In 2022, my husband and I came to a realization: instead of waking up every day, rushing through weekday commutes, and saving our vacation time up for “someday”, we could spend every day together, steps from the sea.

We’re ZeTravelFamily — a family of three who traded in the 9–5 grind for a slower, freer, and more purposeful life.

“What do you actually do all day?”

The short answer? We live, work, and play — island style.

Whether you’re pregnant and wondering if travel is still possible, raising toddlers and craving more flexibility, or simply daydreaming of working remotely somewhere tropical, this is a glimpse into our daily rhythm on Koh Tao — from sunrise beach walks and banana pancakes to community dinners under the stars.

This is what a day in the life of a pregnant digital nomad looks like when you prioritize family, freedom, and delicious food over routine and stability.

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Mornings in Koh Tao: Pancakes, Beach Walks, and Snorkeling Before Work

On Koh Tao, every day starts with a beautiful sunrise. After a leisurely morning coffee, we headed to Sairee Beach, Koh Tao’s biggest beach. On Koh Tao, life moves slower, and breakfast is sacred.

Before 10:00 a.m., the beach is quiet and shady. The water stays calm—it’s perfect for a quick snorkeling session. Koh Tao is famous for its abundant marine life, and the snorkeling is incredible. You’ll see schools of colorful tropical fish, intact coral heads, and baby sharks. Most of the snorkel spots fill up around 10 or 11 am, when the speedboats from Koh Samui arrive. That’s fine by me. At 10:30, it’s time to start working.

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Midday on Koh Tao: Working Remote from Paradise

My husband and I work remotely for German companies. Thanks to time zone differences, we start working at 11 am, after a leisurely breakfast, a snorkeling session, and a walk along the beach.

Lunch is typically ordered from local restaurants directly on Facebook—it’s the Koh Tao way.

After lunch, our German colleagues are awake, and our meetings begin. We’ll be at our computers for the rest of the day, with a short break for dinner. By 6:30 pm, my stomach was rumbling for dinner!

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Evenings on Koh Tao: Delicious Food and Island Community Vibes

.As expectant parents, we know our lives are about to change, and our days of leisurely dining in restaurants are numbered. That’s why we make the most of our time and eat dinner out every night!

Go-To Dinner Spots:
🔥 995 Roasted Duck – The best roasted duck in all of Thailand.
🍔 Lung Pae – The best sunset view restaurant on Koh Tao
🥩 Sairee Cottage Restaurant – the quickest (and super tasty) food in all of Koh Tao

After three weeks on Koh Tao, we knew enough people to regularly spot a friend at dinner. Koh Tao is small and the island community vibes are strong. Loneliness is not a problem in paradise!

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The Reality of Pregnancy on a Small Island

Pregnancy is a magical time in life – but experiencing the joy of creating life on an island is especially magical. After a couple of weeks, my belly was bulging, and people started recognizing us. Fruit was gifted, and prices dropped. Suddenly, we were no longer tourists—we were regulars. Weekly prenatal massages are part of my pregnancy wellness routine – at 300 Baht (or 10 Euros) for an hour, I quickly became a regular at Impress Massage directly on Sairee Beach.

However, as I reached 28 weeks, I was due for an anatomy scan, glucose test, and needed to decide where I was going to give birth. Healthcare on Koh Tao is basic. We were faced with a tough decision:

• Take a 2-hour ferry to Koh Samui for every appointment
• Or move to Koh Samui for better medical access

Pregnancy nausea + seasickness meant I was not willing to travel to Koh Samui every other week for my checkups. It was time to start house-hunting on Koh Samui.

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Koh Tao Was Never Meant to Be Forever — But It Changed Us Forever

Looking back, Koh Tao was never just a place we lived — it was the beginning of a lifestyle. Koh Tao was where we learned to live our own lives, create our own definitions of success, and fit our work into our lives rather than living to work.

The months spent on the green island of Koh Tao gave us more than stunning sunsets and a craving for fresh coconut smoothies—they gave us independence. We discovered how to build a family life centered on presence instead of pressure. We created a community of like-minded nomads and lifelong friends.

Koh Tao may have been the first stop on our nomadic journey, but it changed the way we see everything. It reminded us that you don’t have to wait for the perfect moment to chase your version of freedom. You can start where you are — one decision, one island, one sunrise at a time.