So you decided on your next destination: Koh Tao. Well, first, let me tell you that itā€™s an excellent choice.

Then, you should know that Koh Tao is great when it comes to hostels too.

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So, youā€™re sitting there looking at your options for Koh Tao hostels and it seems overwhelming? Letā€™s take a look at the options together.

If youā€™re planning on backpacking Koh Tao while in Thailand, hereā€™s a list of the best hostels in Koh Tao.

Koh Tao Backpacking | Best Koh Tao Hostels & Travel Tips

best beaches in Koh Tao

Why Every Backpacker Should Stay in Koh Tao While in Thailand

Koh Tao is a small island, but it wonā€™t disappoint when it comes to beauty! Koh Tao is, by far, the most beautiful Thai island.

Itā€™s also a great destination for adventurers and water lovers. If you love to snorkel or want to try scuba diving, you should definitely head to Koh Tao at some point.

What to look out for when booking your hostel in Koh Tao, Thailand

Personally, I love staying in hostels as it allows me to meet and connect with fellow travelers. The atmosphere is actually one of the reasons that will make me love or remember a hostel.

Of course, this means you want to stay somewhere where thereā€™s something going on ā€“ especially on a small island like Koh Tao!

If you arenā€™t comfortable with the idea of riding a scooter then you should also consider the location of your hostel so you can walk easily to every good restaurant and bar around you.

Otherwise, driving a scooter will make your life easier! If you arenā€™t sure if driving a scooter is right for you yet, well, you should know that driving in Koh Tao is relatively easy.

The roads are wide, the traffic goes quite slow and it wonā€™t be super overwhelming!

Although, if youā€™re planning on driving to the viewpoints, the hills can be quite steep and there can be gravel, so only experienced drivers should try these roads.


Planning your upcoming adventures? Travel by bus! (It's cheap!)

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Anyway, if youā€™re not planning on driving, an area such as Sairee Beach would be an excellent choice!

Iā€™d also suggest that you read reviews when making a booking to make sure you get a positive experience out of your trip.

PSST. Staying in hostels doesnā€™t have to be painful! Make sure you are ā€œhostel-readyā€. Pack your earplugs, eye mask and padlock to have a positive Koh Tao backpacking experience!

Top & Best Backpacker Hostels in Koh Tao, Thailand

In this post, youā€™ll find information about the best Koh Tao hostels:

Hostel Ideal For Rating
The Dearly Koh Tao Hostel Solo travelers 9.3
Nirvana Guesthouse and Hostel Solo travelers 9.0
Savage Hostel Backpackers and couples 8.8
BP Hostel Solo travelers 8.7
White Jail Solo travelers 8.9
Oasis Hotel-Pods Solo travelers 8.8
DPM Koh Tao Diving Hotel & Bar Solo travelers 8.6
Indie Hostel Backpackers 8.5
V Hostel Solo travelers 8.4

The Dearly Koh Tao Hostel

Best hostel in Koh Tao

The Dearly Koh Tao Hostel is the hostel in Koh Tao with the best reviews at the moment. It has a clean, modern and very bright design. They offer dorms and private rooms on site as well as a rooftop area, a huge pool, a restaurant and a bar.

The rooms come with a very good breakfast and itā€™s also a great option for solo travelers as the atmosphere is quite promising. The hostel is located not too far from Chalok Baan Kao Beach.

Book it!

Nirvana Guesthouse and Hostel

Best hostel in Koh Tao

Nirvana Guesthouse and Hostel also has great reviews. They offer both dorms and private rooms and letā€™s take a few minutes to talk about their beautiful dorms.

They have these ā€œpodsā€ that promise a bit more privacy if we compare with ā€œnormal dormsā€. Thereā€™s a terrace on site.

In terms of location, itā€™s brilliant, especially for those not keen on driving around the island. The hostel is located only 2 minutes away from the Pier and you could reach the famous Sai Nuan Beach easily.

Book it!

Savage Hostel

Best hostel in Koh Tao

Savage Hostel is a unique and beautiful hostel to consider for your stay in Koh Tao. (It would be my pick!) They offer both dorms and private rooms.  

Their dorms are offering privacy with a pod style. Thereā€™s a huge pool as well as a roof-top which should be offering great views!

Thereā€™s a restaurant on site which offers delicious breakfasts (the restaurant is also open to the public).

The set up is great for those traveling with their laptop too (hello digital nomads). Located in Sairee Beach, itā€™s definitely one of the best locations.

Book it!

BP Hostel

Best hostel in Koh Tao

BP Hostel is the kind of hostels which make you feel like at home. With their cozy chill vibes, you can also relax on the terrace.

Itā€™s a very budget-friendly hostel which is great considering most accommodation options can be expensive in Koh Tao.

Located in Sairee Beach, itā€™s a great option if youā€™re on a budget.

Book it!

White Jail

Best hostel in Koh Tao

White Jail suggests a jail concept, but Iā€™d say their jail idea looks modern and quite comfortable!  The name comes from their location history, as the area used to b a political prison.

They offer both private rooms and dorms and there are a lot of areas where you can sit and relax on site.

Thereā€™s also a terrace and a bar and it comes with a good breakfast too. Located a few minutes away from the pier, itā€™s a great option.

Book a room

Oasis Hotel-Pods

Best hostel in Koh Tao

Oasis Hotel-Pods nailed it in terms of pod-style dorms including single bedsā€¦ and double beds. You can either relax nex the swimming pool or in the lounge.

Located a few minutes away from the pier, itā€™s a great location for sunset lovers and for those who donā€™t want to go around via scooter.

Book it!

DPM Koh Tao Diving Hotel & Bar

Best hostel in Koh Tao

DPM Koh Tao Diving Hotel & Bar is a great option for those who are planning on diving while in Koh Tao. (Thinking about diving in Koh Tao? Read about my Open Water experience in Koh Tao here.)

They offer both private rooms as well as dorms. Their dorms offer a bit of privacy with their curtains around the beds. Thereā€™s also a bar and a restaurant on site. This one is located right on the beach which means itā€™s a great location too.

Book it!

Indie HostelBest hostel in Koh Tao


 

 


Indie Hostel is a budget-friendly hostel that offers a modern design as well as very cool dorms (pod-style). They also offer private rooms. Featuring a terrace, a bar and a restaurant, you can also add their very good breakfast a big bonus!

Itā€™s a great option for solo travelers and especially since their private rooms are super affordable. Located on Sairee Beach, this hostel is an excellent choice!

Book it!

V Hostel

Best hostel in Koh Tao

V Hostel offers pods and dorms (they call their rooms apartments, so check the photos before booking your room) at very affordable rates. Their rooms come with a tasty breakfast and a fully equipped kitchen which is quite rare for Koh Tao.

Located 1 kilometre away from the pier, itā€™s not a bad location either!

Book it!

Traveling to Thailand soon? Check out one of our guides below:

About Melissa Giroux

Melissa Giroux founded abrokenbackpack.com in 2015. She is been living abroad since 2014. Originally Canadian, she has been living and working online in many destinations around the world. She is passionate about traveling, technology, entrepreneurship, and CrossFit.

She has traveled extensively in Asia, Oceania, Europe, and North America. She is now living in Thailand.


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ā˜‘ Book your accommodation: Want the comfort of being at home or the luxury of a hotel? I love using Vrbo and Booking.com for those very reasons. If you're a solo traveler, Hostelworld offers a wide variety of hostels you should take a look at. Alternatively, if you're a budget traveler, sign up for Worldpackers to get FREE accommodation in exchange for work.

ā˜‘ Rent a car or an RV: Make your trip more comfortable by renting a car with DiscoverCars.com. This website allows you to compare car rentals around the world. If you're traveling in the United States, find an RV rental on RVshare.

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