Koh Tao is a magnificent island.

The combination of incredible beaches, lush jungle and rolling hills squeezed into just a few square miles make it, in my opinion, the finest of Thailand’s islands.

So who wouldn’t want to find the best viewpoints to see Koh Tao in all of its glory?

Due to its mountainous terrain, there are many spots around the island to choose from. All are beautiful- but there’s no doubt that some are better than others. And if you’re pressed for time, it would do you well to know which.

So here goes- if you have limited time, these are the three best viewpoints in Koh Tao you need to see before you set off.

John Suwan Viewpoint

I’ll start off by saying that each of the three viewpoints I’ll mention give a completely unique vantage point of the island. I say this because there are many other viewpoints on this island that I’m not listing, but the others are essentially just downgraded options of the ones I’ll list here.

So- John Suwan Viewpoint. Possibly my favorite of them all.

It’s located on the tip of a small peninsula jutting out from the southern end of Koh Tao. Which allows for an incredibly unique and wide vantage point.

I wish I had a panorama shot but the best I could do was give you two separate photos that show you the views off both sides of the peninsula.

To get there, you have to park at the same parking lot for Freedom Beach. Navigation to John Suwan should lead you there. Admission is 50 baht, but that price covers Freedom Beach as well (and another secret beach, you can read more about them here!).

From there, you simply follow the signs to John Suwan Viewpoint. It’s not far, in total it should take around 15 minutes to the top from the parking lot at a moderate pace.

It’s a pleasant little area on top, with lots of little spots on the rocks to settle down and relax.

Sunset is beautiful here, but be prepared for it to get busy as it’s one of the (if not the) most popular viewpoints on the island. If you arrive early enough, you’ll be able to secure a front row spot on the rocks and if you don’t turn around, you can pretend that you’re alone.

And if you’re up to it, come for sunrise as well– this is probably the only spot on the island you can see both from. I never did it myself, but I imagine it’s pretty incredible. And as a bonus, there’s a chance you won’t even have to pay the parking fee if you come so early. 50 baht- that’s a free Pad Thai you just got right there.

Love Koh Tao Viewpoint (Not West Coast Viewpoint)

Update: Turns out I’m just a massive idiot and West Coast Viewpoint is actually a different viewpoint a bit further down the road. And has a view of the west coast, not the east coast. Now, I wasn’t aware of this when I wrote this section, which will become clear.

As the name suggests, this spot gives you a beautiful view over the west coast of Koh Tao.

Except it doesn’t. Go figure.

Ah, the mastermind behind the West Coast Viewpoint. Picture them sitting there, proudly naming spots around the island while sipping a coconut. “So hear me out- I know this is the east coast but what if… what if we call it the West Coast Viewpoint?! No one will ever question it, it’ll be absolutely hilarious.”

And to this day, as the legend holds, there they sit hiding behind some bush waiting for the next group of bamboozled tourists to snap pictures of the wrong coast. They giggle to themselves, the incredible pranksters that they are.

And when the hordes arrive to watch the sunset- thinking that a viewpoint called the West Coast Viewpoint is a pretty reasonable place to do so- it becomes a real struggle for them to hold in their laughter.

So, long story short, this will give you splendid views of the east coast of Koh Tao. Come for sunrise.

There’s a fee of 20 baht, or you can buy something from the bar on site. Again, something you may be able to avoid if you come early enough.

There’s also a great little setup of netting and bean bags, as you can see in the picture below. It’s really a great spot to go and relax.

Summit Viewpoint

Summit Viewpoint is, as you may have guessed, the highest viewpoint in Koh Tao.

It’s located at the end of a long string of viewpoints, which are all located off one very narrow and steep road running to the north coast of the island. These include Mango Viewpoint, High Rock Viewpoint, Sunset Viewpoint… etc.

They all offer similar vibes, and- to my knowledge- all charge a 100 baht entrance fee. And the entrance fee for Summit Viewpoint comes with a free drink and access to the nearby Jim View Bar.

It’s also the highest. Feel that should be mentioned again. The bigger the better- so obviously Summit Viewpoint is one of the best viewpoints in Koh Tao.

It’s so high that on a clear day, you may even be able to spot the nearby islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Samui in the distance.

The viewpoint itself is also quite peaceful. I haven’t seen too many people there, which makes sense as the vast majority of people are lazy and pick the first viewpoint they see. Idiot tourists.

Although it’s true that Summit Viewpoint isn’t the easiest to get to- you’ll have to do some pretty steep off-roading on your scooter. If you’re somewhat comfortable riding on dirt you should be fine. The only time I’ve heard there are major issues is when the ground is wet. So if it’s just rained, perhaps take a raincheck on Summit Viewpoint.

There’s a nice little relaxation section with cushions and little tables overlooking the magnificent view. And also a rock jutting out that you can walk onto, offering a great photo opportunity. Just don’t fall- it’d be a long way down.