The Ko Tarutao National Park, comprising 51 islands, is nestled on the southwestern tip of Thailand's territory; pretty tricky to understand and secluded from the bustling international, it exudes tranquility and serenity and is embellished with rugged primal splendor, it is one in all Thailand's few sanctuaries of peace.
Ko Tarutao, the most significant island, spans 26.5 kilometers in length and eleven kilometers in width, boasting peaks soaring over seven hundred meters above sea degree, with dense woodland cover blanketing greater than 70% of its terrain.
Ko Tarutao Map
| Name | Ko Tarutao (Thai: เกาะตะรุเตา) |
| Country | Thailand |
| Province | Satun |
| Coordinates | 6°37′N 99°39′E |
| Area | 152 km2 (59 sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+7 |
| Population | N/A |
| Airport | N/A |
History
Ko Tarutao holds enormous historical importance. During the late 1930s and early 1940s, this place served as a prison that housed around 3000 inmates, including political prisoners. Among them became Siti Pong Gritakon, the grandson of King Rama VII.
During World War II, Ko Tarutao was isolated from the mainland, facing intense shortages of elements. Starvation and malaria ran rampant, and inmates and guards probably engaged in piracy activities in the Malacca Strait. Post-war, plenty of this was quelled with the aid of British forces.
Established by the Royal Forest National Park Department in 1974, the Tarutao National Marine Park has become Thailand's 2d marine national park. In 1982, it became a particular ASEAN Heritage Park, and in 2002, Ko Tarutao served as the filming place for the American truth TV show "Survivor."
Activities in Ko Tarutao Island
Tarutao Island is currently one of the final sanctuaries of paradise in Southeast Asia. It boasts expansive seashores and pristine jungles teeming with the natural world.
Though the remnants of its past exile history are still scattered throughout the island, the dense jungles of Tarutao undergo witness to its outdated technology. Accessible thru a paved street on the jap coast of the island, the Tarutao Prison ruins in Talo Wao Bay welcome site visitors who experience leisurely exploration on rented bicycles, meandering via the island at their tempo.
Furthermore, a small museum and traveler middle were installed on Talo Wao Bay, imparting designated insights into the records of Tarutao Island. However, plenty of the island stays undeveloped, with just a few cabins and camping sites approved and commercial improvement prohibited. The humid weather and dense jungles may deter many enjoyment vacationers from venturing further.
Yet, pro outdoor enthusiasts challenge to Tarutao Island for the journey, traversing its jungle trails, straying a ways from the crushed route, relishing the unspoiled coastline, wherein the beaches undergo no footprints, and finding solace within the great tenting grounds.
How to Get to Ko Tarutao
Most people arrive at Ko Tarutao Island from Pak Bara or Koh Lipe. Ferries departing from Pak Bara to Koh Lipe regularly prevent at Ko Tarutao Island during the adventure, and the reverse route is likewise organized in addition, with ferries from Koh Lipe to Pak Bara making regular stops at Ko Tarutao Island.
You can tour Hat Yai by bus, train, or plane and then transfer from there to Pak Bara Pier. There are about eight flights each day from Bangkok to Hat Yai. Trains go away from Hua Lamphong educate station, buses go away from Southern Bangkok Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) or Khao San Road, and you could disembark at Hat Yai Bus Terminal.
