Ko Tao, Tropical island in Samui archipelago, Thailand.
Ko Tao is a small island in the Gulf of Thailand shaped by bays, rocky headlands, and narrow beaches that curve around calm inlets. Most guesthouses and restaurants line the western shore, while the eastern side remains quieter and covered in dense greenery that slopes down to the water.
Chinese maps from the 17th century marked the island under the name Pulo Cornam, long before Thai fishermen began using it as a seasonal base. During the 1980s, backpackers started staying in simple huts, and the island quickly grew into a center for dive training.
Fishermen from nearby coasts still anchor in sheltered bays along the eastern shore, repairing nets in the early morning as they have for generations. Small shrines appear near harbors and on hilltops, where locals light incense and leave offerings before heading out on boats or starting the day.
Ferries depart several times each day from the mainland and take between two and four hours depending on weather conditions. Paths between bays are steep and often unpaved, so sturdy footwear helps if you plan to walk around the island.
Underwater granite boulders run along the seabed and form natural swim-throughs that divers call canyons. In some spots, these rocks rise high enough that schools of fish pass between them like corridors of stone.
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