Ko Tarutao Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
island in the Andaman Sea
About Ko Tarutao
Tarutao is approximately 30 km west of the coastal city of Satun. It is 26.5 km long and 11 km wide. The highest point is over 700 m high. The island is almost entirely covered by tropical forest and so is host to many plants and animals. Well over 100 species of birds have been spotted, including doves, hornbills, kingfishers, egrets, sandpipers, plovers, swifts, owls, woodpeckers, and hawks. Larger animal residents include macaques, langurs, flying squirrels, mouse deer, bats, monitor lizards, and snakes. The most dangerous resident animal is the rarely-encountered king cobra. The name Tarutao comes from the Malay words "Pulau Tertua" (the island of old). From 1937 to 1948, because of its remote location, Ko Tarutao was used as a prison, housing as many as 3,000 prisoners simultaneously.
Ko Tarutao Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 10 sections including: