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.
One of the first marine national parks in Thailand, the main accommodations in the
park are small, ecofriendly government-run cabins and longhouses. Pressure from big de-
velopers to build resorts on the islands has so far (mostly) been ignored, though conces-
sions 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 environmental-
ists have appealed to the Thai courts to keep it shuttered.
Rubbish on the islands can be a problem - removal of beach and visitor rubbish only
happens sporadically. Do your part and tread lightly. Within the park, you can spot dusky
langurs, crab-eating macaques, mouse deer, wild pigs, sea otters, fishing cats, tree py-
thons, water monitors, Brahminy kites, sea eagles, hornbills and kingfishers.
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
(sea gypsy) people, making it exempt from zero de-
velopment laws.
Long-tail tours to outlying islands can be arranged through travel agencies in Satun or
Pak Bara, through the national park headquarters on Ko Tarutao, or through resorts and
long-tail boat operators on Ko Lipe.
