Wander Women Koh Tao:
A Beginner Dive + Yoga Retreat

Koh Tao, Thailand
April 8-15, 2026

Join Wander Women as we return to our salty haven of Koh Tao, Thailand, for a curated underwater escape! This beginner-focused but all-friendly adventure will allow you to experience the tranquility of yoga and the healing power of the ocean while also celebrating Songkran, Thailand’s New Year festival — also known as the world’s largest water fight!

We’re shining the spotlight on our beloved Koh Tao — the literal birthplace of Wander Women Retreats — with our most immersive experience yet. As we return to her sandy shores for our fifth edition, we’ll take in some of the Gulf of Thailand’s most famous dive sites alongside an all-female boss babe PADI team, and a built-in squad of future dive besties. This exclusive adventure is for beginner divers and those looking to to take the plunge to level up their skills, with three training tracks available.

• Never dived before? Join us to get your PADI Open Water Dive certification.
• Already Open Water certified? Join us to get your PADI Advanced Open Water Dive certification.
• Previously certified, but don’t quite feel at home beneath the surface? Join us to PADI ReActivate your existing certification and get comfortable in the water again, in the world’s most idyllic and supportive learning environment!

Whichever your learning track, by the end you’ll have all the skills and knowledge to confidently dive at home or abroad, and become an ambassador for the underwater world. Plus, you’ll be diving from private boats with dedicated guides and your Wander Women cheer-squad right by your side!

And that’s not all — as Alex’s home for many years, and Nik’s current home, you’ll get an all access pass to the best kept secrets on Koh Tao. In between underwater adventures and recharging with a daily yoga flow, we’ve got beaches, hiking, temples, and viewpoints to conquer. We’ll talk daydreams and swap travel stories, from our beach floaties with  coconuts in hand (rum upgrade optional!). You’ll also meet the incredible Koh Tao tribe who have been making this magic happen since our first-ever Wander Women Retreat right on this island in 2018!

Want to see more of Thailand? Check out our post-retreat extension here: Elephant Extension

As for our daily flows, you’ve never seen a more beautiful island-wide yoga shala — we’ll practice all over! From sunrise mountain terraces to serene moonlit viewpoints, we’ll explore creative vinyasa flows and bliss out to a yin massage class — there might even be a Sip + Stretch class on the itinerary (okay, there definitely is). And all along the way, we’ll explore the connection between scuba diving and yoga, both of which hold conscious breathing at their core. This trip is for all levels — and that applies to diving as well as yoga!

In classic Wander Women fashion, we’ll also learn about and contribute to keeping our beautiful oceans sparkling with a PADI Aware certification, beach clean up, demonstration from a local creator using 100% recycled plastic, and an optional behind the scenes eco-tour of a tourism powerhouse’s sustainability program.

A photographer will be behind the lens every step of the way, ensuring everyone leaves with profile-picture worthy shots of themselves. You’ll end the retreat with professional photos, including underwater portraits by an experienced underwater photographer who will give you posing tips, too.

The Details

This eight day retreat will be held from April 8-15, 2026. The cost, including just about everything, starts from $2,850 per person for a shared room or $3,250 for a single.

What’s Included

• Seven nights accommodation at a beachfront hotel
• Two meals a day
• Daily yoga
• PADI scuba dive course
• PADI Aware certification
• Two post-certification fun dives
• Scuba diving gear rental
• Privately chartered dive boat
• All outlined activities — see below!
• Local transportation including arrival + departure transfers
• A custom welcome bag
• Local tipping for activities, meals and drivers (we generously tip on your behalf, removing the stress and anxiety of when and how much to tip in a new culture!)
• Professional photos of the trip (above + blow water)
• Donation to a local on-island charity
• A free Wanderland Guide To Koh Tao e-book

What’s Not Included

• Flights
• Mandatory travel + dive insurance
• Additional meals, alcohol or activities not specified in the itinerary
• Transport to and from Koh Tao — unless you join our extension!
• Dive instructor gratuities — due to the different levels of service guests require, we leave tipping our dive professionals up to you but we’ll be happy to make recommendations

The Itinerary

Subject to change, but you’re going to have a magical time — here’s the general idea!

Day 1: Arrive by ferry to Koh Tao and our local driver will be waiting to whisk you to our hotel. Enjoy slow flow yoga to iron out those travel kinks and a guided meander through town to get your bearings. In the evening, we’ll head to a chic beach bar to toast with a signature welcome cocktail or mocktail and let the sunset put on a show for us, all before settling in to a locally curated chef’s table dining experience. 

Day 2: Today we dive straight into your PADI courses, starting with breakfast by the pool as we meet your dive team for orientation and get set up with equipment. After shuffling into your various scuba squads, your instructor will guide you through a series of basic skills on land before jumping in the pool to test them out underwater. Afterwards, we’ll head back to the beach for a toes-in-the-sand lunch at a local favorite with a killer smoothie list and plenty of lounging options to recharge. The afternoon has more relaxation in store, with a Thai massage treatment and free time for beach games, swims or wandering through town. In the evening, we’ll head to the hills for a Thai cooking class with a stunning sunset view. To cap the night off, we’ll meditate on our magical first day with a starlit yin yoga class that will surely have you sleeping soundly.

Day 3: Today we take in sunrise at one of the island’s most incredible viewpoints where you’ll experience a yoga + breath-work class in the clouds. After breakfast, we’ll dive back into your scuba academics to review training, then with mind and body prepared, head straight to our private charter boat! Your first two ocean dives will cover skills while taking in the true magic of the underwater world. We’ll then cruise back to shore with lunch on board while you debrief with your instructors. In the afternoon, we’ll stroll across the road to visit a local eco-organization that transforms Koh Tao’s plastic waste into vibrant, functional creations — some of which might even make an appearance in your welcome bag! We’ll then give back to the island by heading to the beach for a clean-up as we wander the shoreline. Come sunset, we’ll join a longtime local gathering spot to soak up the island’s rhythm before paddling out on SUPs — drinks in hand, if you so choose — to toast your first open-water dive and another amazing day. The evening is yours to choose: explore our favorite restaurant recommendations from your Wanderland Guide to Koh Tao or follow your feet to a beachside spot that catches your eye. Later, if you’re up for it, join us for live music and dancing at a local beachfront hangout.

Day 4:  Rise and shine with a leisurely slow flow yoga class and delicious healthy breakfast from a leafy outdoor studio down the road. After breakfast, picture this: you’re on the top deck of a private dive boat, listening to a playlist of perfectly curated bops alongside your new travel babes. You just finished your final two certification dives at the most celebrated dive sites in the Gulf of Thailand, and you’re about to eat lunch onboard as you cruise back to a paradise island. Life is good! After some toes up time, we’ll gather again for sunset at Nik’s favorite viewpoint — where it feels like you’re standing on the edge of the world. Once the sky has put on its show, we’ll return to sea level to toast your PADI certification over a private catered dinner at our favorite east-meets-west beach restaurant. For those who are keen to experience the night life of Koh Tao, Nik will take you to her favorite spots about town.

Day 5: This morning, we’ll start the day at sunrise with a hike to the most instagrammable viewpoint on the island — new profile pic guaranteed! After breakfast on the beach, we’ll head to Koh Tao’s temple for a tour and talk on Thai culture, then continue down the road for a super stretchy yoga class + sound bath to ease your muscles after an active week. Now that you’re certified PADI divers, this afternoon we return to our private charter boat for some fun dives! We’ll have lunch on board while learning about PADI’s Aware program and become certified torchbearers of the sea. Then jump in for two magical boat dives so you can truly take in your underwater surroundings. Dinner tonight is at your leisure; choose your vibe or follow us for Thai at a favorite beachside spot. Later we’ll wander up the beach for cocktails and a fireshow — it’s Songkran Eve, after all! To finish the night, you will be treated to a show at the Queen’s Cabaret, a quintessential Thailand experience.

Day 6: You thought fireworks were fun? Just wait until you see how Thailand marks the start of the Buddhist New Year: with a nationwide water fight. Before we get wet and wild, we will rendezvous for a sip + stretch yoga class — buckets, a traditional backpacker drink of Thailand, will be provided of course! — kicking off a day of non-stop fun. Dress-up is strongly encouraged — think tropical prints, sequins and fun inflatables! With water pistols locked and loaded, we’ll join the procession to the south of the island to soak in (literally) the street festivities and experience how the locals celebrate. We’ll stop for lunch at a popular beachfront cafe for a floaty pool party and a boogie among the splash-fest. In the afternoon we’ll make our way to the beach for bar-hopping, slip-n-slides, and dancing till the sun goes down — a full day of epic, carefree fun. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Day 7: Today is all about recharging. Start with hydration sachets and a nourishing breakfast for a fresh start after yesterday’s festivities. Then ease into a blissful yoga session and ice-bathing workshop — here, you’ll learn how controlled breathing can strengthen the mind-body connection, a skill that supports both yoga and diving. The afternoon is completely yours to craft, with a full menu of optional activities at your fingertips: yes, more fun diving is available for the now scuba-obsessed, or if relaxation is more your mode, enjoy your final afternoon with a rejuvenating Thai massage or simply lounge by the beach to soak up the last of that golden Thailand sun. If you’re an explorer, you could join Nik and her pup for a scenic hike, or maybe check out the local walking street for some last-minute shopping. For the eco-conscious, there’s even a behind-the-scenes eco tour at a female-owned resort that’s leading the way on conservation efforts in Koh Tao. Finally, as the sun begins to dip below the horizon, we’ll gather to raise a glass at a private rooftop bar for our closing circle, then end the night with a beautiful banquet for our final meal together.

Day 8: We’re not crying, you’re crying! Today we say farewell to our beautiful Koh Tao and to each other — unless you’re joining us in Koh Samui for our Post-Retreat Elephant Extension. In that case, get ready for three more days of magic!

Where We’ll Stay + What We’ll Eat

Koh Tao is a foodie’s paradise and we’re excited to show off the best of the best! Every day, two meals will be included — typically breakfast and either lunch or dinner. We’ll mix things up each day from local Thai hole-in-the-wall joints, to East-meets-West fusion cafes and restaurants. Meals will be not only delicious but also healthy and balanced, with vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and other dietary needs easily accommodated. For meals not included, we’ll take you to some of our favorite local spots where you can order at your own expense — or you’re free to wander off and explore on your own, with plenty of options just steps from our accommodation! Don’t forget to check our eat list in Alex’s Wanderland Guide To Koh Tao — a copy is included! — to choose your own adventure.

We’ll be resting our heads at a boutique hotel in the heart of Sairee Village, on a beach road with shopping, massages, and plenty of great places to eat and drink. There are two room categories to choose from — deluxe and standard — in either single or shared occupancy. 

Deluxe Rooms

Deluxe rooms have a one extra large cloud-like king-size bed, giant en suite bathroom, plenty of space for happy dances, and their very own rooftop pool and sundeck. This is Alex’s go to whenever she’s in Koh Tao these days, the ultimate oasis for relaxation.

Standard Rooms

For those who’d rather spend their travel budget on extra massages or mango sticky rice (we get it), we also have a more accessible option. Standard rooms are beach facing with a balcony and either twin or king beds and a private, basic en suite bathroom.

Of course, you can room with a friend but if you’re traveling solo, fear not, so are most of our Wander Women guests! We’ll do our best to pair you with someone we think you’ll click with based on your intake forms — and we’ll all be besties by the end anyway.

The Diving

Koh Tao has earned its reputation as the world’s leading destination for dive certifications. Travelers flock from across the world to take their first breaths underwater in the coral reefs fringing this little rock — Nik + Alex included! — or progress their skills all the way through to professional levels and beyond. And it’s simple to see why: teaching standards are high, conditions are breezy, dive sites are abundant, and it’s a seriously blissful place to decompress after a day underwater.

We’ll hit some of the Gulf’s top dive sites and enjoy Koh Tao’s unique coral gardens, rocky swim throughs, and artificial reefs.

Whether you’re joining us for your PADI Open Water Diver or PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification, this retreat is designed the way we believe dive training should be: led by experienced, patient instructors; practiced in the calm comfort of a pool for confined sessions; and with most of the academics completed in advance, at your own pace, so your time here is free to fully enjoy paradise.

We also welcome certified divers who are looking for an opportunity to refresh their rusty skills in a safe and supportive environment. Maybe it’s been a hot-minute between dives, or since getting certified you haven’t had much opportunity to put it to good use? Whatever the case, we’re here to chat and cheer you on while you get back on that seahorse! The PADI ReActivate Scuba Refresher Program is a fully personalized course that covers the areas where your skills and knowledge need refreshing. Move quickly through topics you know well, then dive deeper where your knowledge may have lapsed. You’re welcome to join every moment of classroom time and confined skill sessions, but if you finish your requirements and want to enjoy some extra diving or free time for massages or beach naps, you’ll have that opportunity too! We also welcome certified divers on this retreat who want to build competence or confidence to make diving regularly a reality.

For all learning tracks, this retreat includes access to PADI eLearning, which will allow you to watch the course videos, absorb the academic readings, and complete the quizzes in the comfort of your own home, before you even touch down in Thailand. And fear not! Your instructors will do plenty of poolside knowledge reviews and go over anything you don’t yet feel completely confident on.

Getting There and Away

Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is the largest international airport in the country and most likely your port of arrival. Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) serves as a secondary hub for low cost carriers and both are viable options for your arrival into Bangkok. Thailand is a visa-free country for most passports. If you’re from the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, and most of Europe, you can enter for thirty days visa-free. We’ve been navigating Thailand’s visa rules for years and are happy to help you figure out your specific situation.

A lengthy and in depth section on the many ways you can make your way from Bangkok to Koh Tao is included in the Wanderland Guide To Koh Tao e-book — again, included in your booking! Budget anywhere from $50-$200 depending on your preferred mode of transport — plane, train or automobile! For your convenience, private transfers from the ferry to our hotel are included on the first and last day of the retreat.

Should you join the Post-Retreat Elephants Extension, you’ll end on Koh Samui, fifteen minutes from an international airport where you can be whisked to your connecting flight.

Travel With Us

For this retreat, you will be team hosted by travel enthusiasts and hostesses with the mostest — Nik Turnbull!

Nik originally hails from Australia and has over ten years experience working in the travel industry, from tour guiding in the Greek Islands to charter boats on Sydney Harbor and running a backpacker hostel in Italy. She came to the island in 2019 to learn to dive (surprise-surprise!) and after completing her Open Water course she was hooked! Nik is a certified Divemaster and freediver who has worked on conservation research projects on the Great Barrier Reef and loves introducing people to the underwater world. Koh Tao is both where she calls home and where she first met Alex — her very friendly next-door neighbor! In 2023, Nik joined the Wander Women team as Retreat Manager, and she can’t wait to share her favorite little rock with you.

The Wander Women team on Koh Tao consists of one of the most experienced, energetic female dive teams on the island and an incredible community of female entrepreneurs we partner with. You’re just going to be blown away — we know we are!

Extend Your Adventure

Can’t imagine visiting Thailand without coming face to trunk with an elephant? Or just not ready to head home so soon? Island hop with us for a two-night Post-Retreat Elephants Extension to Koh Tao’s neighboring island of Koh Samui. We’ll hit the ultimate Thailand bucket list moment of meeting elephants, Thailand’s national animal, and slip into ultimate bliss for an afternoon at the trendiest Koh Samui beach club to toast to the trip of a lifetime.

Join Us

We have had more guests fill out inquiry forms about this trip than we have spaces on it — book soon to secure your spot on this beloved signature Wander Women retreat!

Please note that there is a minimum booking requirement, so please refrain from booking air travel until the guaranteed departure quota has been met. You will be notified when this is a guaranteed departure.

Can’t make this one? Don’t sweat — sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when enrollment opens on future retreats. Don’t hesitate to email us at retreats@alexinwanderland.com with any and all questions or concerns over if this is the right retreat for you. We’re always here to chat.

Wander Women Koh Tao: A Beginner + Yoga Retreat 2026

$2,850.00 – $4,250.00Price range: $2,850.00 through $4,250.00

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Wander Women Koh Tao: A Beginner + Yoga Retreat 2026 quantity

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F.A.Q.

So does non-refundable really mean non-refundable?

Yes, all payments are non-refundable. If the trip must be postponed or canceled due to events beyond our control, you will be offered the choice between a full refund and applying your payments to a future trip.

The reason payments are non-refundable is that we start incurring costs from the moment someone presses “book” — from credit card fees to high hourly wages for our team who correspond with guests, manage trip inventory and our e-commerce platform, analyze forms to create room assignments, coordinate with our local vendors, and beyond.

There’s nothing we want more than for our guests to take and enjoy the travel they have worked hard and paid for. Thank you so much for your understanding and respect of our need to enforce this policy strictly. We want to be here to travel with you for years to come!

Will I need travel and dive insurance?

Yes, it is mandatory for all Wander Women Retreat guests to have personal travel and dive insurance for the duration of the trip, either through a travel insurance provider such as World Nomads, or an industry specific membership insurance such as Divers Alert Network (DAN). World Nomads offers coverage at affordable rates. We recommend you book your travel insurance as soon as you make your trip deposit to protect your investment.

Is diving safe though?

Scuba diving is a completely safe and enjoyable activity; however in order to complete your PADI certification, you will need to complete a standard medical health form. For anyone with existing health conditions or concerns, please take a look at this diver medical form and confirm with your local doctor, or seek the advice of a dive medic for more specific questions. 

What about visas?

Good news! Entering Thailand is a relatively straightforward process as tourist visas are not necessary when you hold a US, UK, Canadian or Australian passport — along with many other countries. Before traveling, you will just need to make sure that you have at least six months validity from your intended return date and a blank passport page — hurray, another stamp!

Um, yes please! Our email is retreats@alexinwanderland.com.