The Haad Tien Resort is situated on the beautiful Haad Tien Beach also known as Shark Bay, this beach is over 200 meters long and the resort is lucky enough to have the whole beach to its self. This is one of the most outstanding beaches on Koh Tao with brilliant white powdery sand and crystal clear, warm waters to swim and snorkel in.

If you come to this beach one of the things you must do is some snorkelling, as this is one of the best places to do it on Koh Tao. This bay has its name ?Shark Bay? for a reason, it is probably one of the only places to spot whale sharks of up to 4 meters in length on Koh Tao, from about 75-100 meters from the beach, but don?t panic they?re totally harmless. Swim out to the reef and keep your eyes open and if you?re really lucky you might even see the odd pack of black tip sharks hunting around the reef for small fish.

The live coral just off the beach is an array of colours and the shoals of fish are to numerous in species and quantities to count. But if it?s the sun you?re after, this is a great spot to soak up those rays, the name Tien (Haad Tien) comes from a tree which grows on the beach, and there are many of these trees spread out down the beach, so it is quite easy to find a nice private area to soak up that sunshine or sit under the shade of the tree and read a book. It is also a great place for families as there is only one entrance to the resort making it a nice safe place to be with small children.

The beach bar is in the middle of the beach with all your favourite cold drinks and beers to quench your thirst on those hot sunny days, they also offer Snorkelling equipment hire. The restaurant is just a short distance down the beach and offers great views of the beach and bay; it offers both excellent Thai and traditional western style food, and also all the cold drinks and beers you may also need.

This resort has large gardens spread out down the whole beach and back at least 150 meters, and the owners have not ruined it by putting bungalows right on the beach, the beauty of this is when you are sat in a nice quite area between the trees it gives you the feeling of having the whole beach to yourselves. This is one of my most favourite beaches to visit on Koh Tao for soaking up the sun or swimming with the sharks on my day off. A great place, with really nice people.

Rooms 1 to 9 are thatched bungalows spread out in the hillside behind the restaurant area; they are all spacious with western style bathrooms and most with a T/V and DVD player.

Rooms 11 ? 18 are new teak style bungalows based in the hillside behind the beach, with large balconies with great views and large living spaces, these are well built and well furnished.