A Guide to Koh Tao

- Thailand -

Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia, and there is a good reason for it. Filled with incredible landscapes, interesting culture and some of the best food in the world, this country should be on everyones list. 

Visiting Koh Tao

Koh Tao is one of those very tropical island in Thailand. With that I mean warm waters, perfect beaches, palm trees scattered across the island and the feeling of being very wild with lots of untouched nature. 

Koh Tao has that Island vibe that you don't find that often. The island is relatively small but you will find that there is plenty of activities to do here with diving being what attracts most people. Koh Tao has some great diving and is known for being one of the cheapest places in the world to take your diving license. 

With a variety of things to do I can clearly see why this island has become so popular. 

How to get here

When planning your trip around Thailand you can either fly or take the bus. (There are also Trains but I've never tried them). Thai Airways has domestic flights. If you are flying international I always choose Thai Airways as it makes me feel like I am already in Thailand once stepping on the plane. A great feeling especially when the flights are 11 hours from Norway. 

Koh Tao is located on the southeast side of Thailand next to Koh Phangan and Koh Samui. 

Coming from Bangkok Thai Airways also flies directly to Sura Thani every single day and from there it is easy to arrange a van and boat taking you to Koh Tao. This takes around 4 hours.  You can also fly to Krabi and do the same thing from there or if you are coming from Koh Phangan or Koh Samui the boat connections are good with boats leaving multiple times a day. 

Click HEREto get a special offer from Thai Airways. 

Getting around

Getting around in Koh Tao is quite easy as the island is pretty small. You can get a tuk tuk to drive you around but I would recommend renting a scooter which will get you anywhere you want at any given time. Renting a scooter costs around 250-350 bath a day. Some of the roads though might be a bit challenging as they are many dirt roads on taking you to some of the beaches. There are also a couple of beaches that requires renting a boat. 

If you are thinking about heading out to Nanguyang Island located just outside of Koh Toa there are plenty of boatmen willing to drive you at any given time during the day. Just look for the signs located all around the famous Sairee beach. 

Where to stay

Koh Tao is full of hotels and hostels and sometimes it can be hard to choose where to stay. 

I would recommend staying at the beautiful Sai Daeng Resort as the location is unique with access to a private beach as well as having one of the best snorkeling spots on the island right outside your villa. They also offer a free pickup from the pier and are happy to help you out with renting a scooter if needed as this is the best way to get around the island. They offer a range of beautiful private villas all overlooking the ocean to make your stay even better. 

Sai Daeng Resort

Sai daeng Resort and Beach

TOP THINGS TO DO IN KOH TAO

Down bellow I've listed some my favorite spots here on Koh Tao. 

- Viewpoints: 

# John-Suwan Viewpoint

# Love Koh Tao Viewpoint

# Mango Viewpoint

# Nang Yuan Viewpoint

# Dusit Buncha Resort

- Beaches: 

# Sairee Beach

# Ao Thian (Sharks Bay)

# Freedom Beach

# Taa Toh Beach 

# Nang Yuan Beach

# Ao Muong Beach (Mango Bay) 

- Bars & Restaurants: 

# Tree House Cafè

# FishBowl

# Coconut Monkey

The Palm at Sairee Beach

- Discover Veiwpoints

Like so many of the other islands in Thailand you will find wild nature with mountain peaks reaching high up in the sky. This has made room for some unique viewpoints and Koh Tao is no exception. Here are the list of my tip viewpoints to visit in Koh Tao. 

John-Suwan Viewpoint

Nang Yuan Viewpoint

# John-Suwan Viewpoint

John-Suwan Viewpoint is one of the best viewpoints on the island. Just a short 5-10 minute trek and you will reach the summit where you have a panoramic view overlooking the two bays Ao Thian and Ao Chalok Ban Koa. The hike up is a bit steep and some may prefer to where shoes going up but I Assure you that slippers will do just fine as long as it hasnt been raining a lot. 

There is an entrance fee og 50 bath which will give you access to the viewpoint but also the two nearby beaches Taa Toh beach and Freedom Beach so you might as well visit these two beaches if you are thinking about heading this way. 

John-Suwan Viewpoint

# Love Koh Tao Viewpoint

This viewpoint is located a 15 minute drive from town and offers a unique view of the back side og the island. It is a relaxing place where you are able to sit back and enjoy the view while having a drink or some light food. A great place if that is what you are looking for. 

Note: If you are visiting only for the view there is an entrance fee of 20 bath. 

Love Koh Tao Viewpoint

# Mango Viewpoint

My favorite viewpoint in Koh Tao is the Mango Viewpoint. Located high up in the middle of the jungle you will have a great view overlooking Sairee beach and the man town of Koh Tao. The ride going up is also a bit of a thrill and you will experience driving through the jungle going steep up the mountain passing some small local houses with people waving while you pass by. 

You have to pay 20 bath at the top which goes to maintenance of the road. At the top you can enjoy drinks and light food. 

Mango Viewpoint

# Nang yuan Viewpoint

The most know viewpoint of them all isn't actually on Koh Tao, but on an nearby island called Nang Yuan. The plae is know for the incredible sandbar that connects the three islands which makes up Nang Yuang. On one of the islands you will find one of the most iconic viewpoints in Thailand and you can take the famous postcard photo that so many people from all over the world travel to see every year. 

Going up to the viewpoint from the beach takes around 10-15 minutes and you will be covered in sweat cause of the heat. The view at the top is simply spectacular and I highly recommend going up even though it is very very warm. 

Tip: Bring a bottle of water from the mainland as the prices on the island are high. 

Nang Yuan Viewpoint

Drone photo of Nang yuan

# Dusit Buncha Resort

This place is located northwest on the island and has a good view overlooking Nang Yuan Island. Here you can relax and have a drink or eat at their nice restaurant. The entrance is covered by a huge rock which is a pretty cool site. Highly recommend a visit here.

# Visit One of the many beaches

Koh Tao is full of pretty beaches and a visit is not complete without a stop by one of the many beaches. Here is my list over my favorite beaches on Koh Tao. 

# Sairee Beach

Sairee Beach is the main beach on Koh Tao. This is where everything happens. From Shops and restaurants to all the nightclubs and bars are all located along side this beach. 

The beach has a very good vibe with bars and restaurants located on the beach from the north to the south. 

This is also the place to watch sunset. The sunset on Sairee is very good and I highly recommend walking along the beach to the famous palm tree during this time for a photoshoot. 

You will also find a ton of dive resorts in this area. 

The famous Palmtree at Sairee Beach

# Ao Thian (Sharks Bay)

Sharks Bay is one of my favorite beaches in Koh Tao. This goes to be one of the best snorkeling spots on the island. The The name comes from all the sharks that roam the waters here and if you are lucky you might encounter a black tip reef shark here. The shark is harmless so you dont need to worry about getting hurt. There are also turtles swimming around so keep your eyes open.  With that being said the atmosphere on this beach is very relaxing. This is a place you can go and really relax and get away. 

There is also a resort located on this beach where you can buy drinks and food. 

# Freedom beach

Freedom beach is a favorite amongst both tourists and locals. This beach is located south on the island a 10 minute drive from Sairee beach. When I visited there was an entrance fee of 50 bath which gives you access to the beach but also to John-Suwan viewpoint and Taa Toh Beach. Freedom beach is located a 2 minute walk from the car park. 

Freedom beach is a small beach surrounded by a beautiful scenery of rocks, palmtrees and mangrove trees growing on the beach which comes handy when you need a break from the strong sun. The water is clear and blue perfect for snorkeling on the reef located few meters from the beach. 

There is also a restaurant located here where you can buy something to eat and drink. 

Freedom beach to the left and Sharks Bay to the right.

# Taa toh beach

Located next to Freedom beach this small stretch of sand is worth a visit if you are in the area. Here you will find a small restaurant and they actually have a volleyball next which is perfect if you like to stay active with friends wile hanging out at the beach. With that being said this beach is very shallow so you have to walk quite a distance og you want to swim. Being this shallow also makes the water a bit too warm which I did not find very comfortable. 

# Nang Yuan beach

My favorite beach in Koh Tao is the Nang Yuan Beach. A short 10 minute boat ride off the coast of Koh Tao is the islands of Nang Yuan. It is 3 island connected by a massive sandbar surrounded by the bluest waters. The scenery is absolutely stunning and well worth a visit. Chill on the beach and dont miss out on the stunning viewpoint just a 10 minute hike away. 

Getting to Nang Yuan is very easy. Head to Sairee beach and walk along the beach and you will see signs along the way offering boats out to Nang Yuan. 

Boat Price is around 150 Bath + entrance fee to the Island 100 bath. 

They close the island around 05 PM. 

Tip: Go early or late if you want to avoid the crowds. 

# Ao Muong / Mango bay

Ao Muang or Mango Bsay as it is normally called is located north on the island. This spots is very popular for diving as it has good diving conditions with a flat sandy seafloor. 

The easiest way to get here is by boat, but if you are up for an adventure it is also possible to walk here. Follow the main road til you reach the resort, and from here you will have to walk through their property til you reach the beach. 

This is a day trip. 

Far left of Freedom beach

Nang Yuan Viewpoint

BARS & RESTAURANTS

There is plenty of good restaurants in Koh Toa so it is almost hard to choose a favorite. Here is my top three. 

# Tree House Café

The best food I had in Koh Tao was at the Tree House Café. It is located near the main road a 5-10 minute drive from Sairee beach and offers some of the best food I’ve ever had in Thailand. It was soo good that I ended up going back multiple times. Absolutely loved it! 

# Fishbowl beach bar

If you like a good party then Fishbowl beach bar is the place to be. Located in the hearth of Sairee beach this place offers live music and fire-dancers every night. They sure know how to throw a good party. This is also where the weekly pub-crawl ends up so expect it to be packet with people late night. 

# Coconut Monkey

One of the highest rated restaurants on the island is Coconut Monkey. This vegan-friendly restaurant is perfectly located near the pier at Sairee Beach and serves delicious food smoothies and shakes which will make you feel good. Highly recommend visiting this place. 

Iver Schøyen Paulsberg

Hi and thanks for visiting my page! 

I’m Iver S. Paulsberg, a 28-year-old backpacker from Norway. I am an adventure enthusiast with a passion for photography, videography and traveling.

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