beautiful beach at Koh Adang – Thailand
Koh Adang & the Other Islands of Koh Tarutao National Park – Thailand
Koh Adang is the second largest island in Koh Tarutao National Park, after the park’s namesake, Koh Tarutao. The 52 islands within the national park are located in Satun Province, the southernmost state in Thailand on the Andaman coast. Like Tarutao Island, Koh Adang has been spared all commercial development. No resorts, restaurants, bars, souvenir shops or tour offices mar the pristine island.
The national park service at Adang provides an office/visitors’ center, bungalows, camping, a restaurant and toilet & shower facilities. They are set within a spacious, charming Casuarina pine tree forest that backs a powder-white sand beach. The sparkling beach curves gracefully around the east and south sides of one small corner of large Adang island.
Visitor’s Center – Koh Adang
The rest of mountainous Adang is left in its natural state – densely packed jungle blanketing rolling hills and valleys. Tropical birds, macaque monkeys, monitor lizards and other jungle creatures make the little-disturbed island their home.
Coral reefs lie just offshore at many spots around Adang. Quite sadly, they are seriously damaged, most likely by the hordes of boats and tourists that have been invading the area since 2008 for daily snorkeling tours. Too many boats with propellers, gasoline and oil pollute the waters, damaging the sensitive corals, which require clear, clean water to thrive.
In addition, visitors are not briefed on snorkeling etiquette and reef care so they stand on the coral, grab coral & marine life and other destructive behaviors. They are rapidly destroying the marine environment. To its great discredit, the Thai national park department is clearly doing nothing to preserve its reefs.
undisturbed mountainous, jungle-clad interior of Koh Adang
Aside from the degraded reefs, though, Koh Adang appears to be in excellent condition and offers several enjoyable outdoor activities for nature lovers.
Koh Adang rests among a cluster of islands, both large and small, inhabited and uninhabited, located about 1-2 hours’ boat ride from the Thai mainland. Koh Lipe and Koh Rawi are the two other inhabited islands. Others are essentially rocks jutting up out of the calm Andaman Sea. They make for very scenic views.
Koh Lipe lies just across a narrow sea channel from the national park area. In complete contrast to Koh Tarutao National Park’s other islands, Koh Lipe has somehow evaded park regulations and has exploded into a grossly over-developed tourist ‘hot spot’. It’s a party island, much like Koh Phi Phi further north, packed with resorts, bars, restaurants, shops and tour agencies.
Koh Lipe lies just across a narrow channel from Koh Adang
Huge boats over-loaded with mainly Thai tourists zip to & from Koh Lipe and the mainland on a daily basis, delivering several hundred tourists per day from January through April.
Koh Rawi, the third largest island in the national park, is located just around the north side of Koh Adang. Thankfully, Rawi has escaped development. The park service there offers a small campground, a restaurant, toilets and outdoor showers, amusingly set in an old salvaged fishing boat.
Travelers who make their way out to Koh Adang have many outdoor adventures to keep them busy for a few days or a couple of weeks. Many are the same activities offered at larger Koh Tarutao, although at Adang you can’t cycle, paddle a river or hike to waterfall as you can at Tarutao. On the other hand, at Adang you can go snorkeling and diving.
Here are 8 great outdoor activities to enjoy at Koh Adang:
camping in the Casuarina pine forest at Koh Adang
1. Camp on the beach
While Koh Tarutao offers camping on beaches, Koh Adang’s campground rests under a lovely Casuarina pine forest, overlooking Adang’s lovely white-sand beach.
The park has rental tents,which are already set up in the forest, or you can bring your own. Camping is safe, both in terms of wild animals and theft. Nobody will disturb your tent or belongings.
Pick out your own camp site under shady trees, overlooking the beach with stunning views of the clear blue Andaman Sea, distant islands and gorgeous sunrises.
beautiful Oriole
2. Go bird watching
Like Tarutao, Adang is home to dozens of species of tropical birds. Right at the park area & campground you’ll hear and see many amazing birds flying around. The Koel’s distinctive cry “For Real” often serenades the restaurant. Oriental Pied Hornbills, Orioles, Bee Eaters, Common Mynas, Kingfishers, Egrets and Herons are all common. High overhead, Brahminy Kites and White-Breasted Eagles soar on the wind.
3. Climb up to Chado Hill Viewpoint
The trail to Chado Hill Viewpoint begins near the farthest shower house. Three viewpoints with ever-increasingly wide panoramic views, await visitors who take the challenge.
A steep 20 minute climb will take you up dirt paths and exposed rock faces to Viewpoint 1. An even steeper section of trail climbs up to Viewpoint 2, where you’ll have a stunning view of nearby Koh Lipe. From Viewpoint 2 -3 the trail mostly eases up and passes through some shady trees.
Koh Lipe viewed from Chado Hill on Koh Adang
En route you’ll get beautiful glimpses of Koh Adang’s mountainous, jungly interior. Finally, after 40-50 minutes’ total climb you’ll reach Viewpoint 3, much like Viewpoint 2 but with a broader view.
At least half of this trail is completely exposed, so it’s probably better to hike up in early morning or evening. If you hike in midday, be sure to cover up, wear sunscreen and take plenty of water or electrolyte drinks.
The Chado viewpoints are really the only places to watch sunsets on Koh Adang, since the park area faces east and south. If you do climb up to watch sunset, be prepared to climb down in darkness. Take a torch.
Koh Adang’s powdery white sand beach sweeps past the lovely Casuarina pine forest
4. Enjoy Adang’s powdery white-sand beach
Of course one of the main attractions at Adang is its beautiful beach that wraps around the south and east sides of the park area along the calm, warm Andaman Sea.
Enjoy all the usual beach activities: walking, jogging, swimming, looking at shells, suntanning, relaxing under shady trees, reading books, admiring the superb views.
gorgeous sunrise at Koh Adang
5. Watch stunning sunrises
Adang’s main stretch of beach faces east, making a superb place to view colorful sunrises. You’ll have to get yourself up about 6 am to witness them, but you’ll be rewarded by nature’s amazing, ever-changing color shows.
take a snorkeling trip on a Thai longtail boat
6. Snorkeling
You can snorkel right offshore from Adang Beach. However the reef is about 70-80% damaged and few fish still call the reef home.
A better option is to join a half-day or all-day snorkeling trip on a traditional Thai longtail boat to the nearby islands. Snorkeling tour fees are set at a pricy 1400 B for a shorter tour and 2200 B for a longer tour. If you can gather up several people, though, the per person fee becomes quite reasonable.
Most of the reefs in the area are also seriously damaged, no doubt due to the massive snorkeling tourism lured by Koh Lipe. But they are certainly in better shape than the pitiful reef right offshore from Adang’s park area.
7. Scuba Diving
Although the national park doesn’t offer diving trips, neighboring Koh Lipe has several dive shops that make daily trips to nearby reefs.
I haven’t personally dived there, but I’ve heard that the deeper reefs are in much better condition than the shallow snorkeling reefs that are inundated with hordes of untraining tourists who are quickly decimating the corals.
Educational Center – Koh Adang
8. Learn about Koh Adang
Although this isn’t exactly an outdoor activity, it’s worth checking out Adang’s educational center at park headquarters to learn about Adang’s colorful history as well as details on the birds, animals, vegetation and coral reefs found around Koh Adang There’s an especially informative display about coral reefs. And, not to be outdone by Koh Tarutao’s educational center, Adang also has a full whale skeleton on display.
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PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Park Entry Fee:
200 B for foreigners / 40 B for Thais and foreign residents
* note – If you’ve already visited Koh Tarutao and paid the entry fee, tell the park rangers at Adang (or Rawi) who probably will not charge you again.
Accommodation:
Just like at Koh Tarutao, visitors have two accommodation choices at Koh Adang: park bungalows and camping on the beach.
Koh Rawi allows camping with your own tent, but there are no bungalows or rental tents. They have a small restaurant, which gets inundated by huge snorkeling tour crowds midday.
Camping-
At Koh Adang, the park rents out tents, sleeping pads, sleeping bags and hammocks at the visitors center. Alternately, you can pitch your own tent.
Rental tents: 225 B per night
Pitch your own tent: 30 B per night
Bungalows- 600 B
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You might also enjoy:
Koh Tarutao Island National Park
Photo Gallery: Tropoical Islands of Satun Province
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Hi! I'm Lash, an American nomadic world traveler who's been traveling solo since 1998. I’m passionate about traveling the world nomadically and then sharing it all with you. I hope to inspire you to travel the world, to entertain you with tales from the road, and to help you reach your travel dreams. Welcome! 
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