Looking for a 3 day Koh Tao itinerary? Here’s our in-depth travel guide on the best things to do in Koh Tao including which dive company to book with, where to stay and the best restaurants in Koh Tao. With 3 days in Koh Tao you can explore the beautiful underwater world, hike to spectacular viewpoints and relax on the beaches around the island. Let’s plan your Koh Tao 3 day itinerary!
Koh Tao is one of Thailand’s most popular islands and we’re going to show you why! Close to the famous Koh Samui and Koh Phangnan, Koh Tao is located in the Gulf of Thailand and you’ll need to take a ferry to get there. There are so many things to do in Koh Tao that will make the journey worth it!
The island is covered in gorgeous palm trees, rock formations and crystal-clear snorkelling spots. Koh Tao literally translates to Turtle Island which is the perfect name for one of the best places in the world to learn how to dive.
Koh Tao is home to beautiful coral reefs, hawksbill and green sea turtles, blacktip reef sharks and much more! You can spend weeks on the island visiting all the amazing dive spots and discovering unique species!
With 3 days in Koh Tao, you’ll have enough time to see the main highlights and spend at least one day diving or snorkelling. So let’s get into the helpful travel tips to create the perfect 3 day Koh Tao itinerary.
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Planning a 3 Day Koh Tao Itinerary
- Thailand Currency – Thai Baht (Compare the currency here)
- Thailand Power Voltage – Plugs A & C (220 V)
- Cash or card – Koh Tao is mainly a cash-only island but some places may take cards!
- Simcard – True Move at 7/11
Here’s a quick list of things you can check or book before your trip!
- Check for any public holidays in Thailand (check here!)
- Book your flights (check prices here!)
- Book your accommodation (book here for hotels & here for hostels!)
- Planning the rest of your trip? Here’s our 2 Week South Thailand Itinerary!
- Also, check out 11 + Things to Know Before Visiting Thailand (2024)!
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing is a flexible monthly-rolling travel & medical insurance to help you stay covered during your trip to Koh Tao or anywhere in the world! – Find out more here!
Best time to visit Koh Tao
The best time to visit Koh Tao is from November to April which is the dry season in Thailand. Koh Tao has a tropical and hot climate all year round with the wet season from May to October.
It’s possible to visit Koh Tao any time of year, however during the wet season ferries and boat trips can be affected by heavy storms! The busiest time to visit is usually December and accommodation may be slightly more than usual.
How to get to Koh Tao
The best and only way to get to Koh Tao is by ferry and speedboat! Chumphon and Surat Thani are the two main ferry terminals to get to Koh Tao and there are also stops at Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. These ferries are often overnight and can take
Flight – Koh Tao does not have an airport. If you want to fly to Koh Tao the closest airport is Koh Samui or Surat Thani, which are both a ferry ride away. Check flights on Skyscanner!
How to get from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao – There are usually a few speedboats a week and sometimes daily. Head to Thong Sala pier and you’ll arrive at Mae Haad in Koh Tao in 1.5 hours.
How to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao – Get a bus to Chumphon and then take a ferry. The journey can take up to 10 hours altogether.
How to get around Koh Tao
Although Koh Tao is a small island, it’s definitely a little too big to walk. If you’re located near the pier or
Sairee Beach then you won’t need transportation when you arrive. However, some of the beaches and viewpoints around the island are along hilly roads and it’s best to catch a ride or rent a scooter.
Renting a scooter: The best way to get around Koh Tao is by scooter as it gives you so much freedom! We highly recommend Red Power Motor (Here’s the location) for great service and prices close to 200 Baht. We had our international driver’s permit with us and rented the scooter for 1 week.
Longtail boats: These are a great way to get around the island, especially to Koh Nang Yuan. You’ll usually find them along beaches offering tours to go snorkelling.
Taxi: The taxis in Koh Tao are pick-up trucks and another great way to get around the island if you don’t want to rent a scooter. They usually charge per person and some hotels in Koh Tao can arrange transportation for you.
3 Day Koh Tao Itinerary: Best Things To Do (2024)
As Koh Tao is a small island, the best things to do in Koh Tao involve beaches, diving, snorkelling and a few hikes around the hilly island. Here’s how you can plan your 3 day Koh Tao itinerary!
Day 1 – Viewpoints, Sharks & Beaches
On Day 1 of your 3 day itinerary in Koh Tao, you’ll want to arrive and drop your bags off at your accommodation. If you’re staying near the pier or Sairee Beach it should be a pretty easy walk and there’s a long path to follow with shops, cafes and restaurants!
If you’re after some lunch when you arrive, we highly recommend Vegetabowl for some healthy delicious food!
Take in the scenery at John-Suwan Viewpoint
The first activity on this Koh Tao itinerary is one of the best viewpoints in Koh Tao – John-Suwan Viewpoint! It’s totally possible to grab a taxi here, however, we recommend renting your own scooter to get around the island easier. We rented one Red Power Motor for a great price!
John-Suwan Viewpoint is definitely worth adding to your 3 days in Koh Tao. It’s a short 10 – 15 minute hike up to the viewpoint but it does involve some rock scrambling. It’s really not too hard but it’s best to not wear flip-flops.
Once you reach the top you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the island, including palm trees, turquoise waters and long stretches of beach. We visited on a very windy day, so we had to be extra careful at the top!
There is a small price of 50 baht to enter the area, but it also includes a beach which we’ll show you next! Here’s the location – John-Suwan Viewpoint
Relax at Freedom Beach
Just around the corner from John-Suwan Viewpoint is Freedom Beach. The 50 baht entry covers both of these activities and you’ll pay from the car park.
Honestly, we could have spent all day at Freedom Beach. There’s such a chill vibe with music, friendly dogs and crystal-clear water to snorkel in. The water here really is turquoise! It’s a beautiful place to visit during your 3 days in Koh Tao and if you visit in the afternoon you can take shade under the trees.
Snorkel at Shark Bay
We highly recommend visiting Shark Bay on your 3 day itinerary in Koh Tao as you’ll have the opportunity to swim with black-tip reef sharks! They are not dangerous in most cases and are quite shy sharks (which can make them harder to find).
Green Sea Turtles also live at Shark Bay including many other tropical fish, it’s best to visit early morning before 10 am for a high chance of seeing them.
We visited here multiple times on our Koh Tao itinerary to see turtles or black-tip reef sharks. The more times you visit, the higher chance you have of seeing one! Luckily Dan spotted a black-tip reef shark swimming straight past him and we both saw so many turtles!
Tip – The turtles nest in the area so you may see them pop up for air! We saw quite a few come to the surface whilst lounging on the nearby rocks.
How to get to Shark Bay? – Head to Taatoh Seaview Resort and walk down to the ocean passing guesthouses on either side. There’s a ladder to get into the ocean, but be very careful of the waves! There’s a restaurant nearby renting snorkels and finds. Find the location here – Shark Bay!
Watch the sunset at Sairee Beach
After an adventurous first day, it’s time to head to Sairee Beach to watch the sunset.
Sairee Beach is the main beach in Koh Tao and it’s where a lot of the best restaurants and bars are. Check out La Pizzeria or any of the Thai restaurants in the area. There’s also a main strip with many shops if you’re in need of anything! Here’s the location for Sairee Beach.
Planning the rest of your Thailand trip? Here’s our 2-week South Thailand itinerary for the best island hopping!!
Day 2 – Go Diving or Snorkelling
As Koh Tao is famous for its amazing diving, we have to add a day of diving to this 3 day Koh Tao itinerary. If diving isn’t your thing, take a snorkel trip instead to similar spots around the island. The ocean is beautiful in this area of the world!
Go Diving
Diving is ultimately one of the best things to do in Koh Tao and you can spend a whole week or more exploring new dive sites or getting a diving certification. Koh Tao is one of the most affordable places to get your PADI license which means you can go diving in many locations around the world.
We did our PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water whilst on Koh Tao with Ocean Sound Dive & Yoga and honestly had the best time!
It’s such an amazing experience to add to your 3 day Koh Tao itinerary and you can see fish such as Triggerfish, Pufferfish, Rays, Anemonefish, Trevally, Angelfish and if you’re really lucky it’s possible to see whale sharks!
You won’t have to worry about any diving gear as the companies on Koh Tao have all the equipment you need! Just bring your swimsuit, a reusable water bottle and some snacks!
Some of the dive sites in Koh Tao include:
- White Rock
- Southwest Pinnacle
- Shark Island (a spot to see turtles and sharks)!
- HTMS Sattakut (shipwreck)!
- Chumphon Pinnacle
- Junkyard Reef – (a wonderful artificial reef built with unwanted objects such as old gym equipment, old cars and toilets)!
At the end of day 2, you will have successfully gone diving in one of the best locations in the world! Once back on the island of Koh Tao, find a lovely restaurant or bar to end your day. We recommend Tukta Thai Restaurant for delicious Thai food!
Check out our 11+ Best Thailand Travel Tips: Things to Know Before Visiting Thailand (2024)!
Day 3 – More Islands, Viewpoints & Beaches
On the last morning of your 3 day itinerary in Koh Tao, it’s time to take a little boat trip to a beautiful island just next to Koh Tao. We also recommend you spend your afternoon at one of our favourite beaches in Koh Tao before leaving the island.
Take a trip to Koh Nang Yuan
Koh Nang Yuan is a small island covered in jungle trees and long strips of beach joining the islands together. It’s an incredible day trip from Koh Tao and can be seen in a few hours. It’s best to visit at low tide so you can see the beaches!
The viewpoint on Koh Nang Yuan is one of the most famous and photographed panoramas in Thailand – and it’s definitely worth a visit on your 3 day Koh Tao itinerary.
It’s a steep but short hike up to the viewpoint and make sure you have water! Sadly we missed out on this viewpoint, so the best photo we have is the one below (the viewpoint is the rock on the right). Here’s the location for the island, although it’s not hard to miss – Koh Nang Yuan Location.
How to get to Koh Nang Yuan – Although it looks far away from Koh Tao, it’s only a 15-minute boat ride away! Head to Sairee Beach and ask any of the long-tail boats for a ride to the island. The rides can be around 300 baht for a return trip and it’s often cheaper with more people onboard!
Once you’re finished at Koh Nang Yuan, head back to Koh Tao for your final stop of this Koh Tao itinerary.
Chill at Tanote Bay
Tanote Bay is one of our favourite beaches in Koh Tao. Like most areas on the island, the snorkelling is amazing here and you can even see turtles here. The coral starts almost immediately so be very careful when getting in the water, but there’s tropical fish everywhere!
There are a few restaurants in the area offering snorkel and fin rentals for around 100 – 150 baht. Of course, they also offer drinks and food.
If you’re feeling adventurous, there’s a rock in the water that people were jumping off. It looks pretty tricky to get up there but there are ropes to guide you up and the water is deep enough!
It’s also another great spot for sunset in Koh Tao, although it’s perfect to visit all day. Here’s the location for Tanote Bay.
That’s the end of your Koh Tao 3 day itinerary! It’s possible to mix these days up and do these activities in a different order but this is a great start to planning your Koh Tao itinerary.
More days on your Koh Tao Itinerary?
- Hike to Mango Bay
- Spend more days diving or get a diving qualification!
- Discover more beautiful beaches in Koh Tao
- Day Trip to Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park
- Snorkel at Ao Hin Wong
Planning on visiting more of the Thai Islands? Here’s our 2-week South Thailand itinerary!
Where to stay in Koh Tao
The best area to stay in Koh Tao is Sairee Beach and Mae Haad. These locations are close to the pier and all the best restaurants in Koh Tao! Another great area to stay in Koh Tao is the chilled-out Chalok Baan Kao Bay, it’s more laid back than the popular bars around Sairee Beach.
Koh Tao Hotels, Hostels & Guesthouses
Budchui Village2 $ (Sairee Beach) – Lovely private rooms with a pool, close to the beach! We stayed here for a week and loved it! – Find here on Booking.com!
Aiya Resort Koh-Tao $-$$ (Sairee Beach) – Another lovely resort with a pool! – Find here on Booking.com!
Sairee Hut Resort Koh Tao-SHA Plus $$ (Sairee Beach) – This place also has a pool and a great option for 3 days in Koh Tao. – Find here on Booking.com!
Best Restaurants in Koh Tao
- Vegetabowl $-$$ (Sairee Beach) – Our favourite restaurant in Koh Tao
- La Pizzeria $$ (Sairee Beach) – Best Italian restaurant in Koh Tao
- Coconut Monkey $-$$ (Mae Haad Pier) – A huge menu with great prices
- La Carotte Qui Rit $-$$ (Mae Haad Pier) – Great Thai food near the pier
- The Factory Cafe $$ (Sairee Beach) – Amazing vegan cakes, coffee and brunches
We’d love to create a Koh Tao vegan guide! Here’s a Top 8 Vegan Restaurants in Koh Samui, Thailand 2024 and Ultimate Vegan Restaurants in Phuket – Vegan Food Guide in Thailand we’ve already put together. Thailand is home to some of the best food and that includes Koh Tao!
3 Day Koh Tao Itinerary Breakdown
Day 1 – Viewpoints, Shark Bay & Beaches / Day 2 – Go Diving or Snorkelling / Day 3 – Koh Nang Yuan & Tanote Bay
How many days to spend in Koh Tao
We’ve shown you how to spend 3 days in Koh Tao and we definitely think that’s the minimum amount of days you need to spend in Koh Tao. As it takes a little while to get to Koh Tao, it’ll feel quite hard to leave after only 2 days.
If you want to get your PADI diving certificate, you probably want to spend 4 to 5 days in Koh Tao as the diving course takes around 3 days (and it’s pretty exhausting)!
Want to be more sustainable for your 3 days in Koh Tao? Check out these 18 Great Eco-Friendly Travel Products You Need to Swap!
Best dive companies in Koh Tao
Before 2020, there were 70+ dive companies in Koh Tao and sadly not all of them made it through 2020 when the toursim stopped. However, there are still around 30 dive companies on the island and it’s still growing! It can be pretty hard to choose as all dive companies offer the same thing for similar prices.
After a lot of research, we highly recommend booking with Ocean Sound Dive + Yoga!
We did our PADI Open Water Diver Course with one of Ocean Sounds lovely instructors and ended up loving it so much that we also booked our PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course with them and extended our Koh Tao itinerary! All of the team are great and they share a boat with other dive companies, so there’s a fun atmosphere.
Here’s Ocean Sounds Website where you can find up-to-date information and prices. In 2024 they’re currently offering PADI Open Water Diver courses for 9,900 and a discount on your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (usually 10,000) if you do both courses with them. Also here’s Ocean Sound’s location!
Prices include: All equipment and dive computer rental, PADI certification fee, PADI digital manual/logbook and dive Insurance coverage!
What to pack for 3 days in Koh Tao?
Koh Tao has a tropical climate so you’ll need summer clothes and swimwear! It’s also a good idea to bring a rain jacket as the showers are heavy in Thailand, especially in the rainy season. Here are a few travel essentials we love:
- International Worldwide Travel Adaptor – The ultimate adaptor when travelling to multiple countries.
- Amazon Basics Packing Cubes – The best way to pack your bag for a 3 day trip to Koh Tao.
- Sawyer Mini Water Filter – Save plastic and use a water filter to clean the tap water in Thailand.
- Stainless Steel Water Bottle – The best travel item you can bring is a reusable water bottle.
- Waterproof Bag 20L with Waterproof Phone Case – Keep your valuables safe on boat trips!
- Joby GorillaPod 3K Pro Kit – The ultimate lightweight tripod to take photos independently. We have a Joby GorillaPod and use it for our Sony A6000!
Is Koh Tao a party island?
Koh Tao isn’t known as a party island, but there are definitely parties to find. On Sairee Beach you’ll find a strip of restaurants, shops and bars – this is where to find the best places for a drink!
Is Koh Tao worth visiting?
Yes! We spent more than 3 days in Koh Tao exploring the beaches, and diving spots and just relaxing. There’s a huge diving community here and it truly is one of the best places to learn how to dive. It’s easy to find delicious Thai food and cafes with international cuisine.
We didn’t get a chance to visit Koh Tao on our first trip to Thailand, so we made it a priority on our second trip and are so glad we did! If you have the time, definitely add Koh Tao to your Thailand itinerary. It’s a great idea to pair it with visiting Koh Phangan or Koh Samui.
Is Koh Tao worth visiting if you’re not a diver?
If you’re not interested in diving whilst in Koh Tao, don’t worry, there are plenty of things to do! Although diving is a popular activity here, you can snorkel to see the marine life or just relax on the beaches! The nightlife is pretty good and there are many restaurants, shops and cafes to spend your days in. Hopefully, this 3 day Koh Tao itinerary helped you plan your trip!
Don’t forget about Travel Insurance! – SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
SafetyWing is a totally flexible monthly-rolling travel insurance to help you stay safe on your Koh Tao itinerary and anywhere in the world. Find out more here!
Check out our other Thailand Posts:
- The Best 2 week South Thailand Itinerary (2024)
- 3 Day Koh Samui Itinerary: The Best Koh Samui Guide
- Ultimate Vegan Restaurants in Phuket – Vegan Food Guide in Thailand
- The Best 4 Day Phuket Itinerary: What To Do (2024)
- Volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare: Thailand (2024)
- 3 Day Koh Lanta Itinerary: Best Things To Do (2024)
- 11+ Best Thailand Travel Tips: Things to Know Before Visiting Thailand (2024)
- Top 8 Vegan Restaurants in Koh Samui, Thailand 2024
- Or browse our travel blog for more inspiration!
That’s the end of our 3 Day Koh Tao Itinerary: Best Things To Do (2024)! Have a fantastic time in Koh Tao and if you need any more help planning – send us a message on Instagram (@thesunrisedreamers) or leave a comment below!
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