Koh Tao is a snorkeler and diver’s paradise, with plenty of beautiful sea creatures and clear, warm blue water year-round. This tropical Thai island is often popular with backpackers looking to get their diving certification and/or looking for a relaxed island to unwind at before or after the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan. There are several hostels available on Koh Tao, from party and jungle retreat hostels to dive resorts and yoga wellness centers; There’s a Koh Tao hostel for every type of traveler! We here at Road Affair understand the irony that planning a relaxing vacation can actually be quite stressful, especially when it comes to researching and booking accommodation. That is why we have done all the heavy lifting for you by crafting this list of the best hostels in Koh Tao. This way, you can spend more time packing and less time planning!
5 Best Hostels in Koh Tao
- Best Overall Hostel: The Dearly Hostel
- Best Party Hostel: Revolution Koh Tao
- Best Hostel for Couples/Families: Assava Dive Resort
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads: Deishaview Jungle Hostel
- Best Budget Hostel: Water Mellow
The Dearly Hostel
Those on the hunt for a good hostel in Koh Tao can’t go wrong with booking a room or dorm bed at the Dearly Hostel. Now, there are several features that make this one of the best Koh Tao hostels. Not only is there a lovely on-site pool with plenty of sun loungers, but there are also daily activities such as beach hopping and community dinners, a rooftop lounge with space to pop down with a laptop, and an awesome free breakfast served on the garden terrace that includes fresh fruit, pancakes, coffee, and more. Other noteworthy amenities include luggage storage, an on-site scuba diving training center, and free towels.
This hostel in Koh Tao with private rooms offers spacious air-conditioned private suites with an en suite bathroom, a balcony, a day bed, and a free cooked-to-order breakfast. Air-conditioned dormitory rooms are also offered with configurations of four-, six-, eight-, or nine-beds in a mixed or female-only setting, and each dorm room has a private balcony. The six-bed dorms have individual beds with partisans between each bed and a personal bedside table. All other rooms have bunk beds and each bed has a personal reading light, electrical outlet, and locker.
Revolution Koh Tao
Revolution Koh Tao is the ultimate party hostel on the island. Located in Sairee in the heart of the island’s nightlife scene, this lively hostel offers complimentary nightly community dinners along with nightly activities, snorkel rentals, and beach towel rentals for travelers aged 18-35 (older or younger are not allowed). Tourists can also make the most out of their one-hour free drinks special offered regularly. Start their night off with one of the community dinners and a few drinks at the on-site bar before heading out for a night of booty shaking and body paint. During the day, the hostel has plenty of games to enjoy, like billiards, foosball, and of course, beer pong! Other onsite amenities include an on-site restaurant, luggage storage, and laundry facilities.
Revolution offers mixed and female-only dorm rooms with configurations of four or six beds in an air-conditioned room. Each bed comes with a privacy curtain, an electrical outlet, and a reading light. Private, pet-friendly (small pets only) rooms are also available and come equipped with an en suite bathroom, air conditioning, a mini-fridge, a bistro table, and curtains.
Assava Dive Resort
Assava Dive Resort is an excellent choice for hostel dwellers who want to stay on the beach and have access to top-notch amenities. The resort is located on the southern tip of the island, not far from Freedom Beach and John Suwan Viewpoint, and a close walk to several restaurants, massage businesses, and shops. At Assava, tourists can take advantage of their two on-site pools (one is part of the resort next door but is shared as the Assava pool is used more for dive training), including one directly on the beach with a beach bar, lounge chairs, and bean bags. The on-site restaurant serves up plenty of delicious Thai and non-Thai dishes and the private beach is also seldom busy. Other great on-site amenities include a PADI-certified dive training center, luggage storage, and a free shuttle service.
Tourists can opt to book a private room, family suite, or bungalow, or go the more traditional backpacker route and book a bed in a four-, six-, or eight-person mixed dorm room. Each dorm has a private bathroom and shower, along with lockers, air conditioning, and a personal electrical plug at each bed. Discounts are offered for those who book fun dives or courses through the dive center as well.
Deishaview Jungle Hostel
Another great nature retreat hostel is the Deishaview Jungle Hostel, located a five-minute drive from Mae Haad. There aren’t any private rooms available, but travelers can book a bed in an eight-, nine-, or 12-person mixed dorm. All the dorms are spacious, offer air conditioning, and include a towel, personal reading light, and electrical outlet with each bed.
This is the ultimate jungle hostel for those who want to stay away from the crowds in Mae Haad but still have a social and fun hostel setting to unwind in. Easily the best part of this hostel is the amount of complementary activities and games offered. Travelers can enjoy playing billiards, Nintendo Wii, ping pong, and billiards, or choose a book from the library. The hostel also helps with booking island activities, such as scuba diving, Muay Thai, rock climbing, snorkeling, volunteering, ice baths, and much more. Other awesome amenities include an on-site café and restaurant, fantastic sunset views, a 55-inch Chromecast TV for guests to enjoy a movie night, yoga classes, and one-on-one personal life coaches.
Water Mellow
Those looking for a hostel that they won’t need a scooter to get to and from should consider staying at Water Mellow in Mae Haad. This homey hostel is perfect for laid-back travelers looking for a relaxed and social place to rest their heads. The hostel is located directly on Mae Haad Beach, right beside Lomprayah Pier, and a few short steps from bars, restaurants, and shops. Water Mellow is situated right above Monkey Cup Restaurant, offering beautiful views at sunset from their second-story hostel and even sunset yoga sessions on Wednesdays and Saturdays for guests. The lounge area has plenty of chairs, couches, and benches to sit with a book or a laptop, and a free buffet-style breakfast is also offered every morning consisting of hard-boiled eggs, toast, cereal, and coffee/tea. The owners are incredibly kind and accommodating and are happy to offer up knowledge on things to do around Koh Tao. Discounted room rates are also offered for those who book dive packages.
There are only seven rooms at Water Mellow, with either two or four beds in each mixed dorm room. Each room comes with air conditioning and each bed has a private reading light and electrical socket. Also worth noting is how soft the beds are here compared to normal hard Thai beds!
More Great Hostels in Koh Tao
Isla Tortuga Diving & Hostel
Ideally located just off the main road in Mae Haad, Isla Tortuga offers a colorful and social atmosphere for travelers and backpackers alike. After a day of exploring the island, tourists can return to the hostel and mingle with fellow travelers while enjoying a refreshing dip in the outdoor pool. In the evening, the on-site bar becomes the hub for socializing and guests can often find community barbecues hosted. There are plenty of restaurants, boutiques, and rooftop bars just a short walk from the hostel, and Sairee Beach is less than a 20-minute walk away. Other awesome on-site amenities include a shared lounge with a TV and two large couches, an air-conditioned meeting room, and a dive training center offering certification in English or Spanish.
Private rooms are available with private en suites that can sleep one or two persons, as well as four-person mixed dorm rooms that come with air conditioning, a balcony, and a locker. Each bed also comes with a personal reading light, an electrical plug, and a locker drawer under the bed.
Echo Koh Tao
After spending a day in the Thai sun, nothing feels better than popping down for sunset with an ice-cold beer or beverage. That relaxed feeling is exactly what hostel stayers at Echo Koh Tao get to experience every day from the hostel’s superb rooftop area. To make the deal even sweeter, Echo offers a daily Happy Hour with great drink deals that guests can take advantage of and an on-site restaurant for those hankering for some food. Enjoy a pint and play pool with newfound friends, rent a paddleboard for sunset, or join in on some morning yoga! The vibe at Echo tends to be a younger active/party crowd with plenty of socializing and nightly parties, so if that sounds like you, it might be a good fit! It’s also conveniently located right across from Mae Haad Beach, a two-minute walk from Lomprayah Pier.
Private rooms are offered that can sleep one or two persons and feature air conditioning, an en suite bathroom, and a balcony. Travelers could also opt to book a bed in a 10-bed air-conditioned mixed dorm where each bed comes with a personal reading light and electrical outlet.
Wonderland Jungle Hostel
Located near Secret Bar, one of the island’s best sunset bars, this youth hostel in Koh Tao offers a great nature setting for those looking for a laid-back but social retreat. Travelers can spend their days exploring Koh Tao’s pristine beaches and then return to Wonderland’s rooftop terrace to play foosball, Nintendo, or billiards with new friends or pop down with a cold drink or meal in one of the hammocks, swinging chairs, or tables while enjoying golden hour. Visitors could also opt to make their own meals in the hostel’s communal kitchen. Other awesome amenities include social activities like movie nights, a complimentary water refilling station, and a great selection of board games.
Travelers can choose to book a private room with a shared bathroom, which includes air conditioning, a desk, and a private balcony, or book a bed in one of the dorm rooms. Air-conditioned dormitories are offered with configurations of six or 12 beds in a mixed dorm setting and each bed comes with a privacy curtain, a locker underneath the bed, a personal reading light, and an electrical outlet.
Summer Hostel Koh Tao
Those on the lookout for a cheap hostel in Koh Tao might want to book a room at Summer Hostel Koh Tao. This budget-friendly hostel is tucked away in the foothills of Sairee, about a 15-minute walk from the beach and right next door to Smile Mart and Koh Tao Gym and Fitness. Travelers can return from a day of sightseeing and whip up a meal in the communal kitchenette, which is stocked with a microwave, kettle, gas-powered stovetop, fridge, toaster, cutlery, and dishes, or walk down the street to one of the many nearby restaurants. The communal lounge offers a great spot to pop down with a book or laptop or hang out with fellow travelers. On-site motorbike rentals and tour tickets are also available.
Summer Hostel offers private rooms with a private en suite, a fridge, air conditioning, complimentary tea/coffee, and a balcony. There are also shared mixed dorm rooms available with configurations of six or eight beds with either a fan or air conditioning. Each dorm bed comes equipped with a personal reading light, an electrical outlet, and a full-size locker.
Good Dream Hotel
Good Dream Hotel offers some of the most affordable private rooms on the island, which can sleep one to three people. Each private room comes with air conditioning, an en suite bathroom, and a TV. For those looking to go the more traditional hostel route, Good Dream also offers shared dorms with configurations of either six or eight beds in a mixed-room setting. The deluxe six-bed and standard eight-bed rooms feature lockers, air conditioning, an en suite bathroom, and individual reading lights and electrical outlets. The deluxe eight-bed dorm room has the same amenities as the other two, with the addition of privacy curtains.
The hostel is ideally located right off the main strip in Sairee, about a five-minute walk from the beach, bars, and restaurants of Sairee. Guests can enjoy on-site amenities like ping pong, a fitness center, a rooftop terrace with faux grass, and a communal area with a TV. Laundry services are also offered on-site. This is a great spot for families, couples, or solo travelers who want to be close to the action of Sairee but still in a quiet area.
Islander Hostel
Do you want a social hostel that isn’t a full-blown party scene but still tons of fun? Then look no further than Islander Hostel. Located in Mae Haad, this awesome hostel in Koh Tao offers a lively communal area with plenty of tables and beanbags, an on-site bar and restaurant, a giant Jenga, and a Nintendo to show off your Mario Kart skills. Islander often hosts live music nights and other events but always shut it down at 11 p.m. so guests can enjoy a good night’s sleep. The hostel also hosts weekly beer pong and billiards tournaments where the winners receive free beer! Visitors can make use of their on-site ticket and tour sales and book a Thai cooking class, Muay Thai class, snorkel adventure, and much more at a discounted price. The hostel is also connected with Finsanity Dive School and offers dive packages and fun dives with the club.
Islander Hostel offers mixed dorms that sleep anywhere from six to 12 people. Each dorm comes equipped with air conditioning and some dorms come with an en suite bathroom and privacy curtains.
There you have it, the best hostels in Koh Tao! Whether you’re looking for a nature retreat, a bumping party hostel, or a quiet accommodation to lay your head down at, you’ll find it all here. Now you just have to decide which of these awesome hostels fits you best!
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