Sand, Sun, Snorkelling

From Bangkok we booked an overnight train to Chomphon in southern Thailand. We picked Koh Tao on a whim, a cafe owner in Pokhara (where we bought our 2018 Southeast Asia Lonely Planet guide) recommended it as a great island with sun, sand and diving and this small island didn’t disappoint. With its crystal clear waters and beautiful beaches, Koh Tao was a paradise that we loved calling home for 10 days – we extended our week stay within 24 hours of arriving! 

After a VERY rough crossing (poor Jake puked 6 times – he wasn’t as bad off as the lady lying on the floor hugging the garbage can, but it was awful) we arrived at a tropical paradise and almost immediately relaxed.  

Koh Tao is known for its diving. The waters around Koh Tao are full of marine life, including tropical fish, sea turtles, and even sharks.  Sadly, the kids needed to be at least 10 years old to learn, however lucky for us, snorkelling was a great option as well. 

We spent a day on the water with a snorkelling tour that circumnavigated the island and brought us to the best reef spots. A favourite of the kids (and ours) was Shark Bay. This sheltered bay is home to a variety of shark species, including blacktip reef sharks and leopard sharks. You can snorkel in the bay and see the sharks swimming around you. In our case we not only saw reef sharks, but sea turtles as well. So cool! 

We also met a great Swedish family who had three lovely kids, so our two played all day with their three in the pool, at the beach, in the pool, on the swing, in the pool…you get the idea.  Life was really rough…;)

The kids asked more than once if it was possible to actually live in paradise…I mean, why not?! Kids say Koh Tao is HIGHLY recommended!