Survivor Tarutao, Thailand tour packages from PaddleAsia's Tarutao office
PaddleAsia is in no way associated with nor endorsed by the CBS TV series 'Survivor'

Do you think you can survive Tarutao?

The American TV show "Survivor" was filmed on Ko Tarutao in southern Thailand. Why Tarutao? Tarutao is almost entirely jungle. The only signs of humans on the tropical island are the national park bungalows, a former political prison and a bird nest collecting village.

Tarutao has a circumference of over 30 nautical miles. The tropical jungle is host to a wide variety of wildlife including several species of monkeys, langurs, mongoose, civets, pangolins, wild pigs, plenty of reptiles, a plethora of tropical bird species including several species of hornbills and lots of insects. You can read more about Tarutao on our other Tarutao page. Dave, Director of PaddleAsia, has been paddling in Tarutao National Park since 1993.

The Survivors on the TV show were nowhere near the first to survive Tarutao however. Tarutao used to be a prison. In 1938, the Thai government established a penal colony on Tarutao, just 3 miles from then British-controlled Malaysia. During World War II, the prison officials and some of the inmates resorted to the piracy of ships heading for the Straits of Malacca. They became pirates suposedly because they were running low on food and medical supplies. The fact is, there were enough medical plants, wild edible plants and game animals to support all of them, so piracy was not really a necessity. Maybe it was easier; maybe it was more 'fun'.

PaddleAsia Survivor Packages
PaddleAsia offers you several ways to experience Tarutao.

Package #1 - Keep Tarutao to the Left

For those who love to paddle, we offer a four day circumnavigation package. We'll average 10 nautical miles per day. If you are reasonably fit, this will be easy. There are secluded beaches all the way around Tarutao. We take frequent breaks for swimming, relaxing or exploring. You'll get to do some light trekking and you'll visit the former prison.

Package #2 - Tarutao Hardcore Survivor

For the hardcore Survivor type, we offer a six day package which includes eating wild edible plants and learning about wild medicinal plants. We won't be living entirely off of what we find, but we will sample some of the most common wild edible plants. Check out our wild edible and medicinal plants page. We will do some beach camping as well as staying in bungalows.

Package #3 - Tarutao Six Days in Paradise Package

PaddleAsia offers our amazing six day package which includes the sea gypsy islands that lie 30 nautical miles offshore. This package includes Ko Khao Yai, Ko Tarutao and the outer islands. It gives you a great taste of this 51 island national park. Bring your snorkeling gear!

Package #4 - Tarutao Deluxe Eight Days in Paradise Package

So if six days is amazing, imagine what you'll get if you stay out there for two more days. That's right, more islands, more snorkeling and lots more fun. It's time to squeeze the boss for a couple more days off!