The Tarutao Guide.

       

  The Tarutao Marine National Park is the first of its kind and the eighth national park in Thailand. The Act establishing the park was promulgated in the Government Gazette, dated 19 April 1974. In administrative terms, it is located in Ko Sarai Sub-District (or “Tambon"), Mueang Satun District, Satun Province. It is situated in the Straits of Malacca in the Andaman Sea, approximately 40 kilometres west of Satun Province, and only 4.8 kilometres from Ko Langkawi, which is a part of Federation of Malaysia. Tarutao National Park has an area of 1490 square kilometres, with the sea comprising 85 percent of the total park area, i.e., about 1260 square kilometres. The rest of the area consists of 51 islands of various sizes, of which seven are the largest. : Ko Tarutao, Ko Adang, Ko Rawi, Ko Li Pe, Ko Klang, Ko Batuang, and Ko Bitsi. In terms of geography, Tarutao National Park can be divided into two groups of islands: the Tarutao group and the Adang—Rawi group. Within the Tarutao group, Tarutao is the largest island with an area of about 152 square kilometres, consisting mainly of tall sandstone mountains with steep cliff faces covering 70 - 75 percent of the island. The highest peak is about 708 metres above average sea level. Flatland consists mainly of narrow valleys and areas behind bays. Important bays that have fresh water sources in the area are:  A0 Phante Malaka,  Ao Son, A0 Makham, A0 Talo Udang, and A0 Talo Wao.

            Mu K0 Adang-Rawi (islands) is situated about 40 Kilometers to the west 0f K0 Tarutao. K0 Adang is 29.78 square kilometers in size. with geological features completely different from that 0f Tarutao. K0 Adang consists mainly of rugged mountains formed by granite and quartzite rock, interspersed  with shale. The highest peak in the mountain range in the middle of K0 Adang is about 703 metres above average sea level. The island is enveloped by tall, steep cliffs, and the 0nly flatland  are found just behind the various beaches.

          K0 Rawi’s  size is about 28.5 square kilometers, consists of many mountain ranges, with peaks ranging in height from 300 t0 460 metres. The 0ther well-known island in this group, K0 Li Pe. is made 0f granite, with a valley in the middle. This island has more flatland than the other islands in the Mu K0 Adang-Rawi.

           

        On Ko Tarutao, the forests — both inland and mangrove — are lush and green, the coral reefs quite spectacular and the beaches have Fine fluffy white sand — all which provide an irresistible magnet, attracting wave after wave of  tourists.