Sai Daeng Beach on Koh Tao in Thailand offers a perfect escape with amazing scenery just like in a movie. It has beautiful underwater life, therefore it’s an ideal spot for snorkeling and diving. For us, it was certainly one of the most beautiful beaches on Koh Tao.
If you plan to visit Sai Daeng Beach, read this helpful and comprehensive guide which includes all the details you should know before you go.
Where is Sai Daeng Beach?
Sai Daeng Beach Koh Tao is on the southeastern part of the island, not far from Chalok Baan Kao Bay. It’s only 5 km away from Sairee Beach and takes less than 15 minutes on a motorbike. You first need to drive towards Chalok Bay Kao Bay and then turn left.
If you still need to plan your trip to Koh Tao, make sure to also check our detailed guide about how to get to Koh Tao from different destinations around Thailand.
Don’t forget to save the location of Sai Daeng Beach to your Google Maps. You can also load the navigation before going to Sai Daeng Beach in case you lose signal. We also recommend always having offline maps, such as Maps.me in your phone.
Where to stay on Koh Tao
The most popular area to stay is around Sairee Beach. You’ll find most restaurants around. However, this area is also a bit too loud, both during the day and night. If you’re coming to Koh Tao to relax, stay near one of many beaches.
We wrote a complete guide describing where to stay on Koh Tao, including the best areas as well as hotels and hostels for every budget.
Best hotels on Koh Tao
Check availability
How to get to Sai Daeng Beach?
Parking fee: free
The best way to get to Sai Daeng Beach is to rent a motorbike. You’ll find multiple rentals near Sairee Beach. The prices start at as low as 200 THB per day. Don’t forget to get an international driving license before your trip to Thailand.
As we mentioned above, the ride only takes less than 15 minutes from Sairee Beach. While this option gives you the most freedom, it’s also the cheapest way to explore the island.
However, keep in mind that the last sections are pretty steep. So if you feel uncomfortable riding a motorbike in steep terrain, we recommend using other ways to get here. However, the road is concrete and in good condition.
Whenever you’re renting a motorbike in Asia, never leave your passport as a deposit. Always choose cash or your national ID. You’ll avoid getting accused of damages you’re not responsible for and being asked to pay large sums of money for it.
Another more expensive option is to pay for a taxi. You might need to pay around 550 THB one way. Yes, that’s right. Taxis are really expensive on Koh Tao.
If you don’t want to pay a full rate, you can wait for other to join or find a group heading to the beach as well. This way you can try to negotiate the fares with the taxi drivers.
Another fun way to get to Sai Daeng Beach is by taking a longtail boat taxi. However, it often takes longer time than traveling by road. The prices are between 200 THB and 600 THB, depending on the distance.
Sai Daeng Beach entrance fee
Entrance fee: free
You can park your scooter only a few meters from the beach. While it looks like you’re entering a private resort beach, it’s completely free for everyone!
About Sai Daeng Beach
Sai Daeng Beach is known for its beautiful scenery, crystal clear water, and vibrant underwater life. It is a secluded little gem of Koh Tao. It’s surrounded by hills on both sides. The beach is also not very long.
You will even find a few luxury hotels near the beach, such as Coral View Resort, Sabai Jai Villas, and Sai Daeng Resort. We definitely recommend checking them out, since they’re all incredibly beautiful. Sai Daeng Resort even has an SPA, which you can visit even if you’re not a guest.
Not sure which part of the island to choose? Read our guide about the best hotels, hostels, and areas to stay in on Koh Tao.
It’s surrounded by lush green trees and a few palms. The neighboring bays are Shark Bay and Aow Leuk Bay. Both are incredible snorkeling spots.
The sea is mostly calm and there’s lovely white sand. It’s got a very peaceful and relaxing vibe. You’ll find a few boulders at the end of the bay, which might be used for jumping in the water.
Compared to other beaches, it’s not as crowded with only a few people around. This might be because of its location and the fact that there are just a few resorts and restaurants around. During our visit, we only met two other groups of people.
On the beach, you won’t find any showers or much space in shadow where you can hide from the strong sun. There are a few sunbeds though which can be rented.
Beach facilities and services
Despite being such a small and secluded hidden gem, you’ll find some good restaurants and bars on the beach. You’ll be happy to find out that you can have a cold bottle of Chang or a fresh cocktail while lounging on the beach. More about the restaurants below.
In addition, there are a few resorts right on the beach. They also rent snorkeling gear and kayaks. Thanks to a few trees, you can also enjoy some shadow when the sun is strong. In addition, you can rent sunbeds here.
Snorkeling
What we loved the most about the beach was of course the underwater life. Snorkeling is one of the best things you can do on Koh Tao. Sai Daeng Beach was our second favorite spot right after Tanote Bay which is, without a doubt, the best spot for snorkeling on the island.
Going to the water can be a little bit uncomfortable due to the many rocks at the entrance. But spectacular and colorful corals can be found just a few meters from the shore of Sai Daeng Beach. You’ll encounter interesting marine life all around the bay!
Apart from different kinds of fish, you can sometimes meet sea turtles here. During the breeding season, it’s also common to see baby black-tip reef sharks. The best time for encountering them is early morning or late afternoon. They can be seen here all year round.
For a higher chance of seeing sharks, try to stay as calm as possible. Give it a few minutes, and you might end up meeting those lovely little creatures. Don’t forget to stay calm, as you might scare them away with your movement.
Travel Insurance
One of the worst things you could do is travel without insurance. We never go on a trip without travel insurance. Anything can happen during your adventures.
Our go-to company is SafetyWing. They will save you hundreds or thousands of dollars if something goes wrong.
If you purchase the insurance through our link, you still pay the same, and we will earn a small commission. This helps us run our blog. Thank you ❤️
Other activities
Snorkeling is one of the best things to do here. Another option is renting a kayak and exploring the bay or visiting Shark Island. And of course, Sai Daeng Beach is perfect for relaxing and sunbathing with a fresh drink in your hand.
Shark Island
Sai Daeng Beach lies in the closest bay to Shark Island, which is one of the best snorkeling spots on Koh Tao. As the name suggests, you can often encounter black-tip reef sharks here.
However, you should keep in mind that the currents between the bay and Shark Island are often unpredictable and too strong. To stay safe, ask locals for advice. Because of the currents it’s not recommended to swim to the Shark Island.
But you can rent a kayak from the resort to get there. It only takes around 10 minutes of paddling. The water depth varies from 5 to 25 meters. Stay near the large boulders for the best snorkeling experience.
Where to eat nearby
- Coral View Resort – A great place to eat with sea views and excellent food.
- Uncle Soon’s Restaurant – Perfect setting right on the beach, however, this place has mixed reviews. Prices are reasonable given the secluded area. The restaurant is a part of Sai Daeng Resort.
Other places to visit nearby
Freedom Beach and John Suwan Viewpoint
Before heading to Sai Daeng Beach, start your morning with a short 15-minute hike to John Suwan Viewpoint. The hike is not demanding, however, you need to hold on to a rope in few sections. You’ll be crossing huge boulders and jungle.
After a few minutes, you’ll be rewarded with breath-taking panoramic views! See can clearly see both Chalok Baan Kao Bay and Shark Bay from the top.
As you finish enjoying the views, head down to Freedom Beach. Again, this only takes 15 minutes. Freedom Beach offers a lot of shadows, crystal-clear water, and free sunchairs. While it’s not a good snorkeling spot, it’s a perfect place to relax.
Shark Bay
One of the best snorkeling spots on the island is Shark Bay. As the name suggests, you can often meet black-tip reef sharks here. If you’re not so lucky with them, you have high chances of seeing sea turtles, too!
The beach is white-sand and you’ll also find a very cozy cocktail bar – Shark View Bar with sea views on the side.
Ao Leuk
While we personally didn’t have time to come here, Ao Leuk is also on the list of the best snorkeling spots on the island. It offer a vibrant marine life and is also a stop on many snorkeling tours. You can meet black-tip reef sharks and sea turtles in the bay.
You can easily get here by a motorbike. You have to pay a 50 THB entrance fee, since the beach belongs to a resort. But it’s worth it. You can rent snorkeling gear as well as sun chairs here.
Best guided tours on Koh Tao
- Snorkel tour by Oxygen – Visit Nangyuan Island, Japanese Gardens, Mango Bay, Ao Leuk, and Hin Wong Bay. You can enjoy snorkeling at every stop. The underwater life is just incredible and this tour will be one of the highlights of your whole Thailand trip!
- Scuba diving experience – Ever tried scuba diving? How about taking your first lesson in one of the best places to get PADI in the whole world? Koh Tao is known for its lively underwater life and the best way to explore it is scuba diving!
- Daytrip by speedboat – This tour has the same itinerary as the first one by Oxygen. The only difference is, that here you can also go kayaking.
The best time to visit Sai Daeng Beach
There’s no best time to visit Sai Daeng Beach! You will enjoy it anytime, all day. However, for a higher chance of seeing black-tip reef sharks, you should come early morning or late afternoon.
Koh Tao tides
Not many people know this, but Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, and Koh Tao do not have typical 4 tides per day. There are only 2.
High tide season usually lasts from December to March. High tide is usually stronger at this time and water is deeper than in the other seasons. During the summer months, it’s low tide season. Water is more shallow in genera.
In some months, you only get low tide during the day and high tide at night. Then, it’s essential to choose the right beach to actually enjoy swimming. But most Koh Tao beaches are enjoyable during low tide, too.
Best time to visit Koh Tao
Dry season: December – April
Rainy season: October – December
Koh Tao has its dry season between December and April, together with the rest of Thailand. The weather is mostly sunny with almost no rain. However, since December is on the border between monsoon and dry season, you might still experience rainy evenings.
The period between February and May is known as a hot and dry season. April is usually the hottest month. Koh Tao is a relatively humid island, with around 80% humidity. Keep this in mind and stay hydrated throughout the day. The water visibility is the best in this season.
While the west coast of Thailand is hit by southwest monsoon between May and October, Koh Tao is not very affected by this. The weather is mostly dry and windy. Therefore, the sea is not as calm anymore. But you can already expect some rainfall, mostly during late afternoons and nights.
The rainy season in Koh Tao usually starts late in October and lasts until December. November is experiencing the heaviest rains. If the monsoons arrive later, the rainy season may last longer.
Final thought on Sai Daeng Beach
Sai Daeng Beach on Koh Tao offers everything you need to enjoy tropical paradise. You’ll certainly enjoy your time there as we did. Hope this guide was helpful for you and in case you have any questions just drop us a comment below. Thank you very much for reading our guide!
