An overview of the Butang (Adang) archipelago

An overview of the Butang (Adang) archipelago

David Luekens

Welcome to the last of five posts in a series covering the Butang (or Adang) archipelago in the far south of Thailand’s Andaman Sea. So far I’ve spotlighted boat trips to Ko Adang and Ko Rawi, met the indigenous islanders and gone on a slow walk to some of Ko Lipe’s out-of-the-way spots. Now it’s time to zoom out for a broader view of one of the most dazzling collections of islands in Thailand.

In this nerdier post, we dive below the water, climb around the rocks and pinpoint some of the remote spots that I hope to check out next time I visit.

Looking north from Ko Lipe towards Ko Adang (right), Ko Rawi and little Ko Hin Ngam Yai (left), Ko Hin Ngam Noi and Ko Yang.

A remote archipelago

The Butang archipelago’s two mid-size islands (Ko Adang and Ko Rawi), three small islands (Ko Lipe, Ko Tong and Ko Bitsi), six islets and 15 specks lie 75 to 98 km off mainland Satun province. Apart from one privately owned resort and two Urak Lawoi villages on Ko Adang to go with around three square km of developed land on Ko Lipe, the whole archipelago is protected as part of Mu Ko Tarutao Marine Park.

Continue reading: https://thaiislandtimes.substack.com/p/an-overview-of-the-butang-archipelago