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Koh Chang

Ko Chang (Koh Chang) is the third largest island of Thailand (largest island in the Ko Chang Marine Park archipelago), located on the Thai east coast 310 km away from Bangkok near the border to Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand. The name means Elephant Island. Ko Chang was named for the elephant shape of its headland, although elephants are not indigenous to the island. At present, there are eight villages in total. It is a mountainous island and Khao Salak Phet is the highest peak of all at 744 metres. The island is known for several waterfalls, thriving coral reefs and rainforests. The island has an area of approximately 217 square kilometers.

Download map of Koh Chang

In 1982 the island together with 51 more surrounding small islands was protected as the Mu Ko Chang Marine National Park. About 85% of the island is part of the national park, mostly the rain forest in the interior of the island. Nearby coral reefs are also contained within the National Park. Notable animals in the park include the stump-tailed Macaque, the small Indian Civet, the Javan Mongoose, and 61 resident bird species. The Koh Chang Wart Frog (Limnonectes kohchangae) was originally thought to be an endemic species, but has now been found on the mainland as well.

Klong Plu (น้ำตกคลองพลู) - the most popular, and the only one on the west side of the island. Namtok Khlong Phlu is a large and most breathtaking waterfall on Ko Chang with water cascading down 3 tiers of the cliff to a basin, with an entrance located 3 km. from Ao Khlong Phrao.

Klong Nonsi - on the east side of the island
Klong Nueng - said to be the most breathtaking
Khiri Petch - medium sized, about 3 kilometers from Salak Petch village
Kongoi - 5 waterfalls near Bangbao
The Thanmayom - near Thanmayom pier

Ban Salak Phet (บ้านสลักเพชร) the largest and oldest community on Ko Chang located in the southern part. The villagers’ main occupation is coastal fishery in an advantageous area sheltered from winds and storms by islands and mountains. There is an old temple in front of the village known as Wat Salak Phet built in the reign of King Rama V on his royal visit to the island. Ao Salak Phet is the largest bay on the island.

Bang Bao Fishery Village at Bang Bao Beach(หมู่บ้านประมงบางเบ้า) a village of houses on stilts built into the sea with bridges connecting them together. The villagers still live a simple way of life earning their living from coastal fishery. In the vicinity there is an abundance of cuttlefish and corals.

Ao Bai Lan (อ่าวใบลาน) located next to Hat Kai Bae and accessible by a pathway across the mountain has a scenic view of mountains along the way.

Hat Kai Bae (หาดไก่แบ้) a sloping and long stretch of beach connecting with Hat Khlong Phrao, suitable for swimming.

Hat Khlong Phrao- Laem Chaiyachet (หาดคลองพร้าว-แหลมไชยเชษฐ์) a long stretch of sloping beach connecting with Hat Kai Bae where swimming is possible. The northernmost end of Ao Khlong Phrao connects with Laem Chaiyachet with a scenic rocky cape but swimming is not possible. Laem Chaichet nestling between White Sand and Klong Prao beaches is a popular place to see the sunset and admire Klong Prao’s natural surroundings. Activities to do here include: snorkeling, kayaking and fishing.

White Sand Beach is one of the island’s longest beaches that attracts a lot of visitors. At the back or the beach are orchards of coconut trees and forests.

Koh Chang hotels:

Medical, Dental and Veterinarial Care on Koh Chang

Private Hospitals

In the case of any health problems whilst on the island be reassured that Koh Chang now has a range of health service providers.

Koh Chang International Clinic, part of the private Bangkok Hospital group, is located on White Sands Beach. They are open 24 hours a day. Call 039 551 555.

P.P.Clinic opposite Amari resort in Klong Prao provide general medical services from a qualified surgeon as well as a range of plastic surgery treatments. Contact them on 085 222 3935 twenty four hours a day.

Trat has 2 larger hospitals: Bangkok Trat Hospital, a private institution, which has good facilities, at a price, and is recommended in the event of any major accidents or emergencies (039 532 735) and Trad Hospital (039 511 040/1) .

Government Hospital

There is a small government hospital at Dan Mai in Koh Chang just south of where the mainland ferry arrives. Phone - 039 521 657. Khlong Son, Kai Bae, Khlong Prao and Bang Bao also have small clinics.

Pharmacies and Dentists

Increasingly people are using their holidays in Thailand to get dental work done. Dentists here are as good as in the rest of the world and charge less than in Europe and the US. You can use the Koh Chang Dental Centrex or Baan More Fun Dentist in Trat to get your teeth healthy. Koh Chang Pharmacy on White Sand Beach and in Kai Bae has a range of medicines. They offer wound dressing and provide insurance receipts.

Veterinarian

Animal Health services are available on Koh Chang. Call 089-042-2347 for information.

Attractions on Koh Chang

Walking

The mountainous jungle interior of the island offers some challenging and enjoyable walking. Several people on the island act as guides and due to the demanding terrain and bad paths it's probably worth taking a guide unless you're an expert. Lek from Jungle Way in Klong Son takes people on interesting treks to the jungle interior, and can arrange overnight treks as well (call him on 089 223 4795 or 089 247 3161). Ko Chang Evolution Tour offer guided Safaris.

There is a recently-completed Mangrove Walkway near to Salak Kok on the East of the island. You can take a 15 minute stroll through the mangrove forest on a raised walkway. The Mangrove is interesting but the walkway has sadly been built entirely out of concrete.

Waterfalls

The following waterfalls are free to visit and there is usually plenty of water from July to December. They may dry up after this though so ask around for the latest information. Klong Nonsi waterfall is close to Dan Mai on the eastern side of the island. It has several tiers, The first is a ten minute walk into the jungle, and at the top there is an inscription made by King Rama V. There are two waterfalls, Klong Neung and Khiri Phet near to Salak Phet in the southeast of the island. Both are clearly signposted. There are also smaller waterfalls up the valleys behind Klong Son, White Sands Beach and Kai Bae. Ask locals for directions.

There are also national park administered waterfalls at Klong Plu near Klong Prao village and Than Mayom near to Dan Mai village. If you are a foreigner you will be charged an entry fee that has just risen from 200 to 400 Baht. Under Thai law this fee rise is not due to take effect until November 30th 2007 so it is something of a mystery that it has already taken effect on Koh Chang. Thais pay 40 Baht.

Koh Chang Diving & Snorkelling

There are some excellent diving and snorkelling opportunities around Koh Chang and the region is rapidly developing into a major centre of diving in Thailand.

The diving in the area is primarily at reasonably shallow depths with good reefs located at 5 to 25 metres. Visibility can reach 30m but is variable. You can dive year round but the best time is between October and the end of May since rougher seas during the rainy season can reduce visibility or make it difficult to reach the dive sites. However there are calmer periods in the rainy season when diving conditions are OK.

There are impressive reefs in the area with a variety of soft and hard corals including Massive, Columnar and Stagshorn Corals. These support a range of tropical reef life including Blue Tipped Rays, Moray Eels, Trigger Fish, Grouper and Batfish. Turtles can be spotted and Whale Sharks are also seen in the area from time to

There are a series of dive sites offering good diving at 5-18m around the seamounts and small islands to the West of Koh Chang. These include Koh Man Nok and Hin Sam Sao.

The deeper dive sites are located off some of the islands and seamounts to the South of the Archipelago. Hin Luk Bat has a lot of good coral and some good swim-throughs. Hin Raap is a deeper rocky site with good soft corals. Other good sites lie off Koh Rang.

Koh Chang has quite a few dive operations. Search our activities database for some more information on the different dive shops. You can book your diving by visiting the offices of the dive shops or from resorts and travel agencies on the island.

The price for a two-day Discover Scuba course is about 3,500B whilst full diving certification costs around 11,000B. Pleasure dives cost 2,200-2,400B, depending on site, for two dives with lunch. Many other diving courses are also available.

Snorkelling

Whilst the beaches of Koh Chang themselves offer little opportunity for snorkelling other islands in the chain can be reached by boat trips and there is some excellent shallow reef for snorkelling at these sites. Additionally there are a few good snorkelling sites on Koh Chang. The rocky shorelines at Hat Kai Mook and Bang Bao Cliff Cottages offer some good snorkelling. Additionally most of the dive shops will take snorkellers on their boats. Contact them for prices and details.

Swimming

It is generally fine to swim off all of Koh Chang’s beaches. In the high season conditions are calm and safe and the gradual slope of the beaches makes for good swimming conditions.

Note, however, that during the rainy season heavy seas with rip tides can develop and people drown every year. Basically, don’t swim beyond your abilities and if the sea looks dangerous it probably is so stay out of the water when it’s too rough.

Other Watersports

Salak Kok Kayak Station is an interesting new enterprise. They offer Kayak hire and guided wildlife kayak tours around the sheltered mangrove-forested Salak Kok bay on the Eastern side of Koh Chang. They are concerned with preserving the local mangrove ecosystem and you are welcome to help with mangrove planting and other environmental preservation activities. Contact them on 01 919 3995 for English or 09 164 5784 for Thai.

You can rent canoes from many places on the busier beaches. They cost 100-200 Baht per hour.

Boat Trips

A variety of boat trips are available around the islands. These can be used as a means of travel between the islands or simply to go for a day trip of sightseeing or snorkelling.

Puma Group in Bang Bao village offer day and night fishing cruises on board a large boat with full facilities. They provide all ocean fishing equipment, and meals and drinks are provided on board.

Sea Adventures have a large 13m catamaran. Day trips, sunset dinner cruises, party trips and corporate charters are all available on this large sailing boat.

Inter-Island Hopper operate regular boat trips from Bang Bao in the south of Koh Chang to some of the other islands

Bang Bao boat run a regular ferry service between Koh Chang, Koh Wai and Koh Maak.

Island View resort in Salak Phet offer snorkelling trips, sea kayaking, sailing trips and island cruises on their range of different boats. They are also the Koh Chang base for Gulf Charters Thailand who offer 8 Yachts for charter from 32ft to 52ft, Cats and Keelboats for Bareboat or Skippered Charter.

Thai Fun based on White Sand Beach offer day trips aboard a large and well-furnished vessel. They provide free buffet lunch and snacks and provide snorkelling gear.

Keen anglers should also look out for the new Fish and Trips who offer day and night fishing trips.

Kon Tiki is another new boat tour operator who have a full day boat trip visiting several of the other islands. They will also offer overnight deep sea fishing trips on their Kon Tiki 3 boat.

Several of the resorts in White Sands Beach, Klong Prao and Kai Bae offer snorkelling trips to the corals off nearby islands such as Koh Yuak. The cost is around 200B. Enquire at the resorts for more information.

You can organise a fishing trip from Paradise Palms Resort in Pearl Beach

Sailing in Thailand offer live-aboard sailing holidays amongst the islands. They have attractive yachts and experienced captains.

Good tour agencies all over the island will be able to give you more information and book any of the trips above.

Koh Chang nearby Islands:

Koh Chang Noi
Koh Lao Ya
Koh Khlum
Koh Phrao
Koh Rung
Koh Ngam
Koh Kood
Koh Mak
Koh Kradad

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