Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ko Tarutao Marine National Park
One of the most exquisite and unspoilt regions in all of Thailand,
Ko Tarutao Marine National
Park
( 0 7478 1285; adult/child 400/200B; Nov-mid-May)
encompasses 51 islands covered with
well-preserved virgin rainforest teeming with fauna, and surrounded by healthy coral reefs
and radiant beaches. Pressure from big developers to build resorts on the islands has so far
(mostly) been ignored, though concessions were made for the filming of the American
reality-TV series
Survivor
in 2001. And there is the minor issue of a private fishing resort
on Ko Adang, which is supposed to be off-limits to developers. It was originally slated to
open in 2010, but local environmentalists have appealed to the Thai courts to keep it
shuttered.
Ko Tarutao is the biggest and second-most-visited island in the group. It's home to the
park headquarters and government accommodation. Note that there are no foreign-ex-
change facilities at Ko Tarutao - you can change cash and travellers cheques at travel
agencies in Pak Bara and there's an ATM at La-Ngu.
Many travellers choose to stay on Ko Lipe which, despite being part of the park, is fast
becoming a popular and increasingly paved resort island with tourist facilities and bunga-
lows aplenty. Curiously, the island has managed to evade the park's protection because it
is home to communities of
chow lair
people, making it exempt from zero development
laws.
