Ko Tarutao is the largest of the 51 islands in the Tarutao National Marine Park archipelago in the Southern Andaman Coast of Southern Thailand, in Satun Province.
Ko Taratao lies approximately 30 km west off the coastal city of Satun. The island is 26.5 km long and 11 km wide. The highest point is over 700 m elevation. Rainforest covers over 70 percent of the island.
The name Tarutao comes from the Malay words "Pulau Tertua" (the island of old).
In the early 1940s Ko Tarutao was used as a prison because it was remote and hard to escape from.
The 5th season of the television show Survivor was filmed on Ko Tarutao.
- Crocodile Cave. Guided tours from the park headquarters building.
- Ta Lo Wow Bay is on the northeast side of the island.
- Pante Malakar Bay is on the northwest side of the island.
- Son Bay is the only bay on the west side of the island and is knows as a place where turtles come to lay their eggs. Its longest beach is about 200 m. There is a canal to divide the private beach and the public beach. Since it is on the west side of the island, it is a great place to watch the sunset.
- Makham Bay is on the southwest side of Ko Tarutao.
- Ta Lo U-Dung Bay is on the southeast side of Ko Tarutao and offers a view of the tiny Singha island.
Ta Lo Wow Bay is on the northeast side of the island.
Pante Malakar Bay is on the northwest side of the island.
Son Bay is the only bay on the west side of the island and is knows as a place where turtles come to lay their eggs. Its longest beach is about 200 m. There is a canal to divide the private beach and the public beach. Since it is on the west side of the island, it is a great place to watch the sunset.
Makham Bay is on the southwest side of Ko Tarutao.
Ta Lo U-Dung Bay is on the southeast side of Ko Tarutao and offers a view of the tiny Singha island.
Crocodile Cave. Guided tours from the park headquarters building.
- Beachcombing. Collecting shells is easy on the island due to the abundance of ocean wildlife and lack of visitors. Its legality is unknown.
- Birdwatching. Groups depart from the park headquarters building on the north side of the island early in the morning.
- Snorkelling. The calm, clear water makes the Tarutao Marine Park area ideal for snorkelling, with 25 percent of the world's tropical fish species found in the area. On the island Ko Tarutao itself there is not much to see when snorkelling, even though there is a good spot on the northeast side of the island which you can reach by longtail boat. According to the park staff, it is not worth going if you plan to go on to Ko Lipe or Ko Adang afterwards.
Beachcombing. Collecting shells is easy on the island due to the abundance of ocean wildlife and lack of visitors. Its legality is unknown.
Birdwatching. Groups depart from the park headquarters building on the north side of the island early in the morning.
Snorkelling. The calm, clear water makes the Tarutao Marine Park area ideal for snorkelling, with 25 percent of the world's tropical fish species found in the area. On the island Ko Tarutao itself there is not much to see when snorkelling, even though there is a good spot on the northeast side of the island which you can reach by longtail boat. According to the park staff, it is not worth going if you plan to go on to Ko Lipe or Ko Adang afterwards.
There is no ATM on the island. The closest are in Pak Bara or Ko Lipe.
The national park runs and manages a restaurant that provides a considerable range of good quality meals: fried rice/noodles (70 baht), main courses (100-150 baht), all day with cold soft drinks, water and canned beer (40 baht). The national park also runs a small mini-mart for snack foods, soft drinks, and bottled water.
Internet (of uncertain quality) is available at the park headquarters building.