Ko Tarutao

Ko Tarutao, Thailand, Thailand

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Ko Tarutao is the largest island in the Tarutao National Marine Park, located in the Andaman Sea off Satun Province in southern Thailand, very close to the Malaysian border.

The island is roughly 26 kilometers long and 11 kilometers wide, with a mostly mountainous, jungle‑covered interior and a rugged coastline dotted with small beaches, coves, and mangrove swamps. It is known as one of Thailand’s most unspoiled and low‑key destinations, with minimal development and a focus on ecotourism and nature rather than mass‑market resorts.

The island has a dramatic history as a former prison and unofficial pirate base in the mid‑20th century, and today visitors come mainly for its hiking trails, waterfalls, secluded beaches, and rich marine life in the surrounding national park waters.

Access is by boat from nearby towns such as Pak Bara, and the park usually closes during the rainy season for safety and conservation reasons.