The east side of Koh Tao is not a strip, it is a series of separate bays: Ao Tanot, Ao Leuk, Ao Sai Daeng and a few smaller ones, each with its own approach road over the hill from the west coast.
This is where the snorkelling is. The bays are sheltered, the coral starts close in, and you can swim off the beach rather than booking a boat. It is also where the island goes quiet.
The location scores tell the story honestly. Mae Ya Resort scores 8.7 on location, the lowest of our Koh Tao listings. It also scores 9.9 for staff, 9.8 for cleanliness, 9.8 for comfort and a perfect 10 for wifi. Guests are not marking the place down. They are marking down how far it is from everything, which is the entire reason to come here.
Two practical warnings, both real.
The road. The approaches are steep and in places unsealed. A 50cc scooter with two adults and luggage is not a good idea, and this is the same issue we flagged at Panorama on Koh Samui. Ask your property about transfers rather than assuming you will ride over.
Dinner. There is no walking to a restaurant. You eat where you stay, or you drive. Check whether your property has a kitchen and what its hours are before you arrive, because some close early and the alternative is a dark hill road.
Best for
Snorkelling off your own bay and not seeing a bar for a week
Nightly range
฿3,500–฿4,050 a night
Local tips
- There is no strip here, no shops and nothing to walk to, by design
- The road over is steep and partly unsealed, so a 50cc with two people and luggage will struggle
- Both east coast listings score lower on location than on almost anything else