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MANGO VIEWPOINT
Mango Viewpoint really is one of those places you can have a love-hate relationship with. It’s a fantastic place with breathtaking views over a part of Koh Tao, but jeez you have to do something for it! The road to it is not really easy! But the reward is great anyway, from here you have super nice views over mainly the west coast of Koh Tao.
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Nice lounge spots!
At Mango Viewpoint is a small cute restaurant with nice lounge spots. When you order something you get paint and a brush with which you can leave a message and your name. Because of this the whole restaurant is filled with nice colorful texts and names of other travelers. Nice to read and to write down your own message! (Of course we also left our Thailand Magazine elephant logo behind). For a can of cold soft drink you pay 50 baht by the way. Don’t plan too tight because you can easily enjoy an hour at this great place.
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Multiple viewpoints
There are several viewpoints / bars in the area such as the High Rock Bar and the View Bar. Some pretend to be Mango Viewpoints and require 50 baht entrance. It also happens that they say with dry eyes that the Mango Viewpoint is closed or the road happens to be impassable today. Don’t just believe anything and ask for information from fellow travellers. The choice is yours of course, but if Mango Viewpoint is your goal, the trick is not to be distracted and follow the signs to Mango Viewpoint. You’re sure to get a good view when you see the wooden barrier and you’ll have to pay 100 baht to get through.
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How to get to Mango Viewpoint?
By scooter
The route consists of concrete slabs and bumpy paths without concrete. Because the roads/paths are sometimes quite steep you will have to accelerate quite a bit to get to the top, even if the road is in bad condition. Some people first drive a part with the scooter and walk (forced) the rest to the viewpoint. The route is actually only recommended if you really have a lot of scooter experience. The way back is the same route (what goes up must come down). Keep an eye on the weather forecast, rain turns the dirt roads into mud tracks!
PLEASE NOTE!
When a “coincidentally” passing Thai says something is closed and he / she happens to have a (better) alternative, it is at least suspicious. Always do your own research, usually this is a scam.
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To Mango Viewpoint by foot
It’s not impossible, others have also dit it! But It does help if you have already practiced leg muscles and wear good shoes. You walk the same way as the scooters / taxis drive, but the road is rarely really busy. From Life Koh Tao Resort it is about three quarters of an hour sweating (one way). On the way you will come across a number of bars where you can catch your breath.
By taxi (4WD)
To get to Mango Viewpoint by taxi you have to pay 1.500 baht. Quite expensive but you go with a 4WD jeep. Because the road is actually too narrow for a car, it will regularly have to drive with two wheels next to the road. So prepare yourself for a bumpy ride!
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