Best things to do in Koh Tao: Tropical bliss

Paradise on earth, you will fall in love with these things to do in Koh Tao. Out of the nine places I visited in South Thailand, Koh Tao hands down takes the biscuit. The laid back lifestyle combined with the turquoise waters, incredible diving, jaw dropping views and buzzing night life make it an absolute must on your Thailand trip.

When travelling through South Thailand, I actually visited Koh Tao last. I went to the west locations first which included Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lipe and Railay. Then headed west to Koh Samui and Koh Tao. This was definitely the best way to do it as the best was saved till last. I also went back to Koh Tao a month after leaving to meet my Mum who flew in from the UK for my final week here, so I spent a total of 18 days here! With good reason too…

Getting around Koh Tao

Whilst still small, Koh Tao is slightly bigger than the east islands, but smaller than its neighbours Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Nevertheless, the best way to get around is by scooter. These are pretty inexpensive at a few pounds a day before fuel and the roads are in relatively good condition. If this isn’t for you, absolutely no judgement at all.

There are taxi spots especially in the main Sairee area but be prepared that the price is more if there’s less of you, so I recommend trying to get a group together if you’re wanting to visit a particular beach. We paid the equivalent of £4.50 each for a group of five for a round trip to Tanote Bay, a beach which is about a 15 minute drive.

Snorkelling and diving in Koh Tao

Now, this is next level. Both rank as one of the best things to do in Koh Tao. You will not believe the underwater world that exists here. I have quite an issue with my ears as I had an unbelievable number of ear infections as a kid, so I could only snorkel. But honestly if this is also you or you’re on a bit more of a budget and can’t afford diving, you won’t be disappointed.

It is absolutely stunning. The vibrant colours of the coral and fish are hypnotic. You could book a snorkelling trip, but personally I find these a little crowded, so I just went off with some hostel friends. The best spots for snorkelling are on the east side of the island, especially Shark Bay. I was lucky enough to stay in this area on my second visit with my Mum and took full advantage of the snorkelling.

At around 4pm, expect to bump into turtles and black tip reef sharks…don’t worry, the sharks are only small and harmless! What’s more, I also saw a five-foot long barracuda which scared the life out of me, but what an incredible sighting. I came back to the beach where my Mum was waiting with two mojitos (top tier babe) and was squealing with excitement. You’ll also see loads of other sea life such as parrot fish, sea cucumbers and more.

Fire shows

This applies for the whole of South Thailand to be fair, but I’ve popped it here as it became one of our favourite things to do in Koh Tao. In particular, Lotus Bar down on the beach has a great one. The bar itself has bean bags all over the beach, is not expensive and is just a great vibe overall. However I will say, this is a spot on the famous Koh Tao bar crawl, which is the biggest in Thailand! So if you’re just looking for a quiet one, try not to overlap with these guys.

The fire show has an incredible variety of tricks being performed. Some were executed whilst standing on chairs in the sea, others saw fire spinning right over the audience’s heads. There’s even an opportunity to go up and try the tricks yourself, something I loved doing. Then to finish it all off, you can then join in with fire limbo, because why not? Don’t worry though, you’re welcome to just sit back and enjoy the show with your cocktail.

Queen’s Cabaret

The most fun night of your life, trust me. Now, I lived in Brighton for five years, where there is a lot of drag shows. This was therefore, an absolute hoot for me and a brilliant start to any night out. It’s definitely not cabaret, but who cares? There’s two times of show and I’d recommend the slightly later one which kicks off at about 9:30pm. Entry is the equivalent of £5, which includes a drink…so I mean the night is basically free, right?

You’ll see some incredible performances that will make you scream with laughter one minute before tearing up with sadness the next. It’s a real rollercoaster but an absolute must. If you really want to be immersed in the action, get there early and get a seat at the front. You’ll be in for a treat because my god, do those drag queens like to get up close and personal.

View points

This is on most travellers’ lists for things to do in Koh Tao, and there’s definitely justification for this. Now I will confess, I suck at planning. Therefore, we did miss sunset as we were too busy playing in the sea and enjoying happy hour. However, it was still gorgeous.

We ventured upto Love Koh Tao, which I will say is very steep on a bike, so be prepared. There’s a cute little restaurant and bar at the top and the view is just jaw dropping