Famous for:

• Best preserved islands in Thailand. 75% remains untouched forest.

 

Climate: Season Months Aveg Temp (Celsius) Cool Nov - Feb     21 Hot March - June 32 Green July - Oct 25

 

 

• By air – Bangkok Airways flies from Bangkok to Trat (nearest city on the mainland) x times per week. This is a 45 minute journey. From here, catch a songthaew (pick-up truck taxi) to Laem Ngop and a ferry for 45 minutes to Koh Chang.

• By bus – from Bangkok to Trat will take around 5 hours to travel from Bangkok’s eastern terminal (costs 169Baht [A$6.20]). Then catch a songthaew and ferry to Koh Chang

• Island-hopping – with 51 other islands to choose from, it shouldn’t be difficult to find your own private island. Great islands nearby are a group of three called Koh Laoya, famed for their long white sandy beaches, Koh Mak, covered with coconut plantations and Koh Wai, the best island for fishing, diving and snorkeling. The furthest island from Koh Chang is the fourth largest in Thailand (after Koh Samui), called Koh Kood. This scenic island has a population of about 2,000, supported by schools, a police station and a water and telephone system. If you would like to visit this island and see how these isolated people live, it takes about one hour in a speedboat.

• Walking & waterfalls – there is a track leading up to a beautiful 4-storey waterfall, which is a fairly easy climb to the second-highest level. If you are an advanced bush / jungle walker, the rest of Koh Chang is a great challenge for you. Some of the trails are very difficult and arduous (6 – 8 hours), with up hill climbs, criss-crossed trails and no signage. Other trails are less difficult and are better suited for less experienced walkers. Great care and preparation must be taken if attempting the more difficult trails – a recommendation is to take a note written in Thai, detailing where you want to go and to take additional food, just in case you have to stay overnight in the jungle.

• Diving & snorkeling – as Koh Chang is largely “undiscovered”, the diving is great. Around the island, colourful fish and coral will entertain snorkellers and divers alike, whilst a shipwreck off the coast will satisfy the more experienced divers. This ship was sunk by the French in 1941 when a dispute unfolded over whether the islands belonged to Thailand or the French colony of Cambodia (although we suggest that you only do this dive when accompanied by a guide). The small island of Koh Rang, south-west of Koh Chang is a nesting ground for the endangered hawksbill sea turtle, making for an exciting dive. The best months for diving are October to April.

• Beaches & bungalows – bungalows, set upon white sandy beaches are the usual accommodation in Koh Chang and its surrounding islands. In the evening, Had Sai Khao, meaning “white sand beach”, transforms into a playground, with football and volleyball being played at sunset, whilst the local hotels serve dinner alfresco on the beach.

• Fishing Village – built on stilts embedded in the sea, wooden houses home the fishermen of Bang Bao Fishing Village. This bay has been a refuge for fishing boats during monsoon season for over a century and has retained its sea-faring charm.