Ko Tarutao National Marine Park
Ao Pante Pier at Ko Tarutao Marine Park
Ko Tarutao National Marine Park is considered to be one of the most exquisite beach and dive destinations on Thailand's southwesterly outer edges. The park comprises of fifty one mostly uninhabited islands all of which are located within the Andaman Sea near the Malaysian island of Langkawi. Three of the islands are easily reached from the coastal port of Ban Pak Bara on the mainland. They are Ko Adang, Ko Lipe and Ko Tarutao with the latter being the park's head quarters. All these islands are only accessible to visitors from mid November to mid May. During the rest of the year most amenities are officially closed to all tourists as monsoon storms can make it extremely risky for the ferries to make the crossing. The best time to visit the park is over the Thai, Chinese and Western New Years. If you be wanting to stay over during this period, you might have to book your accommodation well in advance as the bungalows here can fill up rather quickly.
Long Boats at Ko Tarutao Island
Ko Tarutao National Marine ParkSpectacular Scenery and Abundant WildlifeFor centuries the islands around these parts had a somewhat sinister prominence as a haunt for pirates but they have long since gone. Jack Sparrow would have had a field day here had he discovered this region. It wasn't until the 1940's that the British Royal Navy finally curtailed the pirate raids. The only people to invade the area now are tourists. The whole archipelago extends over 580 square miles (1,490 square kilometres). It became Thailand's first national marine park in 1974.The park includes some of the most spectacular and unspoiled scenery coupled with an abundant wildlife. The forests and seas support an incredible variety of fauna with langurs, wild pigs and crab eating macaques being a common sight. Lesser known sighting include several unique subspecies of squirrel, tree shrew and deer. The park is also home to over one hundred species of bird with reef egrets and horn-bills frequently being seen. If you are lucky, you might spot a white-bellied sea eagle, a pied imperial pigeon or a frigate bird. Twenty five percent of the world's fish species are believed to inhabit the surrounding seas including a rich concentration of some ninety two species of tropical coral fish. Offshore sightings of sperm and minke whales, dugongs and dolphins are not uncommon around here. The island is also home to hawks-bill, leather-back, green and small Olive Ridley turtles, although dwindling in numbers.
A Dugong
National Marine Park IslandsKo TarutaoKo Tarutao is the largest island in the group measuring 26 kilometres or 10 miles in length. Much of the island is covered in a semi-green tropical rain forest which rises steeply to a height of some 700 metres (2,300 feet) at which point you will be awarded with some of the most wonderful natural scenic views imaginable.To get there, take the ferry from the village at Ban Pak Bara on the mainland. The boat will drop you off at Ao Pante Malaka Pier on the northwestern side of Ko Tarutao where the park's head quarters is located. Once there you will find a visitors centre, a library, two restaurants and the only shop on the island selling mostly essentials. From here you can take part in several diverse daily activities.
Long Boat Trip up the Canal
Ko Tarutao National Marine ParkActivities on the IslandOne very worthwhile excursion is to climb To-Boo Cliff for the spectacular views it offers of the surrounding islands as well as the crocodile's head cape at the north end of the bay. The steep half hour climb is a must especially at sunset.Another equally enterprising activity would be to take the one and a half hour long-boat trip from Ao Pante pier to the stalagmite filled Crocodile Cave. The trip will take you along an inland canal through a bird filled mangrove swamp. You may think that going to a cave of crocodiles is somewhat crazy if not a little scary but there really is no need to panic as you are unlikely to see any of these giant snappers here. The only mammal sighting you'll get to see would be that of an odd otter or perhaps even a small soft-shelled Olive Ridley turtle.
Ko Tarutao Crocodile Cave
Ko Tarutao National Marine ParkAccommodationIf you are looking for a luxury resort or two in which to stay the night, I'm afraid you've come to the wrong place. Most of the accommodation here is at the very bottom end of the market. Lodgings consist mostly of communal bungalows and longhouses. Would you like to know what a longhouse is! It's just that, a long house with lots of beds. If you don't mind sharing and sleeping rough then that's a completely different story. Oh! Did I mention that there's no hot water either.Never mind, perhaps the only other solution would be to hire a tent and sleep on the beach. After all the nights are still pretty warm here in the tropics. Speaking of beaches there are several pristine soft white sandy beaches dotted along the north west coast of the island, most of which are within easy walking distance.
Ko Tarutao Beach
Ko Tarutao National Marine ParkBeaches on the West and East CoastThe beautiful bays of Ao Jak and Ao Molae are a half hour walk from Ao Pante. These two quiet beaches here are fringed with coconut palms and complimented with soft white sand. A great place to spend the day relaxing. Need I say more.Beyond the next headland is the beautiful beach of Ao Sone which is fringed with casuarina trees but otherwise equally as stunning. The beach is also a favourite site for sea turtles who come here to lay their eggs. The major part of the bay sports a long sweeping shore of flawless soft fine sand and crystal clear waters. There is a one hour trail leading up to a wonderful waterfall at the north end of the bay and another slightly longer trail to a waterfall in the middle of a mangrove swamp at the far south end of the bay. Ao Sone beach can be reached either by car from the park's visitor centre along one of only two roads on the island or if you prefer, you can walk there though it will take you about two hours to reach. The only other road takes you through a rubber plantation and evergreen forest to the east side of the island where the rocky bay of Ao Taloh Wow is located.
The Sweeping Shore of Ao Sone Beach
Ko Tarutao National Marine ParkAo Taloh Udang BeachFrom Ao Taloh Wow, you can set off along an overgrown trail through the forest to the sandy bay of Ao Taloh Udang located on the southern part of the island. Be prepared for a long haul as this trail will take you a good five hours to reach.If you do make the trip, you'll get to see the visible remnants of a penal colony set up to house some of Thailand's political prisoners. It would appear that all political prisoners are imprisoned on one or other island around the world at some stage of their lives. Some of you may recall Nelson Mandela being incarcerated on Robben Island in South Africa for many a year. He later went on to become the first black person to take up the presidency of that country. Apparently the author of the first English-Thai dictionary as well as a grandson of Rama VII along with the plotters of two failed coup attempts, were imprisoned on Ko Tarutao Island in the late 1930's before returning to a high government post. Seems this is the way to go should you wish to be travel in a similar direction. However ordinary criminals imprisoned at Ao Taloh Udang and Ao Taloh Wow had a much harsher time. During World War II when supplies from the mainland dried up, prisoners and their guards ganged up and together turned to piracy. This resulted into a rather lucrative business that was only stopped after the war when the Thai government asked the British in Malaysia to send in troops to bring about some sort of order. The main problem today is not so much the pirates and smugglers but the many illicit trawlers fishing in the national marine park waters.
Hat Pattaya Beach on Ko Lipe Island
Ko Tarutao National Marine ParkKo Adang and Ko Lipe IslandsThe wild and somewhat rugged Ko Adang is one of only three inhabited islands in the archipelago that offers accommodation albeit on the rudimentary side. Isn't it nice to know that there are some places in Thailand that are not as exploited as many others have over the last couple of decades. Therefore you won't find huge crowds here as in the more commercialized zones. Best to enjoy while you can.Ko Adang is much more low key and acts mostly as a spring board to some great snorkeling opportunities than anything else. Most of the island is thickly carpeted in tropical rain forest with many year round waterfalls. Some form freshwater rock pools such as Rattana Falls on the southwest coast where you can take a cool dip while overlooking the sea. Nearby Laem Sone is where you will find the park station and a steep and narrow beach backed by a thick canopy of pines. The smaller island of Ko Lipe makes a busy but extremely pleasant contrast to the other islands as it sports a relaxed and lay-back atmosphere with an equally mellow nightlife (not to be confused with the nightlife in other parts of Thailand) Ko Lipe is a small flat triangle of land located two kilometres south of Ko Adang. The footpaths though coconut plantations allow you to enjoy a leisurely stroll. More than that, it has one of the most immaculate and prettiest beaches you will ever come across in southern Thailand, for that matter, the country. The beach is called Hat Pattaya, a shining and shimmering crescent of squeaky clean soft white sand coupled with equally exquisite turquoise waters. It's pure pleasure.
Map of the Main Marine Park Islands
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