Koh Tao is a small and delicate island. At 1/10 the size of its more famous siblings Koh Phangan and Koh Samui, there are unique characteristics to be aware of when visiting. Use this handy guide to get you started.

Plastic

Plastic is a huge problem worldwide and it is destroying our oceans. Koh Tao is completely centred around eco tourism and diving so we are very conscious here about trying to reduce our plastic consumption and litter. So when visiting our beautiful paradise please consider this. In Thailand if you buy anything in a shop, no matter how small, they will give you a plastic bag. You don’t need it! If you have a bag on your back or pockets on your shorts, the plastic bag is unnecessary! Please refuse the bag!

Also, if you are a drinking cocktails from a bucket, please don’t take the 6 straws that you are offered. Plastic straws always end up in the sea and cause huge damage to marine life. Animals like turtles swallow them and die. Please take a moment to think and help save our beautiful marine creatures! If you do have litter on you, please dispose of it properly and do not leave it on the beach!

Smoking

Smoking has recently become illegal on Thai beaches and could land you in a Thai prison cell! Trust me, this will ruin your holiday! No matter where you are smoking, please do not just throw your butts on the ground. They will eventually end up in the sea and be consumed by marine creatures! Once again, don’t be that person that kills a turtle! Ash trays and bins are everywhere on Koh Tao, please use them!

Weed

Marijuana is now legal in Thailand. There are some evolving restrictions, however its very easy to buy on Koh Tao as there are dispensaries in Mae Haad and Sairee, along with growers scattered around the island. The same rules apply for smoking cigarettes and please be mindful of the smell with other people.

Dogs

There are many many dogs on Koh Tao and we love them all! As a tourist on Koh Tao, you may meet a lovely dog that you want to play with and feed and bring them back to your hostel with you. Please Don’t! The dogs that live here are all cared for by the locals, they have homes, they get fed, they get bought to the vet and we love them. However, if you feed them they will follow you wherever you go. Please remember that that dog probably has an owner that is worried about it when it goes missing.

The dogs here also have their ‘territories’ and if you bring a dog into another’s territory you may get them in a fight. Most restaurants and cafes here have a resident dog or two that you may be tempted to fed scraps to, most dog owners do not appreciate this. Some dogs are on special diets and we also don’t want them to become fat and unhealthy! Love and play with our dogs, but don’t try and bring them with you! If they follow you, say ‘Bai’ (pronounced “bye”), it means go! The dogs will understand!

Partying

Come to Koh Tao, party and have a great time but please remember to respect the culture that you are in. Throwing around glass bottles and being rude to the people around you is not cool anywhere, no matter how drunk you are! Also, we all like to get naked sometimes but please remember that public nudity is very offensive to Thai culture. Respect the country, respect the people and respect the culture. Preserve Paradise!