DIY Travel Guide to Koh Tao, Thailand [With Suggested Tours]

By GTravel Gurus - Contributor July 5th, 2022 Posted in Asia Travel Blog, Destination, DIY Travel, Travel Blog, Travel Guides One Comment

Do you want to travel to Koh Tao, Thailand? Here’s our DIY Travel Guide to Koh Tao, with suggested tours.

DIY Travel Guide to Koh Tao, Thailand
Photo by Valeriy Ryasnyanskiy on Unsplash

Located in the Gulf of Thailand is a small but breathtaking island, Koh Tao. The “Turtle Island” is surrounded by abundant marine life and crystal clear waters making it one of the best diving destinations in the world. You can get a PADI license here for an affordable price. Read more of our guide to know what to do, where to stay, and where to eat.

Things to do in Koh Tao, Thailand

1. Enjoy Sairee Beach

DIY Travel Guide to Koh Tao, Thailand
Photo by Stephanie Ecate on Unsplash

One of the most popular and accessible beaches in Koh Tao is Sairee Beach. The waters are calm and warm and it’s really good for swimming. There are also many restaurants and bars nearby so if you are done enjoying the waters, you can grab a drink. Nightlife is bustling here compared to other beaches.

Suggested Tours: Ferry & Bus Combo Ticket between Nakhon Si Thammarat (Airport) and Koh Tao by Lomprayah

2. Get a PADI License

DIY Travel Guide to Koh Tao, Thailand
Photo by Wouter Naert on Unsplash

One of the things listed in our travel guide to Koh Tao is getting a PADI License. PADI means Professional Association of Diving Instructors. In Koh Tao, you can learn how to dive from well-experienced instructors and be given diving certifications recognized internationally. It’s pretty cheap to learn here compared to other islands. Plus, the view and the marine life is so worth exploring.

Suggested Tours: Nava Scuba Diving Experience at Koh Tao

Transportation Tip: If you’re looking for the cheapest way to book the Trains, Buses, Ferries, Transfers on this route, we use 12Go.Asia to compare the prices!

Powered by 12Go Asia system

3. Visit Nang Yuan Island

DIY Travel Guide to Koh Tao, Thailand
Photo by Darren Lawrence on Unsplash

A separate smaller island from Koh Tao is Nang Yuan. With clear waters and an abundance of fishes, it’s one of the best spots to snorkel. You can also hike on a hill to check out a spectacular view. Come here early morning to avoid the crowds.

Suggested Tours: Snorkeling Adventures in Koh Tao and Nang Yuan

4. Hike to John-Suwan Viewpoint

Koh Tao is not a barren island with only white sand and waters; it also has hills and luscious jungles. It’s not an easy hike uphill and would take 15 – 30 minutes, but the panoramic view of the island and the sea are worth it. I don’t recommend you to wear flip-flops as it not that durable, and it may be harder to climb. This will give you the best view of the sun setting or rising.

Suggested Tours: Ferry & Bus Combo Ticket between Nakhon Si Thammarat (Airport) and Koh Tao by Lomprayah

5. Snorkel kach.howe@gtravelgurus.com


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Written by GTravel Gurus - Contributor

GTravel Gurus – Community Travel Blog is a travel blog and website. We quickly grew into a valuable source of inspiring travel stories, advice, itineraries and travel guides, with the aim of demonstrating how to live a sustainable life of travel, whilst living your own definition of success. If you'd like to contribute and write a guest post, contact us kach.howe@gtravelgurus.com