset from the northern end, with Koh Nang Yuan visible on the horizon
- The shallow reef at the south end, snorkelable from the sand
- The diving boats leaving at 7am for Chumphon Pinnacle and Sail Rock
- The beach bars at the north end, which stay open until late
How to visit it well
- The northern end is quieter and has better swimming.
- Book dive courses a few days ahead in high season.
- Walk to the viewpoint above the beach for sunset.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Swimming at low tide — the reef shelf is ankle-deep for 100 metres
- Booking a dive course at the cheapest shop without checking instructor ratios
- Expecting quiet; the middle section is bars and dive shops
Is it worth it?
The best all-round beach on Koh Tao and where you should stay if you are diving. It is not the prettiest — that is Koh Nang Yuan — but it has the facilities, the sunsets and the diving. South end for quiet, north end for nightlife.
Common questions
At high tide yes. At low tide the reef shelf is very shallow — most people swim off the southern end or take a boat.
The southern end is quieter and closer to the better reef. The northern end has the bars and the sunset.
Ferry from Chumphon (1.5–2 hours) or Koh Samui (2 hours). The Lomprayah catamaran is the fastest and most reliable.
Yes — it is one of the cheapest and most established places in the world to learn, with calm water and 25+ dive schools.
Tours that include Sairee Beach
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Last updated: October 2026 · Prices and hours checked by Nattapong Srisuwan