Tarutao & Pak Bara in a Day
Sea, History, an Old Prison

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Most people who catch a boat from Pak Bara head straight for Koh Lipe and forget that Koh Tarutao sits on the way and is just as worth a stop. Tarutao isn't only about clear water — it carries a real history from the days, more than 80 years ago, when it was a penal colony. Walk this island and you get the views and the history in one place. This plan is built for anyone with a single day in Satun who still wants to get as much of Tarutao as possible.

Can you really do Tarutao in a day?

Straight answer first: a same-day round trip to Tarutao is doable, but you have to understand the boat limits. The speedboat from Pak Bara leaves mid-morning around 11.30am and takes about 30–40 minutes to reach the island. The boat leaving Tarutao back to the mainland goes around 10.00am — which runs opposite to your outbound trip. That means if you genuinely want to come back the same day, the best approach is to buy a boat-tour package that stops at Tarutao for a while and loops you back, rather than taking a single scheduled ferry over and waiting for the next one.

• Doable — if you charter a boat or book a tour that specifically stops at Tarutao, you can cover Pante Malacca beach, the Toh Boo cliff, and the history spots between midday and afternoon.
• Tricky — if you're counting on a single regular ferry over and then waiting for a return run, since the outbound and return schedules don't line up, you may get stuck on the island longer than planned.
• Better value — if you want to walk the whole island, both the Pante Malacca side and Talo Wao Bay where the old prison stood, an overnight in the park bungalows is far more comfortable.

Start at Pak Bara pier

Pak Bara pier is in Pak Nam subdistrict, La-ngu district, about 60 kilometres from Satun town — roughly 1 to 1.5 hours by car or minivan. It's the main pier where all boats to the Tarutao islands and Koh Lipe depart. Aim to arrive at least an hour before your boat to buy tickets, pay the pier fee, and get your gear ready to board in time.

• Parking — there's a paid daily car park near the pier. If you're staying overnight, let the parking staff know.
• Food and supplies — there are rice shops, cafes and convenience stores around the pier. Buy your water and snacks for the island here — it works out better, since shops on Tarutao are few and pricier.
• Pier fee — around 20 THB per person, separate from the boat fare and park entry. Keep cash on hand.

The one-day plan: Pak Bara → Tarutao → back

Here's a timeline for chartering a boat or buying a tour that stops at Tarutao — the approach that actually gets you back the same day. The times below are rough brackets; adjust them to the boat run you book. If you use a regular ferry, leave extra margin for the return especially.

The story of the old prison out at sea

What sets Tarutao apart from the other Andaman islands is its history. In 1936, the government passed a law to detain criminals and chose Koh Tarutao — far from shore, with strong currents that made escape hard — as the site of a penal colony. The following year, a pioneer team came ashore to survey Talo Wao Bay and Talo Udang Bay to build the settlement.

In late 1939, around 70 political prisoners from the Boworadet rebellion and the non-commissioned officers' revolt were sent to be held at Talo Udang Bay, and the island's prison population at that time reached several thousand. Later, during the war, supplies ran short and some of the guards turned to piracy, raiding cargo ships passing through these waters — until outside forces had to be brought in to put them down. The government ordered the detention centre closed around 1947. Today those traces have become the park's learning sites.

Rough budget per person

The figures below are an approximate per-person budget, not counting accommodation or the cost of getting to Satun. Use them as a rough frame — real prices shift with the season, the boat company, and the package you pick.

What to know before you go to Tarutao

• Open and closed seasons — Tarutao National Park usually closes the island during the monsoon, roughly mid-May to mid-October, when boats don't run and the swells are strong. Planning for November to April is safer.
• Check the boat schedule ahead — boat runs change with the season and the company. Always call Pak Bara pier or the boat company a day before you travel, and don't rely on exact times you read somewhere.
• Bring cash — the pier fee, park entry, longtail boats, and many shops on the island take cash mainly. Phone signal and ATMs on the island are limited.
• Pack for the island — drinking water, snacks, personal medication, a hat, sunscreen, and non-slip shoes. Buying from the Pak Bara side is cheaper and easier than on the island.
• Respect nature — pack your rubbish out, don't take coral or shells, and stick to the trails the park marks, especially on the climb up Toh Boo cliff.