Ko Tarutao
The park's huge namesake island of jungle, mangroves, caves and long turtle-nesting beaches, once a 1930s–40s political prison and pirate hideout.
- Category
- Islands
- Entrance fee
- Tarutao National Park fee: ~200 THB foreign adult / ~100 THB child (Thai 40/20), valid 5 days, as of 2026 — confirm locally.
- Hours
- Park day-use roughly 08:00–17:00; the whole park usually closes ~16 May–15 Oct for monsoon.
- Best time
- Nov to mid-May (before the seasonal park closure).
- Time needed
- Full day or overnight
About Ko Tarutao
Ko Tarutao is the giant that gives the whole park its name, a wild sprawl of jungle, mangroves, caves and long turtle-nesting beaches. Its history is what really sets it apart: it was a political prison and a pirate hideout, and later served as a filming location for Survivor. That backstory adds a real layer to the scenery.
Here's the honest logistics problem. It sits a long way from Ko Lipe, so this is not a quick day trip from the island. It fits far better into a mainland itinerary out of Pak Bara, and some longer tours only reach it via a lengthy transfer.
If history and raw scenery are your thing, it rewards the effort with a full day or an overnight stay. Just plan it deliberately rather than expecting to pop over from Ko Lipe on a whim.
Highlights
- Huge wild island of jungle, mangroves and caves
- Long turtle-nesting beaches
- Former political prison and pirate hideout, later a Survivor filming location
- Best explored over a full day or overnight
Tips
- Don't treat this as a casual Ko Lipe day trip — it's far, better from Pak Bara
- Plan it into a mainland itinerary rather than a quick island hop
- Visit before the mid-May to mid-October monsoon closure
- Consider an overnight to actually take in the caves, beaches and history
How to get there
Far from Ko Lipe — best reached from Pak Bara pier on the mainland (~30–40 min by ferry), not a quick trip from Ko Lipe; some long tours combine it via a 1–1.5 hr transfer.