On this Koh Tao guide, we are taking you to the southern coast. Located in Phangan District, Surat Thani Province, Koh Tao is surrounded by two important islands which are Koh Phangan and Koh Nang Yuan. Visitors often flock to see the beautiful things of other islands such as the exclusively unique interconnection of three islands through a white sandy beach on Koh Nang Yuan, and the popular tourist destination Madsum Island on Koh Samui.
Koh Tao is a small island but abundant in the underwater lives, including sea corals, wide species of fish, green turtles and sometimes we may be met by sharks whales as well which are often spotted by divers.
Traveling to Koh Tao from Bangkok - A Koh Tao guide
Kicking off our Koh Tao guide, we had to travel from Bangkok to Koh Tao by first getting to Chumphon province. It takes about 7-8 hours to reach Thung Makham Noi Pier, Chumphon Province. Once we got there, we showed the E-ticket we got from Ticket2Attraction to the staff at the Lomprayah office for an exchange for the boat ticket.
There are restaurants and shops by the pier for anyone who wants coffee, bread, and snacks while waiting for the boat.
7.00 am: We depart on the Lomprayah boat from Thung Makham Noi Pier to Koh Tao, taking about 1.45 hours. During the journey, we sat and enjoyed the beautiful sceneries and took stunning photographs on the outer deck of the ferry.
11.00 a.m: Arriving at Koh Tao, we were ready to go see the scenic Koh Tao diving spots around Koh Tao, including Love Kohtao, Moon dance Magic, West Coast, John Suwan, Freedom Beach. To get around Koh Tao, we took the local pickup truck.
Love Koh Tao
This viewpoint on the mountain offers a breathtaking view of the turquoise sea. From this viewpoint, there are many zones where we can pose to take beautiful photos and post on social media to show off to our friends.Additionally, this point is a very beautiful sunrise view point with a cafe at the top to sit and chill at.
Moondance Magic View
Next up on our Koh Tao guide is the viewpoint on the edge of a cliff with large and small rocks interspersed, the Moondance Magic View’s highlight is a wooden staircase for us to walk down and take photos at the wooden balcony along the seashore. I think this location offers a very beautiful view of the island and is definitely a must-visit.
West Coast
The most popular view point on Koh Tao that anyone who comes to Koh Tao must not miss is at the West Coast viewpoint. It is known for the two large rocks leaning against each other with a hollow point in the middle where visitors can squeeze into revealing a breathtaking spot for sunset watching. Guaranteed you will get people asking where it is after posting your photo.
John Suwan
Another must-see spot on this Koh Tao guide is the John Suwan viewpoint. Located on the highest point on Koh Tao, visitors will be able to see the vast ocean surrounding Koh Tao with ridges and lush forests sandwiched between two sides of clear blue waters. We’ll tell you this, You really have to prepare for the hike up to this viewpoint because there will be some climbing and roping to get to the top.
Freedom Beach
The last stop on our first day on Koh Tao is Freedom Beach, a quiet beach where we can do some snorkeling, kayaking or just sunbathing on the white sandy beach, a perfect place to forget about the stress of work and study.
After a whole day spent under the sun, it's time for us to find something to eat. Introducing Blue Heaven Restaurant, a local restaurant with a variety of menus to choose from. Plus, the atmosphere of the shop is located on a high mountain where you can see a fantastic view of Koh Tao and its turquoise water.
On the morning of the 2nd day of our Koh Tao guide, we started off with breakfast at the hotel, then began our first activity of the day. One of the most popular things to do here is Koh Tao snorkeling tour at the famous 5 Koh Tao dive sites around the island. Koh Tao is known for its abundance of marine life. People who snorkel or scuba dive are aware of this island. For today's journey, we traveled by a large wooden boat. Those who are not interested in swimming or diving will also find this activity enjoyable. For those looking to do more than swim, there is a slider at the back which you can play with as well.
Koh Nang Yuan
This small island is located not far from Koh Tao. Just take a boat for about 1 hour and you will find an island with a white sandbar that connects two other small islands contrasting with the clear blue sea. For those who are adventurous, we recommend hiking to the viewpoint atop one of the islands where you will see the beauty of the whole island of Koh Nang Yuan.
Mango Bay
Mango Bay is a Koh Tao snorkeling tour spot known for beautiful coral reefs. There are groups of corals of all sizes gathering around under the shallow water making this Koh Tao dive sites truly a must-dive.
Ao Hin Wong
Another popular Koh Tao snorkeling tour spot with a beautiful scenery surrounded by rocks and turquoise waters is the Ao Hin Wong bay. You will find many kinds of corals and colorful parrot fishes.
Ao Leuk and shark bay
Two highlights that should not be missed when snorkeling at Koh Tao are the Ao Leuk and shark bay. At these points, everyone will find Sea creatures such as the Green Turtle That is really the highlight of Koh Tao. If you went to Koh Tao (Turtle island) and did not see a turtle, you did not go at all.
That concludes today's diving trip. Although tiring, I would say it’s very well worth it. For anyone interested in Koh Tao snorkeling tour, I highly recommend the full day snorkeling trip on Koh Tao that gets you to all the popular Koh Tao dive sites.
That’s not it for our 2nd day on Koh Tao cause the highlights of Koh Tao also includes the rich island nightlife. Decorated lights of various colors combined with the outstanding fire shows bring this island to life at night.
The hotel that we stayed on this trip is called Koh Tao Montra Resort. It is a modern style hotel with Thai elements mixed in. Being right by the sea, you can take a walk on the beach, and just sit back and enjoy a beautiful sunset.
We have reached our last day on Koh Tao. After breakfast, we prepare to go to the Mae Haad pier to wait for the Lomprayah boat leaving at 10.15 a.m. to travel back to Chumphon with a smile on our faces.
How to book the Koh Tao guide package
The tour package to Koh Tao Thailand 3 days 2 nights seaside accommodation includes Koh Tao snorkeling, Koh Tao activities with car transportation around Koh Tao that offers 100% convenience and is very affordable. If you’re interested, I recommend texting their line @ticket2attraction or you can see the tour package for the Koh Tao 3 days 2 nights package by clicking Thailand Koh Tao 3 days 2 nights.
The package includes
📌 Bus and Ferry Round trip from Bangkok – Koh Tao
📌 Sightseeing tour around Koh Tao
📌 5 Koh Tao dive sites around Koh Tao
📌 Accommodation for 2 nights at Koh Tao Montra Resort
In conclusion, I hope this article convinces you to visit Koh Tao. From snorkeling to visiting viewpoints to enjoying a lively nightlife, I promise that this island will be worthwhile. Following this travel plan, you will surely cross off all the highlights on Koh Tao.
FAQ
How to get to Koh Tao from Bangkok?
There are 3 options you can choose to take from Bangkok to the piers that will take you to Koh Tao.
✈️ By Airplane: Visitors can take a flight to 3 destinations before taking a ferry to Koh Tao
- Bangkok to chomphon (Operated by Airasia and price is )
- Bangkok to Samui (Only operated by Bangkok Airway and is more expensive)
- Bangkok to Surat (airasia: cheaper, more frequent flights)
🚐 By bus: Direct bus from Khao San road to Koh Tao takes about 11 hours. You can book the bus+ferry package with Ticket2Attraction that saves time and money. Bus leaves at 21:00 PM.
🚆 By Train: Trains can be taken from Bangkok to Surat Thani on the Southern Line Railway which takes 9-11 hours. This option is not recommended because travelers will end up paying more money and take longer to reach Koh Tao.
After that, all routes must end with ferry rides from selected piers such as Chomphon, Surat Thani, and Koh Samui. The ferry routes are shown below
1. Airport Van+Ferry/speedboat
2. Ferry
3. Speedboat
How long is the ferry from Koh Tao to Koh Samui?
The ferry from Koh Tao to Samui takes about 2 h 45 mins.
When is the best time to visit Koh Tao?
The most recommended time to visit Koh Tao is from December to February for optimal sunlight and a lively party scene. However, during July to September is the best for diving because of high visibility.
Written by
Ponhsetha Chamroeun
Last updated 10 Aug 2023