SATUN

Satun is located on the Malay Peninsula, on the shore of the Andaman Sea. It is separated from Songkhla Province by the Nakhon Si Thammarat mountain range, and from Malaysia by the Sankalakhiri mountains.
The Ko Tarutao and Ko Phetra marine national parks are part of the province. Close to the border with Malaysia is the Thale Ban National Park, a big freshwater swamp area.

Map of Satun province, Thailand, with the district (Amphoe) numbered.
1. Mueang Satun
2. Khuan Don
3. Khuan Kalong
4. Tha Phae
5. La-ngu
6. Thung Wa
7. Manang (sub-district)

Sights

Satun Central Mosque or Mambang Mosque

It is a place for religious services. The mosque is in a modern style of architecture. Its white building is decorated with glazed tiles, marble, and glass.

Satun National Museum – Kuden Mansion

During 1997 – 2000, the Fine Arts Department renovated the Kuden Mansion into a western two-storey brick building. Curved doors and windows are in the European architectural style of art. Its Thai-styled hip-roof is covered with Spanish terra cotta roof tiles. The top of the pediment is adorned with a star-shaped vent in accordance with Islamic architecture.

Khao To Phaya Wang Public Park

This park offers a distinctive atmosphere unlike other parks.

Wat Chanathip Chaloem

This is the first Buddhist temple in the town of Satun. The Ubosot (ordination hall) has distinctive features, unlike an ordination hall in general. It is a Thai-styled two-storey building. The first storey is a brick building used as a preaching hall. The second storey is a wooden building for religious practice by Buddhist monks.

Laem Tanyong Po and Hat Sai Yao

is a cape jutting into the Andaman Sea where there is a fishing village. Its long sandy beach is fringed with coconut trees and fishermen’s houses.

Tarutao National Park

It is the first marine national park of Thailand. The park is renowned for its history and natural beauty. The area was declared a national park on 19 April 1974, and ASEAN Heritage Parks and Reserves by UNESCO in 1982. Attractions in the Tarutao National Park:

Ko Tarutao

It is the largest island of the park, covering an area of 152 km². Most of the areas are mountains with a moist evergreen forest, interesting species of plants and wildlife. Some part of the area is a mangrove forest. There are many bays, both small and large, with beautiful beaches. Attractions on Ko Tarutao:
Ao Phante Melaka It is a bay with a clean long white beach. The headquarters of the Tarutao National Park is located here.
Ao Chak This small bay is next to Ao Phante Melaka.
Ao Mo Lae The bay possesses a clean white sandy beach. There is a beautiful grove of coconut trees amidst tranquility.
Ao Son This curve-shaped bay has sandy beaches which are interspersed with rocky beaches. It is also an egg-laying ground for sea turtles.
Ao Talo Wao It is a historical area where the reformatory estate for detention and critical prisoners was established. Nowadays, the park has imitation buildings of the past.
Ao Talo Udang It is a bay located to the south of the island, 8 km from Ko Langkawi. The Park’s Ranger Station To To 2 (Talo Udang) is situated here. In the past, it was where political prisoners from the Bowondet and Nai Sip rebels were detained.
Namtok Ludu It is a small beautiful waterfall, around 3 km from Ao Son. There is a nature trail from Ao Son to Namtok Ludu.
Tham Chorakhe It is a cave of 300 m in depth. Inside, beautiful stalactites and stalagmites can be found in different forms.
Pha To Bu Viewpoint Pha To Bu is a cliff 60 m above sea level. The viewpoint is behind the park’s headquarters, overlooking the beach of Ao Phante Melaka, Ko Bulon, Ko Klang, Ko Khai, Ko Adang, Ko Rawi, and Muko Phetra.

Ko Khai

It is an island to the west of Ko Tarutao. This small island is located between Ko Tarutao and Ko Adang. The famous feature of Ko Khai is its natural stone arch which is used as the symbol of the Tarutao National Park. Coral reefs are commonly found in the sea around Ko Khai.

Muko Adang – Rawi

These are the islands located 40 km to the southwest of Ko Tarutao, or 60 km from the town of Satun. Ko Adang The island has an area of around 30 sq km, with many beautiful beaches of fine sand. It is surrounded by small islands, and is an ideal place for skin-diving.
Ko Rawi This island has an area of about 29 sq km, with beautiful beaches, crystal clear sea, and serenity.

Ko Lipeh or Ko Lipe

There is a community of Moken (Chao Le or Andaman Sea Gypsies) here. Most families earn a living by fishing. Most importantly, the villagers will build boats from Rakam wood and perform a ceremony to float the boat, according to their belief in the prediction of their fishing. Ko Lipe is becoming a major tourist destination with many bungalow complexes on the two main beaches, Pattaya and Sunrise Beach.

Ko Hin Ngam

It is a small island located to the southwest of Ko Adang. On the beach, there are smooth black stones in different shapes and with beautiful patterns. The stones will be bright and glossy when wet.

Ko Yang or Ko Kata

The sea is crystal clear and it is a source of beautiful hard corals, such as staghorn coral, leaf coral, and brain coral.

Ko Chabang

It is a small island. Deep down around the submerged rocks is the habitat of soft corals, sea anemones, and schools of colourful fish.

Muko Dong

It is the islands on the farthest outer ring of Muko Adang – Rawi, around one hour from Ko Adang. There are coral reefs in both shallow and deep sea. Around Ko Dong are 4 – 5 satellite islands. One of them is Ko Hin Son, which prominently looks like superimposed rocks.

Tham Lot Puyu

This passable cave is like the one in Ao Phang-nga. Khlong Tha Chin or Tha Chin Canal flows through the cave. Mangrove forests flank the canal throughout its course. Inside the cave, there are some stalactites and stalagmites.

Thale Ban National Park

Most of the areas are a complex of mountains and dense woods. Wild animals found here include serow, elephant, tapir, common wild pig, monkey, gibbon, and Khiat Wak, or Ma Nam (Giant Asiatic toad or Malayan giant toad). Attractions in the Thale Ban National Park:
Bueang Thale Ban It is a freshwater lake located in the middle of a valley flanked by the Chin and the Wang Pra Ranges.

Namtok Ya Roi

It originates from a source in the Hua Kraming Forest.
Namtok Ton Plio It originates from Mount Chin. This large and beautiful multi-tiered waterfall flows from a high cliff.

Thai – Malaysian Border Zone or Wang Prachan Checkpoint

It is just 2 km from the park’s headquarters. Located here is the Thale Ban National Park Ranger Station.

Namtok Thara Sawan Forest Park

The area was declared a forest park by the Royal Forest Department on 23 July, 1996. Regular rain causes an abundant evergreen forest here.

Namtok Panan

It is located in Tambon Thung Nui, 39 km from the town of Satun. The waterfall originates from Mount Kaming. The surrounding nature is still intact. It has water flowing all year round. A power generating dam of a medium scale has been built in the waterfall area.

La-ngu Local Museum

The museum building has 2 storeys. On the ground floor, there are local handicrafts and sweets for sale. A museum on the upper floor displays brassware, earthenware, silverware, etc. which are the private collection of Mr. Chaiwat Saikun.

Muko Phetra National Park

Most of the areas are high and steep mountains with valley plains and beaches. The national park has forests, mountains, wildlife, and colourful coral reefs. It is composed of large and small main islands. Attractions in the Muko Phetra National Park:

Ao Nun

It is a bay where the park’s headquarters is located. Ao Nun lies on a vast bay curve in serenity.
Hat Rawai The beach is fringed with lines of pine trees.

Ko Lidi Lek

The Park’s Ranger Station is located here. A white sandy beach lies on the island. A virgin mangrove forest grows at the island’s side where various aquatic animals inhabit.

Ko Bulon

There are scattered spots for snorkelling and scuba diving, such as Ko Ayam and Ko Hin Khao. At night, hermit crabs and ghost crabs can be seen on the beach.

Namtok Wang Sai Thong

The beauty of this waterfall is the limestone in the shape of multi-petalled lotus flowers settling on the bottom of the pools at each of its tiers.

Namtok Than Plio

It originates from Mount Lung Khroe in the provincial areas of Satun and Trang. This two-tiered waterfall has a pool of 40 m wide and 50 m long at its base. The surrounding area is shady with various plants.