Heading: Koh Tao

Date: 12-01-2008

Weather: 24ºC to 30ºC. Sunshine mostly all time

Time: GMT +8h

Travelling time: 28h with conection flights

Currency - Thai Bath (100TBH=±0.24€)

Toatl price (All packet + personal consume): 4500€ (2 pax)

Activities:  Diving, snorkelling, boat trips, nocturn life

Food: Traditional Taih food, based on fish and vegetables, very very spiecy

Charm Churee Vilage

Qatar Airways

Bangkok Airways

Ferry boat to Koh Tao

Koh Tao on Wikipédia

Homepage

Koh Tao: It is a small island about 400km south of Bangcoque, in the Gulf of Thailand, belonging to the province of Surat Thani. It has a rough terrain, covered by dense tropical forest. The economy of his island is based on tourism, specially who are looking for dive, there are numerous places to stay, for all tastes and wallets (prices may vary per night from 6 to € 300 €). There are few concret roads but almost all are dirt roads , which usually became unusefull after a strong rain fall. It is also, according to misunderstandings, the paradise of diving, provinf that more than 40 certified diving schools in this small island

Preparatives: To choose this destination, Koh Tao, we had in mind a quiet place, different from well known Thai destinations such as Phuket, Krabi or Phi Phi. Indeed, we could not deal with any agency in Portugal, the complete packet . With the travel agency we treat first the transport to Thailand and then, to Koh Tao, we did the reservation by internet. That was a good sign, because we would certainly see undreds of people try to go bathing on the beach. Thus, after reaching at Bangkok, you'll be on your own! We reserved tickets from Bangcoque to Koh Samui (an island about 70km of Koh Tao, which has airport). After reserve boat tickets, between Koh Samui and Koh Tao, and because of time schedules, we had to stay a night in Koh Samui. Finally, and after confirmation of all flights, we reserved our stay of 5 nights in Koh Tao, in the spectacular Charm Churee Vilage. We intend to spend 2 nights in Bangcoque to harness them in the shopping and visit some monuments; with our travel agent we did coordinate flights, Koh Tao and Bangkok bookings

The Journey: Again, we've flown with Qatar Airways on a trip at all similar to our travel to the Maldives. However, after a year and a half of being at Doha's airport, the diferences were enormous: The airport is no longer a chaos of people, but pleasant and eficient. We took already 15h flight journey and missing more 8h flight between Qatar and Thailand. We landed at Bangkok's brand new airport,Suvarnabuhmi where we waited more 4h for the domestic flight We landed finally in Koh Samui arround 17H, local time where finally we be able to rest from this very tiring trip . After a night to recharge bateries (and begin to suffer some effects of jet-lag), we went on a boat towards our final destination. The journey lasted around 1:30 and round about 10:00 wehad reached at Koh Tao! 

The Resort: Charm Churee Villas is perhaps the best places to stay in Koh Tao. It consists of a set of several bungalows of various sizes, all wood made, recalling the typical Thai houses, and with fantastics sea views. We stayed at "Panorama Room" and prices were well accessible, even considering that was high season travel (about 80 € per night with breakfast). The sympathy is the first business card of this place, indeed of the whole island. We were also very surprised by the fourth we settled: spacious, well equipped and with two magnificent terraces: one facing the sea, another, more private, facing the forest. TV and telephone are things that do not exist, to me a very good concept. The resort also has a private beach at Janson Bay, where you can lunch, rent snorkelling equipment (free) or even drinking a cocktail while havibg your feet into the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

What to do: Apart from the usual snorkelling, why not take advantage and make also a few dives? If you don't have a PADI course, this is the place to do it at prices unparalleled (a PADI certificate here will be about 150€, with two dives and equipment rental included). Unfortunately, we didn't that, because both were slightly with a flew and was recommended not risking to dive. It is certainly for the next opportunity ... A good advise, is also rent one of the thousands motorbikes in the island (there must be something like 5 motorbikes per capita or more in this island). Better yet, if you rent an ATV. With it explore many corners of the island, and it was certainly one of the many highlights of our stay. Be awerness, however, some aspects of the traffic: You need to cycle on the right hand, but that is only a tipode orientation and not really a rule, therefore careful if driving. The roads (?) are mostly dirt and very dangerous, especially if it rains. Learn that: most injuries in this island are derived to small accidents with motorcycles. Anyway, at night, the ideal dinner will be in one of many restaurants over the beach and taste the local cuisine. Beware of the spicy that for the least used is intolerable!. After dinner, a trip to one of the many bars of beach is mandatory. Some of them have performances of man-flame or street animation. Don't miss also one of the tastiest pancakes, made by local "pankake performers"