Ko Tao is a Thai island that is small and idyllic, with the usual tropical beaches, shacks, nightlife, B&Bs and open restaurants. Like any other town or island of Thailand. But there is one thing that Ko Tao is renowned for - its splendid marine life. This makes diving and other underwater sports very coveted in the area and most tourists come here to learn scuba diving and get their PADI certificate. This is cheapest here and hence the main attraction. Even so, there are some places that you can visit in Ko Tao, ranging from beaches to viewpoints.

Ang Thong Marine Park is only 35 km from Ko Tao and is a great day trip for those who love marine animals and underwater life. This is an archipelago and can easily be reached by a boat or catamaran from Ko Tao’s port. In Ang Thong you can go snorkelling, swim in the blue lagoons, go bird watching (silver-haired bats and hornbills), see hawksbill turtles and langurs too.

Tanote Bay is a curved beach, peppered with glassy surfaces. The place is an awesome spot for a leisurely picnic as well as for water sports like snorkelling. You can also spot marine creatures like Grey Reef Sharks and White Eyed Moray Eels lazing in the water that is clear as crystal. Along with these sightings, the colourful corals and sands are a constant for you to enjoy beneath the surface of the water. This is the reason snorkelling is so coveted here. You can rent the gear required from nearby shacks and shops, the price starting at 50 Baht.

Sairee beach is one of Ko Tao’s most famous beaches, located on its west coast. It has a coastline of 1.85 km and makes for a very sandy paradise. Not only early mornings and evenings, but nights as also just as much fun on Sairee. In fact, the nightlife here is one of the best on the island, with bars teeming with music and crowds spilling out of restaurants and shacks to groove to the beats. What you can do is, enjoy an evening lounging here, sunbathing and seeing the sunset, and then move on to more cooler pursuits like bars and dancing.

Another very popular beach in Ko Tao is Sai Nuan. It is known for its lazy vibe, and people come here to lounge under a shade, read a book or just get a tan as the sea rumbles and wind hustles. Couples prefer this beach over others and honeymoon couples especially flock here in droves for privacy. You won’t find much in terms of water sports and adventure here but do take a day off from all the adrenaline-rushes to just lay under a palm tree and gaze blankly at the scenery stretching in front of you.

A place that needs you to hike up but guarantees some spectacular views, Mango Viewpoint is located in the hills of Ko Tao. From this vantage, you will get the best views of Sairee Beach and Mae Haad, and enjoy clicking some amazing landscapes too. The point is easily accessible from the walk up the hill beside the 7-eleven on Sairee Beach. Motorbikes can also go up but you need to be a seasoned rider to manoeuvre the tight bumpy curves. Like many things in the world, accessibility to this view is not free, but costs you a 100 Baht.

Another viewpoint that offers hiking as well as photography opportunities, the John Suwan View Point is a very pretty place. From here you get to see the Thian Og Bays and the sweeping expanse of Chalok Baan Kao. You will have to walk up on foot on the trail that begins at Freedom Beach Resort to reach this viewpoint.

Now Ko Tao is a spectacular island that takes your breath away but there are a few other, less popular smaller ones around that not many know about. Like Koh Nang Yuan, a small nearby island that makes for a great day trip from Ko Tao. Koh Nang Yuan is known for its peaceful vibes on the postcard-like beaches, some clear lagoons and sea beds great for snorkelling and to offer world’s first island to island zipline sport.