If you’re looking for a hike that gives you panoramic views of both Koh Tao’s east and west coasts, West Coast Viewpoint and Tanote Peak are the perfect combo.
Located in the island’s center, these two epic Koh Tao viewpoints are just a short five-minute walk apart, offering totally different perspectives.
On one side, Tanote Peak gives you sweeping views over the east coast, with Tanote Bay and Aow Leuk Beach below, while on the other, West Coast Viewpoint opens up the west side of Koh Tao for sunset views over Sairee and Mae Haad.
Most of the way is motorbike accessible, up to Two View Restaurant. After hiking to both viewpoints, here is my guide to help you complete two of my favorite Koh Tao hiking trails.
Overview & What You Need to Know
Hiking to both viewpoints is very easy, and accessible within about five minutes of each other on a well-established private trail maintained by Two View Restaurant. Starting from the restaurant, I recommend taking the route up to Tanote Peak first (perfect for golden hour on the east coast), followed by West Coast Viewpoint for sunset over the western horizon.
- Distance: 2 km (1.2 mi) round trip to both viewpoints
- Duration: 40 minutes walking time round trip
- Elevation gain: Just under 100 m total gain
- Difficulty: Easy
- Entrance Fee: 100 THB (pay at Two View Restaurant; includes a free drink). Required for access to the private trail and viewpoints, even if you don’t stop at the restaurant.
- Best Time to Visit: Sunset (West Coast Viewpoint), Sunrise (Tanote Peak)
- Facilities: Restaurant, bar, toilets, and viewing deck at Two View
- Access: Motorbike accessible up to Two View via a mostly sealed concrete road, with a manageable unsealed section near the end
How to Get to the Trailhead at Two View
There are two ways to reach the trailhead at Two View Restaurant:
- Longer Route: Drive up the steep mountain road next to Monsoon Muay Thai Gym in Sairee, then hike a little over 1 km on an unsealed path to the restaurant.
- Recommended Route: Drive all the way to Two View via the Love Koh Tao access road from the road to Tanote Bay.
For the easier, quicker route:
- From Sairee, head toward the Koh Tao Animal Clinic (on the same road as Blacktip Cowork and the Ice Bath/Sauna). Continue on this road for 2.4 km until you see a left turn marked "Love Koh Tao."
- This concrete road is steep but manageable, not as intense as routes to Top Point or Grape View hikes.
- Follow the winding concrete path to a large water reservoir next to Love Koh Tao Viewpoint—a great viewpoint itself over Tanote Bay.
To reach Two View, continue around the reservoir to the right. The road here turns unsealed and sandy, so be careful, especially after rain. Follow this bumpy road for about 500 meters up the hill to arrive at Two View.
The trailheads for West Coast Viewpoint and Tanote Peak are to the right of the restaurant, but make sure to pay the 100 THB entrance fee at the restaurant (includes a free drink, excluding beer).
My Experience Hiking to Tanote Peak & West Coast Viewpoint
The trail here is easy to follow, and the owner of Two View Restaurant was incredibly friendly and gave us directions and tips for each viewpoint.
We set off along the wide path, which climbs gently before leveling out after around 300 meters. Here, we spotted the two large boulders marking the West Coast Viewpoint. Since it was late afternoon, we wanted to catch the golden hour light on the east coast, so we continued along the fork to the right toward Tanote Peak.
The trail to Tanote Peak steepens a bit but is easily manageable, and we reached the peak after just 500 meters, or about five minutes of steady walking.
Along the way, we noticed stacks of rocks left by previous hikers. The path took us through a small forested section, opening up to a clearing at the top with a rocky outcrop– this is Tanote Peak.
Views from Tanote Peak
Tanote Peak offers an impressive view to the south, with sweeping sights over the east and southeast coast of Koh Tao.
This spot would be perfect for sunrise, with panoramic views of Tanote Bay and Aow Leuk Beach below.
On a clear day, we could even make out Koh Phangan and Koh Samui in the distance. According to my Garmin, the peak sits about 350 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest viewpoints on the island.
After soaking in the scenery for about 40 minutes, and as the sun was lowering on the horizon, we headed back to catch the sunset over the West Coast Viewpoint.
Continuing to West Coast Viewpoint
After soaking in the views at Tanote Peak, we doubled back along the same path for about five minutes until we reached a short path leading to a gap between two massive boulders.
These rocks lean against each other, with a third, smaller boulder suspended in between, creating a natural “doorway” to the viewpoint as you walk through the gap.
West Coast Viewpoint turned out to be one of my favorite viewpoints on Koh Tao. The platform is a large, flat boulder that can comfortably fit a dozen people, though only a couple of other travelers were there when we arrived.
The sunset view here is incredible—you get a panoramic sight of Koh Nang Yuan, Sairee Beach, Mae Haad, and most of the West Coast, with the sun dipping below the horizon.
We spent the last hour of daylight here, watching the sun slip behind the clouds before heading back down to Two View for our free drink.
I hope you've enjoyed this Koh Tao hiking guide to two of my favorite viewpoints on the island!
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!