It’s Here! Introducing The Wanderland Guide to Koh Tao!

If you’d thought I hit my exciting announcement quota on the first half of 2018 already, have you got another thing coming.

Koh Tao is a pretty small island — literally just eight square miles — so when the lightbulb first went on that I wanted to share my Koh Tao with the world in a more comprehensive way, I thought, this will be a breeze! Oh, how naive I was. But it was an incredible process. While most of the content was lurking somewhere in my mind, I also did an extensive amount of research, which was such a special way to get to know my island home even better than I ever have before. Writing this book brought me to tears at times — but it also brought me on so many adventures!

Once I’d condensed nine years of experience into thirty thousand words, I turned to Clare of Ink + Honey Design to bring it to life. After weeks of collaboration, my heart swelled when I opened the final draft. Now that it’s here — all 158 gorgeously designed pages — I can’t stop flipping through it, lovingly admiring every font, hand-illustrated map and graphic. Dare I say it must be among the most beautiful guidebooks on the planet? I’m so grateful to Clare for bringing my vision to life!

Why I Wrote This Guide

Koh Tao is one of the most unique and magnetic destinations in Southeast Asia — and after a decade of traveling around the region, I feel pretty qualified to say so! There are pristine beaches to lounge on, lush jungles to hike through, and most famously, rich coral reefs to explore. It is one of the most visited islands in Thailand, and those who do it right often leave ranking it as one of their favorite destinations. But not everyone does it right.

Those of you who have been following my story for a while know that I first visited the island during a summer abroad in college, and quickly returned post-graduation to work in the dive industry and make it my home. I’ve spent the majority of my twenties here — I kind of grew up on this island.

After years of randomly doling out advice, answering regular emails and social media messages, and crafting seasonal blog posts, I condensed everything I know and love about Koh Tao into this detailed and organized guide.

Most guidebooks give Koh Tao only a few outdated pages, and most bloggers only stop by for a few days. The result? The vast majority of travelers have no idea how magical this island can be!

I get so excited when I talk to those traveling to Koh Tao, I pretty much have to sit on my hands not to fly to my keyboard and plan their entire trip for them. I have a Koh Tao shaped imprint on my heart and I want everyone who comes here to love this island as much as I do — that’s why I wrote this guide!

What’s Inside

Basically, the information you guys have been asking for for years. The Wanderland Guide to Koh Tao includes beautifully presented insights on Koh Tao you simply won’t find anywhere else, online or in print. This is the most comprehensive guide to Koh Tao anywhere.

Plus, it comes with a selection of exclusive coupons and offers from some of Koh Tao’s top hotels, restaurants, boutiques and tour operators. This guide can easily pay for itself in a single day on Koh Tao! Here’s what else is inside:

A guide to Koh Tao’s beaches and towns

A guide to diving on Koh Tao, including my favorite dive shops and dive sites

A breakdown of every activity available on Koh Tao (some will surprise you!)

A curated selection of my favorite places to stay, eat, go out, shop and spa

When to come and how long to stay, plus annual events not to miss

A guide to Koh Tao’s fitness scene, from yoga to Muay Thai to gyms and beyond

Volunteer and conservation opportunities on Koh Tao

The absolute best ways to get to and from the island – I’ve tried every method over the years, and include all my insider tips for each

A brief understanding of Koh Tao’s history and insight into island culture

Advice and insights on moving to Koh Tao

A breakdown of and brief advice for neighboring islands and destinations

A guide to sustainable and ethical travel on Koh Tao

Information on logistics like visas, health and safety, staying connected, managing money, and finding everything from the police to the post office to a print shop

Bonus details like alternative nightlife ideas, what to do when it rains, Koh Tao’s best vegan and vegetarian restaurants, and beyond

Custom hand-illustrated maps of Koh Tao and its three main villages

What This Guide Means to Me

As a blogger, this is an enormous year for me. For a long time, I’ve been wanting to shift away from depending on outside collaborations and towards creating my own products that are made with love and come straight from the heart. I still look forward to brand partnerships when they are the perfect fit, but making something entirely my own and sharing it with you guys is truly a dream come true for my creative soul.

When I announced my Wander Women Dive + Yoga Retreat here in Koh Tao, I wrote that I had been working on designing the trip for about two years. Well guys, I feel like I started researching this guidebook to Koh Tao NINE years ago! In reality, I hatched the idea for and started taking notes on this baby in 2014 and started seriously cranking it out in November of 2017. No matter how you shake it, I’ve been pouring heart and soul into this e-book for ages.

There are few things I’m prouder of than the finished product.

Buy Now

The Wanderland Guide to Koh Tao is available for just $15. This guide is available for instant download and can be read on your laptop, smart phone, or tablet – or, if you really want to, you can print the whole dang thing out. If you want to know more about the guide, including who it just might be perfect for, don’t hesitate to check out the full Wanderland Guide to Koh Tao sales page.

Put nine years of experience in your palm with this purchase!

I am literally tense with excitement over hearing what you guys think of this beautiful guide! And of course, I’m already dreaming of the next one…

Where would you like to see me create a Wanderland Guide for next?