I’m not kidding when I say I found the best island to visit in Thailand. Seriously. Koh Tao is a tiny and often forgotten island in Thailand that stole our hearts. You’ll love it too! Here is the perfect guide for what to do in Koh Tao!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
During our one month trip to Thailand, we wanted to experience a mix of the hustle and bustle of a big Asian city and the relaxation of a tropical paradise.
After spending some time inland in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, we hopped on a plane and headed south to the islands.
The islands of Thailand are known the world over for their beautiful beaches, friendly locals, and mouthwatering food. The country is called the land of smiles for a reason!
Why You Should Visit Koh Tao
There are lots of islands in Thailand to visit, and it can be hard to pick which ones are worth your time. What led us to explore Koh Tao was the promise of a laid back and quieter island.
We spent a few days on Koh Samui, and while we enjoyed it, we did notice the island was quite busy. And, the beaches were not as impressive as we’d hoped.
Koh Samui is one of the largest Thai islands, and is almost ten times larger than Koh Tao. You can really tell that Samui is a large island and it’s not as easy to get around as some of the other islands. Plus, it really attracts a young party crowd in many areas, which is fine, just not what we were looking for.
Little Koh Tao offered us everything we were looking for that we did not find on Samui.
If you’re looking for a more authentic and relaxed Thai island experience, Koh Tao is the best island to visit in Thailand.
Read Also: The Best Two Week Thailand Itinerary: Islands and Mountains
How to Get To Koh Tao
The only way to get to Koh Tao is by ferry. Either from Surat Thani on the mainland, or one of the two closest islands, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. I use Ferryhopper to book all of my ferries – it’s easy to search, book, and track any ferry journey.
Since we had been on Samui, we took the ferry from there. We got tickets with the Lomprayah Ferry Service, and the ride ended up taking around 1.5 hours. It was a fairly comfortable boat ride and yes, there are restrooms aboard.
If you leave from Samui, you’ll first stop at Koh Phangan. Some passengers will get off on their way to a full moon party before continuing on to Koh Tao.
Where To Stay In Koh Tao
We stayed at two different places while in Koh Tao, one a resort and the other an apartment style hotel. We loved both and highly recommend them to anyone visiting Koh Tao.
Below, I’ve listed my top 3 hotel recommendations. But, check out my full guide to where to stay in Koh Tao to see lots of options for every budget!
I’ve also put together a full guide for where to stay in Koh Tao to help you plan your trip.
Where To Stay In Koh Tao: Best Areas & Hotels
Cape Shark Villas
We stayed at the Cape Shark Villas on the South side of the island. For $130USD/night we had a private apartment with a full kitchen, outside patio, and waterfall pool overlooking Shark Bay! I highly recommend booking Cape Shark Villas!
There was access to the water by walking down from the villas, which weren’t right on the water, but it wasn’t too far of a walk. Plus, we had our scooter, so it was easy for us to get in and out of the hotel to explore other areas. If you arrive on the ferry and are staying with Cape Shark Villas, they will arrange a pickup for you to bring you to your accommodation.
The Tarna Resort
Another hotel we stayed at during our time in Koh Tao was The Tarna Resort. And I don’t understand why more people aren’t talking about it! We loved this diving resort for its views, location, and reasonable pricing.
Learn to dive at the Tarna Resort’s diving school, or book yourself a poolside villa with incredible views of the island. The resort offers a transfer service down to Sairee beach and other spots on the island. Each room is comfortable, with WiFi included, flat screen tv, and mini bar. I highly recommend booking one of the Sea View Villas or a Grand Poolside Access room for an elevated experience.
View POint Resort
If you’re looking for an oceanside jungle retreat, View Point Resort is the place to stay. With great reviews and incredible villas, this is the perfect place to stay for an unforgettable experience on Koh Tao.
The hotel offers a private beach area and direct beachfront access. You’ll find beautifully decorated rooms with private balconies and terraces, with amenities such as air conditioning, WiFi, and minibar. I would book one of the Pool Villas for a truly magical stay with fantastic views.
How To Get Around Koh Tao
There are really two main ways to get around Koh Tao. Because there isn’t a public transportation system, you’ll have to be in charge of your own transport!
The first option is to utilize your hotel’s transport system. Most hotels will have a truck or car they drive people around in. Often, they will have scheduled pickup spots and times throughout the day. You’ll want to chat with your front desk attendant to get an accurate schedule. They will also often drive on request, so just ask!
My preferred way to get around is by renting a scooter. We rented our scooter from a small place on the road to our hotel, the Tarna Align Hotel. This scooter rental is so small it doesn’t even show up on Google Maps. But, there are plenty of places to rent a scooter in town so pick one and go!
We paid about 250 baht per day, or around $7.25USD for our scooter rental.
Restaurant Recommendations:
– Mama Tam’s Kitchen (we loved this place! Mama is so sweet and a GREAT cook)
– MILK&HONEY (middle eastern food if you’re wanting to switch things up)
– Matchima Thia Food (we ate here after getting tattoos 🤪 it was yummy!)
How To Enjoy The Best Island in Thailand – Koh Tao
What is there to do on Koh Tao? Well, a lot!
It may be a small island, but it’s a place where you can get any sort of island experience that you’re looking for. Beach relaxing, snorkeling, hiking, laying by the pool, you name it.
Head to the Beaches
There are obviously lots of beaches on Koh Tao seeing as it’s an island, so take your pick and go explore! We got the chance to hit just a few beaches while we were there, so I can give you my opinion on those.
Sairee Beach
Sairee Beach is the ‘main’ beach on the island, close to most of the resorts and bungalows with the most restaurants and shops nearby. It’s a long beach located in the bay and is on the same side of the island as the ferry port.
You’ll find little shops, lots of restaurants, bungalows, beachside hotels, and rental stands. It’s also a nice beach to see the sunset and watch the sun sink below the horizon dotted with fishtail boats.
Tanote Bay
Tanote Bay was our favorite beach we visited and one we highly recommend. We rode the scooter there in about 15 minutes from our second hotel, the Cape Shark Pool Villas. But just about anywhere on the island is less than 20 minutes by scooter.
At Tanote Bay, you can do some incredible snorkeling, chill in a hammock at Poseidon Resort Bar, and even jump off the rocks in the middle of the bay (please only do this if you feel confident and be sure to jump into the deep water!)
We absolutely loved spending the entire day at Tanote Bay, most of which we spent drinking watermelon juice and beer at Poseidon Resort Bar. Be sure to also get the chicken satay, yum!
Shark Bay
The next beach we visited was a bit of a let down. Let me explain…
We decided to go to Shark Bay, because we could see it from our hotel and we wanted to swim with sharks! We took our scooter to Haad Tien Beach Resort, paid the 50 baht entry fee for outside guests, and headed to the beach. Once we got down to the water, it was high tide and there was really nowhere to sit on the beach that wasn’t practically in a tree.
The water was sort of dirty and there was trash on the beach, which backed up to a nice resort, so we would have expected our 50 baht would go towards the clean up of the beach.
So, we didn’t even get in the water because it wasn’t too inviting. I think it might have been the time of day, but it wasn’t a great spot for us. So, I would recommend you skip Shark Bay, or visit by boat for the snorkeling we have heard is very good!
If you want to see for yourself, you may have an entirely different experience!
We have heard that Mango Bay is a fantastic spot for snorkeling and enjoying the beach. If we could do it again, I would have gone there instead. Try it for yourself and let me know what you think!
See The Local Wildlife of Koh Tao
As you explore the island, keep your eyes peeled for monkeys, go snorkeling to swim with the aquatic wildlife, and listen to the symphony of birds all around at sunset.
If you want to snorkel, I recommend the island of Koh Nang Yuan which I talk about below, Maya Bay, and Tanote Bay.
Koh Nang Yuan
One of the best things you can do while on Koh Tao is head to Koh Nang Yuan.
This amazing spot is a natural wonder where three small islands are connected by sandbars that shift throughout the day with the tide. You can actually walk on the sand bars to each island, just be careful when the tide is high because the pull is quite strong!
Read Also: Best Guide To Visiting Nang Yuan Island in Thailand
You’ll find incredible snorkeling if you head out in any direction to explore. I was in awe of the fish and coral that we saw and swam with. One of the little fish was curious about me and even followed me around for a little while.
We saw clownfish, bannerfish, barracuda, trigger fish, stingray, starfish, and a ton more. It’s also possible to see blacktip reef sharks!
We rented our snorkeling gear with our scooter for a really good deal, about $1.50USD per day, and brought it with us to the park.
You can alternatively choose to go on a tour to Koh Nang Yuan! Snorkel gear, lunch, and the best snorkeling spots are provided for you. This definitely makes for a simple and lovely experience.
Koh Nang Yuan Tour Recommendations
– Islands Snorkeling Highlights Day Tour & Lunch (4.7 ⭐️)
– Snorkeling Trip To Nang Yuan Island & Hidden Bays (4.8 ⭐️)
– Koh Nang Yuan Day Trip with Meals & Snorkeling (4.6 ⭐️)
While at Koh Nang Yuan, you must hike to the viewpoint if you’re able to. The view is just fantastic!
Hike To A Viewpoint
There are a number of viewpoints on Koh Tao where you’ll get some really awesome views of the island and the water beyond.
I’ve consolidated the viewpoints that I know of on the google map above to make it a bit easier for you to find them.
Note that some viewpoints charge a small ‘entry’ fee that varies, but is usually somewhere around 100 baht. It’s good to keep cash on you at all times for things like this!
Wrap Up – What To Do In Koh Tao
I hope I’ve been able to convince you that Koh Tao is the best island to visit in Thailand! If you spend time on Koh Tao, let me know how you liked it!
Great little guide to Koh Tao! Did you have any problems flying your drone or getting a permit for it? I’d love to bring mine but won’t be in Bangkok long enough to submit all necessary documents…
Hi! Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed the guide! To be entirely honest with you, we didn’t know there were drone restrictions when we visited Thailand. We were new to using a drone and didn’t even think to look up those things (def not recommending you do the same!). No one mentioned anything when we brought the drone into the country. Also, the rules might have been different back in 2021? Sorry, I wish that were more helpful!