What to Do in Koh Tao: Diving, Beaches and Must-Do Experiences
- Mar 3
- 7 min read
If you're looking for things to do in Koh Tao, this Thai island has it all: hidden beaches, incredible snorkeling, viewpoints with amazing views, boat trips, and a relaxed vibe that you feel from day one.
Best Things to Do in Koh Tao
Koh Tao is a small island, but it offers a huge variety of experiences: diving, snorkeling, beaches, viewpoints and relaxing plans by the sea. These are the activities we think you absolutely have to add to your trip.
Quick Guide: Things to Do in Koh Tao
🤿 Scuba diving – one of the cheapest places to get certified
🐠 Snorkeling – crystal-clear water and marine life
🥾 Hiking & viewpoints – the best island views
🏝️ Koh Nang Yuan – the iconic postcard spot
🏖️ Best beaches – from hidden to lively
🚤 Boat trips – explore multiple bays in one day
🛶 Kayak & paddle board – slow travel along the coast
🍜 Food spots – local and must-try places
🎉 Full Moon Party – a popular trip to Koh Phangan
🐠 Scuba Diving
This island is extremely popular with travelers because it's one of the best and most affordable places in the world to learn scuba diving.
You can do:
• Discover Scuba dives (introductory dives)
• Full PADI / SSI certification courses
• Diving with blacktip reef sharks
• Bioluminescent night dives (seasonal)
Our First Diving Experience in Koh Tao
We had our first diving here with Pura Vida Koh Tao. They speak both English and Spanish and, from what we noticed, most of the instructors were from Spain. Prices don’t vary much between dive schools and you’ll find plenty of options (in several languages).
This particular school stood out to us because of the personalized experience: it was just the two of us with one instructor for the whole day.
🐠 Snorkeling
If you’re not ready to try diving yet, no worries at all. Koh Tao is famous for its crystal-clear waters and vibrant reefs that are literally within reach.
One of the best things about this island is that you don’t need much equipment or to go far from shore. You’ll find tons of marine life accessible directly from the beach, which makes Koh Tao an incredible destination for snorkeling.
These are the spots you shouldn’t miss:
• Shark Bay – Perfect if you want the thrill of swimming with harmless blacktip reef sharks and sea turtles.
• Aow Leuk – A calm bay with incredibly clear water and colorful reefs.
• Hin Wong Bay – A more rugged and wild corner of the island, great for seeing schools of fish and healthy coral.
• Mango Bay – A must-stop for its turquoise water and relaxed atmosphere, perfect for floating around for hours.
🐠 Hiking and Viewpoints
For hiking lovers and photographers, Koh Tao hides some spectacular viewpoints. The island isn’t just beautiful underwater; its hills offer incredible panoramic views that are totally worth the climb.
These viewpoints should definitely be on your list:
• John-Suwan Viewpoint – Probably the most iconic viewpoint on the island. The hike is short but quite challenging: steep and rocky. The reward is a perfectly symmetrical view of Chalok Baan Kao Bay and Shark Island.
• Love Koh Tao Viewpoint – A much more relaxed and accessible spot. It’s the perfect place to grab a drink while enjoying wide views of the island’s east coast.
• West Coast Viewpoint – Offers an impressive perspective of the entire west side of the island. A great place to watch boats arriving at the harbor and enjoy sunset colors.
• Fraggle Rock – A fun trail that ends at a huge rock formation with a fantastic view over Sairee Beach and the north of the island.
🐠 Visit Koh Nang Yuan
You can’t leave Koh Tao without visiting the iconic Koh Nang Yuan. It’s that classic postcard view of three small islands connected by white sandbars that you’ve probably seen in a thousand photos. It’s a very popular excursion and honestly totally worth it.
Here you’ll find:
• A movie-like viewpoint – The hike up might make you sweat a bit, but once you reach the top and see the three islands connected by sandbars, you forget about the effort. It’s the photo of the trip.
• Amazing snorkeling – The water is so clear it almost looks like a swimming pool. Perfect for swimming among coral and colorful fish.
• Beautiful beaches – White sand and unbelievable turquoise water. The perfect place to disconnect.
Good to know
The most common way to get there is by taxi boat from Sairee Beach, which usually costs around 300 THB ($8–9 USD) round trip. Entrance to the island costs 250 THB (~$7 USD) and plastic bottles are not allowed.
🐠 Explore the Beaches of Koh Tao
If you're the kind of traveler who loves looking at the map searching for the perfect hidden spot, Koh Tao has everything: busy bays full of energy and hidden gems that feel like paradise.
These are the beaches you shouldn’t miss:
Freedom Beach 1 & 2
You’ll find them on the way to John-Suwan Viewpoint. They’re neighboring beaches but with completely different vibes.
Freedom Beach 1 is usually very quiet and almost empty, perfect for relaxing.
Freedom Beach 2 has more activity because there’s a restaurant with really good food.
Recommended plan!
Hike to the viewpoint early in the morning, then come down to relax and swim at Freedom Beach 1, and later have lunch at Freedom Beach 2.
Entrance fee: around 50 THB (~$1.40 USD). Keep in mind that many beaches on the island charge small entrance fees, but they’re usually very cheap.
Tanote Beach: If you want to escape the noise of the more touristy west and south areas, this beach is perfect. It’s more isolated, less crowded, and ideal if you’re looking for nature and peace.
Aow Leuk: The snorkeling beach. The water is so clear that many diving schools choose it for students’ first training dives.
Sairee Beach and Chalok Baan Kao Bay: These areas have the most nightlife and activity. If you want plenty of bars, restaurants and a lively traveler atmosphere, this is where you’ll want to stay.
🐠 Boat Trip Around the Island
If you want to see Koh Tao from a different perspective, taking a boat around the island is one of the best decisions you can make. It’s the easiest way to visit several spots in a single day.
Most accommodations offer similar tours that cost 600 to 1000 THB ($16–27 USD) depending on whether it’s half-day or full-day.
They usually include:
• Snorkeling equipment
• Stops at the island’s best bays
• Food on board (usually rice with chicken or fresh fruit)
• Visit to Koh Nang Yuan
Our experience
We booked a half-day snorkeling tour that stopped at five key spots, including Koh Nang Yuan, and lunch was included.
Quick story: the day of the tour it was raining heavily and the departure got seriously delayed. We were about to cancel, but we trusted the captain. He confidently promised the weather would improve… and he was right. The sun came out and it ended up being an amazing experience.
Tip: always check the weather, especially if you tend to get cold easily.
🐠 Kayak and paddle board
You can easily rent them in Sairee Beach or Tanote Bay. It’s a relaxing and beautiful way to explore the coastline.
OTHER COOL ACTIVITIES...
👩🍳 Thai Cooking Classes
Several schools offer cooking classes where you can learn how to make pad thai, massaman curry and other Thai dishes.
🧘♀️ Wellness Centers
Yoga by the sea
Thai massages
Breathwork and meditation sessions
🐚 Volunteering and Marine Conservation
Some centers allow visitors to participate in projects such as:
• Coral restoration
• Beach cleanups
• Marine life monitoring
💥 WHAT ABOUT THE FULL MOON PARTY?🌝
Although the Full Moon Party happens in Koh Phangan, many travelers go from Koh Tao just for the party.
Every month, thousands of people dance on Haad Rin Beach with loud music, fluorescent body paint and an incredible atmosphere.
There are special boats that leave Koh Tao at night and return at sunrise, so it’s easy to go and come back the same day.
Important: make sure to check when the full moon actually is!
🥥 Where to Eat in KOH TAO 🥥
Thai food is incredible, but these places felt unmissable to us:
⭐️ 995 Duck: The best duck on the island, confirmed! Authentic and generous portions. We loved it so much we had to go twice — and it’s very cheap.
⭐️ Lotus Resort: Perfect if you want to combine beach, sunset, good music and party vibes. You’ll also find the famous fire shows (check the schedule). Great value for money.
⭐️ Cactus Cafe & Beach Bar: A very relaxed and beautiful atmosphere right on the beach. You can sit inside where it’s cooler or on the couches facing the ocean.
🌴 Still planning your trip to Thailand?
Koh Tao has many sides: diving, snorkeling, quiet beaches, viewpoints, and a relaxed vibe that makes you want to stay longer than planned.
If it’s your first time here (or you want to properly organize your trip), we recommend reading our Complete Guide to Koh Tao, where we share everything essential to plan your visit and the best times to go.
And if you already know which activities you want to do, continue with these specific guides to finish building your itinerary:
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