Koh Tarutao
Introduction to Koh Tarutao
Photos are for illustration and may not show current conditions. Report this photo
Koh Tarutao Information
Koh Tarutao is one of Thailand's hidden gems. It offers an untouched paradise for those seeking a blend of adventure and relaxation. Located in the Andaman Sea, this stunning island is part of the Tarutao National Marine Park. It is renowned for its rich diversity, crystal-clear waters, and pristine beaches. Koh Tarutao is 26 km long and 11 km wide. It provides plenty of space for visitors to explore its diverse landscapes, from its lush jungles to its dramatic limestone cliffs.
Where to Go from Koh Tarutao
From Koh Tarutao, your journey can extend to various beautiful destinations, each offering a unique experience.
-
Koh Lipe: A short ride by the Koh Tarutao Ferry or with the Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Club will take you to Koh Lipe. This small island is known for its white beaches and snorkeling and diving spots. That is the perfect place to continue your sea adventure, or simply relax by the beach. During the high season, ferry tickets and bus tickets to Koh Lipe are in high demand due to the island's popularity.
-
Satun: By taking a Koh Tarutao Transfer, you can reach the mainland town of Satun. Here, you can enjoy the local markets and scenic views, or take a Koh Tarutao Bus to explore the nearby hills and countryside. The journey from Bangkok to Hat Yai by train or bus, and then continuing to Satun, offers an adventurous route for travelers.
Things to Do in Koh Tarutao and Around
Tarutao island is not just about its stunning landscapes; it's also a place where you can engage in numerous activities to make your visit truly memorable.
-
Beaches: The island is surrounded by some of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand. You can sunbathe, swim, or simply enjoy the serene atmosphere at places like Ao Son Bay and Mo Lae Bay. The soft white sands and clear blue waters create a perfect setting for relaxation and sunbathing.
-
Islands Including: Explore the nearby islands by booking a Koh Tarutao Speedboat tour with the Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Club. Each island offers unique sights, from the bustling beaches of Koh Lipe to the tranquil shores of smaller islands in the Andaman Sea.
-
Beautiful Nature: The island's lush jungles and mangroves are ideal for nature walks and wildlife spotting. Hike the well-marked trails to Ao Phante or explore the limestone cliffs for spectacular views. You might spot rare birds and other wildlife in this diverse ecosystem. The island’s history as a place for political prisoners during World War II adds a layer of historical depth to your exploration.
-
Cultural and Historical Sites: Koh Tarutao's history as a home for political prisoners during World War II can be explored through various remnants and museum exhibits. This adds a fascinating historical dimension to your visit.
-
Boating and Sailing: Long tail boats are available for hire for those who wish to explore the coastline or visit nearby islands including smaller ones in the Tarutao National Marine Park.
Whether you're planning a day trip or a longer stay, Koh Tarutao has everything needed to make your trip spectacular. With convenient Koh Tarutao Ferry services, speedboats, and bus transfers, getting around is easy and accessible for everyone. Don't miss the chance to experience this unparalleled island paradise and uncover the beauty of the Andaman Sea!
Attraction Points
Popular Routes
Popular crossings to Koh Tarutao — pick a route to book.
Hop onward from here
Piers
Koh Tarutao Pier
Koh Tarutao Information
About Koh Tarutao
Koh Tarutao is a pristine island destination in Thailand that offers an exceptional blend of natural beauty, marine life, and outdoor adventure. This island is 26 km long and 11 km wide, making it a perfect combination of beauty, nature, wildlife and landscapes in one place. Koh Tarutao is rich both in water and land, offering visitors diverse ecosystems and unforgettable experiences.
The island is mainly fulfilled with lush forest that covers much of its interior. Around the shores, mangroves trees and limestone cliffs decorate the bays and beaches, creating dramatic coastal scenery. The contrasting landscapes between the island's two sides make Koh Tarutao particularly special for nature lovers and beach explorers.
Exploring Koh Tarutao: East and West Coasts
West Coast: Wildlife and White Sands
The west side of Koh Tarutao features a coastline compound by white sands and green-blue water. This side of the island is a home of many species such as turtles, langurs, macaques and wild pigs. Visitors who venture to this quieter part of the island often encounter the rich biodiversity that makes Koh Tarutao a wildlife hotspot. The pristine beaches and calm waters on this coast are ideal for those seeking solitude and natural encounters.
East Coast: Beaches and Limestone Islets
The east side has around 10 awe-inspiring beaches and limestone islets emerging from the sea, a complete spectacle to stare at! This dramatic landscape creates some of the most photogenic views in the region. The combination of sandy shores and dramatic rock formations makes the east coast popular with photographers and adventurous travelers. Each beach has its own character, from sheltered coves to open stretches of sand.
Getting to Koh Tarutao
Reaching Koh Tarutao requires ferry travel from nearby ports. The main access point is from Satun Province in southern Thailand, where ferry services operate regularly to the island. Depending on your location, you may also find connections from other nearby coastal towns.
Most visitors arrive via ferry from established ports that serve the region. Journey times and departure frequencies vary by season and operator, so checking current schedules is essential for planning your trip. The ferry journey itself offers scenic views of the Andaman coast and surrounding islands.
What to Do on Koh Tarutao
Koh Tarutao is ideal for a range of activities suited to nature and beach enthusiasts. Popular pursuits include:
- Swimming and snorkeling in the island's clear waters
- Hiking through forested trails to discover secluded beaches
- Wildlife watching for native species including monkeys, birds, and marine life
- Exploring the limestone caves and geological formations
- Relaxing on pristine beaches away from crowded resort areas
- Photography of dramatic coastal landscapes and natural scenery
Planning Your Koh Tarutao Visit
Koh Tarutao operates as a national marine park, and visitors should be aware of any entry requirements or park regulations. The island is relatively undeveloped, which preserves its natural state but means accommodation and services are limited compared to mainstream beach destinations. Many travelers visit Koh Tarutao as a day trip or short overnight excursion rather than a week-long stay.
The best time to visit depends on weather patterns and sea conditions. During peak season, ferry services are more frequent and reliable. In the off-season, departures may be less frequent, and rough seas can occasionally affect service. Checking conditions before booking your ferry is recommended.
Nearby Routes and Connections
If you're traveling to Koh Tarutao, you may also be interested in exploring other islands and coastal destinations in the region. The Satun Province area offers several interconnected islands and beaches accessible by ferry. Consider comparing your options to find the best combination of destinations for your southern Thailand itinerary.
Book Your Ferry to Koh Tarutao
Ready to visit Koh Tarutao? Secure your ferry ticket today. We offer 3 routes routes serving this destination, with operators providing regular service at various price points starting from ฿700. Compare schedules and fares to find the best option for your travel dates.
Search availability for your preferred travel date and book your Koh Tarutao ferry tickets now.
Koh Tarutao Highlights
Bike around
In the area of Ao Phante Malacca, which is the one where the offices of the national park are settled, travelers can rent bikes for really good prices. Biking around the island is an amazing form to discover every corner of Koh Tarutao. This wonderful island has a concrete road that covers the entire place from north to south and from east to west.
Moreover, biking in the route is not the whole plan, if you’re feeling a bit adventurous; dare to get into the forest in the center of the island, the terrain can get rugged and mountainous with several peaks stretching more than 500 meters high.
The best part of this plan is that when you get tired or sweaty, you can simply stop in the shore and dive into the refreshing water for a while before continuing your journey.
Enjoy the dreamy beaches
Undoubtedly, this incredible island is known by the gorgeous beaches that surround the land. They are particularly recognized for maintaining their natural beauty, less modified by human labor and an incredible place to relax and sunbath.
Ao Jak, Ao Molee and Ao Son are the most popular ones, pristine waters and powdery golden sands where relaxation and fun are completely guaranteed. In addition, activities in the beach not only happen during the day, visitors can even spend the night in there.
Humble yet comfortable bungalows are available for rent, and in the offices of the National Park, camping tents can be rented to finish the day in the best spot you can imagine.
Visit the ancient prison
History in Koh Tarutao is very interesting, around the 40’s the island had an operative prison where more than 3000 criminals from the country were prisoned. Yet, the worst season happened during World War II where the supply of food and medicines was cut and many prisoners died from malaria. Then, the few prisoners and guards remaining became pirates to be finally defeated by British troops in 1951.
Nowadays, visiting this part of the island is a must do. A giant limestone cliff emerges from the sea to show that you are near the place the old prison used to be. Locals will nicely tell you the story about the island, including the filming process of Survivor: Thailand.
Swimming with tropical fish
The island is blessed with clear and serene waters that make it a flawless spot to dive and swim, the vision underwater is perfectly clear using a simple snorkeling mask, complex equipment is not needed.
Moreover, it is said that 25% of the total tropical species in the world can be seen swimming in these serene waters, what else is more appealing than that? An acute plan is to take a longtail boat to the northeastern area of the island where snorkeling is simply amazing.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the pier that my ferry departing from?
Phuket Ferry :
We understand that pier details are important to our customers. That’s why we’ve made the information as clear as possible. Your departing pier address is clearly shown on your e-ticket, which we sent to your email. Additionally, go to our Pier Information page for the most comprehensive local pier information you can find anywhere. Finally, if you still need more information, contact our Customer Service Agents; we are happy to help.
Ferry Samui :
FWe understand that pier details are important to our customers. That’s why we’ve made the information as clear as possible. Your departing pier address is clearly shown on your e-ticket, which we sent to your email. Additionally, go to our Pier Information page for the most comprehensive local pier information you can find anywhere. Finally, if you still need more information, contact our Customer Service Agents, we are happy to help.
Bali Ferry :
We understand that pier details are important to our customers. That’s why we’ve made the information as clear as possible. Your departing pier address is clearly shown on your e-ticket, which we sent to your email. Additionally, go to our Departure Point Information page for the most comprehensive information you can find anywhere. Finally, if you still need more information, contact our Customer Service Agents, we are happy to help.
What are the tourist seasons ?
Phuket Ferry :
Phuket really just has two seasons, which are known as "high season" and "low season" (or "green season"). During the low season months (May- September), boat numbers are reduced. During the high season (October - April), boats to the surrounding islands are increased so you will have some more options.
Ferry Samui :
There are three distinct weather seasons on the tropical island of Koh Samui: the dry season (December until February), the hot season (March until August) and the rainy season (September until November).
Bali Ferry :
Bali actually has a variety of tourist periods, notably around the Balinese New Year, 15 December - 15 January, and 1 June - 30 September. During these high traffic periods, boats to the surrounding islands are increased so you will have some more options. The quieter periods are between 16 January - 30 April and 1 October - 14 December historically.
Will bad weather affect my travels?
Ferries are large and can usually operate in the rain, except in extremely bad weather. During storms or strong winds, the journey may take a little longer than usual.
Speedboats are more likely to be canceled than ferries. If a trip is canceled due to bad weather, you can choose to receive a refund or reschedule. Please note that refunds for bad weather are only issued if the ferry operator cancels the trip.
On rough days, we recommend bringing motion sickness medication and taking it about 20 minutes before boarding if you are prone to seasickness. Boat staff may also provide Dramamine upon request, but you will need to remain indoors during rough conditions. On sunny and calm days, the sun deck is open for passengers to enjoy the weather.
What's the boarding process on the day of my trip?
At the pier named on your ticket, look for the staff of the ferry operator listed on your ticket as well. Please present your e-ticket (QR code) from your phone or other device—they’ll provide you with a sticker and/or boarding pass and direct you to your boat. Most piers have staff available to help load your luggage. In Koh Samui, staff are usually stationed at booths near the boarding area; at other locations, they’re typically near the boats, wearing their company uniforms.
When will I receive my ticket confirmation?
After completing your online booking, your reservation will remain in “Pending” status until it is processed. Once confirmed, we will send your e-ticket via email. The process is usually very quick.
On the day of travel, please present your e-ticket to the ferry staff at the relevant booking counter. If you do not receive your confirmation within 24 hours, contact us immediately.
What are the baggage allowances?
Your ferry e-ticket includes ferry transport, baggage fees, and handling. The free baggage allowance per person is 20–25 kg, depending on the operator. If your baggage exceeds this limit, you can pay the extra fee directly to the ferry operator in cash.
To check the baggage allowance for your specific trip, please refer to the trip details for your selected route.
