CLOSEUP
secret isles
56
FAHTHAI
TREASURE
ISLANDS
Escape the large
tour boats to
appreciate the awe
Thong is a protected area, there are a few rules for
visitors. “Visitors have to pay an entry fee, which
is valid for three days, and you’re permitted to
stay overnight only at certain locations where the
rangers have an outpost – Ko Wua Talap is the
main station,” he says. “Bonfires are only allowed
on Ko Wua Talap, and rubbish can be collected
only from there. Collecting shells, flowers or any
plants is strictly forbidden. Of course, all of the
animals are protected and the rangers keep a
close eye on the marine life population, too.” It’s
worth noting, also, that the park closes every year
from 1 November to 23 December to give the
ecosystem a break.
In this stunning environment for tourists, not
all boat tours are created equal. Some allow
visitors to feel like true explorers; others cram
as many as 50 or more passengers onto a boat
and convey them to places where they’re left to
jostle with other large groups. It doesn’t have to
be this way: a well-planned visit to the park can
be idyllic. The truth of the matter is that when
it comes to choosing a tour company, you get
what you pay for. To make the most of your
visit to the park, Kunta recommends a multi-day
trip. “To experience the park in a pristine way
you have to hire a boat for a few days,” he says.
“Leave enough time to cruise through the park
and anchor in hidden bays. There you’ll have the
chance to encounter animals, snorkel and explore
the beaches. At night, the stars are amazing. I love
it every time we sail there.”
IMAGE: JACQUES HERREMANS
H I D D E N I S L E S
DON'T:
• Don’t throw cigarette
butts off the boat –
they’re toxic to fish.
• Don’t step on
coral while you’re
swimming – some
coral takes 10 years
to grow 10cm.
• Don’t leave your
rubbish on the beach.
• Don’t jump off a
yacht’s roof until the
captain has gauged
the depth of your
mooring!
DO:
• Keep to the paths.
• Take lots of pictures.
• Keep silent every now
and then to tune in to
the birdcalls.
• Swim, snorkel, trek
and generally get in
the thick of things.
Dos and
don’ts
