BEACH
Pearl Bay is celebrated for its natural beauty featuring soft white sand, clear waters, and a backdrop of lush greenery. The beach provides a tranquil setting, making it a perfect destination to relax and immerse in the island’s pristine environment.
Pearl Bay is perfectly suitable for snorkeling enthusiasts, so put on your snorkel masks, and go! The beach is oriented to the northwest and is beautifully widespread with pearly white sand. The water is turquoise and crystal clear and suitable for swimming all day. A parasol is not necessary, as the many trees along the beach provide plenty of shade. All in all, this beach is truly suitable for relaxing and snorkeling.
WHERE TO STAY
Ko Talu is a private island with one resort spread over 2 locations with various bungalows in a green environment. You have the choice between a bungalow in Pearl Bay or Big Bay. Accommodations at Pearl Bay consist of wooden bungalows or concrete bungalows. Both are simple but of good quality. The bungalows at Pearl Bay are slightly cheaper than the bungalows at Big Bay.
The only option is an overnight stay on a full board basis. On each bay is a restaurant with buffet style food, offering many choices. When there are not many guests, it may be that only the restaurant in Big Bay is open.
ISLAND
Ko Talu is the only island in the Upper Gulf where you can spend the night. In addition, unique to the Upper Gulf, it offers beautiful sunsets and good snorkeling conditions, as well as pearly white beaches with powdery sand surrounded by palm trees. Ko Talu is one of the few non-tourist bounty islands in Thailand. People come from Hua Hin on weekends, but this didn’t bother us as it is a limited number of visitors.
WHAT TO DO
Visitors to Ko Talu can engage in various outdoor activities, including snorkeling, diving, kayaking, and trekking through the island’s forests. The island is known for its eco-friendly approach to tourism, and there are opportunities for nature conservation and education. During our snorkeling trip we especially enjoyed the many beautiful fish. The coral was less impressive and less colorful. On the island you will find a sea turtles and a coral reserve. It is also possible to volunteer here.
The landscape on Ko Talu is worth seeing, with green hills and dense vegetation. There are several bird species in the forest, and various activities to undertake on the island. The various trails available that take you through the beautiful countryside make it a wonderful place to hike.
TRANSPORT
The pier to Ko Talu is 15 km south of Bang Saphan, and 85 km from Prachuap Khiri Khan. Airasia has daily flights from Bangkok to Chumphon. From the airport to the pier the distance is 50 km. Alternatively, minibuses run every 40 minutes from Prachuap Khiri Khan to Bang Saphan. This is an approximate 90-minute ride. From the south, there are good minibus connections to Bang Saphan from Chumphon and Surat Thani.
Bang Saphan has its own train station. You can take the morning train from Bangkok at 8:10 AM, with a scheduled arrival at Bang Saphan at 3:03 PM.
