Ko Sarai

Ko Sarai is a large inhabited island in Ko Sarai Subdistrict, Mueang Satun District, Satun Province, southern Thailand, located in the Andaman Sea near the Satun mainland. Separated by a narrow channel, it is known for its traditional Muslim fishing villages, Urak Lawoi communities, mangrove forests, limestone hills and quiet beaches. The island offers a glimpse of local island life and natural coastal scenery away from mass tourism.

Visitors can expect a quiet, rural island setting with traditional fishing villages, stilt houses, small mosques, mangrove channels and limestone outcrops. The coastline has sandy beaches and rocky shores with views of nearby islands and the mainland. Access is by long-tail boat only. Visitors can walk through villages, observe local fishing life, enjoy boat trips around the island, and experience a calm, non-commercial island environment with basic homestays and local eateries.

Ko Sarai has long been inhabited by fishing communities including Thai-Muslim fishers and Urak Lawoi sea people. The island developed as a traditional fishing and trading settlement along the Andaman coast of Satun, maintaining a village-based economy centered on fishing, aquaculture and small-scale agriculture.

The island is culturally significant for its traditional Muslim fishing villages and Urak Lawoi heritage. Daily life reflects Islamic traditions, local fishing customs, stilt-house architecture and community-based livelihoods, offering insight into the coastal culture of Satun Province.