The sights
Koh Nang Yuan
Three small islands off Koh Tao’s north-west corner, joined by a three-armed sandbar. A stairway and a scramble over boulders lead to a viewpoint above it; the shallow Japanese Gardens reef on the east side is a favourite for first dives and snorkelling.
ℹ️ Longtail or tour boat from Sairee or Mae Haad, 10–15 minutes. Landing fee for visitors. Open during the day only; busiest 10 am–2 pm.
Sairee Beach
Nearly two kilometres of west-facing sand lined with palms, dive schools and beach bars. The water is shallow and calm, and every evening the whole island seems to gather for sunset.
ℹ️ Free. Very shallow at low tide — better for paddling and paddleboarding than for swimming then.
Shark Bay (Thian Og)
A wide southern bay where juvenile blacktip reef sharks patrol the shallows and green turtles graze on the sea grass. Both can usually be seen by snorkelling out from the beach in the morning.
ℹ️ Access is through resorts or by a path; a small fee may apply. Best at high tide. Give animals at least a few metres of space.
John-Suwan viewpoint
A pile of granite boulders on the island’s southern headland, looking over the twin bays of Chalok Baan Kao and Thian Og with the hills behind — the classic Koh Tao panorama.
ℹ️ About 15–20 minutes’ steep walk from Freedom Beach. Small entry fee. Go early or late for cooler air and softer light.
Chumphon Pinnacle & the dive sites
A group of granite pinnacles rising from 35 metres to within 14 metres of the surface, north-west of the island, carpeted in anemones and circled by trevally and barracuda. It is Koh Tao’s best-known deep site.
ℹ️ About 45 minutes by dive boat. For Advanced divers or as a deep training dive. Whale sharks are occasional, most often around March–May and September–October.
Tanote Bay
A boulder-framed bay on the quiet east coast with some of the island’s best snorkelling from shore: coral close in, shoals of fish and a large rock that swimmers jump from.
ℹ️ Reached by a steep concrete road or by taxi boat. Free. Sheltered when the west coast is choppy, and vice versa.
