Ko Tao: Diving, Coves and Island Views

Ko Tao combines a landscape shaped by steep limestone mountains with opportunities for snorkeling and scuba diving. Viewpoints, beaches and coves offer further perspectives on the destination. The places and activities below show the different sides of the island you can consider as you plan your visit.

Island Profile: Limestone, Views and Beach

Steep limestone mountains define Ko Tao; flat areas account for only 30% of the island’s land area. The strong contrast between steep terrain and limited flat areas is therefore a defining feature of the island. Ko Tao and Ko Nang Yuan are the two main islands of the Ko Tao archipelago.

The Sun Suwan Viewpoint offers a 360-degree view of Ko Tao. Laem Ta Toh offers a different perspective: a hilltop viewpoint looks out over Ao Thian Ok and Ao Chalok Ban Kao. Sairee Beach is the longest beach on Ko Tao. It is characterized by white sand and a coral reef running parallel to the beach. Unlike the viewpoints, the focus here is on the interplay between beach and reef; Laem Ta Toh, by contrast, looks out over two named coves. This makes it easy to distinguish the island panorama, the views of the coves and the beach-and-reef scenery.

Diving, Snorkeling and Coastal Spots

Snorkeling and scuba diving are among the main activities on Ko Tao. The island is an internationally popular destination for dive training; visitors come from all over the world to earn an Open Water diving certification. Ko Tao is also an important nesting area for hawksbill and green sea turtles.

Ao Laem Thian is a small cove lined with cliffs, with beautiful rock formations, a shallow coral reef and brightly colored fish. Ao Tanote lies on the eastern side of Ko Tao and is an area for observing coral. The two places have distinct profiles: Ao Laem Thian combines a cove, cliffs and rock formations, while Ao Tanote is defined by its eastern location and opportunities to observe coral.

Visitors can take boat trips around Ko Tao to the island’s beaches and coves. These trips add time on the water to the coastal scenery described above and offer another activity alongside snorkeling and scuba diving.

Getting Around and Finding Your Way

On Ko Tao, it is possible to get around by boat, car and motorbike. One of the island’s two transport routes runs north from the pier to Sairee Beach. This places Sairee Beach both as the island’s longest beach and as the destination of this northern route.

Dive training, the viewpoints and the different coastal settings give your choices a clear thematic focus. You can then compare hotel offers based on their respective details.

Discover more destinations: Krut, Surat Thani, Hua Toei, Bo Put, Tha Khanon, Phanom, Taling Ngam, Lipa Noi

Back to the main travel overview: Surat Thani.