Ao Mo Lae

Ao Mo Lae is a bay on the west coast of Koh Tarutao, inside Mu Ko Tarutao National Park, about 4 km south of the park headquarters at Ao Pante Malacca. It’s one of the more accessible bays on an island that’s otherwise short on infrastructure — the National Parks department runs bungalows, a campground, and a ranger station here, which is why it’s a common overnight stop for visitors who don’t want to camp at HQ.

The beach itself is a stretch of pale sand backed by forest, with limestone outcrops at either end. Snorkelling is possible directly off the beach, though visibility and coral cover on Tarutao’s west side are patchier than on the more sheltered Adang-Rawi islands further out — come for the seclusion rather than expecting an aquarium. A small restaurant near the bungalows serves basic meals; outside of that, there’s little else here by design, which is the point of visiting Tarutao at all.

Getting here from Ao Pante Malacca is a hilly 4 km walk, cycle, or park-truck ride along a coastal track through forest — there’s no road link to the mainland, and everything on the island runs on a generator schedule, with electricity typically switched on only in the evening. Bring a torch.

Insider Tip: Book the newer concrete bungalows at Ao Mo Lae rather than the older wooden ones at Ao Pante Malacca HQ — they have larger sea-facing windows and better bathrooms, and Ao Mo Lae’s beach is quieter than the one by the park headquarters.

Watch out: Facilities are minimal and the island runs on generator power with limited evening electricity — bring insect repellent, a torch, and cash, as there’s no ATM on Tarutao.