Welcome to our second instalment on why Koh Tao is the perfect location for a destination wedding. When organising a wedding abroad, most, if not all of your guests will also use the opportunity to take a holiday; this handy guide will give you a taste of what activities are available on this little paradise island.

From scuba diving, adventure activities, hidden trails and viewpoints, to beautiful beaches, spas and yoga, whether you’re an adrenaline junkie or simply like to relax, there is something here to suit all tastes. Koh Tao really does have it all!

 

Is there an Adrenaline Junkie side to you?

Koh Tao has a lot to offer those who are addicted to that rush of excitement, so where do we start?

How about with ‘Jump into Jaws’?! This trip certainly gets the blood pumping and the adrenaline flowing!  Included is a jungle hike, cliff jumps up to 12m into crystal clear water and snorkelling in different spots from a speedboat. You can end the day with a cold beer on the beach – what a truly awesome way to spend a day!

Photo: Goodtime Adventures

If you don’t fancy getting wet, you can see the island from a different prospective with ‘On the Rocks’. This is another great activity that combines abseiling and rock climbing, and provides you with the far-reaching views across Koh Tao.

Ever dreamt of being in the circus, or want to fly like your favourite super hero? Then why not try a trapeze class?! This is an unforgettable experience that you won’t want to miss! With the right timing, most people manage a mid-air catch in just one lesson! Suitable for all ages from 6 years, this is great family activity. Take a leap of faith and learn how to fly!

The above activities are all available through Goodtime Adventures.

More of a water baby? Then fear not!

It’s hard not to be a water baby when you live on a tropical island renowned for its diving, so it would be a crime not to mention it here.

Koh Tao is the perfect place to learn how to dive. With its mixture of shallow and deep dives, it’s perfect for all levels; we even have a wreck! If you haven’t dived before you can take a one day try dive, or get certified with your Open Water licence. For divers who are already certified, there are advanced courses, specialties and tec courses, or you can simply fun dive!

Koh Tao has dive centres in plentiful proportions, but with so many to choose from, it can be a little overwhelming to know where to start. One of our favourites would be Master Divers, a small, professional PADI 5 star IDC centre offering dive trips and the full range of PADI courses in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

That’s me learning all about underwater photography!
Photo: Ayesha Cantrell 

If scuba isn’t really your thing, but you still want to enjoy life on the ocean wave, then no problem – we’ve got that covered too!  You can enjoy island snorkel cruises, private boat charters and other water sports – Goodtime Adventures, Extreme Academy and Ace Marine all offer a highly personalised service and cater for all group sizes.

Still not enough? Then you can find SUP TAO across many spots along Sairee beach.  Taking a stand up paddle board across the beautiful waters of Koh Tao is an experience you wont want to miss – especially at sunset! Bring your waterproof camera for some unforgettable holiday pics!

And relax…

Do you just want to hike without the extreme activity element? If so, Koh Tao has some amazing viewpoints; from Mango Bay to Two Views and from Tanote to Aow Mao, the island in rich in hidden hiking trails just waiting to be discovered.

After your hike, you can indulge in a visit to a spa to ease your muscles. Thailand is very well known for its spas and Koh Tao has a plethora of them to keep you happy. From beach front salas to more exclusive, high-end resorts, the choices are endless. There are individual treatments available, but my personal favourite is to splash out on a 3-4 hour package and to be truly pampered.

Koh Tao is also the perfect destination for holistic activities such as yoga. You can participate in yoga sessions on the beach for free, or take one of the many classes available across the island.

The children in the group

We’ve already mentioned the trapeze and also island snorkel cruises and private boat charters, but did you know from the age of 8 children can also learn how to dive?

Master Divers offers the PADI Bubblemaker programme and smaller equipment to make this manageable and fun. Simply put, this is a mini dive for mini divers! Your 8 year olds are allowed to dive to a maximum depth of 2m, exploring the shallows of a calm bay or having fun in the pool.

For something completely different for your little mermaids or mermen, Splash Dance and Swim offers kids over 6 years who are confident, able swimmers, to take part in a 2 hour workshop; they’ll learn skin diving skills, go swimming and snorkelling, and in no time they’ll be morphing into Ariel with mono fins and mermaid tails!

For other childcare needs, there’s the fantastic Koh Tao Playskool and Daycare Centre to keep your little ones busy.  We are also able to arrange private babysitting if you’re having a night out with the adults.

There’s really is something for everyone on Koh Tao! No matter how large or small your wedding party is, your guests will be kept happy and busy pre and post your BIG day!

Look out for our third and final instalment where we’ll be looking at a different side of island life – keep your eyes peeled!