Get around There is one main road running north to south on the island that connects Sairee, Mae Haad, and Chalok, with many smaller roads branching off from it. Some roads lead over the spine of small mountains that run along the middle of the island and are all dirt, can become impassable after rain, and can be challenging even to a skilled driver. If you are looking for an adventure, the dirt roads are a good place to find it. Also be aware that distances can be quite deceiving due to the quality and elevation changes of the trail. As of October 2016 many of the roads are actively being replaced with freshly poured concrete, though this has led to an increase in speeding compared to the older worn down/dirt roads. The other main thoroughfare is a pedestrian pathway known locally as the "Brick Road" (or "Yellow Brick Road" despite being gray) that runs along the majority of Sairee Beach from Mae Haad to the main intersection of Sairee. Despite being a pedestrian path there's still numerous scooters weaving and bobbing, so be sure to keep an eye out.
You can rent bicycles and motorcycles at many places around the island, though an increasing number of rental shops are running motorbike scams where they hold your passport hostage and insist on you paying large amounts of money for non-existent scratches upon their return — primarily shops on/near the "Up Road" from the Mae Haad pier or near the Sairee 7-Eleven. Make sure you note and photograph all scratches and dents when you take delivery of a rental bike, including the underside of the bike as it inevitably will take a few bumps once off the main road (if the shop is charging less than 200 baht/day for a 125 cc scooter, chances are they're making up the difference elsewhere). Taking passports as the deposit is standard even at reputable shops, though some will alternatively take a deposit of 8000-10,000 baht for a typical 125 cc scooter if you ask.
Read more Eat A huge selection of Thai food is available, including lots of seafood. Barbecued fish is one of the local favourites. As a large portion of the population are expats, you will find plenty of other cuisines too. 2011 prices ranging from 60 baht for stuff-on-rice (still possible in 2015, especially if you have a look around the gas station on the main road, about a kilometre south-east from the piers) through to 250 baht for a nice hunk of fresh barbecued fish at a decent restaurant. 30 baht would get you a fresh banana pancake, and 60 baht a bowl of porridge with honey at a budget resort's restaurant. 200-300 baht would get you a bowl of freshly made Italian pasta, and 160-200 baht for pizza. Fresh fruit juices are available at many stalls for 30-40 baht.
• • 995 Roasted Duck — Simple menu consisting of ten well executed dishes. Their spicy noodle soup with duck (or pork/fish balls) is a Thai local favourite. — Directions: Turn away from the beach at the Sairee 7-Eleven crossroad as if heading towards Hin Wong Bay, walk 3 min — Hours: 09:00-22:00 — Price: 60-80 baht
• • Bang Bugers — Established by an Australian expatriate, Bang Burgers produces 6 varieties of homemade burgers and 6 varieties of homemade sauces. Open for breakfast with fresh ground espresso from north Thailand. Delivery option available. — Directions: On the main road from Sairee to Mae Haad, across the road from the Trapeze School — Hours: 06:00-21:00 — Price: 30-150 baht — Phone: +66 81 1366576
• • Cafe del Sol — Authentic French and Italian-style cuisine, home made pasta and pizza, smoked salmon and choice steaks, excellent wine collection and Erdinger weissbier. — Address: Mae Haad Square — Directions: Mae Haad
• • Choppers Bar and Grill — Australian sports bar. Live music, live sports, pub grub, and a wide selection of beers. — Directions: Sairee village — Website: http://www.choppers-kohtao.com/
• • Dolce Vita Italian Restaurant — Run by 2 brothers from Apulia, this place offers traditional Italian cuisine in a cosy ambiance. Lavazza coffee, daily home made pasta and authentic pizza, meats from New Zealand, fresh seafood, home-made desserts, wine bar. — Directions: Mea Haad Square — Hours: 16:00 until late
• • Farango Pizzeria — Italian-style pizza and pasta, always busy with dine in or take away. Expect to pay 140 baht for pasta or 200 baht for a pizza from the wood-fired oven. Delivery available. — Directions: Mae Haad and Sairee Village
• • Greasy Spoon — Full Monty English breakfast bar. Eat in or delivery. — Directions: Mae Haad
• • Safety Stop Pub — Comfy English pub with tropical beer garden. Draught beers, "wild" buckets. English pub grub. Weekend BBQ's, Sunday roasts, daily specials, live sports. — Directions: Mae Haad beach front at Seatran pier — Hours: 07:00-late — Phone: +66 77 456209
• • Shalimar Indian Cuisine — Authentic Indian chefs, ingredients, and tandoor. Wide variety of tasty dishes in a beautiful garden setting. Relax in the lounge for cocktails and sheesha. Take away and delivery available. — Directions: Opposite Sairee Plaza — Phone: +66 77 456740
• • The Snack Shack — Late-night burgers, chicken pita kebabs, hot dogs, falafel, chips (french fries to the non-Brits) available with curry sauce, chili con carne or just good old salt and vinegar. One of only a few places on the island open after 22:00 to get food other than 7-Eleven. Delivery between 22:00-02:00. — Directions: Sairee Beach next to Lotus Bar — Hours: 18:00-02:00 — Price: 70-140 baht — Phone: +66 85 4788753
• • A Taste of Home — Homemade dishes, large portions, and friendly, relaxed atmosphere made this Trip Advisor's top listed restaurant on Ko Tao. — Directions: E Sairee past Monsoon Gym — Hours: M-Sa, 18:00-22:00 — Website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Taste-Of-Home/213233788715969
• • Thipwimarn Restaurant — Wonderful sunset views and a "higher class" feel, but the prices are not much different from the rest of the island. Great for dates. — Directions: At the N end of the island
• • Tony & Aoi Bar/Restaurant — Italian/Thai/English place. Imported Italian pasta starting from 100 baht along with the usual English and Thai fare. New, clean and well-priced, especially for the pasta. — Directions: Mae Haad, up the road from Songserm Pier, before Ta Chai — Phone: +66 80 7183191 (Tony - Italian), +66 80 1458245 (Aoi - Thai/English)
• • Tortoise Burger & Beer — With only five stools, senseless hours, and good music, this place feels like it's been ripped from an alley in Brooklyn. The menu has five options: beef burger, chicken burger, chicken BBQ burger, fish burger, and veggie burger. The veggie burger is homemade and delicious. — Directions: Mae Haad side of Sairee Plaza, 3 min walk from Sairee 7-Eleven crossroad — Hours: 18:00-04:00 — Price: 80-150 baht
• • Tukta Thai Food — Best pad Thai on the Rock! — Directions: Chalok Ban Kao
• • Zest Cafe — Great for coffee, breakfast, and sandwiches. A favourite with the seasonal dive shop employees. Free Wi-Fi, TV always silently tuned to BBC. Friendly, helpful staff. A second location in Mae Haad. — Directions: On the same side street as Fizz, across from the Lady Boy Cabaret. — Hours: 06:30-18:00 — Price: 60-200 baht
Read more See Take a bike around the island. Shark Bay is a good place to go snorkelling for the day (don't worry, they are only small black-tip reef sharks, harmless to humans). Ko Nang Yuan, Freedom Beach, Laem Thian, Mango Bay, Hin Wong Bay, and Tanote Bay are good day excursions, accessible by road or boat. If you rent a scooter, be prepared to turn around or continue by foot since some roads (e.g., to Mango Bay) may be in such condition that you need a dirt bike or a car to travel them. While there are legally no private beaches in Thailand, some are relatively inaccessible by land making a paid longtail boat a necessity, and some are "owned" or only accessible via "private roads" that charge 100-200 baht entrance fees..
However, to see the best places, go by foot or longtail as some places are inaccessible to motorists. There are a number of good viewpoints around the island such as John Suwan mountain viewpoint in the south of the island, Two View in the centre, and Fraggle Rock in the north.
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