Find all 6 eggs & get £50 off your next trip >
Boats on the shore of a beach with huts in Koh Tao, Thailand

Thai Adventure Part 3: Island Adventures on Koh Tao

By Jane McLellan

Last updated: 12th April 2013

After three days spent at the unforgettable orphanage project, the Thai Adventure group gets the bus to the ferry port in time to get the first boat to Koh Tao.  I followed in the Adventurer’s footsteps and arrived at the port before sunrise, where I checked in and then jumped onto the big catamaran boat for the 90 minute ride to Koh Tao. I have been to Koh Tao a couple of times before and each time I make the journey I still get the same excited feeling. Koh Tao is such a cool, laid-back island and it’s also stunningly beautiful, so I couldn’t wait to go back.

Our Thai Adventure groups spend three weeks on this gorgeous island, whose name in English means ‘Turtle Island’.  Koh Tao has it all; natural beauty, lovely beaches, clear warm water, endless bars and restaurants, great shops and lots of fun activities to do. Combine all this with a relaxed atmosphere and laid-back life style and it makes Koh Tao the ideal, fun island for our Thai Adventure travellers. Our accommodation on this island is comfortable but basic: Accommodation options on Koh Tao are restricted because there are not that many hotels here that accept big group bookings. However, the rooms are clean and secure and our customers have full use of the amazing swimming pool just a couple of minutes’ walk away.  During the day you can chill out by the pool, sunbathe on the beach or take a dip in the lovely blue sea, or if you fancy doing something a little more active then you can opt to go rock climbing, snorkeling  scuba diving, hiking, or you can rent a kayak or try lots more exciting activities on the island.

A Thailand beach with people and boats

If you don’t want to spend the whole time relaxing and doing your own thing on the island, Adventurers can choose to add in the option of learning to dive when booking on the Thai Adventure programme.  Our dive school is only a 10 minute walk along the beach from the accommodation, so it’s easy and effortless to turn up and learn some new scuba skills. During my stay on Koh Tao I met with the instructors and the team and found they were all really friendly and helpful. They love what they do and they are keen to make sure our customers enjoy every moment of their diving experience on Koh Tao. The diving course lasts for four days and you spend your time practising your skills in the pool, learning theory in the classroom and then putting everything into action during amazing open dives off the dive boat. The diving around Koh Tao is unbelievable; the water is warm, calm and clear with so much to see underwater, including stunning coral and a wide range of bright colourful fish. After completing the scuba diving course, you will be a qualified PADI Open Water diver, which is the perfect passport to dive anywhere around the world.

For any travellers looking for some serious party potential, it’s impossible not to get really excited by the awesome nightlife on offer on Koh Tao! There are a huge choice of bars to choose from, including themed bars, rustic wooden shacks and cool and trendy bars but by far the most popular bar is the beach bar called ‘Lotus’. From around 10pm onwards you will find a cool crowd of travellers chilling out on the floor cushions on the beach, listening to some banging tunes with some amazing entertainment. Every night, the local Thai guys put on an unforgettable performance of fantastic fire dancing, where they swing around chains and ropes of fire in time with the music in a spectacular display!   It’s completely mesmerising to watch. It’s the perfect way to round off a week of fun and relaxation on the amazing island of Koh Tao.

 

You might also like...

A table full of various Thai dishes, including noodle dishes and soups

Thailand... Cookery Style!

The Taj Mahal and surrounding gardens

Our Top 7 Backpacker Must-Do's in Asia

The city skyline of Bangkok at night

Bangkok Bustle

Want more stories like this?

Sign up to our newsletter to get the latest advice, inspiration, and news.

You'll get our helpful travel news, updates and offers. Unsubscribe anytime.

Browse over 200 trips and 50 locations from the comfort of your own home! Send me a FREE brochure!