Featured anchorage – Koh Tarutao
Southeast Asia Pilot – October 2025
Koh Tarutao (Thailand)
06°37.557N, 99°36.403E (Ao Son)
Mooring buoys
Picking up moorings at an anchorage like Koh Tarutao, instead of dropping anchor, is increasingly necessary as authorities scramble to preserve coral. Be prepared to move if asked to do so by the mooring’s owner or a local authority. Remember, it’s your responsibility to check moorings in terms of their availability, condition and suitability for your yacht. Be aware that some moorings are suitable for small, light boats only.
Overview
Koh Tarutao lies in the far south of Thailand, close to the Malaysian border. It is part of Tarutao National Marine Park, a haven of rainforests, mangroves and empty beaches. Unlike the more developed islands farther north, Tarutao remains largely untouched.
Anchorage Notes
We recommend three anchorages on the west coast – Ao Pante, Baan Ao Makham and Ao Son – all with good holding in sandy bays. We suggest a further two anchorages on the eastern side of the island. The first, Ao Talo Wao, has a ferry service here serving Satun, the Butangs and Langkawi as well as a ranger station on the hill. The second, Ao Talo Udang, was once the site of a penal colony for political prisoners.
Facilities
Ao Pante, with its National Park HQ, has a concrete pier, bamboo houses, bungalows, a small store, restaurant, museum, visitors’ centre, communications office, public toilets and a library. Expect to pay about 500 baht per person landing fee. Elsewhere, there are few facilities ashore – which is exactly why we like it. Wildlife abounds, with hornbills in the trees, turtles on the beaches and mangrove creeks just waiting to be explored by dinghy.
Langkawi stopover
For yachts heading from Phuket to Langkawi, a stop at Tarutao is both practical and unforgettable – a glimpse of the Andaman as it once was.
Southeast Asia Pilot – 7th Edition has detailed coverage of 600+ anchorages across nine countries. Available now in print and digital editions.
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