Loop Trail Koh Tao

Using Komoot, Simon had planned a hike of about seven kilometers through the southern part of the island. Some sections and waypoints had already been mapped by other users, so we were able to navigate easily. In the end, we came up with a route with an elevation gain of only about 100 meters—and, most importantly, without the grueling mountain crossing that had taken such a toll on us before. Unfortunately, many of the smaller trails on Koh Tao aren’t marked on Google Maps.

Around 8 a.m., we set off from our accommodation toward a viewpoint near Sai Nuan Beach. I had already found a geocache there the day before. Simon took advantage of the beautiful spot today to take nature shots with his camera for his new YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@natural-escape-ocean?si=9XQHv6cSBakYj1MS).

On the way, we passed an extremely interesting abandoned site: the Bamboo Huts. This is a large resort with numerous bungalows and pools nestled against the steep slopes. The complex now stands empty and is visibly falling into disrepair. It was fascinating to watch nature reclaim, bit by bit, what humans once created.

Afterward, the path led us to the pier and along the narrow main street, which was absolutely teeming with scooters and tourists. 

Our destination was the Buddhist temple Wat Koh Tao, also known as Wat Koh Charoen Santi Dhamma. This magnificent structure marked the turning point of our hike. 

From there, we made our way back to our accommodation via the busy main street. On the way back, we stocked up on all kinds of snacks and drinks, since we probably wouldn’t pass another convenience store on Koh Tao anytime soon.

We were particularly surprised to meet two young women along the way who were also hiking a similar route on foot. So, for a change, we weren’t the only hikers on the island.

Overall, it was a beautiful tour through the forest and along several beaches. Only the road sections were less idyllic, but they were hard to avoid if you wanted to bypass the mountains.

But as successful as the day had already been up to that point—it was significantly surpassed during the subsequent snorkeling. We were very lucky to spot a sea turtle. We watched in awe as it searched for food among the rocks on the seabed, surrounded by numerous fish. With its fins, it pushed rocks and dead coral aside or held them in place to crack them open. It swam to the surface just once to take a breath before continuing its search for food. A video of this encounter can also be found on Simon’s channel.

Snorkeling in front of Tao Thong Villa 2 is an experience every time. The biodiversity there is impressive. In addition to countless colorful fish, we’ve already spotted a reef shark twice and have also observed some large triggerfish.

We’re excited to see what else will swim our way in the coming days.