Koh Tao Travel Guide
Koh Tao, little more than 21 km, is located about 70 km east of the coastline
between Suratthani and Chumphon, in the Gulf of Thailand.
Koh Tao means Turtle Island, because in the past the waters in the area had been
rich with sea turtles, nowadays they have mostly moved on to other breeding grounds.
Initially the island was not inhabited, there was only the occasional fisherman
from the neighboring islands, looking for shelter in a storm or just taking a
break before continuing his tiresome journey.
On June 18, 1899, His Majesty the King Chulalongkorn (Rama V 1868-1910) visited
Koh Tao and left as evidence his monogram on a huge boulder at Jor Por Ror Bay
next to Sairee Beach. This place is worshipped even today and should be treated
with respect.
From 1933 on the island was used as a political prison. In 1947, Khun A-Paiwong,
prime minister at the time, pleaded and received a royal pardon for all prisoners
on the island. Everybody was taken to the Suratthani shore and the "Turtle"
was abandoned again. But not for long. In the same year Khun Ueam and his twin
brother Khun Oh reached Koh Tao from the neighboring Koh Phangan by trying out
their traditional sail boat, for that time a quite long and dangerous journey.
Even though the island was still under royal patronage, it didn’t stop these
pioneers claiming themselves a good piece of land on today's Sairee Beach. Having
brought their families over, they began to cultivate and harvest the excellent
soil. The first generation of today's community had settled!
 They
lived a very simple and tough life harvesting coconuts, fishing and growing
vegetables, which were also traded with Koh Phangan. Despite the difficulties
in reaching the island, the population then grew steadily.
In the eighties the first travelers discovered the island paradise and their
special "backpacker-network" quickly made it widely known and a popular
destination. As a consequence, bigger, faster and safer boats were used to allow
easier access to Koh Tao.
During the past ten years the reputation of Turtle Island's natural beauty,
especially its marine life and coral reefs, spread the world over and the number
of paradise seekers increased rapidly.
It soon became one of the major dive sites in Thailand, attracting beginners
and professionals alike. The local businesses expanded immediately to catch
up with the needs of the new clientele. The island today, though still remaining
an absolute paradise, caters for all tastes and budgets. If you are interested
in more historical details and stories about the Turtle, go to visit Khun Orawan
at Seashell Resort, Sairee. She is the great-grand daughter of Khun Ueam and
will be more than glad to give you further information.
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