The Ultimate Travel Guide to Ko Tao – There are many different islands to explore off the coast of Thailand, however, Ko Tao is one that both of us find ourselves going back to time and time again. This small, yet memorable island is one of our top spots to visit whilst in Thailand. With plenty of things to do, and beaches to explore, Ko Tao is a must in our books! This time we spent a total of 5 nights and 6 days, which we feel is the perfect amount of time to check off all the bucket list items and leave with a nice tan!
Ko Tao is the kind of place you will visit and never want to leave. You will meet loads of foreigners who have decided to stay full time and find work either at hostels, coffee shops, or dive shops in the surrounding area. Situated as the third island after Ko Samui and Ko Phangan, Ko Tao is famously known as a divers paradise. It has the laid back beach vibes of Ko Phangan, with the busier fun atmosphere of Ko Samui, therefore making it the perfect mix of the two!
Below we have mapped out what we did and where we stayed on our trip to Ko Tao. Hopefully this can help you plan out your itinerary for your upcoming visit to this tropical paradise!
Ultimate Travel Guide to Ko Tao
Things To Do
On an island this small, there is really no reason why you shouldn’t take a few days to explore some of the many beautiful beaches. Rent a bike and get out to find a variety of different beaches Ko Tao has to offer! Below are a few of our favourites.
Sairee Beach
This is the largest stretch of beach on the island. It is usually the most crowded and popular. We recommend you come here to watch sunset. It is absolutely stunning in the evenings and there are many different beach bars where you can sit, relax, and take in the view.
Freedom Beach
One of our favourite little beaches at the tip of the island. This beach is on the smaller side, but has some white sand and great snorkelling. Try to get there early to grab a good spot, as the beach itself is on the smaller side. There is also a super cute local restaurant right on the water where you can grab a bite for lunch!
Tanote Bay
Not as much of a beach as it is a great place to jump off rocks and snorkel. This little bay is usually on the quieter side and a great spot to explore. Maybe you will even find some turtles!
Sai Nuan Beach
This beach is a great little hidden strip of sand, situated right under palm trees. A great little oasis to come for an afternoon to lay and relax. The water here is super easy to swim in and there are also a few cafes nearby to eat!
Haadtien Beach (Shark Bay)
This is a great beach to come to for some relaxation. Although not the most quiet, due to the fact that there is a resort located right there. However, this is the place to go if you want a chance to swim with reef sharks and turtles. The best time to snorkel is in the late afternoon around 3-4pm!
Ultimate Travel Guide to Ko Tao
Viewpoints
John Suwan Viewpoint
This is one of the most popular viewpoints on the island (in our opinion the best) The key to hiking any viewpoint is to do it early. That way you beat both the heat and the crowds. This viewpoint is right next to Freedom Beach, so go on a day you plan to visit both! The hike itself is not too strenuous (only about 15 minutes to the top) Once up there you get a pretty sweeping view from up high of the island below! Note there is a 50 baht entrance fee.
Nang Yuan Island
This island is an island off of Ko Tao and it’s home to the most popular viewpoint. It is a privately owned island which you must take a boat to and from. Additionally, it closes at 5pm each day. We recommend if you decide to go make a day out of it and leave early. There is strictly no plastic allowed on the island as well! The entrance fee is 100 baht per person. Once there you can relax on the pristine white sand, swim and do the short hike up to the infamous viewpoint
Diving
f there is any place you should learn to dive, it is in Ko Tao. With pristine waters, and dozens of dive shops to choose from, you are guaranteed to get the ultimate experience here on this island. George is an advanced diver and has noted that some of his best dives were in the waters of Ko Tao. His dive school that he went to was named Buddha View dive resort and is a great place to learn to dive if you fancy a challenge.
Tips on Renting Bikes
In order to get around in the most efficient and cost effective way, you will need to rent a bike. Unfortunately, this island is well known for its bike rental scams. Most places require that you hand in your passport prior to taking the bike as a ‘depoist.’ However, when you return the bike most places look EXRTA hard and are known to find random scratches, or dings that you potentially didn’t make. Not trying to scare you from renting, just want you all to be extra careful.
That being said, we worked out a rental through our hostel with a very friendly lady who came to deliver the bike. We felt better knowing it was through our accommodation so that if there was any issues we could handle it through them. Bike rentals go for about 250-300 baht a day, which is much cheaper than taking any taxi which will charge roughly 600 baht per way for any location.
Ultimate Travel Guide to Ko Tao
Where To Eat
Munchies
This is one of the most popular sushi joints on the island. Coming from Los Angeles, I must admit I am a bit spoiled when it comes to sushi. That being said, this sushi was pretty high up there on my list. With the largest portions I have ever seen, this place has some killer rolls with a great variety. You will surely leave full as ever!
Oishi Kaiso
This was another decent sushi spot on the island. While the portions were not as big as Munchies, they also had a great variety of rolls and other traditional Thai foods.
Hippo Burger
This was George’s favourite spot to grab a burger. His go to was the blue cheese burger. Although it was a bit more expensive, he treated himself to this for dinner a couple nights. It was spectacular, and massive, fit for any meat lover!
Coffee Cafe
This was our go to lunch spot! Cheap and local dishes served until late night as well. This place is always packed on the main road and you can’t miss it!
Barracuda
One of the most famous restaurants on the island known for its spectacular seafood! This place is so delicious! We recommend going for dinner at least once on the island.
Vegetabowl
Although we didn’t eat there this time, this place came highly recommended. If you are plant based, vegan, or vegetarian this will probably become your go to! It has a variety of salad bowls, protein bowls, and vegetable sushi items on the menu!
Ultimate Travel Guide to Ko Tao
Where We Stayed
C K Hostel
We stayed in a private room at C K Hostel. The hostel itself is located in a prime location with a close walk to the beach, the main bars and tons of restaurants. Additionally, they have a free pool table and bar downstairs for guests to use. Overall it was pleasant and affordable for our stay in Ko Tao.
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