Tarutao National Marine Park, from concentration camp to paradise on Earth

Published on August 25, 2024 at 4:00 pm

A lost paradise, Thailand secretly guards one of its most exquisite regions: Ko Tarutao National Park on the island of Koh Tarutao. This little haven of peace stretches over 51 islands covered in well-preserved tropical forest and extraordinary wildlife, all surrounded by a coral reef. A former concentration camp for political prisoners, Tarutoa Island is one of the few islands in the country that has been preserved from mass tourism. The few visitors will be able to enjoy a completely isolated island experience, cut off from the rest of the world and surrounded by unspoilt nature. Located in south-west Thailand in the Andaman Sea, the island is a rewarding break between remote beaches, thick jungles and mangroves. On long hikes, visitors can spot crab-eating macaques, deer, wild pigs, sea otters, pythons and even eagles. Tarutao National Park is a chance to reconnect with Mother Nature, an incredible experience for the soul.

A stone arch on a white sandy beach on Khai Island in Tarutao National Park

Summary

Flora and fauna
What to do in Tarutao National Park?
Practical information

Tarutao National Marine Park was established in 1974. It consists of 51 islands, divided into two groups: the Tarutao group to the east and the Adang-Rawi group to the west. Pulau Tertua (meaning "the island of the old") gave the name Tarutao to the island. ASEAN Heritage Parks and Reserves 1982, was the banner added to the Tarutao National Marine Park. It was also a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1990, but was not selected due to concerns over the protection of rivers and forests.

The rich biodiverdity of the marine national park

Flora and fauna

With a wealth of natural beauty, the island also boasts warm, clear seas and white beaches. This place attracts those who wish to relax in peace away from civilisation. In the sea, the underwater world is preserved and rich. With its originality and uniqueness: the island's flora and fauna never cease to amaze visitors!

Koh Lipe, Andaman Sea, Thailand, seen from a wide angle.

Lipe Island (Ko Lipe) is the most famous seaside resort in the park. Under its jurisdiction, this island is also considered a national park. The island is home to a number of hotels and inns covering a wide range of prices. There are restaurants, small shops, mini-markets, pharmacies and travel agencies. The island also has beautiful sandy beaches. There are several diving and snorkelling options, which are restricted to authorised areas only.

Green View Beach Resort

Overlooking the Andaman Sea, this eco-friendly beach resort offers bamboo, wood and stone bungalows on the tropical island of Koh Lipe.

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What to do in Tarutao National Park?

Tarutao National Marine Park

The park is located in the beautiful Andaman Sea and is considered to be the largest marine park in the whole of Thailand. It is also known as a popular area for outdoor naturalists who are very committed and interested in nature tours and snorkelling. So if you want to snorkel in Tarutao National Park, this is the place to be.

Koh Adang

Koh Adang offers incredible food with warm and friendly staff. People can walk to the Ranger Station which is a hiking point. This place also has some bungalows which are beautiful. The beautiful beaches and natural state with trees and vegetation growing in places add to the panorama.

The beautiful island of Koh Lipe The view from the province of Koh Adang Satun

Cycling tours

Koh Tarutao is an adventure-lover's dream with plenty of trails to explore. Koh Tarutao is a great island to explore by bike. The paved roads take you to some of the more remote parts of the island and into the jungle. Although the roads are in fairly good condition, there are some steep hills, so be prepared for a good workout!

You can hire good quality mountain bikes from the Ko Tarutao Visitor Centre for THB 250 per day.

Walking tours

Pha Toe Boo Cliff

A lovely short walk to Pha Toe Boo Cliff offers excellent views over Koh Tarutao's hilly interior and across the sea to distant islands. The walk starts just behind the visitor centre and is well marked. The trail is around 500 metres long and takes around 15-20 minutes. The sunsets from the hill are particularly stunning.

Lu Du Waterfall

From Ao Son, you can hike through the jungle to a small waterfall, Lu Du. The trail starts about 300 metres up the paved road from Ao Son. There's no signpost, but you'll recognise it by the junction road sign at the jungle opening. The trail is about 3 km long and takes about 1 hour.

Koh Lipe beach

The beaches of Koh Tarutao

There are several beautiful beaches on Koh Tarutao worth exploring and you can reach them by bike or on foot. Each beach is empty and seems completely untouched by humans. A particular favourite is Ao Mo Lae beach. Note that sand flies are a big problem on Tarutao, so although the water is ideal for swimming, it's not a great place to lie on the beach.

Aerial view of Ao Phante beach, Malacca

Practical information

⏰ When should you visit the park?

The best time to visit Tarutao National Park is during the autumn and spring seasons when over 300 species of birds grace the area and are of great interest to nature lovers. Although this place can be visited at any time of year, the best time for a visit is from November to April to enjoy the sun, walks and beaches.

👛 Koh Tarutao entry fees

Koh Tarutao is the largest island in the Tarutao National Marine Park. To keep this island protected and unspoilt, the Thai government requires visitors to pay a small entry fee which helps them to protect the island and maintain the facilities. Entrance fees to Koh Tarutao cost 200 baht.

by Jude JONES | Staff Writer

Jude Jones is a writer and editor from Manchester, England. He is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in History and Modern Languages at the University of Cambridge. He has a keen interest in art, film and literature.

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