Introducing Ko Tarutao
Most of Ko Tarutao’s whopping 152 sq km is covered in dense, old growth jungle that rises sharply up to the park’s 713m peak. Mangrove swamps and typically impressive limestone cliffs circle much of the island, and the western coast is lined with quiet white-sand beaches.
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Tarutao has a sordid history that partly explains its great state of preservation today. Between 1938 and 1948, more than 3000 Thai criminals and political prisoners were incarcerated here, including interesting inmates like So Setabutra, who compiled the first Thai–English dictionary while imprisoned on Tarutao, and Sittiporn Gridagon, son of Rama VII. During WWII, food and medical supplies from the mainland were severely depleted and hundreds of prisoners died from malaria. The prisoners and guards mutinied, taking to piracy in the nearby Strait of Malacca until they were suppressed by British troops in 1944.
Last updated: Sep 24, 2008
Tips & articles
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Ko Tarutao Marine National Park: the last archipelago of Thailand
24 October 2010
It took a team of landscape gardeners to make the beach in The Beach look like a proper island paradise....
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: KO LIPE / KO TARUTAO
by henrydog 20 November 2009
Hi We've been to both. The points above are accurate. Internet access on Lipe is ok but expensive. It's a very pretty island with good…
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Boats to Ko Tarutao
by tezza 28 April 2007
That ferry link I mentioned says the Thammalang ferry actually stops running earlier than the Pak Bara ones. Sorry I'm too lazy to find…
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Boats to Ko Tarutao
by gregybn 27 April 2007
1st - check with Parks to see how late the facilities @ Tarutao are open...
2nd - might be a better bet to see when the ferry from…
