Koh Chang Island Thailand
Forty-seven of the Islands off Trat's coastline belong to a National Park
named after Koh Chang (Elephant Island), which at 492 sq. km is the second
largest island in Thailand after Phuket. The entire park officially
encompasses 192 sq km of land surface, and 458 sq km of the sea. Koh Chang
Island Thailand itself is about 70 % undisturbed island rainforest - the
best preserved in Thailand and perhaps in all South-East Asia - with steep
hills and cliffs reaching as high as the 744 m high Jom Prasat. The middle
of the island is mountainous jungle and a rewarding area to trek for
experienced hikers. In the rainy season, the clouds and mists around the
mountains are very beautiful. Koh Chang is ringed with small bay and
beaches, among them Ao Khlong Son, Hat Sai Khao, Hat Khlong Phrao, Hat Kai
Bae, Ao Bang Bao, and Ao Salak Phet. Near each of these beaches are small
villages. A combination of steep terrain and year-round streams creates
several scenic waterfalls.
Things to see and do in Koh Chang Island Thailand
Snorkelling, Diving, Fishing, Swimming, and going trips to waterfalls are
things can be enjoined mainly in Koh Chang. Koh Chang is also good for
learning Thai Massage, hiking, and biking. The roads end at Hat Kai Bae, and
from there on round the bottom end of the island there are walking trails
through the jungle and over the mountains. Some of these are fairly
treacherous, but the scenery is great for trekking. If you are on a mountain
bike, you may be able to make it all the way round the bottom end, but you
will have to carry your bike in places and the going is pretty rough. If the
jungle becomes impenetrable, you could down to the nearest beach and try to
hail a fishing boat to carry you around to the next bay. Koh Chang also has
the most scenic Thai Massage School imaginable. If you fancy learning Thai
massage on the beach with a fabulous view of mountains and nearby islands,
Wind Eagle on Kai Bae beach is the place to head to. Hat Sai Kao (white sand
beach), literally white sand beach on the West Coast is the longest, widest,
whitest, most easily accessible and the most popular beach on Koh Chang.
White Sand Beach is one of the longest beaches on Ko Chang.
Bungalows and resorts of reasonable price are easily found. At the back or
the beach are orchards of coconut trees and forests. The beach is easily
accessible due to many roads passing to it
Bang Bao Fishery Village is very interesting because residents in
the area build up their houses with poles pitched into the sea and the
bridge reaching to every house is set up to link the community together.
Bang Bao is one of the zones rich with corals. Ko Mun Nok-Mun Nai is a small
isle opposite Kai Bae Beach. The Beach around the isle can be seen at low
tide. The sea in the area is some what shallow and plenty of gold-colour
corals.
Long Sand Beach is next to Sa Lak Kok Bay. The area is covered
with forest and orchards of coconut trees
Khlong Phrao Beach at Laem Chaiyachet is the long seaside adjacent
to Kai Bae Beach. The beach is rather steep. Swimming is possible. Standard
bungalow with facilities are set. The northernmost of Klong Phrao Beach is
adjacent to Chaiyachet Bay and Beach which has beautiful landscape but
swimming is not recommend.
Kai Bae Beach is close to Klong Phrao Beach. The beach, like that
of Klong Phrao, is steep but swimming is safe. There are also quite a few
cheap-priced bungalows in the area.
Koh Lao Ya lies at the south of Ko Chang. The group comprises Ko
Lao Ya Nai, Ko Lao Ya Klang and Ko Lao Ya Nok. The transportation from Laem
Ngob takes about 2 hours and a half. The islands has beautiful beaches,
crystal-clear water a cololurful corals, Lao Yo Resort provide accommodation
service here.
Koh Wai is situated next to Ko Lao Ya is a big island most of
Beach which are plenty with stones. The area occupies many bays which has
beautiful beach lines and wide wonderful coral zones. Ko Wai is also the
best source for fishing. As for accommodations, Ko Wai Pakarung Resort is
ready to server tourists.
Koh Khlum is a historical island during the Thai-French Naval
Battle like Ko Chang. the island is proper for fishing. The landscape
comprising stone yard is worth a visit.
Koh Phrao is in front of Salakpetch Bay. From Laem Ngob, it takes
two hours to the island, Ko Phrao has clean and calm seaside, and is cool
and shady because it is plenty of coconuts trees. Long Beach Island Resort
is set on the island.
Koh Rung is a small island at the west of Ko Maak. The isle has
not enough flat area suitable for the setting up of any resort and bungalow.
Ko Rung is place of concessions of bird nests,
Charamed eggs and bat's dung. Stone knolls and deep-water coral under the
sea of Ko Rung are very magnificent.
Koh Ngam is situated in the south of Ko Chang. The place comprises
of two island with a huge sand knoll at the middle. The little bay formed by
the lines of the mountain stretching into the sea is a splendid and serene
site without storms. It takes two hours to go from Laem Ngob to the place.
Twin Island Resort is situated on the area.
Than Mayom Falls can be reached via Tha Than Mayom or Ban Dan Mai
on the east coast. The waterfall closed to the shore can be climbed about 45
minutes via a well-marked footpath. The view from the top is quite good and
there are two inscribed stones bearing the initials of King Rama VI and Rama
VII nearby. The second waterfall is about 500 m farther east along Khlong
Mayom and the third is about 3 km from the first. At the third waterfall is
another inscribed stone, this one with the initials of King Rama V. At the
lower levels are public picnic area. A small waterfall on the west coast,
Klong Phu Falls, can be visited from Ao Khlong Phrao (45 minutes on foot) or
from Hat Kaibae (one hour) by following Khlong Phrao 2 km island. A pool
beneath the falls is a good spot for a refreshing swim, and it is possible
to stay in the bungalows or camp at that area.
Koh Chang and its vicinity is a new frontier compared with other marine
locales in Thailand. The better dive sites are found at islets and seamounts
off the southern tip of the island, stretching between Koh Chang and Koh Kut.
In this area, Hin Luuk Bat and Hin Laap, are both coral-encrusted seamounts
with depths of around 18 to 20 m. A few kilometres further south, the
northern end of Koh Rang Yai gets scenic at 10 to 25 m, while Hin Phrai Nasm
(between Koh Wai and Koh Rang) has coral and whitetip reef sharks to around
20 m. A small islet near Koh Rang Yai's northern tip, Koh Kra, has good
snorkelling in depths of 4 or 5 m near the southern end. Koh Chang Divers at
Haad Sai Khao specialises in PADI certification for novice divers. Dive
trips typically include two dives with all guiding, transport, and
equipment. Instructors speak English, French, German, and Thai.
In general, the most interesting hikes can be found in the southern half
of the island where there are fewer roads. At the northern end, you can walk
from Khlong Son to Hat Sai Khao in about one and a half to two hours; from
Hat Sai Khao to Hat Khlong Phrao in about two hours; and from Hat Khlong
Phrao to Hat Kaibae in about two hours. All three are straightforward walks
along the main road. The footpath also connects Khlong Mayom on the east,
but this all day cross-island route shouldn't be undertaken without a local
guide. Hedi at the White House Bakery at Hat Sai Khao has information on
guides. Down south a challenging walk is to hike from Kaibae to Ao Bang Bao
through coconut and rubber plantations. - this takes about three to four
hours and there are several interconnecting trails. Don't try Bang Bao to
Salak Phet unless you are an experienced tropical hiker with moderate
orienteering skills as there is a lot of up-and-down and many
interconnecting trails.
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