Ko Tarutao Marine National Park
Travelers come for forested islands, turtle-nesting beaches and reefs around Ko Adang and Ko Lipe, reached by boat from the mainland.
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Ko Tarutao Marine National Park is a protected archipelago of about 51 islands off Satun Province in southern Thailand, close to the Malaysian border. Ko Tarutao is forested, and the park has turtle-nesting beaches. The reefs around Ko Adang and Ko Lipe are part of the park's marine area.
The park suits travelers who want island time more than a resort town and who are willing to plan around boats and weather. Access is by boat from Pak Bara on the mainland, and the park largely closes during the monsoon, so pick the season first. Then settle the transfer from Pak Bara and where to sleep on the island, since those choices shape most of the trip. Allow several days if you want to see more than one island. Check the park's rules before you book.
Ko Tarutao Marine National Park in five
- Travel from mid-October to mid-MayMost of the park closes to visitors in the monsoon, roughly mid-May to mid-October, and boats are limited. Check which islands and services are open for your dates on the park authority site.Department of National Parks
- Use Pak Bara as the gatewayBoats to Ko Tarutao and Ko Lipe leave from Pak Bara pier, about an hour or so from Hat Yai by van. Check times, because speedboats run on seasonal schedules.Hat Yai
- Stay in a park bungalow or tent on Ko TarutaoKo Tarutao has park accommodation and campsites near Ao Pante, with basic facilities. Reserve early for peak weeks and bring cash.Ko Lipe for resorts
- Add Ko Lipe for resorts and snorkelingKo Lipe, in the same park, has restaurants, resorts and snorkel boats to Ko Adang and Ko Rawi, so many travelers split a trip between the wild island and the beach.
- Respect nesting season and the plastics banBeaches such as Ao Son are turtle-nesting sites, and the park restricts plastic containers. Follow ranger instructions and carry reusable bottles.
Things to do in Ko Tarutao Marine National Park
See all attractions in Ko Tarutao Marine National Park
Need to know
- Entrance
- National park fee payable on arrival; check the park authority
- Permits
- No special permit; park bungalows and camping booked via the park
- Season
- Open about mid-Oct to mid-May; most services close in the monsoon
- Nearest town
- Pak Bara, Satun Province, the main pier for boats
- Getting there
- Boat from Pak Bara; vans from Hat Yai or Trang
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Dry, calmJanuaryRain
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, calm
- FebruaryClear9 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Dry, clearFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- MarchRain15 rainy daysHigh31°Low27°Hot, calmMarchRain
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, calm
- AprilRain25 rainy daysHigh30°Low27°Hot, closingAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 235 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, closing
- MayRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low27°ClosedMayRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 385 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Closed
- JuneRain24 rainy daysHigh30°Low27°ClosedJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 237 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Closed
- JulyRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°ClosedJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 258 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Closed
- AugustRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°ClosedAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 318 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Closed
- SeptemberRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°ClosedSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 356 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Closed
- OctoberRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°ReopeningOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 369 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Reopening
- NovemberRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Seas settleNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 342 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Seas settle
- DecemberRain17 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Dry, busyDecemberRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 161 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, busy
Average daily high and low in Ko Tarutao, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Ko Tarutao Marine National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
28
- Feels like
- 32°
- Humidity
- 73%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 78%
Ko Tarutao Marine National Park
06:46 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today30°25°78%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 78%.
- Wed30°25°77%Wednesday: Rain. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 77%.
- Thu30°24°85%Thursday: Rain. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 85%.
- Fri29°24°91%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 91%.
- Sat30°24°86%Saturday: Rain. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 86%.
- Sun29°25°94%Sunday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 94%.
- Mon28°24°100%Monday: Rain. High 28°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
Updated 03:20 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 33.76 THB
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Ko Lipeabout 1.5 hours by speedboat from Pak BaraBeaches, restaurants and snorkeling around Ko Adang and Ko Rawi.Read the guide
- Hat Yaiabout 1.5–2 hours by van from Pak BaraA southern city with flights, markets and onward vans.Read the guide
- Trang Beaches and Islandsabout 2–3 hours by roadQuieter coast and islands north of Tarutao.Read the guide
Before you go to Ko Tarutao Marine National Park
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Ko Tarutao Marine National Park, checked
- Most of the park closes to visitors during the monsoon, roughly mid-May to mid-October. Check the park authority for the current dates.Source
Plan around Ko Tarutao Marine National Park
Islands, cities and the north beyond Tarutao
Read the guideKo LipeResort and snorkeling island inside the park
Read the guideHat YaiSouthern gateway city with flights and vans
Read the guideTrang Beaches and IslandsQuiet coast and islands on the way south
Read the guideLaem Son National ParkAnother Andaman coast park, far to the north
Read the guideBest time to visit ThailandAndaman season window, month by month
Read the guideKo Tarutao Marine National Park FAQ
When is Ko Tarutao Marine National Park open?
Roughly mid-October to mid-May. Most of the park closes in the monsoon, so check dates with the park authority before you plan.
How do you get to Ko Tarutao?
By boat from Pak Bara pier, after a van from Hat Yai or Trang. Speedboats and ferries run on seasonal schedules, so check times for your dates.
Can you stay on Ko Tarutao?
Yes, in park bungalows or campsites near Ao Pante, with basic facilities. Book ahead for peak weeks and bring cash.
Is Ko Tarutao better than Ko Lipe?
Tarutao is wilder, with forest, trails and a prison-camp history; Lipe has resorts and better snorkel access. Many visitors combine them over four or five days.
Do you need to pay to enter the park?
A national park fee applies, charged at the pier or on arrival. The amount changes, so check the park authority or ask your boat operator.