Simple blue bungalows on north Sairee Beach, fairly quiet and everything within walking distance - but upkeep is uneven and there are no resort facilities.
A review based on research and guest feedback
We took the photos in this article ourselves when we visited.
Rating checked · October 2026
On Google Maps the place is listed as Mama Ochai.
At the northern end of Sairee Beach, among trees and tropical greenery, is Mama O Chai 2 Bungalows on Koh Tao - a small place to stay with blue bungalows, verandas and direct access to the sea. The location combines a fairly quiet atmosphere with easy access to Sairee's restaurants, cafés and shops. The rooms are simple and the upkeep is uneven, but if you want a beach holiday without paying for lavish resort facilities, it is an option worth knowing about.
Koh Tao offers a wide range of places to stay, from designer resorts on the hills to small bungalows right on the waterline.
Mama O Chai 2 belongs to the second kind.
The compound is in the north of Sairee Beach, in green surroundings with small huts, paths and verandas facing the greenery or the beach.
The blue bungalows give the place a simple, local look, very different from the big hotels.
There is no luxury design or lavish facilities here. The focus is on staying close to the sea, in a tropical setting, in a location that lets you enjoy Sairee Beach without being far from the tourist hubs.
On Google Maps the compound is listed as Mama Ochai. Don't confuse it with O'chai Bungalows and Restaurant, which is a little further south.
Location is Mama O Chai 2's standout advantage.
Sairee Beach is Koh Tao's main tourist centre, lined with restaurants, cafés, shops, dive centres and bars.
The central parts of the beach are lively, and in the evenings some bars play music until late.
Mama O Chai 2 is at the northern end of Sairee, in a calmer area, but still within walking distance of the busy parts of the beach.
That way you can enjoy a holiday by the sea without needing a ride every time you want to go out for a meal, grab a coffee or browse the shops.
The setting has a relatively calm tropical feel, with natural greenery, the sounds of birds and animals and fewer people than in the main nightlife areas.
That said, it is still a tourist area, so how quiet it is can vary depending on where your bungalow is and what is going on nearby.
If you want somewhere completely secluded, Koh Tao also has more remote bays. But if you want to combine relative quiet with easy access to Sairee, this is a good location.
The bungalows at Mama O Chai 2 are simply designed, with basic furniture and private verandas in some of the units.
The experience is different from a room in a modern hotel: instead of corridors and a main building, the huts are scattered among the trees, close to the sea.
Some units have fairly spacious rooms, private bathrooms with hot water and a veranda with a table and chairs. Practical touches, such as somewhere to hang swimwear and wet towels, suit the island holiday perfectly.
That said, comfort and upkeep vary between units.
Some rooms are better kept and more pleasant, while others show signs of age or need more maintenance.
So when choosing a room, look at its current condition rather than going by how the compound looks from outside.
In places like this, where your bungalow sits can make a big difference to the experience.
A unit close to the beach has a clear advantage if you want to enjoy the sea and the sunsets while you sit on the veranda.
A bungalow tucked into the greenery, on the other hand, may offer more privacy, depending on its position.
Check in advance whether the room has a direct sea view, whether the plants block part of it and how far the beach really is.
Room size, bed type and air conditioning are also details worth confirming before you book.
One of Mama O Chai 2's standout advantages is the chance to stay in a bungalow with a veranda in a tropical setting, very close to the sea.
In some units the veranda faces the beach, so you can enjoy the view and the atmosphere throughout the day.
Sairee Beach faces west, so sunsets are a big part of the experience here.
A bungalow with an open sea view can be a particularly good choice for a couple's holiday, especially if you would rather sit on a private veranda than go out to a bar or restaurant every evening.
That said, not all the bungalows have the same view. Make sure the unit you book really matches your expectations.
Upkeep is one of the things to pay attention to when choosing Mama O Chai 2.
The rooms are simple, and their condition varies. Alongside clean, comfortable units, there are occasional complaints about sand and dust, doors that don't seal properly and insects.
Being close to the greenery and the beach can affect the amount of insects and humidity, but it doesn't make proper cleaning and maintenance any less important.
Especially on a longer holiday, check the state of the bathroom, whether the doors and windows close properly and how well the air conditioning works before you settle in.
If you are very sensitive to insects, humidity or rooms with basic finishes, a modern, enclosed hotel may suit you better.
Service is one of the compound's strengths.
Because it is a small place, you get a fairly personal connection with the staff, who can help you get organised during your holiday.
Services mentioned in connection with the place include help arranging transport, laundry, snorkel gear rental and booking activities.
On Koh Tao these are especially useful, because some of the beaches and viewpoints are beyond easy walking distance.
That said, the availability and terms of these services can change, so check in advance what is on offer when you book.
The internet connection is not consistent across the compound.
In some bungalows the signal can be weak or unstable, while open areas closer to the beach may have a better connection.
If you mainly use the internet for messaging and occasional browsing, the limitation may matter less.
But if you plan to work remotely, make video calls or upload large files, check the quality of the connection in the unit you want before you book.
A mobile data package can serve as a backup, depending on the signal in the area.
Mama O Chai 2 focuses on simple bungalow accommodation, not on a resort experience with a wide range of facilities.
A swimming pool is not listed as a confirmed facility of the compound, so don't assume there is one.
Breakfast is not necessarily included in the room rate either.
The upside is that the location lets you walk to Sairee's cafés and restaurants, so you don't need to rely on the property's own food.
If you like discovering a different café every morning, this can be very convenient.
But if the holiday you have in mind includes hotel meals, a swimming pool and a pool bar, look at other resorts on Koh Tao.
Being close to the beach is one of the main reasons to choose Mama O Chai 2.
Sairee Beach is fairly long, and in many parts the water is shallow. Swimming conditions change with the tides, and some stretches have rocks, coral and boats.
So you can't get into the water equally easily at every point along the beach.
The location particularly suits people who like sitting by the sea, enjoying the sunsets, walking along the beach and spending time in the nearby restaurants.
If snorkelling is your main interest, you can add a visit to other Koh Tao bays, such as Aow Leuk or Shark Bay, depending on sea conditions and access.
One of Mama O Chai 2's advantages is that you can enjoy much of Sairee without renting a scooter.
Restaurants, cafés, shops and dive centres are within walking distance, and the route doesn't involve the steep climbs typical of hotels on the hills above Sairee.
That said, if you want to visit remote bays or viewpoints around the island, you will need extra transport.
Some of Koh Tao's roads are steep and winding, so renting a scooter only makes sense if you hold a suitable licence and have riding experience.
The bungalows can suit couples who prefer a simple beach holiday to luxury accommodation.
The closeness to the sea, the greenery, the verandas and the sunsets create a natural, romantic setting.
You can spend the day on the beach, go out for dinner in Sairee and walk back to your bungalow without relying on transport.
That said, the romance comes mainly from the location and the surroundings, not from the hotel's facilities.
If you are after a beautifully designed room, an indulgent bed or a big pool, you may prefer somewhere else.
Anyone looking for a bungalow by the sea: being close to the beach is the compound's main advantage.
Couples who prefer a simple tropical atmosphere: a veranda, greenery and sunsets, with no need for lavish resort facilities.
Travellers who want to get around Sairee on foot: being close to restaurants, cafés and shops cuts down the need for transport.
Anyone who prefers a relatively quiet area: north Sairee has a calmer feel than the central nightlife stretch.
Anyone looking for a small place with local character: instead of a big hotel, you get simple accommodation close to nature.
Mama O Chai 2 is less suited to anyone looking for new, designer rooms with a high standard of finish.
Travellers who are particularly sensitive to insects, humidity or uneven upkeep may also prefer a more modern hotel.
If a pool, a generous breakfast or full resort services are an important part of your holiday, choose a place that clearly offers these facilities.
If you need fast, stable internet for long stretches of work, confirm the quality of the connection before you book.
Value for money depends mainly on the type of bungalow and the rate during your dates.
The main advantage is the beachfront location, which may matter more than the design or the level of facilities.
On the other hand, the higher the price, the more important it is to compare the room standard with other hotels in Sairee.
Booking a simple bungalow at a good price is one thing; paying close to the rate of a modern hotel with renovated rooms and extra facilities is another.
So compare the room categories, look at recent photos and check what is included in the price.
Mama O Chai 2 Bungalows offers an attractive mix of a location on Sairee Beach, a tropical atmosphere and closeness to the tourist area.
It suits people who value the beach and being able to walk everywhere, and less so anyone looking for luxury and lavish facilities.
The bungalows are simple, and upkeep varies between units. That makes choosing the right room especially important.
For couples and travellers who want to wake up by the sea, enjoy the sunsets and spend time in Sairee's restaurants and cafés, Mama O Chai 2 can be a good option.
Its big advantage is the location. The right choice depends on whether the room standard and the price match your expectations.
The compound is in the northern part of Sairee Beach on Koh Tao. On Google Maps it is listed as Mama Ochai.
No. They are two neighbouring places to stay with similar names. Make sure your booking is for the right one.
The compound is next to the beach, and some bungalows have a sea view. Check the position of the specific unit you book.
Yes. You can walk to many of Sairee's restaurants, cafés and nightlife spots. To visit more remote beaches you will need transport.
The location in north Sairee is relatively quiet compared with the more central parts of the nightlife area, but noise levels can vary between units and at different times.
A swimming pool is not listed as a confirmed facility of the compound. If a pool matters to you, check with the property before you book.
Yes, especially for couples looking for a simple bungalow by the sea, a veranda and a calm tropical setting.
The type of bungalow, its position in relation to the beach, the standard of upkeep, the air conditioning, the internet quality and the booking terms.
Same level of comfort and price - hotels we stayed at
The neighbour to the north - also simple bungalows on north Sairee Beach
Also in Sairee, we stayed there - a huge room, a pool and a central location, about 2,400 THB (about $71 / €63) a night
✓ We stayed here
