Koh Tao Travel Guide - General Information

Information

Tao Island is located on the east coast of Surat Thani Province ,45 kilomaters to the northwest of Pha Ngan Island.Its total surface area is 21 square kilometers or approximately 13000 rais. Frpm noth to sount it is 7.5 kilometers long and from east to west it is 4.5 kilometers wide.Allmost all of the island is mountainous.There are two amall island nearly; Nang Yuan Island which measures about 202 rais whis has a sand bar which connects its three islands together,and Gong Sai Dang Islands (Shark Island),a tiny island to the northeast of Koh Tao which has a total area of just 6 rais

Tao Island is shaped like a kidney bean. The length of the coast around the island is 28.6 kilometers. The island boats 11 bays and 10 points.Most of the beaches are the west side of the island while on the east coast is mostly comprised of high cliffs.The depth of the sea around Koh Tao varies from 30 to 40 meters deep.There are only two seasons here; summer which is between the monthe of Fabruary and April and the end of the Northeast Monsoon season,and the rainy season which is from May to January. There are heavy rains during the period from October to December due to the influence of the Sountheast Monsoon.

Tao Island in the Past
Before 1927 when Thailand was ruled by the People's Party,The Department of Corrections used Koh Tao and KOh Tarutao,which is locates is located on the west coast of thailand in satun Province,as prisons for polictical prioners during the baworagej and the Sergeant Revolutions.Later on this island was registered as Royal Property and it was abandoned for a long time in 1937.More and more people came to settle here and now Koh tao is a Tambon of Pha Ngan Island district ,Surat Thani Province.There are three village o the island ;Hat Sai Ree, Mae Hat and Chalok Ban Kaw

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Provided by Tourism Authority of Thailand