In the East of Thailand, you will find Koh Chang (literally translated: elephant island). Koh Chang looks a bit like an elephant in shape and is the second largest island in Thailand. From north to south you are over an hour on the road! Besides relaxing on the beaches, there are a number of fun activities you can do in Koh Chang. In this article, we list all the information about things to do on Koh Chang for you and reveal the 7 best activities here.
Content of this blog:
1. All the beaches of Koh Chang
Let’s start with the number one reason to travel to Koh Chang: all the different beaches. Because it is such a large island, there is a wide variety of beaches. From very quiet beaches with almost no tourists to the beautiful but crowded beaches in the northwest.
White Sand Beach
This is the most popular beach on Koh Chang. You will find most travelers here, especially since most resorts are located near White Sand Beach. Stay around White Sand Beach if you want to chill on the beach during the day and have a nice dinner out at night.
Lonely Beach
Around Lonely Beach you will find most of the backpackers. The accommodations are cheap, you will find many hostels and there is a cozy atmosphere. There are a few entertainment venues and many cozy bars. The beach is very beautiful: lovely water and beautiful nature surrounding the beach.
Bailan Beach
This beach is close to Lonely Beach, a 5-minute drive away, but is a lot less crowded. You will find very few other tourists here during the day.
Klong Prao
Here you will find the most luxurious resorts. Still, fortunately, affordable hotels can be found. In Klong Prao, slightly older travelers come to enjoy a relaxing vacation. You won’t find late-night parties here. Klong Prao is the ideal place for kayaking; you will also see many rental companies here.
2. Kayaking to Koh Ngam
One of the best things we found on Koh Chang was kayaking to the beautiful island of Koh Ngam. Koh Ngam is an idyllic island paradise where you can spend an afternoon of ultimate enjoyment. To do this, you must first drive all the way south and then kayak for 10 minutes to Koh Ngam. You can read more tips in this article.
3. Waterfalls in Koh Chang
In addition to the beaches, Koh Chang is known for its many waterfalls. That makes sense with so many mountains on the island. A number of waterfalls require an entrance fee of 100 baht (€2.75) per person. Fortunately, there are also free waterfalls to visit.
The Klong Plu Waterfall is the main waterfall on Koh Chang, making it easily accessible. From the entrance it is a 15-minute walk to the waterfall. This is a well-constructed path with steps. You can visit Klong Plu Waterfall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is 200 baht (€5.50) for adults and 100 baht (€2.75) for children.
4. Mu Koh Chang National Park viewpoint
From this viewpoint you have a panoramic view of Koh Chang and the islands. It’s a tough climb to get all the way to the viewpoint but the view is worth everything. If you have reasonable fitness, it is recommended that you do the hike. You do not have to pay an entrance fee and it is easily accessible by motorbike or car.
5. Diving and snorkeling
Everywhere on the island you see diving schools. Near Koh Chang you have a beautiful underwater world where you can dive and snorkel. Go out for a whole day and enjoy the beautiful fish, beautiful coral and with luck even a turtle! Tours are offered at travel agencies all over Koh Chang.
6. motorbike across Koh Chang
Because Koh Chang is such a huge island, the best way to explore Koh Chang is by motorbike. Please note that there are risks when renting a motorbike in Asia.
You can’t take a tour around the island, unfortunately. At the south shore, the trail ends. So you will have to drive all the way around to the east coast to explore this part. The route to this is truly beautiful: you drive right through the jungle and often pass curious monkeys.
7. Bang Bao, fishing village
When you get to Bang Bao you immediately realize that this is a fishing village. You soon walk over the wooden poles in the sea and see little stores everywhere. It’s fun to visit Bang Bao if you’re in the area but personally we didn’t think it was worth driving all the way around for.
Best accommodations on Koh Chang
In Koh Chang, you have many different accommodations to choose from. For backpackers, Pajamas Koh Chang is a wonderful stay with a pool. Would you prefer a private room? Then check out the Koh Chang Bailan Beach Resort. You’re right on the beach here with a nice pool and fine rooms. Available from €35 per night.
If you want to stay a little more luxuriously, the Gajapuri Resort is highly recommended. It looks beautiful and rooms are available here starting at €80 a night.
How do you get to Koh Chang?
To get to the island of Koh Chang, you will always have to travel to Trat province first. From many different cities you can book minivans here. From Trat, take a boat to Koh Chang pier. Then your minivan will drop you off at your ho(s)tel. From Bangkok, there are many different providers of this route. Book it at one of the many travel agencies or online through 12GO.Asia.
If you are coming from the neighboring islands of Koh Mak or Koh Kood, you can easily arrange a wooden boat or a speedboat from the transportation providers.
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