Following the previous article where I talked about how I explored Koh Tao on foot, the next day, the Daishaview viewpoint was my first destination. One of the best Koh Tao viewpoints. It is a very steep walk to get there, and I got a few minutes’ free ride from someone who pitied me and my journey, haha. I was there early in the morning, and there were no customers yet. The colors were not at their best yet, but they soon revealed many shades of blue down there at Chalok beach. What a beautiful view in here!!! Totally recommend. I saw a beautiful golden tiny jumping spider here that is worth mentioning, haha.
Next, I had to really walk all the way down, easier at least, and my destination was another of the best Koh Tao viewpoints: Sun Suwan 360 view and bar.
Sun Suwan 360 view and bar
Last time I visited the island in 2018, this Koh Tao viewpoints didn’t exist, so I made sure to visit it this time in 2025. The entry fee was 50 bhat, and you could use it to get a free drink at the bar, like water, for example. WOW, totally worth 50 BH. Stunning! I live for this type of view. So many shades of blue that my jaw drops to the floor. I could stare at this for hours!!! The view is very similar to John Suwan viewpoint, but it is still worth it as it is different. Loved it!!
I asked the ticket lady if I could go back later with the same ticket, and she said yes, as long as I let her take a picture of me with my ticket, haha. OK, I was back for sunset.
Check how to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao HERE!
John Suwan viewpoint
But, before sunset, I went to John Suwan viewpoint once more in my life. STUNNING. It didn’t cease to impress me just because I had seen it before, and it was so long ago, though. Plus, I could look at this view every day, and I wouldn’t get tired of it! The viewpoint access is through some rocks, and you have some ropes to support the journey up. It is not the easiest access, but it is quick and not that bad. From all Koh Tao viewpoints, I don’t know if this is not the best one, or Sun Suwan.
No name beach near John Suwan viewpoint
From here, I went to a little tiny beach with no name but so pretty as it was tucked between the mountain with lots of coconut trees. So pretty! And the green shade of the water due to some algae maybe… very dirty tho, not clear at all and smelly haha, but was looking so beautiful though haaa. A charm, but not the place to go for a swim.
I went to Freedom Beach too, only to find it absolutely packed. Nop. No way I was staying there, so I moved on to the next one along the shore called Taa Toh Lagoon Beach.
Taa Toh Lagoon Beach
Way quieter! And pretty too. To mention that to access this area, I had to pay 50BH. With this ticket, you can access the viewpoint, Freedom Beach, and Taa Toh Lagoon Beach, too.
Then I ended my day at Sun Suwan Viewpoint to watch the sunset, and I think this is a great sunset spot. The view is beautiful, and the sun sets right in front of my eyes. It was not as crowded as Secret bar and I easily found a good spot to sit and have a coconut. Beautiful Koh Tao viewpoints for a sunset view from here.
On another day, I decided to walk to some spots not so far from Chalok beach, but walking there was not as easy as the previous day. The streets get pretty steep in Koh Tao, and to reach the spots I visited on this day, I had to walk across many steep hills, in fact, a lot of them. No gym needed after this.
Anyway, I searched on the map for some beaches nearby that could be worth a visit, and I decided that my first stop would be Ao Leuk.
Ao Leuk beach
This beach looked absolutely stunning in the pictures I have seen, that’s why I decided to walk there. It was the furthest point I walked to on this day. From Chalok beach to Ao Leuk it is about 2,5km, which isn’t that much and a 45min walk. Very reasonable, only the extremely steep hills make it challenging. Therefore, walking there was pretty tiring, but still very doable, even though I saw no one walking along the street. Anyway, to get to the beach itself, you have to pay 50bh. I wouldn’t mind doing it if I were planning to stay there for a day, but this was just a pit stop on my day walks, so I didn’t pay to access the sand. Plus, this beach was disappointing haaa. It looked stunning in the pictures, but what I saw didn’t amaze me. I think the weather didn’t help, and the high tide neither. Looking at pictures of it, it seems like the colors get better at low tide, and this beach might be way more beautiful from above. It was also very windy, and the sea looked rough, so not a pleasant place for the day. But anyway, it was too cloudy to see the true beauty of the spot, I believe. I’ve also read that this is a very good snorkeling spot, but no way I would go in the water in such rough seas. Felt like the tiring walk was not that worth it for me… The beach was full of beach umbrellas and beach chairs, and I’m assuming that, as you pay a ticket to enter, you might have access to those.
Anyway, after a few minutes at Ao Leuk, it was time to walk to another beach not that far, but I had to walk back up the steep hills to find a street to access it.
Haad Sai Daeng Beach
It was quite a walk to reach this beach from Ao Leuk, more steep hills but very quiet streets filled with nature’s sounds and coconut trees, so I enjoyed walking along despite the hilly ground. I came across an area filled with coconut trees, so beautiful! And another of Koh Tao viewpoints before reaching the beach itself.
This beach doesn’t amaze me that much either, and again, the weather has its part here. Islands without the sun will never show their true colors. This was a pretty quiet beach, nice colors anyway, but I also didn’t stop for long. After admiring it, I moved on to the next beach on the map and the one where I stayed for the day. This was the beach I could see from John Suwan viewpoint, so I knew it was beautiful.
Haad Tien beach
To walk from Sai Daeng to Tien beach, I followed Maps.me app; otherwise, on Google Maps, the route would be twice the length. On Maps.me, this beach is Ao Thian, and it isn’t that far. I went all the way through a path that leads to a pagoda and then followed to Tien Beach Resort. This beach seems to be “occupied” by the resort, and you can access it through it, but have to pay for it. But, there is also another way into the beach, but you will have to walk on waist-level water to get to the sand through a restaurant called “Rocky Kitchen Restaurant” and that’s how I got to the beach. I ended up eating at this restaurant. I was expecting very high prices, but it wasn’t that bad for the view. It feels like Koh Tao viewpoints are everywhere around the island.
I saw some people giving up going to the beach after realizing that they would have to walk in the water to get there, even though for a few meters and 1 or 2 minutes in the water. It wasn’t hard. Just had to place my stuff in a dry area before walking, and it was quite easy.
The beach isn’t busy at all. It is lined with these cute trees that are basically branches, and I love to look at them. They give a certain charm to the place. The water looks beautiful even under the clouds. The trees provided lots of shady spots, and this was a great spot to spend the day. The water had lots of seaweed and leaves floating, and wasn’t the warmest ever, but still enjoyable. I liked it! Pretty quiet.
Then I had to walk all the way to Chalok, and it was again through hilly grounds. I ended the day tired but with a feeling that it was a good day exploring my own way and pace. Koh Tao isn’t a very big island, but it isn’t possible to see all of it without a motorbike. Because this time I explored Koh Tao on foot, I didn’t see much more, so I will have to go back again to explore even more, haha. But I still got to see the best Koh Tao viewpoints, and that makes me happy.
This island is beautiful and very worth it, even if it might be one of the most expensive islands in Thailand. I mean, some of Koh Tao viewpoints are the best I have seen. The next day was the time to go to Koh Phangan, my 3rd time on this island.
