Thian Og Bay Koh Tao Island, Thailand

Ao Thian Og leaves most of the other beaches on Koh Tao back at the starting post in terms of sheer beauty. The perfect arc of white, fluffy sand and azure waters will leave you breathless. Almost always quiet and serene, this is the perfect place to chill out for an afternoon.

The beach has shade from shrubs rather than trees and is empty much of the time despite its proximity to Chalok Baan Kao. While people stay away, sharks flock here, however: it's a popular bay with divers.

One of the newest and flashest resorts on Koh Tao, Jamahkiri, has a monkey enclosure, ensuring the peculiar calls of primates now ring out regularly across the bay.

Ao Thian Og is separated from Chalok Baan Kao by a peninsula, and on the eastern flank of this peninsula, facing Ao Thian Og, you'll find Ao Taa Chaa which has good snorkelling and a couple of very well-appointed resorts perched on its edge.

If you walk out to the end of the peninsula you'll reach the John Suwan Viewpoint, a spectacular vantage point overlooking Ao Chalok Baan Kao to the left and Ao Thian Og to the right. Unfortunately the trail hasn't been well looked after, so it's quite a bush-bash to get there nowadays.

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Tanote Bay Koh Tao Island. Thailand

To get to Tanote Bay is a thrilling experience. The road there will take you over 'Mount Koh Tao' and offers a breathtaking view of the island's eastern hilly slopes. The bay itself offers nice bathing and snorkelling and variety of bungalows and restaurants. From Tanote Bay you can see Koh Samui and Koh Phangnan on a clear day. There is a growing number of resorts offering accommodation in this beautiful bay.

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Sairee Beach Koh Tao Island, Thailand

The longest and most popular beach on the island stretches from the statue of Rama IV in the south to the headland at the far north, almost opposite Koh Nang Yuan. It boasts both busy entertainment areas at the southern end and quieter, less-trafficked areas toward the headland. The water is very shallow - in places you can walk for ages and get no deeper than your waist. Snorkellers are better served staying on other beaches.

Sairee beach is home to some of the most upmarket resorts on the island along with backpacker favourites through to mid-range places ideal for families. In the evenings entertainment can be very loud, so light sleepers are better off staying toward the northern end.

A couple of small bays and beaches with a handful of resorts are dotted beyond the north end, with most places having either good views over the beach or offshore to Koh Nang Yuan. It's a sleepy spot but close enough to the main strip for a night out.

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Sai Nuan Beach Koh Tao Island, Thailand

This series of very attractive turquoise bays and palm-fringed beaches can be reached on foot from either Mae Haad or Chalok Ban Kao.

These bays have both advantages and disadvantages - what you gain in tranquility you lose in ease of access. If you're a bit of a night owl, this part of Koh Tao may not be the best choice as stumbling home down the goat-track of a trail in the early hours will be a recipe for disaster.

On the other hand, if you're after a bit of serenity, a lot of hammock swinging and a fare dose of gazing out to sea, then you're in the right place.

In a few spots the beaches around this part of Koh Tao are beginning to lose their sand - luckily a problem that so far hasn't really spread to elsewhere on the island.

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Sai Daeng Beach Koh Tao Island, Thailand

Really part of Rocky Bay, Haad Sai Daeng is a beautiful little cove on the southern tip of Koh Tao. Haad Sai Daeng is very nice spot to relax in solitude with a book on the beach or going for a swim to Shark Island.

With only two resorts nestled into an idyllic landscape & a sandy beach, it's not only famous for its beauty similar to Ao Leuk.

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Mango Bay Koh Tao Island., Thailand

Mango Bay (Ao Mamuang) is a very isolated bay at the very northern tip of Koh Tao and is the most recently developed area on the island. The landscape consists of high rocky cliffs and lush green hillsides rising up from the water's edge and offering breathtaking views of the gulf. The clear blue-green waters of Mango Bay are great for swimming and snorkelling, and one of the island's most beautiful dive locations sits at the centre of the bay.

The resorts here are decidedly upscale and more expensive than elsewhere on Koh Tao, and given the particular isolation of this spot, they lean towards self-contained affairs. You'll get a good deal of comfort and tranquility for your money.

That said Mango Bay does get a lot of day-tripping diving and snorkelling trips - this is a secluded spot, but unfortunately not a silent secluded spot.

The focus is on water activities: snorkelling, diving and kayaking. If that's all a bit too energetic, tanning, reading and generally lazing around are also prime activities.

The road access is via a poorly maintained road, so most opt for a longtail.

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Mae Haad Beach Koh Tao Island, Thailand

This beach runs to the north and south of Koh Tao's main town, Mae Haad, where the ferry piers are also located. The town is typical of those on heavily touristed Thai islands, with a cluster of dive shops, exchange kiosks, travel agents, Internet cafes, bakeries, restaurants and bars. It's dusty during the day, chaotic when the ferries come and go, and otherwise sleepy and largely deserted.

Around the piers the beach is grubby and littered but both the northern and southern extremes are quite pleasant. To the south, there is some good snorkelling and comfortable resorts. If you're looking for something secluded however, this is not your best choice.

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