Nature rules over beaches, coral reefs, hiking trails, and a former prison turned memorial.
The islands of Tarutao National Park are not the most touristed beaches inbeautiful Southern Thailand . These 51 islands have jaw - dropping scenery , yes , but lack the raving full synodic month parties of Koh PhaNgan , the impossible - to - escape repute ofThe Beachfilming location on Koh Phi Phi Le , and the 2.3 million vacationist who flocked to Phuket last year in just nine months alone . With only 238,000 visitors throughout the integral year , Tarutao beckons to adventurous , nature - loving roamer bet for more than just a company scene studded with pail - sized cocktail .
Across these archipelago , you ’ll find waterfall , caves , so many pristine shoreline , trails direct to vistas for sunsets and first light , as well as a view - beset tribute to the biggest island ’s sobering past times . Park - goers can explore a self - steer hobo camp trail to learn about how the government activity transform a now - defunct prison house into an outdoor museum memorializing all those who struggled and fall back their living onsite , a morose second in human history that ’s been returned to — and reclaim by — nature .
Now that verdant shrubs and swaying laurel wreath have been allowed to recoup Ko Tarutao , the nonmigratory national park has become a lieu where both botany and fauna can thrive . Droves of dugongs , sea otters , tree pythons , grey langur imp , macaque monkeys , sperm cell whales , over 100 species of birds , and even Irrawaddy dolphins call the islands home . Thanks to protective development laws , the park ’s only fitting options admit tent tenting , a few very modest bungalows , and just a few hotels clustered on a single island . These island attempt to show nature as it should be .
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Here ’s everything to do while visiting Tarutao National Park ’s gorgeous and incite expanse .
Tarutao National Park’s chilling origin story
A visitant ’s shopping center sits on the pier of the biggest island , Tarutao , ready to avail traveler with maps and accommodation , as well as inform people about the account of the island . The expo inside — alongside the museum next door and the plaques line the historical trail — secern an undeniably downcast story .
In the 1930s , the governance set up a prison on the archipelago ’s main island . Koh Tarutao was choose for its pelagic isolation and because it was surrounded , at the metre , by now - extinct crocodiles . Around 3,000 inmates , most of whom were hold as political captive , last coarse conditions as detail by signposts along the Talo Wow path .
When Japan worry Thailand during World War II , the prison island was strategically cut off from solid food and medical supplies , leading to the deaths of hundreds of Tarutao resident . In response , safety gadget and inmates ring together and began hijacking commercial-grade ship in the skirt seas and robbing them of their provision . They soon became know as the Pirates of Tarutao .
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After the war , the British Navy was asked to overrun Tarutao to stamp down the raiders , afterward disbanding the punishable dependency for good . For a few decades , the islands remained mostly quiet . Then , in 1974 , the Thai government designated the islands as a national park , and in 1984 , it officially became an ASEAN Heritage Park . Some old , overgrown prison house structure can still be find out around the island , while the ruin of a cemetery and carved statues mean to resemble the incarcerated serve a touching protection to Tarutao ’s complicated and fierce past times .
How to get to Tarutao
Getting to Tarutao National Park expect at least one transfer fromBangkok , but it ’s worth the journey . you could vaporize to Koh Lipe from Bangkok with a relate flight in Hat Yai , the main airport in Southern Thailand . There are also a mates plane - to - ferry packages from Bangkok . Nok Air’sFly’n’Ferry Servicehas you change in Satun , where you ’ll take a sauceboat from Pak Bara Pier . Air Asiaalso offers a aeroplane - bus - ferrying package from Bangkok ( just enrol Koh Lipe as the arriver destination ) .
If you ’re already in the Southern Thailand area , you may trip up ferries or pep pill boats from Pak Bara Pier to Koh Lipe viaBundhaya Speed BoatorSatun Pakbara Speedboat Club Service . There ’s also a 6 + hour van and ferrying choice from Krabi to Koh Tarutao , though it ’s a longsighted journeying .
You could also get to Tarutao National Park passably easy from Malaysia , via a speed boat that leave from Kuah Jetty ferryboat depot in Langkawi .
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Your accommodation should also proffer a ferryboat service or will be able to direct you to the better route . Whatever you do , always check out rather than assume , as ferries and boat have limited schedules and manoeuvre alongside crown travel dates .
When to visit Tarutao
From mid - May until November , Koh Tarutao does n’t permit tourer , nor do many of the island in Tarutao National Park . Koh Lipe is an exclusion , as a modest residential district lives on the island year - round . In any case , the weather is at its nice from November to April , as there ’s little rain , though of course it ’s still humid . fortuitously , you ’re never more than a couple minutes from a dip in the ocean to cool down down . Whatever you do , do n’t block to take mosquito repellent .
Sleep on one of three islands
Koh Lipe , mint the ‘ Maldives of Thailand ’ is the only island in the park where maturation is n’t prohibited . It ’s nontaxable because the local Moken community of interests ( also live as Zhou dynasty lair ) live there . Walking Street is bustling with touristic functioning — let in ferryboat , diving shops , and tour of duty — as well as eating house , coffeehouse , and hotels . Castaway Resortis a place you ’ll daydream about perish back to , so as to stay in one of their breezy , ocean - facing bungalow , reading a book and drinking a cold Thai beer on the eatery ’s pack of cards , trick out in cozy floor pillow . This island is the most touristic , but it ’s still worlds away from overcrowded , and you ’ll find easy approach to the parkland ’s amenities . Every Monday at 10 am on Pattaya Beach , join theTrash Herocleanup as a style to give back and connect .
Ko Tarutao , the biggest island and the park ’s headquarters , is also an alternative for agrestic accommodation in bungalows with mosquito lucre and camping . Electricity here is limited between 6 pm to 6 am , and do n’t expect ATMs , air conditioning , or Wifi — but do expect to tread back in prison term before technology existed and get fall behind in a nation of quietude . FYI : There are a duet of position to eat but nothing fancy . All gravy holder arrive at the base of the military headquarters , where visitant confirm lodging in one of the three areas : Ao Phante Malacca , the bay of Mo Lae , or near Ao Son Bay . If you ca n’t cope with not reserving in advance , you’re able to old - shoal email the regime and reserve a bungalow atreserve@dnp.mail.go.th . Pay a 200 tical fee upon entering ( about $ 6 ) and you ’re all set , but by all odds do your homework to devise for a encampment stay .
Ko Adangis just north of Koh Lipe and can only be reached by boat ride from Koh Lipe . If you have n’t visited the main island of Koh Tarutao yet , the 200 tical fee will be charged here . The choice on Ko Adang are camping and theAdang Island Resort , a countryfied but arresting resort with adventure at its fingertip . Expect to operate into very few people while enjoying kayaking , snorkeling , hiking , and more on this island .
Photo courtesy of Bundhaya Speed Boat
Island hop via longtail boats
From Koh Lipe , where many hoi polloi stay , you could book a boat to neighboring islands . Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Cluboperates a route from Koh Lipe to Koh Tarutao , which takes about an hour — and you get to take in the arresting scenery along the way . Thisboat timetableis updated oft and with child for referencing . Otherwise , the resort or action you ’re taking part in , like snorkel diving , will have urine transportation arranged on their end .
Southeast Thailand Takes Island Hopping to a Whole New Level
It’s like playing connect the dots in the ocean.
Dive, snorkel, paddle, or hike around the islands
Koh Lipe is one of the most preserved coral reefs in Thailand , take 25 % of the world ’s tropical fish species . It ’s like tour the most tempting underwater theater with ass carpet and sea beast . Adang Sea Divers , an eco - friendly dive store on Koh Lipe , focuses on unbelievable snorkel diving and diving event excursions that are otherworldly , with a turgid vehemence onmarine conservation . excursion take place all around the park , position pending atmospheric condition and meter of year , but Koh Kradan and Koh Nga are standouts for snorkel diving adventures . The company will work out out all the logistics with boats , gear , safety , and even eats ( they have an amazing vegan restaurant , Benny ’s on the Beach ) .
Koh Tarutao has nearly sempiternal hiking trails and withdraw beaches to essay out . Take a steep wage increase through the jungle to spit out at Toe - Boo Cliff for odd sea view . Kayaking is also an optimal way to take a moment to view the islands from a different view , as well as observe sea life .
Ready to hit the park? Check out our tool kit to get started:
Photo by Infinity T29 / Shutterstock
Photo courtesy of Adang Island Resort - Koh Adang Secluded Paradise
Photo by ltdedigos / Shutterstock
Photo by NAS CREATIVES / Shutterstock
