Looking for the best viewpoints in Koh Tao?!
I have put together this ultimate guide to the 5 Best Koh Tao Viewpoints that are not to be missed during your visit to this tropical island in southern Thailand.
OVERVIEW – KOH TAO VIEWPOINTS
See below for a brief overview of the 5 best viewpoints in Koh Tao that you will find in this post:
- John Suwan Viewpoint
- Koh Nang Yuan Viewpoint
- Love Koh Tao Viewpoint
- Sunset Viewpoint
- Mango Viewpoint
5 BEST VIEWPOINTS IN KOH TAO
JOHN SUWAN VIEWPOINT
John Suwan Viewpoint is my favorite Koh Tao viewpoint on the island and one of the better adventures to be had!
It’s an easy 20-minute hike to reach the top of John Suwan Viewpoint for sunrise and you’ll be rewarded with a stunning panoramic view at the top.
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HOW TO GET TO JOHN SUWAN VIEWPOINT KOH TAO
John Suwan Viewpoint is a 15-minute drive from Sairee Beach, the main tourist hub of Koh Tao.
John Suwan Viewpoint has decent road access and when I visited this spot for sunrise there were no parking or entrance fees.
However, some people told me they hiked to the John Suwan Viewpoint during the day and had to pay a 50 Baht entrance fee, so just keep that in mind.
RELATED GUIDE: 15 BEST Things To Do In Koh Tao
ARRIVING AT JOHN SUWAN VIEWPOINT
When you arrive in the car park at the starting point of John Suwan Viewpoint Koh Tao you’ll see a sign with ‘viewpoint’ written on it and an arrow pointing the way.
Along the trailhead, you’ll come to an intersection with 3 different roads branching off. Be sure to take the middle road, which is the correct trail to take to reach the John Suwan Viewpoint.
The trail is rocky with some make-shift stairs, and you’ll also come across a few spots where there are ropes anchored in place to help you scale some bigger boulders, which was my favorite part of the adventure!
The hike to John Suwan Viewpoint is not that strenuous, and it takes approximately 20 minutes from bottom to top for the average person.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT JOHN SUWAN VIEWPOINT
Unfortunately, in the morning that I hiked to the John Suwan Viewpoint, the weather was very overcast and there was not much of a sunrise that I was hoping for.
However, the stunning panoramic views at this Koh Tap viewpoint compensated for the shitty weather.
At the summit, you can see two beaches on either side of the palm tree covered ridge, one is Chalok Baan Kao Bay and the other is Shark Bay Koh Tao.
There are a few other viewpoints that can be found at John Suwan Koh Tao, so don’t rush back down to the bottom, spend some time exploring the area and you’ll be sure to come across more epic views of the island and its coastlines.
Full blog post: John Suwan Viewpoint
BEST TOURS IN KOH TAO
KOH NANG YUAN VIEWPOINT
Koh Nang Yuan is a unique tropical island in southern Thailand and one of the best day trips to be had from the nearby Koh Tao Island.
Experience the ultimate serenity and tranquillity on Nang Yuan Island, where you’ll find beautiful beaches, panoramic viewpoints, and some of Thailand’s best scuba diving sites.
The best adventure to be had on Koh Nang Yuan Island is hiking to the famous viewpoint that overlooks the entire island.
It’s an easy 15-minute hike to the Koh Nang Yuan viewpoint via a concrete path that leads the way through a small forest, up some stairs, and then a quick scramble along a couple of large boulders, finally emerging at one of the best Koh Tao viewpoints.
Incredible panoramic views await at the top of the Koh Nang Yuan viewpoint, with an aerial perspective overlooking Nang Yuan Island and a glimpse of the beautiful western coastline of Koh Tao.
HOW TO GET TO KOH NANG YUAN
Koh Nang Yuan Island is only accessible by taxi boat and the most popular route to get to Nang Yuan Island is by organizing a day trip from the nearby island, Koh Tao.
The boat trip to Koh Nang Yuan from Koh Tao takes approximately 15 minutes across the channel.
Here are a couple of options to book a day trip to Koh Nang Yuan listed below:
Option #1: Ask a local
I found the easiest and cheapest way to get over to Koh Nang Yuan is to head down to the northern end of Sairee Beach where all the boats are lined up and find a local who has a boat that is willing to take you over to Nang Yuan Island.
My friends and I did exactly this and we were able to barter a price of 1000 Baht between the five of us (200 Baht per person) for a return trip.
Option #2: Tourist Office
You can book a day trip to Koh Nang Yuan from any of the tourist information offices dotted around the Mae Haad Pier and Sairee Beach areas.
Expect to pay between 250-350 Baht per person if you book with this option as the tour companies charge more so they can make a commission.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT KOH NANG YUAN VIEWPOINT
The best adventure to be had on Koh Nang Yuan Island is hiking to the famous viewpoint that overlooks the entire island.
It’s an easy 15-minute hike to the Koh Nang Yuan viewpoint via a concrete path that leads the way through a small forest, up some stairs, and then a quick scramble along a couple of large boulders, finally emerging at one of the best Koh Tao viewpoints.
Incredible panoramic views await at the top of the Koh Nang Yuan viewpoint, with an aerial perspective overlooking Nang Yuan Island and a glimpse of the beautiful western coastline of Koh Tao.
Full blog post: Koh Nang Yuan Viewpoint
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LOVE KOH TAO VIEWPOINT
The Love Koh Tao Viewpoint is one of the most popular viewpoints in Koh Tao.
With panoramic views overlooking Tanote Bay and the eastern coastline of the island, the Love Koh Tao Viewpoint is not to be missed!
HOW TO GET TO LOVE KOH TAO VIEWPOINT
Love Koh Tao Viewpoint is located in the center of the island. It’s a short 15-minute drive from Sairee Beach, the main tourist hub on the island.
Love Koh Tao Viewpoint has good road access and a car park at the top of the hill.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE LOVE KOH TAO VIEWPOINT
There is an entry fee of 20 Baht to take photos at the Love Koh Tao viewpoint or alternatively, if you buy something to eat or drink then the entry fee is waived.
Love Koh Tao viewpoint is a fantastic spot to watch the sunrise as it faces east over the Gulf Of Thailand.
If you’re not a morning person, no worries, Love Koh Tao is also a great spot for lunch and freshly squeezed fruit juice.
There are a number of great photo opportunities at the Love Koh Tao viewpoint, including the @lovekohtao sign, the netted beds, and the big colorful welcome sign.
Love Koh Tao is a great place for a short visit in between some beach hopping.
Full blog post: Love Koh Tao Viewpoint
SUNSET VIEWPOINT KOH TAO
Koh Tao Island has some pretty incredible viewpoints but I have to say that the Sunset Viewpoint makes it into the top 5 viewpoints on Koh Tao for a pretty obvious reason!
Located high in the hills at the northern end of the island, Sunset Viewpoint offers incredible west-facing views overlooking the popular Sairee Beach and it’s a great spot for sunset.
HOW TO GET TO SUNSET VIEWPOINT
Sunset View Point Koh Tao is a short 15-minute drive from Sairee Beach.
Sunset View Point Koh Tao has decent road access, but it’s very steep and you may end up having to walk up the hill if your scooter doesn’t make it.
Look out for the ‘High Rock View Point – Sunset Point’ sign on the left-hand side of the road as you come up the steep hill and make a left turn here.
If the track is muddy you may have to walk, otherwise, you can drive all the way up and over to the viewpoint.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT SUNSET VIEWPOINT
I arrived at Sunset Viewpoint around 3 pm, well before the sunset, as I assumed there would be no tourists here at this time and sure enough, I was right!
My friends and I bought a soft drink each for 40 Baht and this also counted for the entrance fee, much cheaper than the fee at Mango Viewpoint from where we had just come.
Once we had bought a drink from the friendly local man, he kindly let us pass through his make-shift netted gate, and from here it was a short one-minute walk through the trees before we emerged at the viewpoint.
There are large boulders at Sunset Viewpoint that make for a perfect photo opportunity with panoramic views of the western coastline of the island.
There are also some hammocks tied up between the trees for a very comfortable chill session while you wait for the sunset.
Full blog post: Sunset Viewpoint
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MANGO VIEWPOINT
Mango Viewpoint Koh Tao is rated as one of the best viewpoints on Koh Tao Island, especially at sunset!
Located high in the hills on Koh Tao island, Mango Viewpoint is a great spot to spend a couple of hours chilling in a hammock, reading a book, playing board games, or sipping on freshly squeezed juice.
HOW TO GET TO MANGO VIEWPOINT
It’s a short 15-minute drive from Sairee Beach to reach Mango Viewpoint. It has decent road access, but it’s very steep and you may end up having to walk up the hill if your scooter doesn’t make it.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT MANGO VIEWPOINT
When you arrive at Mango Viewpoint Koh Tao, there is an entrance fee of 100 Baht, which is a higher cost than other Koh Tao viewpoints but the view is definitely worth the money in my opinion!
Incredible panoramic views welcome you upon arrival to Mango Viewpoint and a small restaurant and juice bar reside on the hillside.
My friends and I made ourselves comfortable on the large cushions while we took in the awe-inspiring views of Koh Tao’s western coastline and the beautiful Sairee Beach.
Full blog post: Mango Viewpoint
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WHERE TO STAY IN KOH TAO
Koh Tao has dozens of accommodations to choose from, so I have narrowed it down to a few of the best places to stay to suit the needs of budget backpackers, luxury travelers, and everyone in between.
See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend:
Luxury: Sai Daeng Resort Koh Tao
I personally stayed at Sai Daeng Resort and can’t recommend this place enough!
This 4-star accommodation is located right on the beachfront and features an outdoor swimming pool, a bar, and a restaurant on the beach, water sports activities, a shared lounge, free wifi, and shuttle service.
The rooms are modern and spacious, fitted with air conditioning, flat-screen tv, a fridge and kettle, a work desk, a private bathroom, and a balcony with ocean views.
It’s the perfect place to stay for couples, families, and friends.
Mid Range: Wind Beach Resort
Wind Beach Resort is the best value-pick accommodation located in the main tourist hub, Sairee Beach.
Featuring a beachfront bar and restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool, Thai massage services, and free wifi.
The rooms are fitted with beautiful wooden furniture and decor, air conditioning, flat-screen tv, minibar, ensuite bathroom, and ocean views.
Great place to stay in Koh Tao for couples, friends, and families.
Budget: Indie Hostel – Koh Tao
Koh Tao Central Hostel is rated one of the best budget accommodations for solo travelers, friends, and couples.
Centrally located in Mae Hadd and within walking distance of the beach.
There are dormitory-style rooms with air conditioning, free wifi, power sockets, lockers, and privacy curtains on all beds.
Also at this hostel is a shared outdoor deck with cushions and a common area for guests to enjoy during their stay.
FOR ALL OTHER PLACES TO STAY IN KOH TAO, SEARCH ON BOOKING.COM
WHAT TO PACK FOR KOH TAO
When visiting Koh Tao, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you:
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Portable PowerBank
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FINAL THOUGHTS – VIEWPOINTS ON KOH TAO
If you have any questions at all about the viewpoints in Koh Tao, please drop me a line below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.
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THANKS FOR READING
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