Koh Tarutao is the large, mountainous island at the heart of Tarutao National Park, between the Satun mainland and Koh Lipe. It has no village and no resorts, only park lodges, campsites, forest and long empty beaches, and you reach it by boat from Pak Bara pier or, in the season, from Koh Lipe.
Where Lipe is small and busy, Tarutao is big and quiet. At 150.84 square kilometers it is Thailand's fourth-largest island, on the figures of the government's marine resources department (DMCR), and most of it is steep forest rising to just over 700 meters. People come for the beaches, the mangroves, the walks and the story of the prison camps that operated here from 1938 until after the Second World War. It is also a place that closes: the park shuts to visitors for several months during the southwest monsoon.
Koh Tarutao at a glance (checked October 2026)
- Province
- Satun, far southern Thailand, near the Malaysian border
- Park
- Tarutao National Park, created 19 April 1974; 51 islands, about 1,490 km²
- Main visitor area
- Ao Phante Malaka, with the park headquarters, lodges and campsite
- Park fee
- 200 baht foreign adult, 100 baht child (category 2)
- Season
- Closed to visitors for part of the monsoon each year; dates set by park notice
- Boats from
- Pak Bara pier (La-ngu district); Koh Lipe in the season
Prison island: the history of Tarutao
The park's own history page tells the story. In 1937 the Department of Corrections surveyed the bays of Ao Talo Udang and Ao Talo Wao for a penal colony, and in June 1938 Tarutao became a prison and vocational training camp for criminal inmates. At the end of 1939, 70 political prisoners from the failed Boworadet Rebellion of 1933 and a 1935 plot were sent here and held at Ao Talo Udang.
During the Second World War the island was cut off from supplies, and food and medicine ran short. From early 1944, according to the park, guards turned to piracy against cargo ships passing through the strait, until Thai and British forces put an end to it in 1946. The prison was closed two years later. Stories of the "Tarutao pirates" have grown in the retelling, so treat the more dramatic versions you hear with care.
The island became a national park, Thailand's eighth, in 1974, and the park is also listed as an ASEAN Heritage Park. In 2002 it was the filming location for a season of the US television show "Survivor". The name, the park says, comes from the Malay "Talo Trao", meaning many bays.
What there is to do on Tarutao
Most visitors base themselves at Ao Phante Malaka, where the boats from Pak Bara land and the park headquarters stands. The park lists nature trails, waterfalls, caves, mountain biking, birdwatching, swimming and boat or paddle trips among its activities. Among the named sights are the Pha To Bu viewpoint, the Lu Du and Lo Po waterfalls and the beaches of the bays.
Other bays the park names include Ao Chak, Ao Mo Lae and Ao Son, where there are camping areas, and Ao Makham. The old prison sites at Ao Talo Wao and Ao Talo Udang each have a ranger station today. Distances on the island are long and the terrain is hilly, so ask at the visitor center about the state of the trails, transport and how far you can get in the time you have.
Wildlife is a big part of the appeal. The park records about 30 mammal species, including macaques, spectacled langurs and wild boar, and 268 bird species, plus monitor lizards and snakes. Bring water, insect repellent and proper shoes for the trails, and our page on animals to watch out for in Thailand covers what to avoid.
Macaques raid the lodges at Ao Phante Malaka. The park itself warns guests there not to leave anything that can be carried off in the rooms. Keep food sealed, close doors and windows when you go out, and never feed the monkeys.
Snorkeling and diving trips in the park mostly start from Koh Lipe rather than Tarutao, so for reefs, dive shops and snorkel boats see our Lipe reef and diving page.
Boats from Pak Bara and Koh Lipe
Pak Bara pier, about 10 km from La-ngu town in Satun province, is the gateway to the whole park, and the park's visitor center for information and bookings is there too. You reach Pak Bara by bus, minivan or taxi from Hat Yai or Trang; the city and its airport are in our Hat Yai section, and the minivan-plus-boat journey that also serves Tarutao is described in our older Koh Lipe travel article.
The park's own page lists boats from Pak Bara to Ao Phante Malaka leaving between 11:30 and 13:00, at 700 baht return, a boat from Koh Lipe to Tarutao at 09:00, and return sailings from Tarutao to Lipe at 11:45 and to Pak Bara at 10:00 and around midday. That timetable is undated and seasonal, so treat it as a guide only and confirm times at the pier or with the operator. Large operators such as Tigerline also list Tarutao on their Andaman network in the season.
| Route (park timetable) | Departure | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Pak Bara to Koh Tarutao | 11:30–13:00 | ฿700 return |
| Koh Tarutao to Koh Adang / Lipe | 11:45 | ฿700 return |
| Koh Adang / Lipe to Koh Tarutao | 09:00 | see above |
| Koh Tarutao to Pak Bara | 10:00 and midday | see above |
From Lipe, the scheduled times leave only a short window on the island, so it makes sense either to stay a night or to compare the organized trips sold on Lipe. If you book a trip, ask how long you get on Tarutao, which beach the boat stops at and whether the park fee is included. Expect a fast open boat on the crossing; our page on riding speedboats in Thailand explains what that feels like.
The park fee and the monsoon closure
Tarutao is a category 2 national park, so foreign adults pay 200 baht and children 100 baht (as of October 2026), in cash. Keep the receipt: the park says it may be inspected. We could not confirm how the fee is collected from visitors who arrive by way of Koh Lipe, so ask locally.
The closure dates need care, because official sources disagree. The park's standing information page says it is closed every year from 16 May to 15 November. But the park's actual notices in recent years have been shorter: in 2022 it closed from 1 June and reopened on 1 October, and in 2024 the park chief announced a closure from 16 May with the whole park reopening around 30 September. No notice for 2026 had been published that we could find when this page was checked. Koh Lipe itself stays open all year.
Before you plan a trip between May and mid-November, check the current notice with the park office at Pak Bara or on the park's official Facebook page. Even when the park is open, the sea can be rough early in the season: in the park's own rainfall figures, October is the second-wettest month after September; the month-by-month picture for this corner of the sea is in our Lipe seasons page.
Staying overnight: lodges and camping
Staying the night shows you a different Tarutao, because the scheduled boats leave around midday and the beaches empty. The park runs lodges at two places on Tarutao, Ao Phante Malaka and Ao Mo Lae, and one on Koh Adang. They are simple: fans, no television or fridge, and electricity from a generator only in the evening and night. Book through the Department of National Parks' reservation system or at the visitor center at Pak Bara.
Camping is possible at Ao Phante Malaka, Ao Mo Lae, Ao Son and on Koh Adang, whose beach campsite holds about 200 people. The park lists a welfare shop at the headquarters open 07:00–16:30 and a restaurant open 07:00–14:00 and 17:00–21:00, but hours shrink at quiet times, so bring snacks and enough cash. There are no ATMs on Tarutao; our page on money on Koh Lipe explains the nearest options.
Tarutao has mobile signal but no clinic. The park lists AIS, True and DTAC coverage, so you can call for help, but medical care means a boat. Our page on medical care on Koh Lipe explains the nearest clinics and the transfer to the mainland.
Is Tarutao worth it, and who should skip it
Go if you like walking, wildlife, empty beaches and a bit of history, and if a fan room or a tent is fine for you. It works well as a stop between the mainland and Lipe: one or two nights on Tarutao, then on to the comforts of Lipe. If you want bars, air-conditioning and easy snorkeling from the beach, stay on Lipe; our Lipe accommodation guide compares its beaches as a base.
The island can also be part of a bigger journey: our route through the Andaman islands finishes nearby, and our page on Thailand's largest islands shows where Tarutao ranks. For everything about its busy neighbor, start at our Koh Lipe overview.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do a day trip to Koh Tarutao from Koh Lipe?
Yes, in the open season, but the scheduled boats leave little time on the island: the park's timetable lists a 09:00 boat from Lipe and an 11:45 return. Organized trips sold on Lipe may give you longer. Confirm times and whether the park fee is included before you pay.
When is Koh Tarutao closed?
The park closes to visitors during part of the southwest monsoon every year. Its information page says 16 May to 15 November, while recent closure notices ran from mid-May or 1 June to 30 September. Check the notice for the current year with the park before you travel.
How much is the Tarutao National Park fee?
Tarutao is a category 2 national park: foreign adults pay 200 baht and children 100 baht (October 2026). Cash is the norm, and hold on to the receipt, because park staff may ask to see it on the islands.
Can you stay overnight on Koh Tarutao?
Yes. The national park runs simple fan lodges at Ao Phante Malaka and Ao Mo Lae and has campsites there and at Ao Son. Electricity comes from a generator in the evening only. Book through the national parks reservation system or at the Pak Bara visitor center.
Was Koh Tarutao really a prison island?
Yes. From 1938 the island held criminal prisoners at Ao Talo Wao and, from 1939, political prisoners at Ao Talo Udang. Cut off during the Second World War, guards turned to piracy until Thai and British forces stopped them in 1946. The penal colony closed in 1948.
Sources
- Department of National Parks – Tarutao National Park (archived copy, 17 January 2026) (checked October 2026)
- Nation Thailand – Satun's Tarutao marine park begins monsoon closure on May 16 (May 2024) (checked October 2026)
- Nation Thailand – Tarutao National Park reopening after four-month closure (September 2022) (checked October 2026)
- Pollution Control Department, Region 13 – Thailand's largest islands, citing DMCR (in Thai) (checked October 2026)
- Kapook – National park entry fees by category, citing DNP (in Thai) (checked October 2026)
- Tigerline Travel – Andaman ferry network (checked October 2026)