Jungle Ruins on Koh Tao

For travellers craving something wilder than another beach club, Koh Tao offers one of the Gulf’s more curious walks. Beginning near Sairee Beach, a rugged trail climbs through thick jungle towards Laem Thian on the island’s eastern edge — an hour-long ascent punctuated by cicadas and sea views.

At the summit sits the abandoned shell of a once-ambitious resort: vine-covered bungalows, collapsing verandas and empty terraces facing the horizon. Equal parts tropical ruin and forgotten utopia, it remains one of the region’s most atmospheric detours.