Satun UNESCO Global Geopark

Satun UNESCO Global Geopark is Thailand's first UNESCO Global Geopark, located in Satun Province in southern Thailand near the Malaysian border. Designated in 2018, it covers about 2,597 sq km across four districts including Mueang Satun. Notable for its 500-million-year-old karst landscape, ancient fossils, limestone caves, islands and mangroves, it showcases exceptional geological heritage and biodiversity within Tarutao and Thale Ban national parks.

Visitors can expect a large dispersed geopark with diverse natural landscapes including limestone karst mountains, sea cliffs, islands, mangrove forests, waterfalls and extensive cave systems. Key areas include Phu Pha Phet Cave, Prasat Hin Panyot sea stack, Thale Ban National Park and the Tarutao and Petra island groups. Sites feature fossil displays, viewpoints, nature trails, boat trips and small museums explaining 500 million years of geological history. Exploration involves driving between sites, short hikes, cave walks and island boat tours.

Designated as Thailand's first UNESCO Global Geopark on 17 April 2018. The area preserves a near-complete Paleozoic geological record spanning over 500 million years from the Cambrian to present, including significant Ordovician fossils, ancient karst evolution and evidence of the region's long maritime and geological history. It is managed to conserve geological heritage while promoting sustainable development.

The geopark encompasses traditional fishing communities, Malay-Thai cultural heritage and local livelihoods tied to the sea, karst and mangroves. It promotes community-based tourism, local handicrafts and conservation education, linking geological heritage with living culture of Satun's coastal and rural villages.