Attractions in Koh Tao

That is not a drawback. It is exactly what makes a day on Koh Tao easy to plan: you choose water or land, and do not try to cram seven spots into one day.

Snorkelling and diving

This is the main activity on the island. The reefs around the bays are accessible, and some are close enough to the shore to go in without a boat.

The Koh Nang Yuan coral reserve, right next to Koh Tao, is one of the best-known snorkelling spots in the area, and our trip combines it with Koh Tao on the same day.

Viewpoints

The island is mountainous, and its viewpoints look down over the bays. The climb to them is short but steep, so it is worth doing in the less hot hours of the day.

Bays and beaches

Moving between bays is itself the activity. Some are busier and some are almost empty, and the distances are short enough to see several of them in one day.

A typical day on the island

The pace on Koh Tao is set by the heat and the sea. The morning is the time for the water: that is when it is calmest and the light is best for snorkelling, and the afternoon is left for the beach, the shade and the next bay.

Anyone planning two days on the island usually dedicates the first to the sea and the second to land: a viewpoint, moving between bays, and a sunset at one of them. Three days also allow a beginner diving course.

What to bring for a day at sea

The list is short but important: sunscreen, a shirt you can swim in — it protects your back better than any cream — water shoes, and water.

If you have your own snorkel mask, it is worth bringing: a mask that fits your face makes a bigger difference than you might think.

What you will not find here

Koh Tao has no water parks, big shows or malls. Anyone who wants those on the route needs to add another island or a city, and the site has attraction pages for each of those destinations.

That is not a drawback but a definition: Koh Tao is an island you come to for one thing and do it well. Anyone who expects it to be a small Phuket will leave disappointed, and anyone who knows what they are coming for will not.

Want us to put it together for you?

Tell us when you plan to fly, with whom, and how much time you have, and we will come back with an itinerary, hotels and attractions that fit exactly that — in Hebrew.