Ko Adang: Tremendous views, black sand and jungle trails

Ko Adang: Tremendous views, black sand and jungle trails

David Luekens

Welcome to the first in a series of four posts on the islands, people and attractions of the Butang (or Adang) archipelago in the Lower Thai Andaman. Next week I’ll cover Ko Rawi and Ko Hin Ngam, followed by a nerdier overview of the archipelago and, finally, a post on Ko Lipe in a few weeks. Enjoy.

The nose of our longtail boat lunged up and over the waves, spraying warm seawater on my face as we cruised from Ko Lipe to Ko Adang. This mid-size island in the Lower Thai Andaman exemplifies, along with some of its neighbors, how mainstream tourism has not overrun all of Thailand’s most stunning islands.

Both protected as part of Mu Ko Tarutao Marine National Park, Ko Adang and its twin sibling, Ko Rawi, are the two largest islands in the Butang archipelago. The park — but not the archipelago — also covers Ko Tarutao, a larger island set 50 km to the east, along with Ko Tanga and a sizable mainland section.

Ko Rawi (left), the islet of Ko Yang and a sliver of Ko Adang as seen from Ko Lipe’s western forest.

Continue reading: https://thaiislandtimes.substack.com/p/ko-adang-tremendous-views-black-sand