The Koh Chang Experience

[Piece Corp]

I'm thinking of going here for a few nights in November. Will be in Pattaya first so thinking of hiring a car and driving there.

Any idea how long this would take ?

I presume there is a car ferry to the island ?

 

About a 4 hour drive to the ferry pier if you use highway 36 to Rayong. Car Ferrys every hour dawn to dusk, crossing takes 45-60 minutes.

[themosch]

Great topic about koh chang.

KC is still very underrated as tourist destination and not far from Pattaya either!

Had a great time last new year, see my TR with many pics of KC

[rethumper]

off thread>took an early May Bangkok Air special to Koh Samui flight just 3500baht r/t, Big Mango was closed & quiet even before full moon party on the 5th>couldn't figure how to do Samet or koh Chang>your post is an incentive & roadmap >thanks for sharing>(can't post comparativepics), ,left camera at arport..

[Nudels]

Really good report. I was on Koh Chang in the main and off-season.

Both have their charm. In the low season in Koh Chang is very quiet and natural.

Many shops are closed. Nevertheless, a great experience for nature lovers.

Due to the island there are enough sunshine hours in the monsoon season possible.

Warranty does not exist. In high season it is especially in White Sand Beach loud and crowded.

But then all the shops are open. Enjoy traditional Thai massage for relax and good food.

Koh Chang is an unforgettable experience.

[JDI 69]

Great to read & view.

 

Never been but this thread makes it look very nice.

 

Thanks.

[ozboy2011]

Thanks a lot for an awesome and informative report and for the pic's BM Piece Corp. Tried to go Koh Chang on my last trip in Pattaya,(August) but been advise that it's not good to go due to constant heavy rain. Will be back again January in Patts and hoping this time the weather will hold up in Koh Chang for me to see this wonderful island. Cheers

[Piece Corp]

January weather should be great. I'm planning another visit within the next few weeks.

[poolieblue]

Just had 4 days in Koh Chang 2 weeks ago. Fantastic place. Stayed at the 15 Palms in White Sands. 700 baht per night right on the beach or 500 baht per night on the other side of the road. Rooms very clean and very adequate. Staff really friendly. Bar scene only small but enough to have a good night and plenty of nice girls,,,,,,had the best shag ive had in Thailand off one girl.....she wouldnt let me go to sleep. Hired a bike for 150 baht per day and had a good ride around the island......some stunning places to see and the beaches are great for chilling out.....very clean and crystal clear water. Mate lost 2000 baht out of his pocket while swimming. Went back in half an hour later and found it.......the water is so calm and clear. Will definately go again next time

[Boz2006]

Wow ! Just stumbeled on this report !

 

Very nice, informative and entertaining reading !

Im bringing a buddy over to Pattaya in january, this would do as a very nice sidetrip.

 

Thanx for the TR

[Sofa King High]

Right on, thanks for the info. Still deciding where I will go for a little Pattaya intermission during December so I'm going to look into Koh Chang, seems like a great place for a 'romantic getaway'... or as close to romantic as you get with a BG lol.

[Sexy Baldman]

if you want to see some videos of this island the retirecheap dot asia guy has about 5 youtube videos on the island. btw I like his videos, [most of his stuff focuses on chang mai]

[Baddad]

Obviously everyone has their own taste in accommodation, but I really enjoyed staying at White Sands Beach Resort. Can't remember how much I paid but under 1000 a night for one of these sea view bungalows:

 

 

Right at the north end of White Sands Beach is a little bar with cold beer and great food. It's a bit like something out of Robinson Crusoe:

 

 

Great sunsets there, it's all very romantic. Ah, happy memories...

[sanuk247]

Great reports all along this thread.. thanks. Now need to figure out how to get my sailboat the 8,500 miles/13k+km to anchor off this beautiful island.

[Kigo]

I have been in Koh Chang both at high and at low season and enjoyed both. I have stayed at Alina resort , the price was 1300 thb per night. Nice and clean hotel with friendly staff and excellent location right at the centre of White Sand Beach. if you are there dont miss out the seafood bbq on the beach. I would also recommend to hire a bike and go around the island, you can find places with stunning views.

[jinx]

A big thanks to the OP & all other contributors to this thread. I was thinking of going there in mid June, ..I hope there won't be too much rainfall.

[columbus]

I went there a couple of years ago and stayed at Buffalo Bills near White Sands beach. As the name suggests it's got a Wild West theme and one of those mechanical bucking bronco rides in the downstairs bar ....I think it was about 800 baht a night.

 

Hired a motorbike and toured down the Western side of the island...some of those hairpin bends are the tightest I've seen anywhere...if you don't crawl around them ..you are going to have a problem.

 

 

Went on a snorkelling boat trip around nearby islands...some of the rip tides they have got there are incredibly strong...I got separated from the guide rope and swam back to the boat against the current and it really took all of my energy to get back.

 

 

Take your own entertainment.

[Piece Corp]

I remember seeing that mechanical bull at Buffalo Bills.  Did you try it?  How about their steaks?

 

Once I was riding home from Koh Chang around dusk, just crossed to the mainland taking the 25 km of back roads to Sukhumvit, through some wooded areas.  Around a turn, my drive chain slid off the sprocket and wrapped around the rear wheel of my Honda Phantom motorcycle.  The bike burned rubber.  Fortunately, I had a very tight grip on the bars and could fight the torque trying to launch me.  As the bike came to a rest I got a huge adrenaline rush, that I was still in one piece, and I thought about that mechanical bull I had just ridden past an hour before.  

 

Through another incredible stoke of luck, I was in front of a small house, and a woman came out with a flashlight, her sons had a screw driver, and they pried the chain loose and re-seeded it so I could be on my way.   

 

 

BTW, the thing about rip tides, they're narrow and you need to swim parallel to shore until you're out.  People who drown panic and try to fight the current.

Edited February 8, 2013 by Piece Corp

[asmodeus]

To add some perspective....I was there in jan with a Thai girl....stayed in nirvana resort and then white sands beach...

 

Neither of us reall enjoyed koh Chang and were glad to leave...

 

Roads are treacherous especially if you stay at the 'far end' of the island

Beauty parlour woman said "lots of accidents" due to roads but not reported....I saw aftermath of one accident

Baht bus can be v expensive re above location

People have 'island mentality'.....

Too crowded(at least in jan) with tourists...

 

If you want to do the island thing, I'd recommend koh Samui....

[frankstain]

To add some perspective....I was there in jan with a Thai girl....stayed in nirvana resort and then white sands beach...

 

Neither of us reall enjoyed koh Chang and were glad to leave...

 

Roads are treacherous especially if you stay at the 'far end' of the island

Beauty parlour woman said "lots of accidents" due to roads but not reported....I saw aftermath of one accident

Baht bus can be v expensive re above location

People have 'island mentality'.....

Too crowded(at least in jan) with tourists...

 

If you want to do the island thing, I'd recommend koh Samui....

 

The roads can be treacherous but just taking it slow and steady and you'll be fine, and the baht buses are without a doubt cheaper than Samui. As for it being busy, surely you would have had some clue with going at peak time, Samui would be busy as well I would imagine but with a few more towns and resorts to stay at

[poolieblue]

Just back from latest trip to Pattaya and had a 3 night break in Koh Chang. Last time went with four mates this time on my own. Its not the same as Pattaya but thats why I went............basically to relax. Spent the days laying in the sun on the beaches and the nights around the bar complex. Yes its small but still plenty of nice girls.......barfined one for two nights and went to "One nightclub" and had a great time. Regarding the motorbikes. Yes the roads are windy and hilly but if you drive safely you shouldnt have any problems.

[kopite]

Nice report thanks for sharing. I think I may spend some time here on my next trip. Generally how does it stack up price wise vs samui and Phuket? In terms of food/drinks/day trips ect

[DaffyDuck]

Dsc04194.jpg

 

Right at the north end of White Sands Beach is a little bar with cold beer and great food. It's a bit like something out of Robinson Crusoe:

 

Sweet - is it still run by the husband and wife team? This used to be just a run-down wooden shack/kitchen when I was there years ago, and the husband used to tell me how his plans included building a real bar from the ground up. Seeing this, I'm hoping it worked out - and that it wasn't the White Sand beach Resort owners squeezing him out (there's a lot of politics and corrupt monks involved, from what I recall.)

 

[Nudels]

phew ... it is not polite to talk about Buddhist monks in this way. I can not imagine that there exist such a thing in reality.

 

... corrupt monks involved,

[DaffyDuck]

 

phew ... it is not polite to talk about Buddhist monks in this way. I can not imagine that there exist such a thing in reality.

 

Really? Do you live in a fantasist Utopia populated by Lotus Eaters?

 

Even in Thailand there are regular articles in the news media about various monkish misdeeds.

 

[DaffyDuck]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/1373309/Thai-Buddhist-monks-defrocked-over-sex-drugs-and-alcohol.html

http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/25933