14 Things to Do in Koh Tao: Diving, Snorkelling & Views

Featured image: ScorpioZZ, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Koh Tao Quick Picks by Traveller Type

Koh Tao is small, so most visitors mix several activities rather than choosing one. Start with your weather window and your energy, then pick from the five shortcuts below. Each points to a numbered entry in the main list.

• First-time divers: the Open Water course (entry 1).
• Snorkelling: Shark Bay and Tanote Bay (entries 2 and 3).
• Views: John Suwan Viewpoint (entry 5).
• Sunset: Sairee Beach bars or Secret Bar (entries 9 and 10).
• Rainy day: Thai massage and minigolf (entry 13).

14 Best Things to Do in Koh Tao, Grouped by Area

Entries run roughly by theme: water first, then views, then sunsets and low-key options. Area names sit inside each entry so you can cluster stops and cut scooter time. Prices and hours checked November 2026, and every baht figure is a starting rate that moves with season and operator.

1. Learn to Scuba Dive: Open Water Course

Diving is the reason most people book Koh Tao, and an Open Water course is the headline activity. Dive schools operate from Sairee Beach, Mae Haad and Tanote Bay. Plan on 2.5 to 3 days to finish the course. Dives here suit beginners, so learning feels manageable. Compare schools on group size, instructor-to-student ratio, the safety briefing and equipment checks. Fewer students per instructor means more attention for you.

We won't crown a best school, because that depends on current reviews and your own checks. Confirm PADI or SSI accreditation on the school's own page. Skip the course if you already hold Advanced Open Water. Experienced divers may find the fun dives here unremarkable.

2. Snorkel Shark Bay (Thian Og Bay)

Shark Bay, also called Thian Og Bay, is the best-known spot to look for blacktip reef sharks. Sightings are possible, not guaranteed, so treat fish and turtles as the safer bet. A resort on the sand reportedly charges ฿200 for beach access. A free route is listed on Google Maps as Free Access to Shark Bay.

Bring your own mask and snorkel, since beach rentals cost more. Keep your distance from any shark and never touch the reef. Skip it if you dislike a resort sitting behind the sand.

3. Snorkel Tanote, Hin Wong and Mango Bays, or Join a Boat Trip

Tanote Bay, Hin Wong Bay and Mango Bay sit on the east and northeast coast. You can snorkel straight off the beach at each. Prefer a guide? Snorkel boat trips start from about ฿800.

A longtail boat charter starts from about ฿2,500, which works out cheaper per person for a group. Best for non-divers and families who want reef without a course. Skip boat trips on rough-sea days, when operators may cancel.

4. Take a Koh Nang Yuan Day Trip

Koh Nang Yuan lies a few kilometres off Koh Tao's northwest coast. A sandbank joins its rocky hills and anchors the island's postcard look. Day tours leave from Koh Tao, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Independent visitors can hire a longtail boat from Koh Tao.

Our Koh Nang Yuan guide covers the island in more detail. Ask your boat operator about the landing fee and viewpoint access rules before you pay. Best for day-trippers and snorkellers. Skip it on a windy day, when crossings can get rough.

5. Hike to John Suwan Viewpoint and Cool Off at Freedom Beach

John Suwan Viewpoint sits in the south of the island. The hike takes about 20 minutes. Paths include rocky, uneven sections, so wear shoes with grip rather than flip-flops.

Fee accounts differ. One reports ฿50 that also covers Freedom Beach, while another describes a second ฿50 booth. Carry small notes for both. Go at sunrise or late afternoon rather than midday heat. Skip it if steep, uneven steps are a problem for your knees.

6. Compare the Mango, Love Koh Tao and Nang Yuan Terrace Viewpoints

Mango Viewpoint, in the northeast, looks over the west side of the island toward Sairee Beach. Entry is reported at ฿100. Getting there from Baan Sairee involves partly gravel road with large potholes, so ride slowly. Love Koh Tao Viewpoint, in the east, overlooks Tanote Bay. It is free with a cafe drink, or ฿20 without one.

Nang Yuan Terrace, at Dusit Buncha Resort, costs ฿100 including a soft drink. See our Koh Tao viewpoints roundup for more lookouts. Skip Mango if you're nervous on gravel.

7. Try the Tanote Bay Cliff Jump

Off Tanote Bay on the east side, a boulder sits out in the water. You swim to it, scramble up and use a rope to reach the top. Reported drop is about 5 to 7 m. The setup is informal, with no staff or safety gear.

Watch other jumpers first, and check the landing area before you commit. The rope climb is as risky as the jump itself. Skip it if you are a weak swimmer, have been drinking, or see rough water. Nobody has to do it to enjoy the bay.

8. Hop Between Beaches by Scooter

Beach hopping suits a small island. Freedom Beach, Shark Bay, Tanote Bay, Ao Hin Wong, Sai Nuan and June Juea are all within easy reach. Scooters rent from about ฿200 per day. Crossing from the north to Chalok Baan Kao in the south takes about 15 minutes.

Roads to Tanote Bay are in good shape. The route from Baan Sairee toward Hin Kong and Mango Bay is partly gravel with potholes. Ride only with a valid licence, helmet and insurance. Skip the scooter if you have never ridden one, and use a taxi or boat instead.

9. Watch Sunset on Sairee Beach

Sairee Beach faces west, and its beach bars line the sand for evening drinks. Live music plays at Blue Water Cafe & Restaurant, while Maya Beach Club leans toward house and drum'n'bass. A statue of King Rama V stands at the southern end of the beach. Our Sairee Beach guide covers the beach in full. Best for couples and groups who want sunset plus dinner in one place. Skip it if you want silence, because the nightlife starts as the light fades.

10. Climb the Hill to Secret Bar

Secret Bar sits high on a hill in the south of Koh Tao. It looks out over the island and the sea. Arrive about an hour before sunset to get a good seat. Drinks run on the pricey side, which buys you the view. Scooter or taxi is the way up, since the slope is very steep. Skip it if you dislike steep roads or crowded terraces.

11. Go Freediving, Kayaking or Stand-Up Paddleboarding

Kayaks rent at Sairee Beach, Tanote Bay and Chalok Baan Kao. Rates start at ฿100 per hour, and ฿200 for 3 hours is a common deal. Stand-up paddleboards at Sairee Beach cost ฿200 for 1 hour or ฿500 for 3 hours.

Freediving courses suit snorkellers who want breath-hold skills without scuba gear. Schools on the island run them. Best on calm mornings. Skip paddling on windy afternoons, when chop makes it tiring.

12. Book a Muay Thai Class

Muay Thai schools have set up on Koh Tao, with classes near Mae Haad Pier and around Sairee. Beginners are welcome. Single lessons start at about ฿600 per day, and longer stays can bring the daily rate down. Our Muay Thai guide explains what a first class involves. Skip it if you want a rest day after diving.

13. Plan a Rainy Day: Massage, Minigolf and the Night Market

A one-hour Thai massage costs about ฿300. Sairee Beach's promenade has plenty of shops. Koh Tao Leisure Park sits on the road between Mae Haad and Chalok Baan Kao. It has an 18-course minigolf, a small cinema and a bowling alley, plus a restaurant known for Sunday roast.

A small evening night market runs near the 7-Eleven between Mae Haad and Sairee. Stalls sell fruit, chicken and other Thai snacks. Skip the minigolf if you want a Thai-only evening.

14. Slow Down With Yoga, Climbing, Turtles and Cooking

Yoga studios, bouldering and rock climbing give you something to do once diving tires you out. Travelfish covers all of them. Koh Tao's name comes from the island's shape, not from a crowd of turtles. A turtle conservation project lets you see them and support the cause.

Cooking classes are another wet-weather fallback. Ask the organiser for current rates, since prices differ by class. Best for rest days between dives. Skip these if you want big-ticket sights, because Koh Tao has few classic ones.

Compare Koh Tao Activities at a Glance

Costs here are starting rates in baht. A dive course needs 2.5 to 3 days, while a kayak starts at ฿100 per hour. Time columns show only what we can support, so plan the rest around your own pace.

Diver or Non-Diver: How to Choose

Your answer shapes the whole stay. Use these shortcuts to decide where to spend your time.

• Diver or certification seeker: book the course first, then add Sairee sunsets and a day on the east side.
• Experienced diver: expect decent fun dives, and spend spare days on Koh Nang Yuan and viewpoints.
• Non-diver: build days around snorkelling, beaches and viewpoints.
• Budget traveller: stick to beach snorkelling, free viewpoints and shared transport.

How Many Days Do You Need in Koh Tao?

Koh Tao is compact, since the north-to-south ride takes about 15 minutes. Group stops by area to avoid zigzagging. A certification course alone fills 2.5 to 3 days.

• 1 day (day-tripper): take a boat to Koh Nang Yuan Guide: Getting There, Fees & Tips in the morning, snorkel, then finish at a Sairee Beach bar for sunset.
• 2-3 days (non-diver): spend day one around Sairee and Mae Haad, day two in the south at John Suwan Viewpoint, Freedom Beach and Secret Bar, and day three on the east coast at Tanote Bay and Love Koh Tao Viewpoint.
• 4+ days (certification plus extras): give 2.5 to 3 days to the Open Water course. Use the remaining time for the south and east clusters, a Muay Thai class or a rest-day massage.

Koh Tao Costs, Fees and What to Book Ahead

Scooters start at about ฿200 per day. Kayaks start at ฿100 per hour. A one-hour Thai massage costs about ฿300. Muay Thai starts at about ฿600 per day. Dive courses and boat trips are the items to book ahead, while kayaks, scooters and massages are usually paid on arrival. Access fees apply at some beaches and viewpoints, such as ฿200 at Shark Bay by the resort route and ฿100 at Mango Viewpoint.

• Mistake: choosing an unvetted dive shop. Check accreditation, group size and equipment before you pay.
• Mistake: riding a scooter without a licence or insurance.
• Mistake: paying for Shark Bay access when a free route exists.
• Mistake: hiking to a viewpoint at midday heat.

Best Time to Visit Koh Tao and Sea Conditions

Rough seas can cancel ferries, boat trips and cut visibility for divers and snorkellers. Check the Thai Meteorological Department forecast and your operator before booking.

Where to Base Yourself and How to Get Around Koh Tao

Sairee Beach suits nightlife, dive shops and sunsets, and our Sairee Beach guide shows what's there. Mae Haad is the pier area and the easiest base for arrivals. Chalok Baan Kao in the south is quieter. The east bays near Tanote are more remote and scenic. A scooter is the easiest way to link them, though taxis cost more and longtail boats reach some bays. Koh Tao (also spelled Ko Tao) is reached only by boat. Ferries run from Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Chumphon. Operators include Lomprayah, Seatran and Songserm. Lomprayah's catamaran is the fastest, while the others cost less. Check the operator for current schedules and fares.

Combine Koh Tao With Bangkok

Most trips connect through the mainland, and many travellers fly into Bangkok first. From there you continue by bus or taxi to the pier, then take the boat. Our Bangkok things-to-do guide helps you fill a day or two before the islands.