Looking for one of the best hidden viewpoints on Koh Tao? Grandfather Rock Lagoon is the spot.
Perched high above the northern coast, this abandoned viewpoint offers epic views over Koh Nang Yuan and, best of all, it’s nearly always crowd-free. With a bamboo deck on a massive boulder, the steep hike is totally worth it for the peace and the panoramic views—no entrance fee, no crowds, just pure Koh Tao scenery.
Here’s what you need to know to reach one of the most secluded Koh Tao hiking viewpoints.
Overview: Grandfather Rock Lagoon Viewpoint
There’s a road that leads all the way to the boulder, but it’s very steep and not recommended for motorbikes unless you’re a highly experienced driver. I’d suggest hiking instead. This viewpoint is accessible via the same road as the more popular Top Point and Grape View, just a bit further up.
The views are equally impressive and well worth the effort, here's an overview of the hike to Grandfather Rock Lagoon:
- Hike Distance: 1.8 km (1.1 miles)
- Duration: About 40 minutes
- Difficulty: Short but demanding
- Elevation Gain: 250 m
- Access: Motorbike (very steep) or hike (short, concrete path but steep)
- Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon for cooler temperatures
How to Get to the Grandfather Rock Lagoon Trailhead
The trailhead for Grandfather Rock Lagoon is the same access road as Top Point, just a bit further up the steep path near Dusit Buncha Resort. From Sairee, head north past the 7-11, and continue for around 5 minutes (1.1 miles) along Sairee Road. The road is just before Dusit Buncha Resort on the right.
The concrete road is easy to miss—look for an unmarked road on the right about 100 meters before the Dusit Buncha Resort motorbike parking area. If you arrive at the steep section leading down into the resort entrance, you’ve gone too far.
The road starts off fairly level but quickly gets steep. You’ll see a few conflicting signs, some advising against motorbike use and others allowing it. If you’re on a motorbike, be cautious as the incline gets very steep towards the end. Instead, if you must drive, drive up a bit further but park at one of the flat sections before it gets too steep.
My Experience Hiking to Grandfather Rock Lagoon
The first part of the hike up to Grandfather Rock Lagoon follows the same twisting, steep road as Top Point viewpoint. It’s a concrete path all the way to the top, but as you climb, the incline gets steeper and a bit bumpy. I wouldn’t want to be on a moped here after rain—it would be a disaster waiting to happen!
After about 25 minutes of hiking, we reached Top Point and stopped to grab a drink, enjoy the view, and take a breather. Once we were ready, we continued on:
- Continue straight past Top Point rock.
- The road soon starts to descend briefly.
- Shortly after, you’ll pass a fork with an overgrown trail to the right; this leads to Grape View, another awesome viewpoint on Koh Tao if you’re up for it.
- Keep left at the fork, where you’ll see an old sign pointing to Grandfather Rock.
- After about 700 meters (0.4 miles), you’ll come across an abandoned site with a large boulder, a wooden ladder on the side, and a weathered bamboo deck on top—this is the Grandfather Rock Lagoon viewpoint.
Although there was a fallen tree blocking the ladder, it was easy to climb to the top of the rock. However, we noticed that it was quite unstable– remember, this is an abandoned viewpoint, visit at your own risk and be careful!
View from Grandfather Rock Lagoon
At the top, the bamboo deck and old chair on the rock offer a decent perch, though they’re a bit wobbly, so be careful. From the rock, we got a direct view of Koh Nang Yuan, framed by some surrounding trees—while not as direct as Top Point or Grape View, it’s still impressive and there is nobody around.
Also, the surrounding trees provide some shade, making it a nice spot to rest and enjoy the solitude. There’s no entrance fee here, no crowds, and no facilities, so be sure to bring your own water and snacks.
We spent about half an hour here, taking in the view and flying my drone over to Koh Nang Yuan.
Note: Curiously, despite the name “Grandfather Rock Lagoon,” there’s no actual lagoon in sight. We explored around but didn’t find any but there are some run-down buildings behind it– maybe an old bar?
From the rock, the road continues down. While we didn't go all the way down to the bottom, it looks like it leads all the way down to the shore to a rocky, unnamed cove on the northwest side of Koh Tao. Let me know if you follow the road and what you find!
Instead, we chose to double back and take the turn off trail to Grape View, another awesome viewpoint on Koh Tao.
Check out my guide to the best things to do on Koh Tao for unique adventures and hidden gems you won’t want to miss!