Nature’s Wonders and Turtle Lovers’ Paradise
Amid the calm, blue waters of the upper Gulf of Thailand lies a quiet island just a few kilometers off the coast of Rayong: Koh Mun Nai. More than a peaceful getaway, the island holds a profound story of conservation shaped by the compassion and vision of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, whose efforts have given sea turtles a renewed chance at life and laid the foundation for marine conservation that continues to this day.
ISLAND OF SEA TURTLES
Koh Mun Nai stretches across roughly 137 rai, the largestof the Man Islands and the one that sits closest to the shore onlyfive quiet kilometers from Ban Krang. Yet the moment you arrive,that nearness feels far away. The island has held on to its naturalrichness: a ring of small, graceful bays Ao Ton Makham, AoHin Khod Ya, Ao Kong Kang, and Ao Na Baan each shaped bywind, tides, and time. Just beneath the surface, one of easternThailand’s most intact shallow coral reefs flickers with life.
Only a limited number of visitors are allowed ashore, a deliberate choice to keep the island as unhurried as it has always been. Those who do make the crossing find a rare kind of stillness no crowds, no clutter, only the quiet rhythm of a protected landscape. For travelers who seek nature as it was meant to be, Koh Mun Nai offers a gentle reminder of why preservation matters.
For more than half a century, tens of thousands of hatchlings have begun their journey into the open sea from this very shore. Thousands of adult turtles have recovered here before returning to the ocean. Some, too badly injured to survive in the wild, now live safely in a 30-rai seawater enclosure “sea survivors” who continue their lives with gentle care, making the island something far more than a tourist spot on the map.
If conservation is your passion, add the Sea Turtle Conversation Center to your must-go list. Explore the exhibition and nursery pools where sea turtles of different ages are cared for, from palm-sized hatchlings to young turtles preparing to return to the ocean. The staff is ready to explain the turtles’ life journey and the challenges they face because of human activity. Many injured or exhausted turtles have recovered on this island, some with deep scars, others missing flippers from fishing nets.
Back in 1975, Koh Mun Nai was presented to The Queen Mother as a personal property. Seeing the mounting threats sea turtles faced – from hunting for for jewelry and the destruction of nesting grounds to marine pollution – she donated Koh Mun Nai to the Department of Fisheries, entrusting it with the mission of safeguarding and breeding these endangered creatures.
A few years later, in 1979, the Queen’s Sea Turtle Conservation Project was established. With breeding turtles personally bestowed by Her Majesty, the island became a nurturing ground where hatchlings could grow safely before returning to the ocean their true home.
One of the most anticipated activities for visitors is the turtle releasing activity. For most tourists, one of their most memorable moments is watching tiny hatchlings make their way toward the sea on their own. It’s a simple yet touching scene one that often that often hushes the whole shoreline, leaving the sound of waves as if nature were offering a soft thank-you.
NATURE’S WONDER
Apart from its stunning, pristine nature, the sunset view here is also known as one of the most breathtaking in Thailand.
The island sits like a quiet green heart off Rayong’s coast. Despite being only about five kilometres from the mainland, it still feels removed from everyday rush. Its shoreline folds into a string of small bays and sand pockets where water runs clear and shallow; at low tide a startling sandbar reveals itself, linking slivers of sand and offering calm snorkeling shelves.
Around the island the sea reads in layers: pale turquoise shallows that give way to jewel-green reefs, broken up by rocky points that are good for short paddles or a brief, careful snorkel. There are the mix of brain, plate and table corals near the shallows, and the ease with which you can glimpse small reef life from a mask by the shoreline. That is one reason why Koh Mun Nai remains a favored day-trip for kayakers and snorkelers leaving from Kai Bae or nearby piers. Landing is structured and daytime-only: there are no guest bungalows and overnight stays are not permitted, which keeps the island quietly intact.
If you’re after light and mood, the Mun islands as a group are famous for their golden hours. Evening boat cruises that circle the Man islands often promoted as sunset runs that stop to watch the horizon burn orange are a popular way to experience the islands’ softer side, while early mornings reward those who wake for still waters and bird calls.
On Koh Mun Nai itself, the feeling is more of a preserved interlude than a full-service resort scene: simple beaches, the low murmur of the sea, and places set aside for nature to recover and thrive a clear draw for travelers who come for conservation-minded, low-impact visits. Still, there is no reason to hesitate as the turtle part is enough to make your day memorable and fulfilling. A trip here is definitely worthwhile.
Travel Information
How to get there: Koh Mun Nai lies off the coast of Ban Krang, Klaeng District, Rayong Province, about 5 km from shore. Boats depart from Ban Krang Pier, with a travel time of around 15 minutes. (Overnight stays on the island are not permitted).
For more information: please contact Eastern Gulf Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center. Tel. 0 3866 1693–4.
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