Koh Tao, also known as Turtle Island, is a beautiful island in the Gulf of Thailand, between Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. It is a relatively small island with about 7 km long and 3 km wide at its widest point. Despite its size, it offers a wide range of attractions and activities for all travelers.
In this article, I will show you the 20 best things to do and see in Koh Tao. These include the most popular beaches, dive sites, viewpoints, hiking trails, and island hopping tours on the island.
Most popular sandy beaches are located on the west and south coast of Koh Tao. These are Sairee Beach, Mae Haad, Chalok Baan Kao, and Shark Bay Beach. You’ll find some lesser-known beaches on the north and east coast of the island, such as Tanote Bay, Ao Hin Wong, and Mango Bay.
With a vibrant marine life and abundant coral reefs, Koh Tao is a premier destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. The island has dive schools cater to all levels, from beginners to advanced divers. So if you want to take a diving course, this is the best place in Thailand to do it.
In addition to the beaches and its activities, Koh Tao has lots of scenic viewpoints and hiking routes in the jungle and along the coast line. You can check out John-Suwan, Grape, and Summit Viewpoints. These are great destinations for hiking enthusiasts.
It is possible to reach most viewpoints by scooter if you are an experienced driver, but take note that the road to the viewpoint is often steep, narrow, and unpaved. I recommend driving on rainy days when the road is wet and slippery.
If you want to check the detail of my itinerary and how I get around Koh Tao, you can check these articles:
I see most attractions on Koh Tao on foot and by rental motorbike. I stayed in Mae Haad, so it was easy to get to and from the pier for the boat by walking. If you book a diving course or stay in a mid-range to high end resort, they will pick you up from the pier. Otherwise, just use songthaews outside the pier at arrival.
If you don’t drive and you love walking/ hiking, it’s possible to explore the island on foot. You can take daily boat trip tours that take all around the famous beaches on Koh Tao and the nearby Koh Nang Yuan. There are also plenty of organised island hopping tours, snorkeling and diving tours to take.
Here are the best attractions and activities in Koh Tao:
20 Best Things to Do in Koh Tao
Beaches
Koh Tao has many beautiful beaches with white fine sand and crystal clear water. You can find popular beaches on the west coast and secluded beaches on the east coast. Sairee Beach is the main beach of Koh Tao, offering beautiful sunset views and a vibrant nightlife scene.
The easiest way to see all beaches on the island is by taking a boat trip. If you are a confident driver, you can reach most beaches on a motorbike. The roads to the south, north, and east of the island have lots of steep and winding parts. If you are an adventurous traveler, it is possible to hike to all beaches.
#1. Sairee Beach
Sairee Beach is the main beach of Koh Tao, located just north of Mae Haad Beach. It is just a short drive from the island’s main pier. The beach is around 2 km long, with fine sand and clean water. It is an ideal place for swimming, sunbathing, and watching the sunset.
The beachfront and the walking street behind the beach are lined with resorts, hostels, bars, restaurants, dive shops, hostels, and resorts. It is more lively around sunset, when tables and chairs from beachfront restaurants and bars are set out on the sand for a romantic dinner.
Sairee Beach is the most accessible beach on Koh Tao. You can easily get to this beach by walking, scooter, songthaews – pickup truck taxis, and longtail boat. The roads around the beach are paved and flat.
#2. Mae Haad Beach
Mae Haad Beach is a popular beach located close to the island’s main pier. The beach is lined with palm trees, resorts, hostels, and diving centers. You can see a turtle statue on the beach as well as many long tail boats. From here, you can take boats to nearby Koh Nang Yuan.
The beach is a great place to chill, take a leisure walk, swim, sunbathe, and watch the sunset. It is a quiet beach even though it is close to the main town. There are some sun loungers that belong to the beachfront resorts and bars. You can purchase some food and drink at the bars to use it.
#3. Chalok Baan Kao Bay
Chalok Baan Kao is a beautiful and quiet bay located at the southwest coast of Koh Tao. It is easily accessible by following Google Map directions. You park your scooter at the parking area, then walk to the beach.
The beach shore is lined with dive resorts as well as some restaurants, and bars. Many places have very beautiful decorations with tables, chairs, and net beach seats overlooking the water and surrounding mountains. The water is clear and calm.
From the Chalok Baan Kao, you can walk on the wooden bridge, pass the The Happy Monk Bar, then take a nice walk along the coast. I walked all the way from Chalok Baan Kao to Cape Ja Te Kang and back for 2 hours. Along the way, I explored beautiful beaches, hiked inside the jungle, and to the boulders at Cape Ja Te Kang.
#4. Shark Bay
Shark Bay is a popular beach located on the southern part of Koh Tao, very close to Chalok Baan Kao and Freedom Beach. It is a great spot for swimming and snorkeling to see colorful marine life. If you are lucky, you can spot sea turtles and Blacktip Reef Sharks.
The beach is blocked by some resorts, and you need to pay an entrance fee ( 100 baht) if you access the beach through the resort. If you want to access the beach for free, I recommend putting “Free beach to shark bay” on Google Maps and follow its directions.
You can spot the sign “Free entrance to Shark bay” on the main road to Freedom Beach and John-Suwan Viewpoint. The parking area is quite small and on the side of the main road.
There are small beach bars/ restaurants on the beach with tables and bed chairs. The area has lots of shades and a strong smell of weed.
#5. Freedom Beach
Freedom Beach is a small beach located near the southern end of Koh Tao. You can combine the trip to Freedom beach with the visit to John-Suwan Viewpoint. The entrance fee to these places is 50 baht. The beach is a short walk from the parking area.
The Beach has lots of shade and is also crowded. It is packed with people and sunbeds. There is a beach bar that has stunning views of the beach. The water is clean, clear, and shallow, which is perfect for swimming and snorkeling. You can rent a kayak and snorkel equipment at the beach.
In addition to Freedom Beach, you can check out the Taa Toh Lagoon Beach on the way back to the entrance area. Just simply walk along the coast on the wooden walkway from Freedom Beach.
Freedom Beach is easily accessible by scooter and taxi. The road is all paved with one small hill near the entrance. You can drive all the way to the parking lot.
#6. Tanote Bay
Ao Tanote is a small beach located on Koh Tao’s east coast. It is a quiet spot for swimming, snorkeling, and rock diving. There are just a few resorts on the beachfront area. You can access the beach through one of the resorts for free. There are signs indicating direction to the beach at the parking area.
You can reach Tanote Bay by scooter, longtail boat, and walking. It is around 1.5 hours walking from the main town. I got to Tanote by driving a scooter from Freedom Beach. There are a lot of steep parts and sharp turns along the road, so take it slow and stay alert.
#7. Ao Hin Wong
Ao Hin Wong is a small and secluded bay located on the east coast of Koh Tao, just north of Tanote Bay. There is a rocky area with a nice beach restaurant, and a sandy beach with a small reggae bar.
Ao Hin Wong is easily accessible by boat and scooter. I padi 20 baht for the parking fee and walked to the beach. This is a good spot for chill, swimming, and snorkeling.
#8. Mango Bay
Mango Bay is a great snorkeling spot in the northern coast of Koh Tao. I recommend taking a group boat tour around the island, hiring a private long tail boat, or taking a combination of driving and hiking to reach the beach.
The Bay is easily accessible by long tail boat and is possible to access by scooter. The road is a small, dirt, and bumpy road with many big cracks, and at the end you need to walk down a steep stairs and climb through some big rocks to reach the beach.
I parked my motorbike at a point on the road where I felt I couldn’t drive any further, then walked to the beach for about 30 minutes. The lady at the entrance asked me for a 50 baht ticket to go in.
In the same area with Mango Bay, you can hike to the lighthouse, Summit Viewpoint, or the Grape Viewpoint. There are clusters of viewpoints on the road to Mango Bay near local gas stations.
#9. Aow June Juea Beach
This is a small and peaceful beach located on Koh Tao’s southwest coast. It is known for its tranquil atmosphere with crystal clear and clean water. It is perfect for chilling, swimming, and snorkeling.
There is a restaurant with table and bed chairs on the beach where you can enjoy the drink and views of the ocean. It is free to access the beach.
Aow June Juea Beach is accessible by scooter, the road is quite steep, so drive slowly. I got to this beach by walking along the coast from Chalok baan kao bay. It was a leisurely walk.
#10. Sai Nuan Beach
This is a small secluded beach located at the southwest coast of Koh Tao. The beach has fine sand and clean water. It is a great place for relaxing, watching the sunset, swimming, and snorkeling. The beach is home to several restaurants and bars that serve reasonable-price food and drink.
The beach is free to access. There were lots of signs on the road to the beach that said “ free way to the beach”. You can park away then walk through one of those resorts/restaurants to get to the beach.
I reached Sai Nuan Beach by scooter. The road, like many other parts on Koh Tao, has lots of steep parts and sharp curves. Always drive slowly and be cautious.
Viewpoints and Hiking
Koh Tao has mountainous terrain and rugged landscape, which offers plenty of viewpoints and hiking opportunities. You can experience both the jungle trails to coastal paths, and enjoy scenic views from the island’s viewpoints.
#11. John-Suwan Viewpoint
John-Suwan Viewpoint is one of the most popular viewpoints located on the southern part of Koh Tao. It offers stunning views of the Shark bay and Chalok baan kao bay.
The viewpoint is easily accessible by scooter and The entrance is 50 baht. From the parking area, you can climb the rocks for 10-20 minutes to reach the top. You can combine the visit to John-Suwan Viewpoint and Freedom Beach in one single trip.
The hike is moderate, with ropes along the way to help you climb the rocks. I recommend wearing shoes instead of flip flops. There were lots of people in the queue at the top to take photos at the best spots.
#12. Grape Viewpoint
Grape Viewpoint is a popular viewpoint in Koh Tao, located on the northern area of the island. It has sweeping views of Koh Nang Yuan, especially at sunset. It is a private property of a local family. The entrance is 100 baht including a bottle of water or a can of soft drink.
It is possible to reach Grape Viewpoint by a motorbike if you are an experienced driver. Make sure your motorbike is in good condition and has a good break.
The road is narrow with both dirt and paved paths. I recommend avoiding it if it was raining the day before. If the road is wet, you might get stuck on the muddy road. Also avoid the dark, if you come to the viewpoint for sunset, make sure to get back to the main road before it gets dark.
I reached the Grape Viewpoint by the combination of driving and hiking. If you like hiking and don’t drive, you can hike all the way to the viewpoint. It is a good hike with lots of up and down hills, make sure you’re physically fit to do it.
In the same road to Grape Viewpoint, you can find many other viewpoints such as Summit Viewpoint, Jim View Bar, or Mango Viewpoint.
#13. Summit Viewpoint
Summit Viewpoint (Highest point on Koh Tao) is one of the many viewpoints in Koh Tao. It has beautiful views of the sea and the entrance fee is 100 baht (like most viewpoints on the island, you need to pay). The local family owns it. Lots of friendly dogs around.
It is possible to drive all the way to the viewpoint by scooter. The road is steep, narrow, with both unpaved and dirt roads. Pay attention to the signs on the road showing the direction and tell you if you can continue to drive with a motorbike.
If you feel unable to drive at some point, just park the scooter on the side of the road and walk from there to the viewpoint.
#14. Chalok Baan Kao Bay to Cape Ja Te Kang
If you want a leisurely hike along the coastline on Koh Tao, I recommend the route from Chalok Baan Kao to Cape Ja Te Kang. You can actually hike all the way from Chalok Baan Kao to Jansom Bay if you have time. I only did a part of it, for 2.5 hours two ways.
I parked my scooter at Chalok Baan Kao, then walked past the Happy Monk restaurant, and followed the coastline to Aow June Juea. This hike includes a few detours onto the paved road behind the beach.
From this beach, I walked up the stairs and found the way to Tao Thong Villa 1, ana 2. It was a short 10-15 minutes walk into the jungle.
I continued walking along Tao Thong Beach, then climbed the stairs, and the boulders at Cape Ja Te Kang for sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and the sea.
#15. Hiking to Mango Bay/ LightHouse
If you love to hike and you’re an adventurous traveler, you can hike to Mango Bay and the LightHouse. They are in the same area in the northern part of Koh Tao.
I recommend putting “Mango Bay” on Google Maps and following their directions. At some point along the way, you will reach a gas station (Tar Bar), with lots of different signs showing directions to different viewpoints such as Grape Viewpoints, Summit Viewpoint, Jim Bar View.
You need to turn right from this gas station to reach Mango Bay and the lighthouse. Each place has an entrance fee of 100 baht. I recommend these routes for those who are physically fit. There are lots of up and down hill parts.
Island Hopping and Boat Trips
Taking a boat trip around the island is a great option. This is best suited for those who don’t plan to rent a scooter, don’t want to walk around the island, or prefer not to pay the high cost of hiring a private driver or boat taxi.
The full day boat trip cost around 550 baht and will take you to 5 famous beaches on Koh Tao and a visit to Koh Nang Yuan. These trips include a lunch buffet and snorkeling equipment.
#19. Koh Nang Yuan
Koh Nang Yuan is a beautiful island located very close to Koh Tao. The beach has pristine beaches for swimming and snorkeling. You can hike up for a 15-minute hike that leads to the island’s viewpoint, providing panoramic views of the surrounding area.
You can easily reach this island by long tail boat from Mae Haad Beach and Sairee Beach.
Scuba Diving
Koh Tao is the top diving destination in Thailand. If you come to Koh Tao for diving and PADI courses, you’re in the right place. It is a popular spot among beginners and budget travelers.
#20. PADI Scuba Diving Courses
There are many diving schools in Koh Tao. You can have a look at places like Ban’s Diving, Big Blue, Roctopus, Simple Life, and Assava. If You’re a Beginner, you can take the PADI Open Water Diver Course, which takes about 3–4 days.
After the course, you’ll be a licensed diver up to 18 meters anywhere in the world. The diving course will usually offer accommodation and pick up/drop off from the island’s main pier.
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These are the top things to do and see in Koh Tao. This small island has it all, from beaches to jungle activities. You can swim, snorkel, and scuba dive, as well as check out the viewpoints, and lots of hiking routes all around Koh Tao. There are various beach bars, restaurants, and massage shops to explore.