Mango Bay

Mango Bay is the cove that shows Koh Tao at its most cinematic, and the way you arrive is half the reason. It sits at the northern tip of the island where the road runs out, a large bay held between forested headlands with a small crescent of sand at its head and clear water washing over coral on either side. There is no casual stroll down to it, so you come by longtail from Mae Haad or Sairee, or on a snorkelling tour, and the approach past the rocks into the sheltered bay is genuinely lovely. For anyone who cares about how a place is composed, the framing here, rock, forest and bright water, is among the best on the island.

The reason most people come is the snorkelling. Mango Bay is one of the recognised snorkel stops on Koh Tao, and on a calm, clear day the coral gardens close to the rocks hold plenty of reef fish in easy, shallow water, the kind of gentle snorkel that suits beginners and families as much as the more serious divers who train off the island. The light on the shallows and the green wall of the headland above make it a beautiful place to float for an hour. Come with your own mask, keep to the sides of the bay where the coral is, and give yourself time rather than treating it as a ten minute photo stop.

The honest caveats keep this a bay to visit rather than a beach to base yourself on. The beach is small, some of the coral is visibly worn from years of visitors, and when several tour boats land together the little cove can feel crowded and the water churned, which is why early or late is so much better than the middle of the day. Access is by boat only and a small landing charge is sometimes applied, so carry cash and confirm on the day. There is no lifeguard and boat traffic moves through the bay, so snorkel within your limits, keep clear of the boats and do not swim out alone. Treat the visibility, the coral and the conditions as typical rather than guaranteed.

Come to Mango Bay for the arrival, the setting and an easy snorkel on a calm morning, and look to the rest of the island for a beach to lie on. For the long main beach and the sunsets go to Sairee Beach, for another sheltered snorkel cove try Aow Leuk, and for the quiet reef corner see Shark Bay. For the full picture start at the best beaches in Koh Tao, for loungers and boat trips see the Koh Tao beach clubs directory, and to compare the snorkel bays read the best Koh Tao beaches for watersports.