The picturesque bay Ao Tanote on the east coast of Ko Tao can be reached by an extremely steep and adventurous concrete road (4,5 km from Ban Mae Hat).

Various resorts offer bungalows situated under the palm trees and on the rocks. The approximately 200-meter-long beach is scattered with beautiful rocks. Many fish can be seen in the different hard corals near the large rocks in the bay.
Here in Ao Tanote snorkeling and diving is possible right from the shore, particularly in the lower water around the rocks in the middle and to the left edge of the bay. A large diversity of species can be found here.

The water is usually very quiet in August but during winter the sea is rough. All bungalows in the bay are often fully booked in August.

Our team enjoyed this bay the most in all Southern Thailand:

all t-globers were snorkeling enthusiastically here for hours. Gaeng made an underwater video of a passing reef shark, more than a minute long.

If you go snorkeling towards Laem Thian, you can see large fish, for example barracudas and non-aggressive reef sharks up to 2 meters in length, which move predominantly at the foot of the reef.

Family Tanote Bay Resort

Black Tip Dive Resort

Snorkeling in Ao Tanote

Right on the 200 m long beach there are six bungalow resorts. Only a few bungalows are located right on the sandy beach (especially both bungalows in the front row of Mountain Reef) and are quickly occupied, but you can grab them if you call ahead for reservation.

Bungalows

Family Tanote Bay Resort

from 700 to 2,500 Baht

Tel.: 077-456757 or 077-456758

Family Tanote Bay Resort (AoTanote)

Rates: 700 to 2,500 Baht

The Family Tanote Bay Resort is a beautiful clean resort set on the steep hillside with many flowering bushes and trees. A small sandy beach between round rocks is large enough for guests.
The older basic bungalows are situated on the steep southern hillside, the mainly large and newer bungalows on the more gentle slope on the eastern hillside. The party simple furnishings and the high room rates are outweighed by the unique location of the resort. The very spacious family bungalows with air-condition, two king size beds and western bathroom cost 3000 Baht for 4 people, they are situated conveniently close to the beach.
The restaurant with rather uncomfortable seating does not invite to stay long, however it is rather full in the evenings. Only in August, bungalows are fully booked for days ahead, the rate increases then 100 or 500 Baht respectively. The staff consists of Burmese workers, the management is friendly, yet it is not always ready to help for special requests.
A small shop sells snacks and basic supplies during the day, internet access is available as well. The Family Tanote Bay Resort offers a variety of services such as travel information and ticket reservation, international phone service, Thai massage, laundry service, boat trips around the island, money exchange and snorkeling equipment for rent.

Family Tanote Bay Resort Ao Tanote, Ko Tao
Tel.: 077-456757 or 077-456758

Bungalows

Bamboo Huts

Tel.: 077-456531 or 081-9686000

Not Rated

Bamboo Huts (แบมบูฮัท แอท) (AoTanote)

Bamboo Huts is located on the hillside amongst palm trees and with a beautiful view of the bay. Clean and gorgeous bamboo huts are located on the rocks, some of them come with a private pool. Good restaurant, set back from the beach.

Tel.: 077-456531 or 081-9686000

Dive Resort

Black Tip Dive Resort

from 400 to 2,000 Baht

Tel.: 077-456488 or 077-456489

Black Tip Dive Resort (AoTanote)

Rates: 400 to 2,000 Baht

Black Tip Dive Resort is an excellent place for divers. It features a choice of different rooms: economy, family room and bungalows with air-conditioning or fan. All rooms are equipped with hot water and 24 hour electricity. Black Tip Dive Resort also offers various kinds of massages such as Thai Massage and Aloe Vera Massage. Dive courses as well as a variety of water sports are available.
We know the owner, Khun Aram “Dam” Limsakul, as one of the foremost dive school operators since he started his dive resort in Ao Tanote. It is located in one of the most beautiful areas of the island.

40/5 Moo 3 Ko Tao
Tel.: 077-456488 or 077-456489 - Fax.: 077-456489

Bungalows

Diamond Resort

Tel.: 077-456591

Diamond Resort (AoTanote)

Diamond Resort offers clean bungalows on the beach and on the hill, a good restaurant is located on the beach. Relax area under shaded trees, in front there is a wide beach with coarse sand. Snorkeling equipment for rent 100 Baht/day.

Tel.: 077-456591

Bungalows

Poseidon Bungalow

from 250 to 2,000 Baht

Tel.: 077-456735

Poseidon Bungalow (AoTanote)

Rates: 250 to 2,000 Baht

Poseidon Bungalows offers various traditional style bungalows. There is a choice of wooden bungalows as well as larger concrete bungalows with balcony and beautiful views, located on a gentle slope under the palm trees. Restaurant in front on the rocky beach, sometimes there is loud music from the speakers. Pick up from the pier by jeep.

Tel.: 077-456735

Bungalows

Mountain Reef

from 300 to 900 Baht

Tel.: 077-456697 or 081-9562916

Mountain Reef (AoTanote)

Rates: 300 to 900 Baht

Mountain Reef lies on the southern, in the afternoon shady, end of the beach and it features simple clean bungalows situated on the steep hillside as well as large bungalows, some of them are right on the beach, sometimes damp and smelly. Restaurant with beautiful view of the bay. Good snorkeling spots at the right side near the rocks. Snorkeling trips around the island are offered. Other phone numbers: 077-456698, 077-456699

Tel.: 077-456697 or 081-9562916

My favorite bungalows in Thailand?
Four of them are here in Tanote Bay: To enjoy the view I stay in one of the two simple bungalows of Family Tanote Bay Resort, up on the ridge with fantastic views to the north and to the south as well as to the sea.
For direct access into the water for snorkeling I love the two beachfront bungalows of Mountain Reef Resort.

View to the north

The Bay of Siam

View to the south

Bungalows along the access road:

Hotel

Belle Vue Camping

Tel.: 077-456788

Not Rated

Belle Vue Camping (AoTanote)

Belle Vue Camping enjoys a secluded location, the footpath starts at Island Hill Resort.

Tel.: 077-456788

Bungalows

Island Hill Bungalow

Tel.: 077-456691 or 086-1200716

Island Hill Bungalow**** (AoTanote)

Tel.: 077-456691 or 086-1200716

Bungalows

Tanote View Resort

from 500 to 1,000 Baht

Tel.: 077-456542

Not Rated

Tanote View Resort (AoTanote)

Rates: 500 to 1,000 Baht

Tanote View Resort has comfortable, hexagonal, concrete bungalows in various sizes, the better ones are equipped with DVD player and fridge. Restaurant with amazing views of Tanote Bay far deep below.

Tel.: 077-456542

Two highly recommended dive schools operate at the beach of Ao Tanote.

Diving

Black Tip Diving

Tel.: 077-456488

Diving

Calypso Dive Center

Tel.: 077-456745

Calypso Dive Center (คาลิปโซ ไดว์ เซ็นเตอร์) (AoTanote)

Tanote Bay, Ko Tao, Surat Thani
Tel.: 077-456745

At Ao Tanote there is a small minimart in Family Tanote Bay Resort, open in the evenings and on request.

At Black Tip Dive Resort massage of various types is offered by experienced massage staff.

Internet access is possible but quite erratic.
The shop in Family Tanote Bay Resort offers internet service whenever it is working in the evening.

Departure times for the pickups to Mae Haad Town are written on posters in the restaurants. Pickups depart three to four times per day on time to reach the boats leaving the island. The fare is 100 Baht for a minimum of 4 passengers.

Boat trips to the other beaches along the East Coast can be arranged. Just ask in the restaurants.

Snorkeling

in Ko Tao

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