Chintakiri Resort — Hillside Wooden Bungalows on Chalok Baan Kao with Full Sea Views, Koh Tao
If the Koh Tao in your head is the busy, bar-and-dive-shop bustle of Sairee Beach, Chintakiri Resort is the opposite of that picture — 19 tropical wooden bungalows tiered up a hillside in Chalok Baan Kao on the island's quiet southern side · nearly every bungalow looks out onto a full sea view, there's a hillside pool with a lovely view that guests mention again and again, and these are real wooden air-conditioned rooms that sit a notch above the island's usual fan huts · about 200 metres from Chalok Beach, from approx. ฿1,900/night · 8.7 from real guest reviews.
Koh Tao is so famous for diving that many people assume the whole island is cheap fan-cooled dive hostels · Chintakiri went another way — it's a small boutique resort with 19 tropical wooden bungalows tiered up the hillside above Chalok Baan Kao on the island's south side · what wins guests over from the very first bungalow is the open, full-frontal sea view from nearly every unit, because the higher up the hill you go, the clearer the bay and the horizon become, with nothing to block the view · this isn't a party spot — it's a quiet place to sleep facing the sea.
The Chalok Baan Kao location is the main reason people choose it · Koh Tao has several zones that feel very different from one another — Sairee Beach is the main, liveliest strip, a long row of restaurants, bars, and dive shops · Mae Haad is the pier and a walkable village · while Chalok, where Chintakiri sits, is the distinctly quieter southern side, with a decent scattering of shops and cafés but none of the chaos · it's about a 200-metre walk down from the resort to Chalok Beach, and close to Shark Bay (~600 m) and Freedom Beach (~1.1 km), where you can snorkel over coral and spot blacktip reef sharks.
"Open the curtains in the morning and the sea fills the window; sit on the balcony with a quiet coffee, no bar noise — this is the other side of Koh Tao we were looking for."
Getting there takes a little planning, because Koh Tao has no airport · the way in is to take a Lomprayah or Songserm catamaran to Mae Haad Pier — from Chumphon it's the closest, around 1.5–2 hours, but you can also come from Surat Thani, Koh Samui, or Koh Phangan · once at Mae Haad you take a songthaew/taxi south to Chalok, about another 10–15 minutes · one thing to know from the reviews: during the October–December monsoon the sea can get rough and some boats are cancelled or delayed, so build in a buffer day so your plans don't unravel · and because the resort sits on a hillside toward the south, renting a motorbike or arranging a taxi makes getting around the island far more convenient.
The rooms are 19 tropical wooden bungalows, all air-conditioned rather than fan-cooled — an important point, since many places on Koh Tao are still backpacker-style fan huts · the rooms here are done in warm wood tones, the bathrooms are cleaner and roomier than you'd expect, and each has a private balcony to sit and watch the sea · the entry-level Deluxe Bungalow with a garden/partial view drops to ฿1,900 in low season, while the one guests love most is the Deluxe Sea-View Bungalow with the sea straight ahead in full, and there's a two-bedroom Family unit for those travelling as a family.
The most talked-about highlight is the hillside pool, set high up looking out to sea — it's the shot guests bring home most, and they praise it as consistently clean and well kept · another thing that draws repeated praise is service that goes above its 3-star level, with many reviews saying the staff look after you like a five-star hotel, remember guests, and help arrange cars and boats · there's an on-site restaurant, bar, and café serving good food at reasonable prices, plus free Wi-Fi throughout the resort, so you don't have to head down the hill for every meal.
The thing to be upfront about before you book is that the resort is built in tiers up a fairly steep hillside, with lots of steps · the view is lovely precisely because of that height, but the trade-off is walking up and down stairs, which is hard going with heavy bags or if you're travelling with older relatives or anyone with limited mobility · because it's on a hillside toward the south, some people feel a bit 'stranded' without a vehicle and end up relying on a motorbike or taxi · and a minority of reviews feel it's a touch pricey for Koh Tao, with some spots or rooms starting to want a refresh, and breakfast occasionally slow to arrive when it's busy.
"Lots of stairs, just like the reviews say, and tiring hauling bags up — but once you see the view from the room and the pool, the tiredness fades. Worth it if you don't mind the walk."
Another thing to know is that Chintakiri is a boutique resort, not a dive resort — there's no on-site dive shop like many places on the island · but that's really no problem, because the big-name PADI dive schools are around Mae Haad and Sairee, just a short ride away, so you can book a course and have them pick you up · that means you get to sleep somewhere quiet and scenic, then head out to learn to dive or snorkel by day and come back to unwind away from the crowds — a neat pairing for anyone who wants both diving and peace and quiet.
Honestly, Chintakiri suits couples and anyone who wants Koh Tao in its quiet version, with full sea views and air-conditioned rooms a step up from the usual huts · prices start around ฿1,900 in low season, up to ฿2,800–3,500 for the sea-view bungalows and ฿4,500 for the Family unit · if you're fine with the stairs and having a vehicle to get around, this place offers an atmosphere that's rare on an island known for its parties · but if you want to walk straight out of your room to bars, dive shops, and the main beach, staying around Sairee Beach may fit your travel rhythm better.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Open, full sea views from nearly every bungalow on the hillside
- ✓ Hillside pool with a lovely view — a repeatedly mentioned highlight
- ✓ Attentive service; many reviews say it's above its 3-star level
- ✓ 19 tropical wooden air-conditioned bungalows, a step up from fan huts
- ! Built on a steep hillside with lots of steps — hard with heavy bags
- ! Location is toward the south; best to have a motorbike or taxi to get around
- ! A few reviews feel it's a touch pricey for Koh Tao
- ✓ Quiet atmosphere on the island's south side — great for relaxing, not partying
- ✓ Close to Chalok Beach (~200 m) and Shark Bay for lovely snorkelling
- ✓ Clean wooden rooms, private sea-view balconies, roomy bathrooms
- ✓ On-site restaurant, bar, and café; good food at fair prices; free Wi-Fi
- ! No on-site dive shop (it's a boutique, not a dive resort)
- ! Breakfast can be slow when busy; some rooms starting to want a refresh
- ! In monsoon season (Oct–Dec) boats may be cancelled/delayed — build in a buffer
- 💡If you're arriving with heavy bags or with older relatives / limited mobility — the resort is on a steep hillside with lots of steps → ask for a lower-level bungalow near the entrance when you book, and have the staff help carry your bags.
- 💡If you want to explore the island or learn to dive — the location is toward the south and can feel a bit stranded without a vehicle → rent a motorbike or have the resort arrange a taxi/pickup for a dive course from Mae Haad or Sairee.
- 💡If you're travelling in monsoon season (Oct–Dec) — catamarans may be cancelled or delayed when the sea is rough → build in a buffer day and check the Lomprayah/Songserm boat schedule before you lock in flights.