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If you’re planning a trip to Koh Tao with kids in 2026 – look no further. Here are 10 amazing family friendly activities to do in Koh Tao with kids. It can be hard to find accurate, relevant and fresh information in a world changing so fast. We have traveled Koh Tao with kids and loved it – and we want to share our BEST experiences with you.
Before you read on. If you’re planning a trip to Koh Tao with kids make sure you SLOW DOWN and enjoy some relaxing chill time with your family. Our best advice is to pick a few of your favs and then just slow down and enjoy them. Koh Tao is a really really beautiful island – and if you try to do too much or go too fast you can miss the beauty.
We have included some AMAZING hidden gems in this guide on THE BEST things to do in Koh Tao with kids.
ALSO don’t miss our guide on THE BEST Things to do in Koh Phangan with kids AND the best things to do in Thailand with kids
What is it like to travel Koh Tao with kids?
Before we look at the best things to do in Koh Tao with kids, just a few words about what to expect if you travel Koh Tao with kids.
- Koh Tao is pretty developed as an island. There are several convenience stores selling things like nappies, milk and kid-friendly food. There are also several ATM machines on the island.
- Koh Tao also has many resorts, cafes and restaurants offering tasty western food choices.
- If you are traveling in Koh Tao with kids, be aware that it is a tropical climate – and hot all year round. It is important to drink plenty and stay out of direct sunshine – especially in the hottest hours of the day. Using sun protection is essential. Be aware of mosquitoes – especially if you’re out in the evening.
- If you’re traveling in Koh Tao with kids, be aware of risks in the water (e.g. jellyfish, big waves, strong ocean currents depending on the season and weather…)
Don’t miss our step by step guide: How to travel from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao
What is the best way to get around Koh Tao with kids?
There are several options to get around Koh Tao with kids. Firstly it is important to note that the normal taxi apps don’t presently operate in Koh Tao. You can find taxi buses and private taxis. Some families do jump on motor bikes (bike rental is pretty cheap at around 150 baht per day).
It is also pretty easy to walk around Koh Tao if your activities are all planned in the same area.
Map of the BEST things to do in Koh Tao with kids
1 Freedom beach
If you’re looking for things to do in Koh Tao with kids, you probably want to find THE BEST family friendly beaches. Freedom beach is a small west-facing beach located on the John Suwan cape. It is probably one of the best beaches for families in Koh Tao. It is relatively quiet and secluded. The water is generally pretty clear and calm due to the location.
Trees along the beach afford natural shade and there are also sun loungers on this beach. At the side of the beach there is a restaurant serving a range of food and drinks and we love the net loungers too. There are also toilets available at Freedom Beach. You do need to pay 100 baht to get to this beach. Although this is frustrating, it does keep the beach more quiet. This area is close to the John-Suwan viewpoint – which is not suitable for families with younger kids.
2 Paradise zone (family suite)
If you’re traveling in Koh Tao with kids this is a one you MUST NOT miss. Even if you just book one night here. The Paradise Zone resort is located on a high hill overlooking Chalok Baan Kao bay and the John-Suwan cape.
We absolutely LOVE their family suite. This is lovely suite is located on the top floor and on the south side of the resort, affording a panoramic view of the John-Suwan cape.
There is a gorgeous outdoor space with a hot tub overlooking the view. The suite is large, spacious and can accommodate a big family (two large double beds).
The Paradise Zone Koh Tao resort also has lots of great facilities. We love the infinity pool with a view. The restaurant is also beautifully situated with a view.
3 Paddle boarding
If you’re looking to try out something different in Koh Tao with kids, have a go at paddle boarding. It is LOADS of fun and a great way to learn a new skill on the water. Paddle boarding is pretty straight forward so you don’t necessarily need to take a lesson before you give it a go. The best time is when the ocean is super calm and still. You can rent Paddle Boards from various resorts around the beaches of Koh Tao. The Big Fish resort in Chalok Baan Kao bay has paddle boards available for rent costing 100 baht per hour. We recommend using a life jacket unless you and your kids are strong swimmers. Paddle boarding is also a great way to enjoy the impressive tropical sunsets on Koh Tao.
4 Snorkeling day trip
This is a must do activity in Koh Tao with kids. By the way, this would not be a great activity with a baby or young toddler (if they cannot swim). They do have life jackets available, but we only recommend this for families with kids who are reasonably strong swimmers.
A snorkeling day trip is probably one of the best value things to do in Koh Tao generally costing around 500 – 1,000 baht (£10 – £20 or $13 – $25). Snorkeling day trips normally include 5 or more stops to snorkel and explore. Some of the stops may be pretty brief (as short as 30 minutes).
In the water you are likely to see lots of beautiful rocks, coral reef and plenty of fish of various shapes and sizes. There is also a good chance that you will be able to see sea turtles and black tip reef sharks. Many of the boats come equipped with a jumping platform and slides on the back. The snorkeling tours normally include the following things:
- Two way transfer to and from your resort
- Snacks and drinks
- Lunch
- Equipment (normally snorkel and mask but no fins)
- Life jackets
- Underwater filming and photography
We recommend booking your trip a day or two in advance. The best time of year to do a snorkeling trip in Koh Tao is between the months of February – May (especially March and April) when the water is particularly calm and clear.
There are several companies offering snorkeling day trip tours around Koh Tao island. This was one of our favorite things to do in Koh Tao. We recommend Oxygen Tour Koh Tao for an amazing snorkeling day trip around the island. A day tour costs around 500 baht (around £10 or £13) with Oxygen Tours plus entry fees to Nang Yuan Island for 250 baht (around £5 or $7).
5 Grab some homemade ice cream
No list of things to do in Koh Tao with kids would be complete without ice cream AND the best ice cream in Koh Tao is at Permpoon Ice Cream shop. This lovely little ice cream shop serves a tempting homemade ice cream. Everything is very fresh and tasty. Even the cones are freshly made on site here. Ice creams are served with love, a big smile and some cheeky toppings.
Ice cream costs 65 baht per scoop (this is around £1.20 or $1.60). Permpoon ice cream shop is located on the walking street by Sairee Beach. There is a small seating area at the shop. Alternatively stroll down to Sairee beach to enjoy your tasty ice cream.
6 Visit Nang Yuan Island
If you’re looking for a dreamy tropical day trip in Koh Tao with kids, consider a trip to the stunning Nang Yuan island. This is a small island a few kilometers off the north west coast of Koh Tao. The waters around Nang Yuan island are very clear and beautiful – perfect for paddling, swimming and snorkeling. The beaches have sun loungers so you can set up for a day of relaxing, sunbathing and play. The shallow waters around the sandbar give the water a breathtaking turquoise color. There is a small cafe on the island serving food and drinks – the prices are high by Thai standards.
To get to Nang Yuan island you need to arrange a boat from Koh Tao. From the north side of Sairee beach the boat ride takes around 15 minutes. The cheapest way to find a boat is to go to the walking street near the Grand Beach Resort at the north side of Sairee Bay. You will see boats advertised in this area. A good price for the return trip is around 150 – 200 baht per person. For a good affordable boat service try contacting Bong (+66 96 685 6822).
You can also get boats (including long tail boats) from the main pier in Koh Tao. From the main pier expect to pay 800 – 12,00 baht for the boat return trip (this is roughly £16 – £24 or $20 – $30). Boats normally drop you off at a pier in Nang Yuan. From here you can pay the entrance fee. The entrance fee to the Nang Yuan islands and viewpoint is 250 baht (around £5 or $7). Remember sunscreen and if possible bring plenty of water in a non-plastic bottle. The Nang Yuan island is open for visitors between 9.30am – 4pm
You can also walk up to the AMAZING Nang Yuan view from Nang Yuan island. However, we do not recommend this for families with young kids due to the big drops in the area. You also need to scramble up the rocks at the end of the walk to get up to the viewpoint.
Top tip: It is easy to visit Nang Yuan island as a day trip from Koh Tao. If you are planning to do a snorkeling day trip around the island, it is likely that it will include a stop at Nang Yuan island.
7 Enjoy an afternoon at the KoPPee Espresso Bar & Restaurant
If you’re planning a trip to Koh Tao with kids – consider your pace! Slow down! Don’t over plan. Remember JUST CHILLING is essential in Koh Tao. KoPPee is a hidden gem for families. They serve a mouth watering selection of kid friendly food (fresh waffles, chips, burgers, wraps and more). The quality of the food and drinks is excellent and this place has a really nice vibe.
They also have a diving pool on site (3m deep). Customers are welcome to use the pool freely. KoPPee Espresso Bar & Restaurant is located on the Chalok Baan Kao beach to the south of the island. This is a great spot for families to unwind and enjoy some very tasty comfort food. Most food and drinks range from around 80 baht – 250 baht (£1.60 – £5 or $2 – $7).
8 Have a go at sea kayaking
If you’re looking for adventurous things to do in Koh Tao with kids, consider renting a Kayak and exploring the beautiful coastline. If you have a snorkel and mask – bring this along too. This is one for families with older kids who are able to swim. Exploring by Kayak enables you to find secluded areas of reef and quiet beaches that other people don’t get to.
You can rent Kayaks from many resorts along the main beaches in Koh Tao (Sairee beach and Chalok Baan Kao beach). You should be able to rent a Kayak for around 100 – 200 baht per hour (roughly £2 – £4 or $2.50 – $5). We recommend wearing life jackets if you plan to venture out on a Kayak. Also, this activity is best suited to calm clear waters.
9 Stroll along Sairee Beach (swings and bars)
Sairee beach is the main beach in Koh Tao. And as it happens, Sairee beach is also a fun family friendly beach. If you’re spending some time on Koh Tao with kids make sure you visit Sairee Beach. There are plenty of resorts, bars and restaurants along the length of the beach.
It is easy to find family friendly food along Sairee beach and a well earned drink for parents. ALSO Sairee beach has several swings along the way – perfect for kids to enjoy playing whilst you relax. In the evening Sairee beach comes to life with music, beach bars and fire dancers.
10 Visit the impressive Koh Tao viewpoints (for OLDER kids only!)
This is one for families with older kids. There are a couple of stunning iconic viewpoints in Koh Tao. BUT each of these viewpoints has steep drops and challenging terrain. Here is a little info on the viewpoints if you do wish to visit them.
The John-Suwan viewpoint is located on a cape at the south of Koh Tao. From this viewpoint you look back at Koh Tao island and you can see two bays curving in. It costs 100 baht to enter and then you need to take a steep climb up a rocky trail (this will take around 20 minutes and is challenging with steep rocks to ascend). The viewpoint itself has space to walk around and take photos but there are some steep drops up here.
For a more family friendly alternative viewpoint nearby check out the Sun Suwan 360o viewpoint. To get to the Sun Suwan viewpoint you will see a carpark and small shrine a few hundred meters before you get to the John Suwan car park and ticket office. From here follow the steps up the hill to the Sun Suwan viewpoint.
Another iconic viewpoint in Koh Tao is the Nang Yuan island viewpoint. Again this is not suitable for families with young kids. There are some steep drops here and you need to scramble up the rocks to the viewpoint. To get to the Nang Yuan viewpoint you need to visit Nang Yuan island (a boat trip + 250 baht entrance fee). Once you get to Nang Yuan, walk to the small south island. Follow the walkway around the island and then follow the path up the hill.
FINALLY, want more inspiration – check out our guide on THE BEST things to do in Koh Tao (for any traveller)
