Koh Tao Itinerary for 3 Days, 5 Days or a Week

This Koh Tao itinerary gives you ready-made plans for 3 days in Koh Tao, five days and one week in Koh Tao, then adapts them for families, tight budgets, non-divers and wet weather. Each day is a short list: morning, afternoon, evening. Swap days freely, the only rule is to keep the viewpoints for the cooler hours.

Koh Tao is small, so most days are about picking a side of the island and staying put. Sairee on the west coast makes the easiest base, with Mae Haad (the pier) a short ride away. Fees and boat times change, so confirm locally.

Before you plan: how Koh Tao works

Distances are short but the roads are steep, and most beaches in the south and east sit down narrow slopes. Taxi trucks have no meter, so agree the fare before you climb in. Scooters are rented by the day, usually with a deposit, but the hills and loose sand catch out beginners. Our getting around guide covers the options, and getting here covers the boats. If you are not sure when to come, see the best time to visit Koh Tao.

3 days in Koh Tao: the first-timer plan

Three days is enough for the highlights: Sairee sunset, a boat trip round the island and the south coast viewpoint.

Day 1: Sairee and sunset

• Morning: Arrive at Mae Haad, drop your bags and eat a slow breakfast in Sairee.
• Afternoon: Swim and snorkel off the beach, then book your boat trip for tomorrow at any Sairee agent.
• Evening: Watch the sun go down over the Gulf from the sand, then look for dinner in the restaurants around the village.

Day 2: boat trip round the island

• Morning: Join a round-the-island snorkel trip by longtail or speedboat. Typical stops are Koh Nang Yuan, Mango Bay, Hin Wong and Shark Bay.
• Afternoon: Swim at the stops, eat lunch on board and get back around mid to late afternoon.
• Evening: Showers, a massage or an early night. Boat days are tiring.

Day 3: south coast and viewpoint

• Morning: Climb the John-Suwan viewpoint early. Park or get dropped opposite Freedom Beach, pay the small fee to the collectors up the path (they are often not there before 9am) and allow roughly 20 minutes up.
• Afternoon: Swim at Freedom Beach, then snorkel Shark Bay if the sea is calm.
• Evening: Wander Mae Haad before your boat out, or stay another night and catch the Sairee sunset again.

5 days in Koh Tao: add Nang Yuan and a try dive

Take the three days above, then slot in these two. Put Nang Yuan on a day when the sea is flat.

Day 4: Koh Nang Yuan

• Morning: Take a taxi boat from Sairee or Mae Haad (about 10-15 minutes each way). Arrive early, the first boats land around 9am and the crowds come near 11am.
• Afternoon: Pay the island entrance fee in cash, climb the viewpoint in 15-25 minutes (sturdy shoes, the last stretch is granite boulders), then snorkel either side of the sandbar. Single-use plastic is not allowed off the boat, so bring a refillable bottle.
• Evening: Head back before the last boats and eat early. See the Nang Yuan beach guide.

Day 5: dive, or the quiet side

• Morning: Try a discover scuba dive at one of the dive centres, or snorkel Tanote Bay on the east side.
• Afternoon: Chill at Mango Bay if you can get there by boat, or rest on Sairee.
• Evening: A last sunset, then check ferry times on the ferries page.

One week in Koh Tao, with a diving course option

A week lets you learn to dive and still see the island. If you want the full course, the PADI Open Water takes about three to four days. Course prices vary by dive centre; see Where to learn to dive on Koh Tao. Browse Koh Tao dive sites to see where you will end up, and our diving by month guide for conditions.

• Days 1-4: Open Water course. Mornings are classroom or confined water, afternoons are boat dives. Evenings are for dinner and sleep.
• Day 5: Fun dives at Japanese Gardens or Mango Bay, now that you are certified.
• Day 6: The 3-day island plan: John-Suwan in the morning, Freedom Beach and Shark Bay after.
• Day 7: Koh Nang Yuan in the morning, Sairee sunset and a long dinner.

If you want to keep diving, an advanced course is the natural next step. Do not fly or take a high mountain road within about 18 hours of your last dive, and leave a buffer before an onward flight. Not diving at all? Use days 1-5 from the sections below.

Koh Tao with kids

Keep days short and the shade close.

• Morning: Sairee Beach has gentle water and plenty of cafes. Snorkel with a vest in the calmer corners.
• Afternoon: Nap or pool time. The hottest hours are not for hiking.
• Evening: Early dinner and a sunset walk on the sand.

Good family outings are Shark Bay for snorkelling, the Nang Yuan sandbar (the viewpoint climb is short but steep, so only for confident walkers) and a boat trip with life jackets for everyone. Many dive centres run a Bubblemaker experience from around age 8, ask when you book. Skip scooters with children and take a taxi. John-Suwan involves scrambling over boulders, so save it for older kids.

Koh Tao on a budget

You can do the island cheaply if you walk, share and eat local.

• Morning: Walk the coast from Sairee to Mae Haad, about 20-30 minutes. Free views, and the Mae Haad side has cheaper food.
• Afternoon: Free beach time at Sairee or Freedom Beach. One paid highlight is plenty: John-Suwan, or Nang Yuan with its entrance fee plus the boat.
• Evening: Street food, such as rice with curry in Mae Haad and grilled skewers. Most stalls open around 5pm and some sell out.

Koh Tao has no big organised night market like Samui, so think street carts and small stalls around the 7-Eleven junction in Sairee and near the pier. A shared taxi beats a private one, and a scooter only pays off if you ride confidently. See our travel tips for more ways to save.

Koh Tao for non-divers

You do not need a tank to fill a week. Snorkelling is excellent, see snorkelling on Koh Tao.

• Morning: A yoga class (yoga on Koh Tao) or an early hike on the viewpoint trails.
• Afternoon: Snorkel Shark Bay or Tanote Bay, or take a half-day boat trip from the trips page.
• Evening: Sairee sunset, dinner, then bars or a quiet drink. See bars and the events calendar.

Spend one day wandering Mae Haad and its temple, one on a boat, one at a spa or on a massage table and one on a beach with a book. Activities and services lists what else is on offer.

Rainy-day plan

Rain on Koh Tao usually arrives in bursts, so plan around the gaps. Check when the wetter months fall before you book.

• Morning: Long breakfast in a cafe, then a massage or a yoga class.
• Afternoon: Dive or snorkel anyway if the sea is calm, as you are wet already. Skip the viewpoints, rocks are slippery and the view is poor.
• Evening: A good dinner and a bar night, and a look at the events page for something indoors.

Rough seas can cancel boat trips and delay ferries, so leave a spare day before any flight. The emergency numbers page is worth saving too.

Koh Tao Itinerary: frequently asked questions

Checked in November 2026. Opening hours and timetables change: confirm locally before you go.