Tachai island
Introduction - Signature/ Atmosphere
Background information
Koh Tachai was found by a man who calls ‘Tachai'. So the name of an island was called as same as people who found.It is one of Similan Islands which is an archipelago consisting of 11 islands, occupying an area of approximately 140 km2 with a land area of about 26 km2. For convenience, the Thai Department of National Parks (DNP) has assigned numbers to the islands. From north to south, they are:
Island 11: Ko Tachai
Island 10: Ko Bon, AKA Ko Talu
Island 9: Ko Ba-Ngu, AKA Ko Bayu
Island 8: Ko Similan
Island 7: Ko Hin Pousar
Island 6: Ko Payu, AKA Ko Pa Yu
Island 5: Ko Ha
Island 4: Ko Miang, AKA Ko Meang. Park HQ is here.
Island 3: Ko Payan, AKA Ko Pa Yan
Island 2: Ko Payang, AKA Ko Pa Yang
Island 1: Ko Huyong, AKA Ko Hu Yong [Traveler100bot, 2018 ]
Get in
By Air
Departure from Phuket international airport is the fastest way to go to Khoalak as the location of the pier.
Name of airline
- Airasia
- Nokair
- Bangkok airway
- Thai airline
- Thai smile
By bus
Departure from Bangkok to Tab Lamu pier as destination
Name of bus
- บขส.999 Bangkok : From Bangkok Bus Terminal (South) toTab Lamu or Ban Nam Kem
- Bus 63 : From Bangkok Bus Terminal (Northern) to Kok Kloy
By car
Take Bangkok-Phetburi-Chumporn(4)-Suratthani (41)route. Then turn right at PunPin district to Ratchaprapa dam(401), go straight to Ta Kua Pha district
and Khoa Lak.
[Tachai,2015]
Get around
It's not allowed tourist to stay overnight. There is no restaurant and convenience store, only separate bathroom on the island. By traveling to Koh Tachai, tourist needs to buy one-day trip package which the price is about 2600-2800 Baht including food, drink and shuttle bus from Tab Lamu or Ban Nam Kem pier to hotel. While Island hopping is common in the Similan Islands. The fastest way to get to Koh Tachai Island is via Koh Phra Thong (close to the mainland), Baan Nam Khem Pier, Khao Lak (probably the best option) or Phuket. There are various organized day trips from these places.
Day trip tour lists:
- Seastar tour : Departure from Ban Nam Kem Marina which takes 55 minutes.
- Wow Andaman tour : Departure from Tab Lamu pier which takes 80 minutes.
- Fantastic tour : Departure from Tab Lamu pier which takes 80 minutes.
- Andaman Seasun tour : Departure from Tab Lamu pier which takes 80 minutes.
- Seasky : Departure from Ban Nam Kem Marina which takes 55 minutes.
[Tachai, 2015]
Activities
- Diving around Koh Tachai
Diving in Koh Tachai is possible for all levels; it is even possible to train for PADI license. Many Diving centers offer various PADI courses up to Advanced Open Water. The Island offers a stunning variety of marine life because of its unique location. The shallow bays with calm water give protection to the smaller fish and are perfect for dive training. Moving to the rougher East coasts of Koh Tachai Island the water conditions are still easily accessible for every diver, but they offer some extra perks such as spotting leopard sharks resting on the bottom and Manta Rays feeding. The Pinnacle is the southern part of Koh Tachai is which considered one of the best diving sites of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. There are whale Sharks, Leopard sharks, Napoleon Wrasse, Barracudas and many more mighty fish of the sea. [Similan islands, 2018]
- Hiking trail on Koh Tachai
There are joining guide program on a daily inspection of the island by walking a nature trail nearby the camp. The guide will tell about the island and spot various animals that inhabit the island such as land crabs, hermits, Nicobar Pigeons and some reptiles. [Similan islands, 2018]
- Sunbathing and relaxing
The only beach on Koh Tachai is about 800 meters long and faces east like on most of the Similan Islands. The rainforest reaches out and gives shade if the sun is getting too hot to endure. There is a walkway up north by a small jungle trail that takes to the Western side of the Island. Within 10 minutes, there is a viewpoint of the island and the Andaman Sea. [Similan islands, 2018]
References
Similan Island. (2017, May 29). Retrieved from Wikitravel: https://wikitravel.org/en/Similan_Islands
เกาะตาชัย. (2018, January 31). Retrieved from Paiduaykan
ตาชัย. (2015, July 28). Retrieved from Similan Tachai Surin Island.