Best Things To Do In Koh Tao
From scuba diving and snorkelling in clear tropical water to beautiful beaches, boat trips, viewpoints and lively evenings in Sairee, Koh Tao packs a lot into a small island. If you’re looking for the best things to do in Koh Tao, this guide covers the experiences I think are most worth adding to your trip.
By Jack Yates · Last reviewed: October 2026
My Personal Recommendation
If it’s your first time visiting Koh Tao, I’d recommend giving yourself at least four or five days. The island is small but I think you’ll enjoy it much more if you don’t try to squeeze everything into a couple of days.
I’ve visited Koh Tao twice and one of my favourite things about the island is how easy it is to mix exploring with doing absolutely nothing. Some days we’d head out and explore different bays, snorkel and find somewhere for a few drinks, while other days were much slower and revolved around the beach and good food. Then if you want a livelier evening, you can always head towards Sairee for the bars and nightlife.
Diving is obviously a huge part of Koh Tao and my partner has visited the island many times specifically for scuba diving but I wouldn’t think you need to be a diver to enjoy it here. I’m not a diver myself and Koh Tao is still one of my favourite Thai islands. There are beaches, snorkelling spots, viewpoints, boat trips and plenty of places worth exploring on land.
For me, the best things to do in Koh Tao are a mixture of the big experiences and simply enjoying island life. Pick a few things you definitely want to see, leave some free time between them and don’t feel like every day needs to be planned.
Whats On This Page
Jump straight to any of the experiences below or keep scrolling to explore all of my recommendations for the best things to do in Koh Tao.
1. Go Scuba Diving in Koh Tao
2. Go Snorkelling Around Koh Tao
3. Visit Koh Nang Yuan Island
4. Explore Koh Tao’s Beaches & Bays
5. Hike to John-Suwan Viewpoint
6. Watch the Sunset at Sairee Beach
7. Experience Koh Tao’s Nightlife
8. Explore Koh Tao by Scooter
9. Relax at a Beach Bar or Beach Club
Affiliate Disclaimer
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support the website and allows me to keep creating new Thailand travel guides.
DISCOVER THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN KOH TAO
My Favourite Things To Do In Koh Tao
From scuba diving and snorkelling to beautiful beaches, viewpoints, boat trips and nights out in Sairee. These are the experiences I personally think are worth adding to your Koh Tao itinerary.
Go Scuba Diving in Koh Tao
I haven't actually tried scuba diving myself but my girlfriend absolutely loves it and Koh Tao is the island she keeps coming back to specifically to dive. She's visited more times than I can count for diving and has done plenty of dives around the island. On my second trip she met me and my mate on Koh Tao partly because she wanted to get back underwater again. Seeing how much she enjoys it, I completely understand why diving has become such a massive part of travelling to Koh Tao.
Even if you've never dived before, Koh Tao is a great place to give it a go. There are dive schools across Sairee, Mae Haad and Chalok, with beginner experiences where you learn the basics with an instructor before heading into the sea. You don't need an existing certification for a Discover Scuba Diving experience, while those wanting to take it further can complete their Open Water certification on the island. PADI currently lists numerous Koh Tao dive centres offering beginner sessions, typically including equipment, shallow water training and one or two open water dives.
📍 Location
Dive sites around Koh Tao
⏱ Time Needed
Half day – 4 days
💰 Cost
Varies by dive/course
🚗 Getting There
Dive school / dive boat
⭐ Best For
Beginners & certified divers
✅ Don’t Miss
Your first open water dive
Get PADI Certified – 2.5 Day Open Water Course
If you want to go further and leave Koh Tao as a certified diver, this 2.5 day PADI Open Water course is the option I'd recommend. It's designed for complete beginners and takes you from your first training sessions through to four open water dives, eventually qualifying you to dive to depths of up to 18 metres.
The course includes all of your equipment, dive computer, insurance, PADI materials and certification fees as well as underwater photos and videos from your dives. It's run in small groups by Ocean Sound Dive + Yoga and currently has a perfect 5/5 rating from more than 100 reviews, making it a great choice if diving is going to be a bigger part of your time on Koh Tao.
Try Scuba Diving – 1-Day Beginner Experience
If you've never tried scuba diving before, this one day experience is a great way to give it a go without committing to a full diving course. No previous experience is required. You'll start with a safety briefing and learn the basic skills in shallow water before heading out for your first proper dive with an instructor.
The experience lasts most of the day and includes all of your diving equipment, an experienced instructor, hotel transfers and refreshments on the boat. You'll dive to a maximum depth of 12 metres, with the option to add a second dive if you enjoy the first. With a 4.8/5 rating from more than 775 reviews, it's a really good option for first time divers looking to experience one of the best things to do in Koh Tao.
Go Snorkelling Around Koh Tao
Snorkelling was definitely one of the best things to do in Koh Tao for me and my friend. We loved jumping on the scooter and heading to different beaches around the island, having a few beers, relaxing for a while and then dipping into the sea whenever we wanted to cool off. Neither of us needed a particularly planned out day. We'd just pick another bay, find somewhere to relax and spend some time snorkelling and looking at the marine life. It ended up being one of our favourite ways to spend our days on Koh Tao.
What makes snorkelling one of the best things to do in Koh Tao is how many places you can simply enter the water from the beach. Tanote Bay, Aow Leuk, Shark Bay and Sai Daeng are some of the spots worth checking out, with coral, tropical fish and other marine life found around the island. You can explore the beaches independently by scooter or taxi, or join a snorkelling boat tour that takes you to numerous spots in one day. Sea conditions and visibility can vary, so always check the conditions before getting into the water.
📍 Location
Beaches Around Koh Tao
⏱ Time Needed
Half Day – Full Day
💰 Cost
Mostly Free
🚗 Getting There
Scooter, Taxi or Boat
⭐ Best For
Beaches & Marine Life
✅ Don’t Miss
Tanote Bay & Shark Bay
🌿 Recommended Tour
If you want to see several of Koh Tao's best snorkelling spots in one day, this seven hour boat trip is a really good option. The tour takes you around the island with stops at Nang Yuan Island, Japanese Garden, Mango Bay, Ao Hin Wong, Aow Leuk and Shark Bay, giving you plenty of time to swim, snorkel and relax between each stop.
Snorkelling equipment, lunch, drinking water, guides and hotel pickup and drop off are included. The boat also has floating beds, a water slide and climbing wall. With a 4.8/5 rating from more than 1,000 reviews, this is one of the best things to do in Koh Tao if you want to experience several beaches and snorkelling spots without having to organise your own transport around the island.
Explore Koh Tao’s Best Snorkelling Spots
Tanote Bay
One of Koh Tao’s best known snorkelling beaches with clear water, coral and plenty of marine life close to shore. It’s a great place to spend a few hours rather than just stopping for a quick swim.
Aow Leuk Bay
A beautiful sheltered bay with clear turquoise water and snorkelling available directly from the beach. It’s particularly good if you want somewhere where you can combine swimming, snorkelling and relaxing on the sand.
Shark Bay
One of the island’s most famous snorkelling spots. Blacktip reef sharks and green turtles can sometimes be seen in the bay, although sightings are never guaranteed.
Sai Daeng Beach
A quieter beach on the southern side of Koh Tao with good snorkelling and views towards Shark Island. It's a nice option if you want to get away from some of the island’s busier beaches.
Visit Koh Nang Yuan Island
I haven’t actually visited Koh Nang Yuan properly yet but I’ve passed it by boat while travelling around Koh Tao and it looked absolutely beautiful from the water. It’s one of those places you instantly recognise from photos, with the small islands connected by a strip of white sand and clear blue water surrounding them. It’s definitely somewhere I’d visit properly next time and from what I saw passing by, it deserves its place among the best things to do in Koh Tao.
Koh Nang Yuan sits just off the northwest coast of Koh Tao and is easy to visit by boat. Once there you can relax on the beach, swim and snorkel around Japanese Garden or walk up to the famous Koh Nang Yuan Viewpoint for the view across the islands and sandbar. It can get busy during the day, so visiting earlier is worth considering if you want to experience it before more of the day trip boats arrive. For the combination of scenery, snorkelling and that iconic viewpoint. Visiting Koh Nang Yuan is easily one of the best things to do in Koh Tao.
📍 Location
Northwest of Koh Tao
⏱ Time Needed
Half day – Full day boat trip
💰 Cost
Boat + Island Entry Fee
🚗 Getting There
Longtail Boat or Tour
⭐ Best For
Views, Beaches & Snorkelling
✅ Don’t Miss
Koh Nang Yuan Viewpoint
🛥️ Koh Tao & Koh Nang Yuan Day Tour
If you want to combine Koh Nang Yuan with some of the best snorkelling around Koh Tao, this seven hour boat tour is a great option. You get around two hours on Koh Nang Yuan, giving you time to climb to the famous viewpoint, enjoy the beach and snorkel around the island before continuing around Koh Tao.
The rest of the day includes snorkelling stops at Mango Bay, Ao Hin Wong, Aow Leuk and Shark Bay, with a Thai style lunch served on board. Hotel transfers, snorkelling equipment and the Koh Nang Yuan entrance fee are also included. With a 4.7/5 rating from almost 5,000 reviews, this is one of the best things to do in Koh Tao if you want to see Koh Nang Yuan while also exploring more of the island in a single day.
🚤 Visit Koh Nang Yuan by Longtail Boat
If you want to visit Koh Nang Yuan by yourself, you can arrange a longtail boat from Sairee Beach. Just head down to the beachfront and speak to one of the local boat drivers, agree a price and arrange a time for them to pick you back up from Koh Nang Yuan. You can also find boats around Mae Haad, but Sairee is closer and the journey normally takes around 15 - 20 minutes.
I would budget around 300 - 600 THB per person for the return journey, although prices can change depending on the number of people and what you agree with the driver. You’ll also need to pay the Koh Nang Yuan entrance fee separately. Going by longtail is a great option if you want to explore at your own pace, giving you a few hours to visit the viewpoint, relax on the beach and snorkel before heading back to Koh Tao.
Explore Koh Tao’s Beaches & Bays
Exploring the different beaches was one of my favourite parts of Koh Tao when I visited with my friend. We hired a scooter and spent loads of our time riding around the island, picking different beaches and bays to stop at along the way. We weren't really following an itinerary. We'd find somewhere we liked, grab some food or a few beers, relax on the beach and jump in the sea whenever we wanted to cool off. It was such an easy way to spend a day and ended up being one of the best things to do in Koh Tao for us.
Koh Tao has beaches scattered around almost the entire coastline and they can feel surprisingly different considering how small the island is. Sairee is the obvious choice if you want restaurants, bars and a livelier atmosphere, while the southern and eastern sides of the island have smaller bays surrounded by jungle and rocky coastline. Some are incredibly easy to reach by scooter, while others involve steep roads, walking through resorts or paying a small access fee. If you're comfortable riding a scooter, spending a day exploring a few of them is easily one of the best things to do in Koh Tao.
📍 Location
Around Koh Tao
⏱ Time Needed
Half Day – Full Day
💰 Cost
Free – Small Entry Fees
🚗 Getting There
Scooter or Taxi
⭐ Best For
Relaxing & Exploring
✅ Don’t Miss
Tanote & Freedom Beach
🏝️ Beaches I’d Add to Your Map
Tanote Bay
Tanote Bay is one of the beaches I'd definitely include if you're exploring Koh Tao by scooter. It's on the eastern side of the island and feels much more surrounded by nature than Sairee, with a good sized beach, clear water and a huge rock sitting out in the bay that has become a popular jumping spot. It's also excellent for swimming and snorkelling, so you could easily spend a few hours here rather than simply stopping for a photo.
Tanote is around a 15 minute scooter ride from Sairee. It's well signposted and there's public parking near the end of the road followed by a short walk down to the beach. The route across the island is scenic but there are some steep sections as you get towards the eastern coast, so take your time on a scooter. The beach itself is free to access.
Freedom Beach
Down at the southern end of Koh Tao, Freedom Beach is much smaller and more sheltered. It's a good one for simply finding some shade, swimming and relaxing for a few hours. There are also hammocks and a small beach bar/restaurant around the beach. You can also combine it with Taa Toh Bay and John-Suwan Viewpoint, which makes this part of the island particularly good for a half day trip.
It's roughly 10 - 15 minutes from Sairee or Mae Haad by scooter. Follow the main road south through Chalok towards the John-Suwan Viewpoint area, park near Taa Toh and it's only a few minutes on foot to the beach. When i went there was a 100 THB access charge, which also covers Taa Toh Bay and John-Suwan Viewpoint.
Aow Leuk Bay
Aow Leuk is another beautiful east-coast bay and a good choice if you want a proper beach day rather than somewhere busy with bars and nightlife. The bay has white sand, clear water and large boulders around the edges, with swimming and snorkelling straight from the beach. There are also restaurants and basic facilities here, so it's easy to stay for a few hours.
From Sairee it's around a 15 - 20 minute scooter ride. You head across the island towards Tanote Bay before taking the turn for Aow Leuk. The road is paved and considered relatively straightforward by Koh Tao standards, although you're still crossing the hilly centre of the island. When i went i paid a 100 THB entrance fee through Aow Leuk Grand Hill Resort, with parking and some beach facilities included.
Sai Daeng Beach
Sai Daeng is on Koh Tao's southern coast and is another good option if you want somewhere quieter. It's a small sandy beach surrounded by greenery with clear water and views towards Shark Island. There are a couple of resorts and places for food and drinks nearby, but it generally feels much more peaceful than the main beaches around Sairee.
It's around a 15 minute drive from Mae Haad. The main road towards Sai Daeng is concrete and in good condition, although the final roads down towards the resorts are steep. You park and walk through either Sai Daeng Resort or Coral View Resort to reach the beach. Public beach access is currently free.
Hike to John-Suwan Viewpoint
John-Suwan Viewpoint is one of those things I know I should have done by now, but somehow after two trips to Koh Tao I still haven't made it up there. If I'm being truthful, I normally end up finding a beach bar, having a few beers and suddenly the idea of hiking up a hill in the Thai heat doesn't sound quite as appealing. It is firmly on my list for the next trip though because the view from the top looks incredible and it's regularly mentioned as one of the best things to do in Koh Tao.
The viewpoint sits right at the southern end of Koh Tao and looks across both sides of the island, with Chalok Baan Kao and the western coastline on one side and Shark Bay on the other. The hike itself is short, usually around 15 - 20 minutes each way, but don't mistake short for completely easy. The trail gets steep and rocky towards the top, with some scrambling over boulders and ropes to help you through the trickier sections. I'd avoid the middle of the day and wear proper trainers rather than attempting it in flip-flops.
📍 Location
Southern Koh Tao
⏱ Time Needed
1 – 2 Hours
💰 Cost
Around 50 THB
🥾 Hike Time
Around 15 – 20 Minutes
⭐ Best For
Views & Photography
✅ Don’t Miss
Freedom Beach Afterwards
🥾 Visiting John-Suwan Viewpoint
The hike to John-Suwan Viewpoint is fairly short, usually taking around 15 - 20 minutes to reach the top, but it gets steep and rocky towards the end. There are sections where you'll need to climb over rocks and use ropes to help yourself up, so I'd definitely wear trainers rather than flip-flops and take some water with you. Once you reach the top, you get the famous view across the southern end of Koh Tao, with Chalok Baan Kao on one side and Shark Bay on the other.
I'd try to visit earlier in the morning before the temperature really starts climbing, then combine the viewpoint with Freedom Beach and Taa Toh Bay below. That way you can do the hike, spend some time enjoying the view and then cool off at the beach afterwards. I'd allow around half a day for everything rather than travelling south just for the hike. Combining the viewpoint with the nearby beaches makes this one of the best things to do in Koh Tao if you want to explore the quieter southern end of the island.
Watch the Sunset at Sairee Beach
Watching the sunset at Sairee Beach is something I always make sure I do at least once whenever I'm on Koh Tao. One of my favourite evenings was simply sitting on bean bags right on the beach with a few beers and cocktails, watching the sun slowly disappear over the sea. We weren't doing anything particularly exciting but that's what made it so good. The sunset was beautiful, the atmosphere was really relaxed and it's one of those simple evenings from Koh Tao that I remember really well.
Sairee faces west, making it one of the best places on the island to watch the sunset. There are plenty of beach bars and restaurants along the sand where you can grab a drink and settle in for the evening. Once the sun goes down you can stay around for food or continue into Sairee's nightlife. For something that costs virtually nothing unless you're buying drinks, I'd easily put watching the sunset at Sairee among the best things to do in Koh Tao.
📍 Location
Sairee Beach
⏱ Time Needed
1 – 2 Hours
💰 Cost
Free + Drinks or food prices
🚗 Getting There
Walk, Scooter or Taxi
⭐ Best For
Sunsets & Drinks
✅ Don’t Miss
Happy hour for drinks
🌅 Spending Sunset at Sairee Beach
I'd head down to Sairee in the late afternoon and find a beachfront bar you like rather than arriving right as the sun is disappearing. Grab a bean bag or somewhere along the sand, order a couple of drinks and just enjoy it. Sunset times change throughout the year, but getting there around an hour beforehand gives you plenty of time to find somewhere good and watch the sky change as the sun gets lower.
You don't really need to plan much more than that. Sairee has restaurants, beach bars and nightlife all along the beachfront, so you can easily stay for dinner and carry on into the evening afterwards. If you've only got a few nights on the island, I'd definitely save one of them for this. It's one of the best things to do in Koh Tao without needing to book a tour or organise anything beforehand.
Experience Koh Tao's Nightlife
Nightlife on Koh Tao can be as relaxed or as messy as you want it to be and I've definitely experienced both. On my first trip I stayed around Sairee Beach and spent most evenings around the main nightlife area. I joined some of the hostel bar crawls, met loads of other travellers and somehow ended up on stage doing karaoke after far too many drinks. If you're travelling solo or staying in a hostel, Sairee is easily one of the best places on the island for meeting people and having a proper night out.
I've also had much more relaxed nights on Koh Tao. Fishbowl Beach Bar is one my girlfriend really likes because of the live music and its location directly on Sairee Beach, so it's a good place for drinks without necessarily turning the evening into a massive night out although it can get lively in there later on into the night. Away from Sairee, I've spent plenty of time at Koppee Beach Club around Chalok Baan Kao as well, having drinks during the day and staying into the evening. Whether you want hostel bar crawls, live music, cocktails on the beach or a full night out, experiencing the nightlife is definitely one of the best things to do in Koh Tao.
📍 Main Nightlife Area
Sairee Beach
⏱️ Best Time
Evening – Late
💰 Cost
Depends How Thirsty You Are!
🍺 Best For
Bars, Live Music & Socialising
⭐ My Pick
Fishbowl Beach Bar
✅ Don’t Miss
Exploring Sairee Beach area and seeing where the night takes you
🍻 Where I'd Go for Drinks
If you're looking for a night out, I'd recommend simply heading to the Sairee Beach area and exploring. There are loads of bars, restaurants and places with live music along the beachfront and surrounding streets, so you don't really need to have a specific plan. Just start walking around, see which places look busy and stop wherever you like the atmosphere.
That's normally how I prefer to do Sairee. You might start with a couple of drinks somewhere on the beach and then gradually move between different bars as the evening gets busier. Everything is fairly close together, which makes Sairee really easy to explore on foot and means you can just see where the night takes you.
Explore Koh Tao by Scooter
Hiring a scooter is probably my favourite way to explore Koh Tao and something I do in most places I visit around Thailand. On my second trip, me and my friend spent loads of time just riding around the island with no real plan. We'd set off, stop at different beaches, pull into bars for a drink and check out anything else we spotted along the way. Some of the best parts of the day were places we hadn't actually planned on visiting.
Koh Tao is small enough that you can cover quite a lot of the island without spending your entire day riding, but there's still enough to discover that you can easily spend a full day exploring. Having your own scooter also gives you the freedom to stay somewhere you like rather than worrying about arranging another taxi. For me, simply getting on the bike and seeing where we ended up was one of the best things to do in Koh Tao.
📍 Where to Hire
Mae Haad or Around the Island
⏱ Time Needed
Half Day – Full Day
💰 Typical Rental
Around 200 – 300 THB Per Day
⛽ Fuel
Petrol Stations & Roadside Bottles
⭐ Best For
Exploring Independently
✅ Don’t Forget
Helmet & Driving Licence
🛵 Hiring a Scooter & Getting Around Koh Tao
I hired my scooter just down the road from Mae Haad Pier after getting off the boat. I normally try to do this when I arrive somewhere because it means I can put my bags on the bike and ride straight to the hotel rather than paying for a taxi first and then coming back out to find a scooter. I've got plenty of experience riding bikes and carrying heavier bags though, so I wouldn't recommend doing this immediately after arriving if you're not already a confident rider.
When hiring a scooter, shops will normally want some form of security. Depending on the rental company, you may be offered the choice of leaving your passport or providing a passport copy and paying a cash deposit. I always choose the deposit option where it's available because I personally refuse to leave my passport with a rental shop. Take photos or a video of the entire scooter before leaving as well, making sure any existing scratches or damage are clearly recorded.
Road conditions around Koh Tao can vary quite a lot. The main roads are generally straightforward, but some roads leading towards beaches, viewpoints and more remote parts of the island can become very steep or rough. If you don't already have experience riding a scooter, Koh Tao isn't somewhere I'd recommend learning just because hiring one is convenient. Always wear a helmet as well. It's simply not worth taking the extra risk just to look cool.
Fuel is easy enough to find around the island. You'll see proper fuel stations as well as bottles of petrol being sold beside the road. The bottles are convenient if you're running low, but you'll normally get better value filling up at a proper station.
If you're not confident riding, use taxis instead. There isn't Grab on Koh Tao, but taxis are easy enough to arrange. On my first trip I used a taxi, took the driver's phone number and then contacted the same driver whenever I needed another journey, which made getting around much easier. Your hotel or hostel can normally phone and arrange one for you as well.
Relax at a Beach Bar or Beach Club
Not every entry on a list of the best things to do in Koh Tao needs to involve diving, hiking or exploring. Some of my favourite days on the island have been the ones where I've found a good beach bar, ordered a few beers or cocktails and stayed there for hours. When it gets too hot, jump in the sea for a swim, come back for another drink and repeat. Koh Tao is one of those places where doing very little can easily turn into one of your favourite days.
There are plenty of beach bars and relaxed places around the island worth visiting, particularly around Sairee and the southern beaches, but Koppee Beach Club is my personal favourite. There are definitely bigger or livelier places you can find, but for me it's the memories attached to Koppee that make me keep going back whenever I'm on Koh Tao.
📍 My Favourite
Koppee Beach Club
⏱️ Time Needed
A Few Hours – All Day
💰 Cost
Food & Drinks
🍹 Best For
Beers, Cocktails & Relaxing
⭐ Good For
Slow Days
✅ Don’t Miss
A Swim Between Drinks
🍹 My Favourite - Koppee Beach Club
I first went to Koppee on my first trip to Koh Tao when we met up with my friend's brother and his girlfriend, who were on the island for a wedding and were also doing their diving licences. What started as meeting them for a few drinks basically turned into drinking there throughout the day and carrying on into the evening. It's one of those random days from travelling that I still remember really well.
When I returned to Koh Tao for my second trip, I made sure I went back. We were staying at Pinnacle Koh Tao Resort around the corner and I ended up celebrating my birthday at Koppee with food and cocktails before we headed over to Sairee for drinks later that night. There are plenty of other beach bars and beach clubs around Koh Tao that are worth exploring but because of the memories I've made there, Koppee will probably always be my favourite.
If you've got enough time on Koh Tao, I'd deliberately leave at least one afternoon without any plans. Find a beach bar you like, order some food and a few drinks and enjoy being on the island without feeling like you constantly need to be doing something. For me, that's just as much a part of visiting Koh Tao as any of the bigger attractions.
DISCOVER KOH TAO
Ready to Explore More of Koh Tao?
Whether you're visiting for a few days or spending longer enjoying island life, these are the best things to do in Koh Tao that I personally recommend. From scuba diving and snorkelling in some of the island's beautiful bays to visiting Koh Nang Yuan, watching the sunset at Sairee Beach and exploring the island by scooter, there's plenty here to keep you busy.
If you're still planning your trip, be sure to visit my main Koh Tao travel guide, where you'll find everything you need to know before you arrive. From choosing the best area to stay in Koh Tao and discovering the best beaches to diving, getting to the island, travel tips and more, it's designed to help you make the most of your visit.
What are the best things to do in Koh Tao?
The best things to do in Koh Tao include scuba diving, snorkelling, visiting Koh Nang Yuan, exploring the island's beaches, hiking to John-Suwan Viewpoint and watching the sunset at Sairee Beach. I'd also leave some time for exploring by scooter, enjoying the nightlife and simply relaxing at one of the island's beach bars.
Are the best things to do in Koh Tao worth visiting for if you don't scuba dive?
Definitely. Diving is one of the best things to do in Koh Tao, but I've never actually scuba dived myself and Koh Tao is still one of my favourite Thai islands. There are beautiful beaches, excellent snorkelling, viewpoints, boat trips, nightlife and plenty of places to explore around the island.
What is Koh Tao best known for?
Koh Tao is best known for scuba diving, which is easily one of the best things to do in Koh Tao if you want to try diving for the first time or complete your Open Water certification. The island is also known for its snorkelling, beaches, laid-back atmosphere, Sairee Beach nightlife and nearby Koh Nang Yuan.
Is snorkelling from the beach one of the best things to do in Koh Tao?
Yes. One of the reasons snorkelling is among the best things to do in Koh Tao is that you don't always need to join a boat tour. Beaches including Tanote Bay, Aow Leuk, Shark Bay and Sai Daeng have snorkelling accessible from the shore, although visibility and sea conditions can vary.
Is visiting Koh Nang Yuan one of the best things to do in Koh Tao?
Yes, visiting Koh Nang Yuan is one of the best things to do in Koh Tao if you want beautiful beaches, clear water, snorkelling and a great viewpoint. You can visit independently by longtail boat or include it as part of a snorkelling tour around Koh Tao.
What is the best way to get around Koh Tao?
Hiring a scooter is one of the best things to do in Koh Tao if you're already a confident rider and want the freedom to explore independently. Some of the island's roads are steep and conditions can vary, so if you don't want to ride, taxis are the main alternative and your hotel or hostel can usually arrange one.
Where is the best nightlife in Koh Tao?
Sairee Beach is the main nightlife area on Koh Tao, and experiencing it is one of the best things to do in Koh Tao if you enjoy bars and a social atmosphere. You'll find beachfront bars, live music, restaurants and hostel bar crawls within a relatively small area, so I'd recommend walking around and finding somewhere you like the atmosphere of.
Where is the best place to watch the sunset in Koh Tao?
Sairee Beach is my favourite place to watch the sunset, and I'd definitely include it among the best things to do in Koh Tao. I always try to do it at least once whenever I visit. I find somewhere along the beachfront, grab a beer or cocktail and watch the sun disappear over the sea.
Can you experience the best things to do in Koh Tao in one day?
Koh Tao is a small island, so you can see quite a lot in one day, particularly if you're exploring by scooter. However, I wouldn't try to squeeze all of the best things to do in Koh Tao into a single day. The island is much better when you've got enough time to explore while still having slower days at the beach.
What should you not miss in Koh Tao?
For a first visit, I'd make time for snorkelling, exploring a few different beaches, watching the sunset at Sairee and visiting Koh Nang Yuan. If you're interested in diving, Koh Tao is also a great place to try it for the first time. These are some of the best things to do in Koh Tao and give you a good mixture of what the island has to offer.
Plan Your Thailand Trip
Before you travel, these are the companies I personally recommend using when planning a trip around Thailand.
Hotels & Accommodation
I've used Trip.com throughout Thailand and regularly compare prices when booking hotels. It's one of the easiest ways to find everything from budget hostels and boutique hotels to luxury beachfront resorts.
Ferries, Buses & Transport
Getting around Thailand is easier than ever, but booking ferries, buses, trains, and transfers can sometimes be confusing. I use 12Go to compare routes and book transport between destinations such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Phangan.
Tours & Activities
Whether you're looking for island-hopping trips, snorkelling tours, cooking classes, temple visits, or day trips, GetYourGuide offers a huge selection of activities across Thailand.
Shop My Recommended Travel Gear
I've put together a collection of travel products that I personally recommend for Thailand. Whether you're backpacking, staying in resorts, island hopping, or working remotely, these are items that can help make your trip smoother and more enjoyable.
Why I Recommend These Companies
I've travelled around Thailand for the last few years and these are the companies I personally use when booking hotels, transport, tours, and travel essentials. I only recommend services that I've either used myself or would genuinely be happy to recommend to friends and family visiting Thailand. Using these links helps support the website at no extra cost to you and allows me to continue creating free Thailand travel guides.
Continue Planning Your Thailand Trip
I hope this guide has helped you discover some of the best things to do in Koh Tao and given you a few ideas for your own trip. Whether you’re coming for the diving, beaches and snorkelling or simply want a few days relaxing with a beer by the sea, Koh Tao is one of those islands I’d happily keep coming back to.
If Koh Tao is just one stop on your Thailand trip, head over to my main Thailand locations guide to keep planning. You’ll find guides covering destinations across the country, including where to stay, things to do, places to eat, day trips and plenty more to help you decide where to explore next.