Tarutao National Park and Island - tourist information

General information about Tarutao

Tarutao Marine National Park (Ko Tarutao Marine Park) Satun Province in Thailand was founded in 1974. It has absorbed an area of 1,490 km2 in the southern part of Thailand near the coast of Satun Province in the Andaman Sea. The park covers 51 islands, which are divided into two groups:

• The eastern group of Tarutao Islands
• The Western group of Adang-Ravi

The park brings together three archipelagos: Tarutao, Klang and Adang. The name of the national park comes from the name of the main island Pulau Tarutao (which means "old island").

Today, Tarutao National Park attracts tourists with its remoteness from the main tourist sites of Thailand. Here you can still feel the pristine beauty of the white beaches. The underwater world is diverse and replete with rare representatives of the depths of the sea. In connection with this circumstance, tourists tend to get into the national park to go diving and snorkeling. Visiting the national park for tourists is paid – 400 baht / 200 baht per child.

The diversity and richness of nature, combined with the warm, clean sea and snow-white beaches, attracts lovers here to relax in silence away from civilization. And we are not even talking about relaxing in a remote hotel, but even living in a tent on the seashore in the wild. Thanks to the assigned status, the park has preserved a rich underwater world, the world of mammals and tropical animals. And the flora of the islands still amazes tourists with its pristine and unique nature.

The most famous resort of the park is Lipe Island (Ko Lipe). Although this island is included in the national park, it is not under its jurisdiction, and access to it is free. Ko Lipe is strikingly different from the rest of the islands of the park in its development. There are hotels and hostels of various price categories and comfort levels. There are cafes and restaurants, small shops, a pharmacy, mini markets and travel agencies. The island has gorgeous sandy beaches, but the bottom is not everywhere conducive to carefree swimming, there are areas where sharp corals are exposed at low tide. Travel agencies offer several options for diving and snorkeling, but only in the places allowed for this.

The second most popular island of the park after Ko Lipe is Tarutao Island. It is much less developed. Usually tourists do not spend the entire period of their vacation here, but stop at Tarutao for a few days on the way to Koh Lipe or back.

Tarutao Island has a dark history. In the late 30s of the last century, it was used to isolate political prisoners. The first prison was founded here in 1936, it housed 500 people. Subsequently, it was expanded, and the number of prisoners increased to 3,000.

During the Second World War, food supplies from the mainland to the island stopped. Guards and prisoners began to die of starvation. To survive, they teamed up and attacked ships passing by the island. During the war, about 130 ships suffered from robbery.

Tarutao Island is home to the headquarters of the National Park (at its northern tip). There is a small infrastructure near the beach of Mo Lai Bay. In the area of this white beach there is a restaurant, a bungalow and a camping area. Vacationers are invited to rent bicycles to take walks around the island.

Ao Sun Bay is located on Tarutao Island in the distance. Here you can rent a bungalow or rent a tent for the night. This place is rightfully recognized by tourists as the quietest and least crowded on the island.

The main activity on the island of Tarutao is a serene rest by the sea, but if you wish, you can take trekking trips inland to waterfalls, climb mountains and visit caves. Snorkeling is possible on some beaches. The ruins of the old prison can be viewed on Ao Taloh Udang Beach.

But be careful when walking around the island, especially in its southern part. It is known that the southern part of the island is used by gangs that are engaged in human trafficking. There are several prisons in the jungle where they keep their live goods. A couple of years ago, the police conducted a demonstration raid and released prisoners from several such prisons. Some of the released prisoners scattered around the island, because they simply have nowhere to run, because they are not expected in their countries. These former victims now live in the jungle and can also pose a danger.

Tourist seasons, weather in Tarutao

On the island of Tarutao, as well as in the National Park as a whole, you can relax all year round. But the high and low seasons stand out.

High season (dry season) runs from November to May. At this time, additional ferries and high-speed boats operate between the islands, all hotels are open.

Low season (rainy season) falls on June-October. At the same time, the most unsuccessful month is October. In general, at this time you can also have a good rest on the islands, but many ferry routes are suspended, only flights to Ko Lipe Island remain. Many hotels are closed for repairs or vacations.

Seasons on Tarutao by month, when is the best time to go

Hotels in Tarutao, where to stay

On the neighboring island of Ko Lipe there is a considerable selection of hotels and a relatively developed tourist area. Learn more about hotels on Ko Lipe here. And there are very few opportunities for accommodation directly on Tarutao. This is a bungalow on the beaches of Ao Pante Malacca and Ao Molae. On the rest of the beach, accommodation is possible in tents at campsites.

How to get to Tarutao

Tarutao Island is located in the southern part of Thailand in Satun province, almost on the border with Malaysia, less than 10 kilometers from Tarutao is the Malay Langkawi Island. The island is 20 kilometers from the mainland (Tarutao on the map of Thailand).

You can get to the island only by water from the pier in the town of Pak Bara, and from the island of Ko Lipe. In fact, there is one boat between Pak Bara and ko Lipe, which stops at Tarutao Island.

Boat schedule as of April 2015*

* - Attention! Only part of the schedule of regular flights is given. In addition, many additional flights open during the high season. Check on the websites of carriers.

Carrier websites for finding up-to-date schedules and booking tickets:

• Pakbara, Ko Lanta - Ko Lipe - http://www.bundhayaspeedboat.com
• Ko Lanta - Ko Lipe http://www.tarutaolipeisland.com/

Transportation on the island, how to navigate

There is no transportation on Tarutao Island. You can move only on foot, and between the beaches by boat. You can also rent a mountain bike or kayak.