Where to Stay in Koh Tao If You Don’t Want to Party
When we first started looking for where to stay in Koh Tao, we knew we wanted to be close to the beach, restaurants and everything we wanted to see, but we weren’t looking for a party holiday. Koh Tao is well known for its nightlife, particularly around Sairee Beach, so choosing the right area to stay can make a huge difference to your experience.
We stayed in the Sairee Beach area and absolutely loved the location. Having so many restaurants, shops and the beach within easy walking distance made it a great base for exploring the island. However, our hotel was unfortunately located right on the main party street, which meant we had very little sleep and found the area quite overwhelming and crowded at times.
The good news is that you don’t have to avoid Sairee Beach altogether if you don’t want to party. In fact, we would happily stay in the area again — we would simply choose accommodation a few streets back from the main nightlife strip.
In this guide, we’ll cover the best areas to stay in Koh Tao if you don’t want to party, from quieter parts of Sairee Beach to more peaceful beaches around the island, so you can enjoy Koh Tao’s beautiful beaches and relaxed island atmosphere without the late-night noise.
I’d follow the introduction with a section explaining where the best quiet areas are, before going into each area individually.
Best Areas to Stay in Koh Tao If You Don’t Want to Party
Koh Tao is a relatively small island, but where you choose to stay can make a surprisingly big difference. If you want to enjoy the beaches, restaurants and relaxed atmosphere without being kept awake by music and nightlife, it is worth looking beyond the busiest parts of Sairee Beach.
The good news is that there are plenty of quieter areas to choose from. You can still stay close to the action without being right in the middle of it, or choose a more peaceful part of the island if you want a slower and more relaxing experience.
Here are some of the best areas to consider if you don’t want to party in Koh Tao:
1. Sairee Beach – Stay Away From the Main Party Street
Sairee Beach is the most popular area to stay in Koh Tao and, despite its reputation for nightlife, we would still recommend it for many travellers who don’t want to party.
We loved staying in Sairee because there was such a great choice of restaurants, cafés, shops and places to watch the sunset. The beach is also beautiful and it is easy to get around from here.
The key is where within Sairee Beach you stay.
We made the mistake of booking a hotel directly on the main party street, and the noise was a real problem at night. If you’re a light sleeper or simply don’t want nightlife on your doorstep, we would recommend staying a few streets back from the main strip or closer to the quieter end of Sairee Beach.
This gives you the best of both worlds: you’re still within walking distance of everything, but you can escape the crowds and noise when you return to your hotel.
2. Chalok Baan Kao – A Quieter Alternative
If you want a more peaceful atmosphere while still having restaurants and facilities nearby, Chalok Baan Kao is a great option.
Located towards the south of Koh Tao, this area has a much more relaxed feel than central Sairee. It is a good choice for couples, families and travellers who want to spend their days exploring the island before returning somewhere quiet in the evening.
There are still restaurants and accommodation options in the area, but you won’t find the same concentration of bars and nightlife as around Sairee.
3. Ao Leuk – Perfect for a Peaceful Beach Stay
For those who really want to escape the crowds, staying around Ao Leuk can be a great choice.
Ao Leuk is one of Koh Tao’s most beautiful beaches, with clear turquoise water and a much more secluded feel. It is particularly appealing if your priority is spending time on the beach and enjoying a peaceful island escape rather than being close to nightlife.
The trade-off is that there are fewer restaurants and amenities nearby, so you’ll probably want your own transport or be prepared to travel around the island for meals and sightseeing.
4. Tanote Bay – For Getting Away From It All
Tanote Bay is another excellent option if peace and quiet are your priorities.
The area is surrounded by greenery and has a much more remote feel than Sairee Beach. It is a good choice if you want to wake up somewhere peaceful and spend your days swimming, snorkelling and relaxing by the sea.
However, this comes with a similar trade-off to Ao Leuk. You won’t have the same choice of restaurants and shops on your doorstep, so it is better suited to travellers who don’t mind being a little further away from Koh Tao’s main areas.
5. Freedom Beach Area – Quiet but Still Beautiful
Freedom Beach is another option worth considering if you want to stay somewhere surrounded by nature.
This part of the island is much quieter than Sairee and is ideal for travellers looking for a more relaxing base. It also puts you close to some beautiful beaches and quieter swimming spots.
As with Ao Leuk and Tanote Bay, though, you’ll have fewer restaurants and amenities immediately around you, so consider whether convenience or peace and quiet is more important to you.
How to Avoid the Party Areas in Koh Tao
You don’t necessarily have to stay in a completely remote part of Koh Tao to avoid the party scene. In our experience, choosing the right accommodation can be more important than choosing a completely different area.
Sairee Beach is a great example of this. We loved the area and would recommend it as a base, but our hotel was right on the main party street. The location was convenient during the day, but at night the noise from the bars made it difficult to sleep.
If you’re considering staying in Sairee but don’t want to party, there are a few things we would look out for when booking:
Stay a Few Streets Back From the Main Strip
One of the easiest ways to enjoy Sairee without being surrounded by nightlife is to stay a few streets back from the main road.
You’ll still be within walking distance of the beach, restaurants and bars, but you’ll have some distance between you and the loudest areas at night.
Check Your Hotel’s Location Carefully
Don’t just search for “Sairee Beach” and assume every hotel will have the same atmosphere. The area changes quite a bit depending on exactly where you stay.
Before booking, check the hotel’s location on a map and look at what is directly surrounding it. If it is beside a bar, nightclub or one of the main nightlife spots, you can expect some noise late into the evening.
Read Recent Reviews
Accommodation reviews can be particularly useful when staying in Koh Tao. Look specifically for recent comments mentioning noise, music, nightlife and sleep.
A hotel can have fantastic reviews overall but still not be the right choice if you’re looking for somewhere peaceful.
Don’t Be Afraid to Stay Slightly Further Away
If having a quiet night’s sleep is a priority, being a five or ten-minute walk further from the main action can be well worth it.
We personally wish we had done this. We loved the Sairee Beach area and the convenience it offered, but staying just a few streets away would have given us a much better experience.
Our biggest tip: you don’t have to avoid Sairee Beach if you don’t want to party — just avoid staying directly on the main party street.
Where We Would Stay in Koh Tao Next Time
Based on our experience, we would still choose Sairee Beach if we returned to Koh Tao. Despite the nightlife, we loved the area and found it to be the most convenient base for our stay.
There was a great choice of restaurants, the beach was close by and we could easily walk around the area without having to rely on taxis or scooters every time we wanted to go somewhere.
The one thing we would change is where we stayed within Sairee.
Our hotel was on the main party street, and while this was convenient during the day, the noise at night made it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. At times, the crowds and constant activity also felt a little overwhelming.
Next time, we would choose accommodation a few streets back from the main strip. This would allow us to enjoy everything we loved about Sairee while having a quieter place to return to at the end of the day.
If you’re visiting Koh Tao and don’t want to party, we don’t think you need to stay completely away from Sairee. Instead, choose your accommodation carefully. Being just a short walk from the nightlife rather than directly in it could make all the difference.
If you prefer a genuinely peaceful stay and don’t mind being further from the main restaurants and nightlife, areas such as Chalok Baan Kao, Ao Leuk or Tanote Bay may be better suited to you.
Sairee Beach vs Other Areas: Which Is Best for You?
Choosing where to stay in Koh Tao really comes down to what you want from your trip. There isn’t one single best area for everyone, and you don’t need to be a partygoer to enjoy staying in Sairee.
If you’re looking for convenience, restaurants and easy access to the beach, Sairee Beach is still our top choice. Just make sure your accommodation isn’t directly on the main nightlife street.
If your priority is peace and quiet, Chalok Baan Kao is a great middle ground. You’ll still have restaurants and facilities nearby, but the atmosphere is noticeably more relaxed.
For a more secluded island escape, Ao Leuk and Tanote Bay are better options. These areas are surrounded by beautiful scenery and quieter beaches, although you’ll sacrifice some of the convenience of staying in Sairee.
For us, Sairee Beach a few streets away from the main party strip would be the winner. We loved having everything nearby and wouldn’t want to give up that convenience. We just wouldn’t make the same mistake of booking accommodation directly beside the nightlife again.
If you’re travelling to Koh Tao specifically to relax, however, choosing one of the quieter southern or eastern areas could give you a much more peaceful experience.
