1 Week: Gulf of Thailand
Koh Tao & Pha Ngan - Visit Sail Rock and take an advanced diving course!
Itinerary 1 week: Gulf of Thailand (Koh Tao & Pha Ngan!
Content:
Check out the main page on Koh Tao & Pha Ngan here!
Gulf of Thailand quick summary:
- Koh Tao - Pinnacles and Open Water Courses
(3-4 nights) - Click here to book.
- Koh Pha Ngan - Sail Rock
(3-4 nights) - Click here to book.
"Gulf of Thailand - Koh Tao & Pha Ngan" Day-by-Day:
Koh Tao
Koh Tao is famous for many things, but most of all, it's famous for open water courses. The island is serviced by 70+ diving operators all offering big boats and lots of places to do your open-water diving course(s).
There is more to discover here though! The easier dives, usually done in the afternoon offer shallow waters, pretty coral reefs, and gentle conditions. There are, however, deeper, more challenging dives being organized, usually in the morning.
These dive sites are as deep as 35 meters, mainly focussed around Chumphon Pinnacle and Southwest Pinnacle. On certain days, they will also organize trips to the famous Sail Rock, but I would recommend doing this from Koh Pha Ngan.
You can read more about that later.
When you arrive at Koh Tao, either from Koh Pha Ngan / Surathani, or Chumphon, coming from Bangkok, you will notice that most of the hotels and bars are located around the pier area (western side of the island).
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I would highly recommend moving a little bit up north. It will be a bit quieter and more peaceful, while you will still find all the amenities you'll need.
I can recommend diving with Roctopus diving! They will organize both early mornings deeper dives, as well as afternoon "easy" dives.
For more details check out the main page on Koh Tao!
From Koh Tao, it's an easy transfer to Koh Pha Ngan/ Sail Rock or if you're coming from Surathani or Koh Pha Ngan.
There are multiple daily boats servicing all the islands in the Gulf of Thailand. Your hotel can usually arrange the transfer for you.
Koh Pha Ngan
Koh Pha Ngan (Pronounced: KO-PAAN-JANG) is a lovely island south of Koh Tao.
While most people stay near the pier, I would highly recommend, even insist on going to the northern part of the island, to the village of Chaloklum.
You can get a transfer from the pier for 400-500 Baht per car, which will bring you to Chaloklum in 20 minutes. Scuba diving from the pier/ arrival area is very limited. As far as I know, there is only 1 operator, organizing scuba diving trips.
There are no real dive sites around Koh Pha Ngan, except for Sail Rock to the north.
From Chaloklum, it will take the boat (that you will share with other dive operators) about 1.5 hours to get to sail rock. You will do 2 dives at this sight.
Onwards.
As you can see on the maps, you can either choose to start at Koh Tao or Koh Pha Ngan.
Whichever island you choose, you will have 2 main ports of entry or exit to the Gulf of Thailand, unless you fly to, or from Koh Samui.
Surathani in the south gives you a perfect point, from which to go onwards to Koh Lanta, Phi Phi, or even Lipe or Phuket.
Chumphon in the north provides a great connection to Bangkok, Chang Mai & Rai, or even Phuket or Pattaya.
Koh Samui Airport services most domestic airports in Thailand, so although the most expensive way of travel, also the most convenient.
For more details check out the main page on Koh Pha Ngan!
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