KOH CHANG

KOH CHANG

Koh = island
Chang = elephant



          Like many other islands in Thailand, Koh Chang started out as a backpacker haven, but now features a number of trendy boutique hotels and many of Thailand's fashionable elite vacation here. While Sand is the most famous and crowded beach and is located close to the ferry terminal. Other beaches of note include Klong Phrao, Kai Bae, Hat Tha Nam and Bang Bao.

HIGHLIGHTS AND ATTRACTIONS





         Koh Chang's sunsets are superb and among the best in the country, from just about anywhere on the island.
The Thais actually fought the Vichy French in a naval battle off the southeast coast of Koh Chang back in 1941 and you can see the Naval Battle Monument today on the mainland in Laem Ngop, southwest of Trat.

Activities and Dinning



        Sea canoeing diving, snorkeling, hiking are all popular with tourists. And similar to Koh Samui, a numberof spas featuring massage, aromatherapy, herbal scrubs, and reflexology have started popping up throughout the island. There's also yoga retreats. Thai cooking classes and meditation centres. And the island is teeming with exotic species of wildlife and birds.
There are so many good restaurants and beaches, that a good game plan would be to hit a different eatery on a different beach every night and do some exploring at each beach as well.

Only in Koh Chang




       If you feel like renting a sailboat for a few days. Sunsail and Gulf Charters both operate sail-charter operations at the south end of Koh Chang at Ban Salak Phet, the oldest community on the island. The Koh Chang archipelago forms the 52-island Koh chang Marine National Park, which was established as nature preserve in 1982. It remains largely uninhabited. The more adventurous may even want to explore some of the remote islands in nearby Cambodia.

Nearby Environs


     
        Nearby, Koh Kradat, Koh Maak and Koh Kut(the next two biggest islands in the archipelago) are wonderful places to visit. If you make it to the latter check out either Captain Hook's or the Away resort. Best time is from November to May, access to the more remote islands gets more difficult at other times of the year.

       There are some nice waterfalls like Klong Plu that make for a good half-day excursion and as much of the island is still undeveloped and a national park, there are plenty of interesting areas to explore.

Shopping



        You are not going to go to Koh Chang to shop, but if you must you will find plenty of shops selling beachwear, knick knacks and anything you will need for a beach vacation. Most of the land on Koh Chang is national forest, so if you are offered a chance to buy some land that's not, you might want to consider it if you're able as land value on Koh Chang will only go up and up.

Free of change



      The island isn't entirely paved and traveling around by songtaew can get expensive. Most people tend to hang out in the resort of their choosing, but you can always rent a motorcycle to get around, just be careful on the steep hills. Actually, renting a motorcycle and touring around is probably the best and cheapest way to see the island.

How to go to Koh Chang trat Province?

      Bangkok Airways flies to its private airport in nearby Trat twice a day; It's a short fourty-five minute flight from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Then It's about a ten to fifteen minute drive from Trat to the Laem Ngop ferry, and there are snack bars on the ferry, so it is a very relaxing trip to the island. By bus. It's about half past five hours from Bangkok to the ferry pier.