Ko Tao is one of Thailand’s major visitor hotspots. The name translates as Turtle Island and being Ko Tao a diving hotspot. It’s simple to realize the reason. Ko Tao is situated on the Chumphon Archipelago and is a tiny island, just about 21km squared.
This little island is well-known for scuba diving and is one of the cheapest places on the earth you can obtain yourself a scuba diving license. You can’t keep away from the chance to dive with turtles, even though there are numerous other activities to become involved. There are lots of paid and free things to do in Ko Tao.
Ko Tao is a little more exclusive in shops and restaurants to it being a distant island, but it’s not excessively posh, and it’s still reasonable on tourists’ budget. This impressive Thai island provides enjoyment for everyone, even those of you on a family vacation to Thailand.
Top 15 BEST Things to do in Ko Tao
Take a Hike to a Viewpoint
There are some short hiking trails in Ko Tao that take you to spectacular viewpoints. Some of the finest to consider are the John Suwan Viewpoint and Fraggle Rock.
It’s great to set out hiking early in the morning or just before sunset, as the midday sun can be extreme.
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Take a Day Tour to Koh Nang Yuan

Koh Nang Yuan is a small island that makes for a superb day trip. Besides relaxing on the postcard-worthy beaches and enjoying some outstanding snorkeling, you can find a fine adrenaline rush here on the fantastic zipline.
Koh Nang Yuan is the home to the world’s first island-to-island zipline, which features some pretty implausible views. Exploring this island is one of the most enjoyable things to do in Ko Tao.
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Visit the Street Night Market
Just across the Ko Tao Leisure Park, there is a night market. It’s a great place to explore and try some street food. The market also has other kinds of stuff, for example, clothes, jewelry, purses, and more that you’ll get at really reasonable prices. The market also had a few games similar to those you spot at the fair.
FIND HOTEL DEALS: Best hotels in Koh Tao
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Take a Trip to Ang Thong National Park
Both Ko Tao and Koh Samui can reach this isolated marine park. On tour around Ang Thong, you’ll get to enjoy some snorkeling and a short, exciting hike to an attractive lagoon. You’ll likely notice some wildlife too, including dusky langurs, hornbills, silver-haired bats, and hawksbill turtles.
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Climb on Rocks
Why not try a rock climbing in Ko Tao? Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there’s a climbing path here for you. There are several shops offering climbing courses. After that severe workout climbing, it’s lots of fun cliff jumping in the water and cooling off.
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Top attractions to see in Ko Tao
Visit Ko Tao’s Best Beaches
Ko Tao is blessed with beautiful best beaches. There are beaches for everyone, for instance, families, snorkelers, and swimmers. The beaches of Ko Tao are remarkably gorgeous with white sand and clear turquoise waters. It is best to splurge a few hours on the beach under the shade of the palm trees.
FIND HOTEL DEALS: Best hotels in Koh Tao
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Take a Boat Trip around Ko Tao

Take an amazing private boat tour around Ko Tao. There are a few boat tours in Ko Tao that will offer you with a 9 am-5 pm trip around some little neighboring islands. Make sure to search out a boat tour that contains; transfers, snorkeling, equipment, lunch, fresh fruit as well as water.
FIND HOTEL DEALS: Best hotels in Koh Tao
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Visit the King Rama V Memorial on Sairee Beach
At the southern end of the Sairee Beach, you will get a statue of King Rama V, who visited Ko Tao in 1899 and left his initials in stone at the Jor Por Ror Bay (the bay close to Sairee Beach). The locals very much respected the king and at present, you will locate his statue on the beach in remembrance of Rama V.
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Go on a Snorkeling Cruise

You don’t have to be a diver to enjoy the marine world that surrounds Ko Tao. There are lots of snorkeling cruises for those who aren’t dive certified but still desire to enjoy the abundant underwater life. Besides seeing turtles, you might also spot blacktip reef sharks and blue spotted rays.
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Try Kayak in Ko Tao
You can kayak to a few of Ko Tao’s top bays for instance; Sai Nuan, Jansom Bay, and Freedom beach. Moreover, kayaking in Ko Tao is great for finding those sweet snorkeling spots. Put on a life jacket, confirm the local weather, and bail out any water that seeps into the kayak.
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Top things to experience in Ko Tao
Try a Yoga Class in Ko Tao
Get in touch with your body and mind, and spirit with one of the yoga classes in Ko Tao. The locals rate it extremely as a way of relaxing, finding focus, and toning the body. There are lots of diverse styles of yoga for you to try out! There are quite a few yoga studios in Ko Tao these days.
FIND HOTEL DEALS: Best hotels in Koh Tao
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Take a Thai Cooking Class
Thai food is one of the top cuisines on earth. Signing up for a Thai cooking class is one of the top things to do in Ko Tao. Discover how to cook some traditional tasty Thai dishes and then amaze your friends back home with your cooking expertise.
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Get a Thai Massage
Everyone knows massages are a huge part of Thai culture and you won’t have to look far in Ko Tao to get a massage area. For a super experience, get a massage at one of the several massage beds on the beach. You can enjoy the sunset while you have the pressure from your shoulders massaged away.
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FIND HOTEL DEALS: Best hotels in Koh Tao
Top food to eat in Ko Tao
Eat a Banana Pancake
These pancakes can be found across the cities of Southeast Asia, but no place seems to have more of an abundance of pancake carts than the island of Ko Tao. Nutella, bananas, chocolate syrup, and peanut butter: these pancakes can be topped with any amount of ingredients, so you are free to pick and choose your heart’s (or stomach’s) desire.
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Pad Thai
Pad Thai is an all-time favorite for many tourists and perhaps the most famous Thai dish. It is a stir-fried rice noodle dish with soaked dried rice noodles, and stirred-fried with eggs and meat, shrimps or tofu and flavored with fish sauce, dried shrimp, palm sugar, shallots or garlic, red chili pepper. It is typically served with lime wedges, chopped roast peanuts, and bean sprouts.
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Check out these activities in Ko Tao
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