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Things to do in Ko Tao

Our most recommended things to do in Ko Tao

From Ko Tao: Snorkeling Day Trip to Koh Nang Yuan with Meals

1. From Ko Tao: Snorkeling Day Trip to Koh Nang Yuan with Meals

Explore Koh Nang Yuan, a group of 3 tiny islets off Ko Tao’s northwest coast, on a day trip with hotel transfers. Get access to paddleboards, kayaks, and snorkeling gear to enjoy your time on the water. Savor a buffet lunch on board with tea and coffee, and a BBQ dinner with unlimited soft drinks. Get picked up from your hotel in Ko Tao and get driven to the pier to begin your adventure. Soak up the sun on the small beach that links this palm-fringed island to the neighboring Koh Nang Yuan. Next, head to the Japanese Gardens diving site in a sheltered bay on the east side part of Koh Nang Yuan. Explore a rich variety of coral and underwater fauna along the granite rocks. After an hour, hop back on board to relax on the sun deck while the crew serves a freshly-prepared lunch. Savor the meal as you soak in views of Nang Yuan Island and Mango Bay. Next up, find yourself surrounded by lush green hills and boulders at the pristine Ao Muong Beach, a picture-postcard resort town in Mango Bay with more snorkeling opportunities. Continue to the east coast of Ko Tao to reach the large bay of Hin Wong. Relax on Ao Hin Wong Beach or go snorkeling. If you’re lucky, you can see schools of sardines being chased by hungry trevally fish at a depth of 1 meter. Then, head to Aow Leuk beach where you can observe a great diversity of fish of different sizes and sometimes small harmless sharks just a few steps into the water. In the middle of the bay is a sandy bottom, so float around without worrying about hitting rocks. Move toward Shark Bay to observe sharks swimming peacefully above the seabed. Go 6 to 12 feet deep in the water to watch blacktip reef sharks, some of them over 6 feet long, crisscross the bay. As the day comes to a close, watch the sunset while treating your tastebuds to a BBQ dinner on the way back to Mae Haad pier.

5 Island Day Trip around Koh Tao & Koh Nangyuan by Sangthong

2. 5 Island Day Trip around Koh Tao & Koh Nangyuan by Sangthong

Start the trip with a pickup service from your hotel lobby and get driven to Mae Haad Pier where you will meet the crew of Sangthong Tours. After a quick health check, board the modified fishing cutter and chug to the first snorkel spot at Koh Nangyuan off Koh Tao’s northwest coast. Walk on the iconic beach that links the group of three islands of Koh Nangyuan together, and climb up to the viewpoint on the peak of the highest of the three islands. There are a few separate swimming areas with tropical fish, including Japanese Garden as the best snorkeling spot and others where you can just chill out and relax. Head over to Mango Bay while enjoying a Thai style lunch on board. The bay is named after many mango trees that once grew on this part of Koh Tao in abundance. The magnificent Mango Bay shines with turquoise green and beautiful waters that are full of marine life. Due to shallows off the beach and the sandy seafloor that gives the water a beautiful turquoise green hue, Mango Bay is a go-to destination for snorkel activities. Continue to Hin Wong Bay located on the east coast of Koh Tao surrounded by big boulders. There are several underwater pinnacles covered in fertile coral, anemones and many kinds of fish that can be seen here. The water here is incredibly clear and you may be lucky enough to see great schools of sardines being chased by hungry trevally in water less than a metre deep. The next stop is at Aow Luek which is named for its deep, concave shape as well as the depth of the water which makes it good for snorkeling even at very low tide. Expect a stunning scenery with white sandy beach and water varying shades of blue, and Shark Island in the background. Before returning to the pier, make a stop at Shark Bay where you can swim alongside the many blacktip reef sharks or the sea turtles that come there each day.

Ko Tao: Try Scuba Diving 1-Day Experience

3. Ko Tao: Try Scuba Diving 1-Day Experience

Try out scuba diving on this full-day activity, perfect for those short on time. Meet your group at 9.30am AM and get fitted for the diving equipment. Your instructor will run through a safety briefing and you'll complete a short quiz to make sure you have understood everything.   At 12:15 AM you'll leave from the beach to board a custom-made dive boat with all the facilities required for you to have an enjoyable and relaxed day. Your instructor will set up the kit as you relax on the sun deck. When you reach the calm bay start off in shallow water to build your confidence and learn some basic diving skills.   Then follow your instructor to a maximum depth of 12 meters, while taking in the awe-inspiring sights of your first underwater diving experience. Afterwards, relax on the boat or enjoy the option to jump in again for a second dive. At the end of your diving experience, return to the dive center at around 4:00 PM.

From Ko Tao: Samui & Koh Nang Yuan Day Tour Speedboat Ticket

4. From Ko Tao: Samui & Koh Nang Yuan Day Tour Speedboat Ticket

Start your journey with a pick-up service at your hotel on Samui Island by air-conditioned van. Enjoy a light breakfast at the check-in point before departure from the pier by speedboat. Arrive at Ao Muang, Mango Bay, Koh Tao, for an hour of swimming and snorkeling, and relaxing on the beautiful beach. Make the most of your memory on this the wonderful islands while enjoying lunch on Koh Tao itself. After lunch, depart for the scenic Nang Yuan Island. Enjoy your paradise from relaxing on the beach, swimming, and snorkeling. Hike up the mountain of the island for one of the most beautiful views of Koh Nang Yuan.

Koh Samui: Koh Tao and Nangyuan Snorkel & Kayak Tour w/Lunch

5. Koh Samui: Koh Tao and Nangyuan Snorkel & Kayak Tour w/Lunch

The friendly team of Insea Speedboat will pick you up directly from the hotel lobby on Koh Samui and bring you to the private pier at Bang Rak. Get helpful information from your guide and enjoy a light breakfast before heading by speedboat to Koh Nangyuan. As you arrive at Koh Nangyuan, we recommend to immediately hike to the top of the spectacular viewpoint to avoid the crowds. It takes around 15 minutes to get to the top. Besides the viewpoint, you can spend time at the beach where a plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas are available to rent. There are a few separate swimming areas on Koh Nangyuan - the Japanese Reef Garden is certainly one of the most impressive snorkel spot. The water is very shallow at the beginning with fine sand. After that it will be a little bit stony because the underground is full of corals, that’s why the water color is so beautiful. Continue by speed boat to Koh Tao which is just half a kilometer from Nangyuan. Stop at a hidden cove in the east of Koh Tao and enjoy a scrumptious Thai style lunch at the beautiful ocean front restaurant. Then it is time for paddling by kayak along the dramatic coastline with steep cliffs. For the more relaxed, cool off in the water and peer into the amazing underwater world from above. Make more snorkel stops at Mango Bay, Lighthouse Bay, Hin Wang Bay or Aow Leuk, and a last one at a secluded beach on Koh Phangan. Remember to capture the memories of a life time by renting one of our underwater digital cameras. Itinerary: • 07:30 - 08:20: Hotel pickup on Koh Samui • 08:20 - 08:50: Meet the boat crew at Insea Speedboat pier • 08:50 - 09:00: Enjoy a light breakfast • 09:00 - 10:30: Cruise by speed boat to Koh Nangyuan • 10:30 - 12:00: Sunbath, snorkel & climb up to the viewpoint of Nangyuan Island • 12:00 - 13:00: Enjoy a scrumptious Thai style buffet lunch in a restaurant on Koh Tao • 13:00 - 13:45: Kayak at the idyllic east coast • 13:45 - 14:30: Snorkel at Buddha Point • 14:30 - 15:30: Swim at a secluded beach on Koh Phangan • 15:30 - 16:00: Head back to Koh Samui • 16:00 - 16:30: Transfer back to your hotel

Ko Tao: Open Water Scuba Diving 4-Day Course

6. Ko Tao: Open Water Scuba Diving 4-Day Course

Start your experience with an afternoon orientation at 4:00 PM. The following day begins at 10:00 AM with a classroom session, to learn the basics of scuba diving. At 12:00 PM you'll move to the swimming pool, where your experienced instructor will teach you the skills you need for diving. Learn to clear your mask, retrieve your regulator, and what you should do in the unlikely event of an emergency.   The next day begins at 9:30 AM with another session in the classroom. Learn how diving affects the human body, some basic navigation, and other safety skills. In the afternoon, head out on the boat to complete your first 2 open water dives. Dive to a maximum depth of 12 meters and look out for stingrays, pufferfish, moray eels, and an amazing array of vibrant reef fish.   Your final day starts early at 7:45 AM, with 2 dives at more advanced sites on Ko Tao. See bigger creatures that inhabit the island's waters, like barracuda, queen fish, and even whale sharks if you're very lucky. Afterwards, you'll be able to call yourself an open water diver and be certified up to 18 meters anywhere in the world.

Other Sightseeing Options in Ko Tao

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What people are saying about Ko Tao

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 135 reviews

Best snorkel experience I’ve had! Lovely and friendly crew, very small group (we were 11 people and I think they do max. 15, some other tours have over 50 people on their boats). They prepared a separate lunch for me because of dietary restrictions, I felt really well taken care of. We saw small sharks, a turtle, colorful fish, corals. It was so beautiful and Ke was an amazing snorkel guide. If one spot was too crowded, they brought us to another one where we had the bay to ourselves. Also Ke takes amazing underwater photos with his GoPro and shared them in the evening. 10/10 recommend this tour - if you’re on Koh Tao try it out and it‘s definitely worth the price!

Great experience, very friendly staff, great food and we got to see a turtle. It really was a perfect day trip!

Good and instructive dive leader (James). Me and my friend loved this and learned tons. Highly recommended!

Such a memorable trip! The team are so professional and experienced.. highly recommend

Great one day trip with a lol of snorkeling and time to chill