Koh Chang

[Braveheart]

For hotels in Koh Chang Please Visit http://www.agoda.com/asia/thailand/koh_chang_trad.html

 

Ko Chang is in Trat Province, in Eastern Thailand, about 330 kilometers from Bangkok. It is Thailand's third largest island, and the biggest in Ko Chang National Park. With about 5000 permanent residents the island is not heavily populated , but tourism (and development) has increased dramatically over the last few years.

 

By Plane

Bangkok Airways flies three times a day from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Trat. You can take a minibus service from Trat airport that will drive you directly to your hotel on Ko Chang for 280 Baht (November 2006) including ferry transfer.

 

By Bus

From Bangkok the easiest, most direct, and most economical way to get to Ko Chang is to take a 1st class bus from the Eastern (Ekamai) Bus Terminal straight to the Centrepoint ferry pier at Laem Ngop. The fare is 232 baht (or 438 baht for a round trip) and takes just over five hours. Departures from Ekamai are at 07:45 & 13:00, and return at 14:00 and 16:00. Subject to seat availability, this bus can also be boarded at Chanthaburi.

 

Alternatively, there are 1st class (approx. 5 hours) and 2nd class services from both the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) and Northern Bus Terminal (Moh Chit) direct to Trat, and frequent songthaew services from Trat to Laem Ngop (approx. 30 minutes). Departures from Ekamai are more frequent than from Moh Chit.

 

From Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, take the free express shuttle bus from outside the arrivals concourse to the airport's own bus terminal, and from there the next available bus to either Trat or Chanthaburi.

 

If coming by bus from the south, the #511 air-con bus can be used to connect directly between Bangkok's Southern (Sai Tai Mai) and Eastern (Ekamai) bus terminals.

 

There are direct minibus services to Laem Ngop from Pattaya, Ban Phe, and Bangkok's Khao San Road. It may also be possible to proceed directly to Laem Ngop by minibus or songthaew from the Hat Lek / Koh Kong border crossing with southern Cambodia, depending on the time of year, time of day, phase of the moon, etc - enquire locally.

 

Most ferries operate from Laem Ngop, which has three piers, of which two are currently operational. The Laem Ngop (Tha Khrom Luang or Tha Laern Ngop) pier is approximatly 700 metres west of Laem Ngop. The Centrepoint (Tha Centre Point) pier is located about 3.5 km north-west of Laem Ngop. These piers serve both vehicle and passenger ferries.

 

Another vehicle ferry pier is located in Thammachat Bay (Ao Thammachat), around 15 km west of Laem Ngop.

 

Almost all piers on Ko Chang are situated on the eastern side of the island. The major piers are the two Dan Kao piers, Tha Dan Kao and Tha Ferry Dan Kao, who handles most of the traffic. To take a boat from Laem Ngop to the Dan Kao piers take around 45 minutes. The car ferry from Laem Ngop take around 1 hour and arrives at the Tha Ferry Dan Kao pier, situated 400 metres southeast of the Tha Dan Kao pier. The car ferry from Thaachat Bay stops at the Ko Chang Ferry Pier (Tha Ferry Ko Chang) in the Sapparot Bay (Ao Sapparot), 3 kilometres northwest fom the Dan Kao piers.

 

Light meals, fruit, fruits and beverages are available at all the piers and on the car ferries.

 

Get Around

In the daytime, you can catch a songthaew on its route around the main road. These taxis are also waiting at the Dan Kao Pier. At the Dan Kao Ferry-Pier there may be no taxis available. If you arrive without a vehicle you may have to walk the 400 metres to Dan Kao Pier.

 

Small motorcycles can be hired. The main road almost circles the island and there are plans to complete the circuit in the near future. Cars are also available for rental, most hotels can help with it.

 

Things to See

The Mu Ko Chang National Park. A Marine National Park that comprises of Ko Chang and 46 other islands.

War monument. In the very south of the island there is a war monument being built. As for spring 2005, there was nothing but a small store and an unfinished hotel at the site.

Waterfall

 

Things to Do

Elephant rides

Package tours for snorkeling, diving, elephant riding etc. are widely available

 

Market stands along the main road. Pretty much the same pirate-products in every stand. Lots of salesmen on the beaches, especially White Sands Beach.

 

ATMs and 7-Eleven convenience stores can be found alongside the main western coastline road.

 

There are many restaurants at the beach open both daytime and evening. Similiar to rest of Thailand, as well as the price level.

 

Available drink includes Beer Singha, Beer Chang, if you wish to sample the famous "Changover" the following day. Beer Tiger is another option.

 

Most of the hotels are located on the west side of the island.

 

The cheapest places to stay are located at Lonely Beach, on the southern end of the west coast.

 

The Tree House, on Ao Bang Bao Beach, is popular among backpackers, touting an extensive boardwalk restaurant/bar built out over the water. The huts are primitive, no fan, no air, and no electricity during the day. The bathroom is the coolest part. It is like you are bathing in a Jungle. It is bucket baths and squat toilets, but well worth it for the Tree House experience. The food is part of the experience as well. Every meal is amazing. You can also walk to the road for some som-tom (papaya salad) or up the road to a convenience store.

 

The next resort to the north is Siam Hut, which offers a quiet atmosphere, friendly staff, delicious food and spartan waterfront bungalows for around 300 baht/night.

 

One more stop to the north is Nature's Resort, a more upscale place with a pool and hermetically sealed cabins.

 

The white sand beaches are in the north west in a section called Hat Sai Khao. This area is being developed quite rapidly, so prices are going up. However, you can still get bungalows for 400 baht/night.

 

KC Grande Resort is a bungalow-village with a restaurant - rooms start at 1800 baht.

 

Ko Chang Kacha Resort and Spa - prices start at 1400 baht.

 

Independent Bo Bungalows - prices start at 200 baht in low season and 300 baht in high season.

 

Klong Prao Resort - rooms from 1100 baht.

 

V.J. hotel & Health Spa - a new hotel, with prices from 1500 baht.

 

Sea View Resort & Spa - prices from 1200 baht.

 

Siam Bay Resort - Luxury bungalows on the beach or large family bungalows on the hill side. Prices range from 500 baht to 2500 during the high season and from 300 to 1500 baht during the 'green season'.

 

Paradise Cottage is located at the end of Lonley Beach (most people in the area can point you to it) and has very nice, large and clean waterfront cottages starting from 300 baht. There is a somewhat rocky but very pleasant waterfront, an amazing bar and lounging areas with very friendly staff and outstanding food.

 

Siam Beach Resort was formerly a backpacker place, and converted into a 4 star resort in early 2006. Deluxe Rooms, all with sea view, cable TV, refrigerator, hot water and comfortable beds start at 1500 baht.

 

Bang Bao is on the south side of the island. It's little more than a long stretch of wooden deck that takes probably 5 minutes to walk from end to end, with dive shops, seafood restaurants, local housing, and a few places that provide accommodation for visitors.

 

Extracted from Wikitravel: Koh Chang

[dstar]

great island, but it heading like ko samui with all the development. would go back there and head to lonely beach.

 

great island, but it heading like ko samui with all the development. would go back there and head to lonely beach.

[jonny low]

Beautiful place been 3 times love the change of pace from pattaya cheers........................

[shitman69]

Great place but be very careful on bikes!!

Roads are terrible

Worse then normal

[missinginaction]

Great place but be very careful on bikes!!

Roads are terrible

Worse then normal

 

Why did you think the roads were terrible? I hired a moped and went around the island and thought they were pretty good. Now the roads in koh samet..... thats a different story.

[careski]

Klong Praow in Koh Chang

 

 

 

 

 

[BangkapiBoy]

It's a pretty big island. When I was there I only saw White sand beach and the road to/from the ferry. Yeah it was beautiful and very picturesque. That said, I thought Trat was a nice privincial small city too for a day.

[Irishfella]

Where would be the best place to stay on Koh Chang in relation to proximity to bars/restaurants.

 

Also whats the best way to get from Pattaya to Koh Chang?

 

all comments are greatly appreciated

 

Thanks

[picoman]

Where would be the best place to stay on Koh Chang in relation to proximity to bars/restaurants.

 

Also whats the best way to get from Pattaya to Koh Chang?

 

all comments are greatly appreciated

 

Thanks

 

Get a hotel in White Sands Beach, that area has the only disco and about 15-20 bars. There are plenty of food choices in the area, but look at the menus before entering. Some of the restaurants have crazy pricing like 400 baht for a Thai dish, but most have prices comparable to Pattaya.

 

You can go to any travel agent in Pattaya for minibus service (about 1200 baht r/t). Make sure they take you to the Ao Sappalot ferry pier as the other 2 take much longer - longer to cross and are a further drive south (60 mins vs 30mins crossings).

Edited December 14, 2008 by picoman

[anaconda19]

im deffo gonna make a two week stop over there before the end of my asia trip. looks like an amazing island, the lower levels of tourism seems pretty nice too!