5 Things to do in Koh Tao

Koh Tao may be small, but this tropical island in the Gulf of Thailand packs in more than its fair share of adventure, beauty, and laid-back charm. Having been twice, I can attest that Koh Tao has something for every kind of traveler! Here are five unforgettable things to do while you’re soaking up island life on Koh Tao.

Koh Tao is one of the BEST places in the world for scuba diving AND one of the cheapest to obtain your open-water certification. It’s home to more than 70 dive shops and most schools are PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certified.

Look for my next post to see which dive shop we went with!

Sairee Beach is likely the most popular location in Koh Tao. It’s definitely a little bit pricer than going somewhere outside the town, but it’s dinner WITH A VIEW for half the cost you’d likely pay in the U.S.. So, you will find plenty of restaurants of various cuisines with options to dine on inside, outside on a deck or even on the sand!

Just sit back and relax. Sip a drink and indulge in a delicious meal while watching the sunset.

If you’re a wild party animal, then you’ll find pub crawls, bars with pool parties, night clubs with DJs’, and live music. Some even have fire dancing shows.

You won’t run out of things to do in Sairee Beach.

This is a popular spot for tourists and influencers. The view is spectacular and the sunsets – amazing!

It’s easily accessible by foot or motorbike, however you do have to purchase a small drink or snack from the restaurant that owns the property, so it’s not really “free”.

We just bought some fresh fruit shakes, which were about 80 baht ($2.10).

Easy peasy!

If Scuba isn’t your bag, then this is a great alternative.

Snorkeling in Koh Tao can be just as an enriching experience as scuba. There are plenty of coral reefs and marine life close to many beaches on Koh Tao. Ao Tanote is one of the beaches I recommend. From my experiences, it was never very crowded and you don’t have to swim far to see some unique reefs. If you’re feeing extra adventurous, there is a 12-meter boulder in the middle of Tanote bay. Though needless to say, it is quite dangerous, so do it at your OWN risk. There is a rope attached at the top of the boulder, which requires you to pull yourself up, once you’ve reached the top, you have to jump off. The water is very deep at the end, so there is no chance of hitting the bottom; however it is a long swim to shore, so again, do this at your OWN risk. Know your limits!

Another area I recommend to snorkel is Koh Nang Yuan, a small island just off the coast of Koh Tao. There are plenty of catamarans that will take you there from multiple areas on the island, but unlike Ao Tanote, Koh Nang Yuan is quite popular, so you may have to deal with crowds during peak season.

Plenty of snorkeling tours are available for purchase, which allows you to check out multiple sites. They generally start at $30 USD. Just ask your reception at your accommodation.

Riding around the island on motor scooter has been one of the most thrilling experiences I’ve ever done. To go from place to place at your own pace is very convenient and a pleasant way to get around. It’s also budget friendly as many shops offer all-day rentals for as cheap as 200 baht (~ $6 USD), but if you crash or damage the scooter, get ready to pay a couple thousand (baht)!

Disclaimer: Do this at your OWN risk!

ONLY do this if you’re comfortable riding a motor scooter. If you don’t have any experience, then I would suggest not to do so.

They may also ask for a passport deposit – I recommend DON’T! Instead, ask if you can leave a monetary deposit. It’s far better than having someone else hold onto your passport. It’s not secure and they aren’t liable if they lose YOUR passport.

All of my experiences so far have been fine – except for the one time I did get into an accident with a motor scooter…but that’s a story for another time.