Island Paradise: Discovering the Best of Koh Tao in Just Three Days

Koh Tao is a small island located in the Gulf of Thailand that is popular among tourists for its world-class diving and snorkeling sites, stunning sunsets, and beautiful beaches. If you’re planning a trip to Thailand, Koh Tao should definitely be on your list of places to visit. 

In this blog post, we’ll share our 2-night, 3-day itinerary that covers some of the best things to do in Koh Tao, including diving, snorkeling, enjoying the sunset, and trying out some amazing vegetarian restaurants. We’ll also provide some tips on where to stay, how to get there, and how much you can expect to spend. Are you ready?

How much time do you need to spend in Koh Tao

Koh Tao is a relatively small island, but there’s plenty to see and do. Ideally, you should plan to spend at least 3-4 days on the island to fully explore it. During this time, you can go diving or snorkeling, explore the beaches and viewpoints, and indulge in some delicious Thai cuisine.

What did we do

Here is a high-level daily summary of our itinerary on Koh Tao:

Day	What did we do?
1 (Monday)	Arrived in Koh Tao, had lunch at Coconut Monkey restaurant, went diving with Master Divers, watched the sunset at Bamboo restaurant, and had dinner at Infinity restaurant followed by vegan ice cream at Permpoon Cup Ice cream.
2 (Tuesday)	Snorkeled around the island, had lunch at Yang restaurant, enjoyed another sunset, and had dinner at STUFFED North China Taste.
3 (Wednesday)	Chilled at Black Tip restaurant/co-working space, tried an ice bath, had a snack at Coconut Monkey restaurant, and took the ferry back to Koh Samui.

The map below captures all the sites we’ve stopped at as well as the places we stayed at.

Day 1 – Diving & Sunset

We arrived in Koh Tao after an early morning ferry ride from Koh Samui. (Book directly via the main company Lomprayah) Our friend was waiting for us at the pier, and we decided to grab lunch at the Coconut Monkey restaurant. While not strict vegetarians, we were happy to find that the restaurant had plenty of vegan and vegetarian options on their menu. We ordered their vegan wrap, which was amazing.

After lunch, we got ready for our first two dives with Master Divers, the dive shop we had chosen for our underwater adventures. The staff at Master Divers provided us with excellent service and made sure we had an unforgettable experience. We dived at the Japanese Garden and Twin sites and were blown away by the colorful marine life we saw and the great quality of the corals.

After diving, we took a break and went to enjoy a beautiful sunset by the beach at a nice bar.

For dinner, we headed to Infinity restaurant, which had been recommended by our dive master. The restaurant was another great find for vegetarians, with a variety of vegan and vegetarian dishes to choose from including some nice penang curry with vegetables, vegetables medley and some shrimp over rice. After dinner, we headed to Permpoon Cup Ice cream for some vegan ice cream.

Did you know that Koh Tao has become known as one of the cheapest destinations for scuba diving in the world due to a number of factors. Firstly, the competition between dive schools is fierce, with dozens of schools all looking for business. This means that prices are very competitive, with many schools offering packages that include multiple dives at a discounted rate. Secondly, the cost of living on the island is relatively low, which means that dive schools can keep their prices down. Finally, the diving conditions around Koh Tao are ideal for beginners, with warm waters and good visibility making it the perfect place to learn to dive. Thirdly most sites are a very short boat ride away so no need to add much fuel cost to the dives. All of these factors combined make Koh Tao an attractive destination for budget-conscious travelers looking to experience the thrill of scuba diving without breaking the bank.

Day 2 – Snorkeling

On Day 2, we hired a private boat driver to take us snorkeling around the island. We visited four different sites, and even though we didn’t see any turtles, the quality of the reef and fish were nonetheless amazing. 

For lunch, we went to Yang restaurant and enjoyed some authentic Thai cuisine. Though as we arrive late the wait time to get our food was quite long. The pad thai was fantastic as well as the other dishes on their quite big menu. 

In the afternoon, we took some time to explore the island and found a small roadside restaurant/store where we could get fresh coconut milkshakes for only 50 Baht. You will find a few on the highland. Definitely pay attention to them 🙂 We probably stop there like 6 times during our stay 😀 

In the evening, we went for dinner at Stuffed North China Taste, where we tried their famous dumplings and meat pies. The restaurant was also vegetarian-friendly, and we loved the food so much that we couldn’t stop talking about it.

Day 3 – Relaxing day

On the last day of our trip, we decided to chill at the Black Tip restaurant, which also doubles as a co-working space. We had some pretty amazing food including seared tuna and buddha bowl. Highly recommend this place. We then tried an ice bath for the first time, and it was quite an experience! 

We then went back to the Coconut Monkey restaurant for a quick snack before taking the ferry back to Koh Samui at 3 pm. We were sad to leave Koh Tao, but we were grateful for the unforgettable memories we created during our 2-night, 3-day trip

Where to stay

Note: Links to the accommodations below are affiliate links, meaning that if you click and purchase any of them, Nomad Numbers may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please review our disclaimer page.

While we usually like to use AirBnB for long stays to save close to 50% on accommodation cost, on very short stays AirBnB doesn’t always offer the best deals (partly due to the cleaning fee that can be as high as the nightly rate). This is when we also look to Booking.com which has a lot of options on what we were looking for.

During our trip, we stayed at the Ava II hotel. The hotel was centrally located and offered easy access to the island’s main attractions. The rooms were clean and spacious and super affordable. We rated the hotel we stayed at 3.5 out of 5 because the initial room we were given upon early check-in was noisy. However, the staff was friendly and accommodating, and they were able to provide us with a much better room on our second night. It’s worth noting that the staff can be slow to respond as they are managing two locations on the island at the same time. Overall, while we had a few minor issues, we enjoyed our stay at the Ava II hotel and appreciated the efforts of the staff to make our experience more comfortable.

 

How to get there

Koh Tao is located in the Gulf of Thailand and can be reached by ferry from several nearby islands and the mainland. We took a ferry from Koh Samui, which took about 2.5 hours. We booked our ferry tickets in advance through a travel agency, but you can also book them online or at the pier.

How much did we spend

Overall, we found Koh Tao to be a relatively affordable destination. We spent $174 USD per person for our 2-night, 3-day trip, which included accommodation, food, diving, and other activities. Of course, your costs may vary depending on your travel style and budget.

Interesting to notice that accommodation was only our 2n largest expense behind entertainment (aka experiences)

Here is our budget breakdown per spending category: 

Category	Total Cost USD	Comments
Activities	$116.74	This include 2x fun dives + hiring a driver for 4 hours to take us snorkeling around the island
Local Transportation	$87.19	2x return ticket from Koh Samui to Koh Tao
Dining Out	$68.83	This covered all of our lunch, dinner.
Accommodation	$47.70	2 nights at the Ava II hotel
Snacks	$17.51	Ice creams and coconut milkshakes mostly because both are so good 🙂
Personal Care	$14.71	One massage and the ice bath experience for both of us.
Groceries	$0.58	Extra water for our say
TOTAL	$348.26	At $58.04 per day for two people, this 3 day trip to Koh Tao was pretty budget friendly.

Others tips

Here are our tips for anyone that is planning to visit Koh Tao:

• Bring reef-safe sunscreen: The island is known for its beautiful coral reefs, and it’s important to protect them. Make sure to bring sunscreen that is labeled as reef-safe to avoid damaging the reefs.
• Try the local food: Koh Tao has some amazing local food options so make sure you explore the island!
• Pack water – The area can get really hot in the summer, especially if you like hiking. Make sure to pack plenty of water and stay hydrated.
• Book ferry and accommodations in advance: Koh Tao is a popular destination, especially during peak season. To ensure that you get the accommodations you want at a reasonable price, it’s best to book in advance.
• Be mindful of waste: Koh Tao is a beautiful island, and it’s important to keep it that way. Be mindful of your waste and try to minimize your plastic use. Consider bringing a refillable water bottle and reusable bags for shopping.

Our bottom line

In conclusion, Koh Tao is a paradise for anyone who loves the ocean and enjoys a laid-back island lifestyle. Whether you’re an experienced diver, a first-time snorkeler, or just someone who wants to relax and soak up the sun, Koh Tao has something for everyone. With its stunning natural beauty, friendly locals, and amazing food, Koh Tao is a destination that will leave you with unforgettable memories. We hope this blog post has inspired you to plan your own trip to Koh Tao and discover all the amazing things this island has to offer.

What do you think about Koh Tao? Did you know about it? Would you like to spend a few days there and enjoy the island life?