Koh Chang, Thailand, Journey Information

It’s been quarter-hour for the reason that ferry left Trat, a city and province within the Gulf of Thailand near the border with Cambodia, and the island of Koh Chang is coming into view. It’s large, seeming to stretch throughout the horizon, and painted with numerous undulating mountains and hills that resemble the backs of slumbering giants. Smaller islands pepper the glittering turquoise waters round it like stars. As we get nearer, I start to note how inexperienced the island is—greater than 70 p.c of it’s coated in thick, protected rain forest, inhabited solely by critters resembling white-bellied sea eagles and crab-eating macaques.

Koh Chang, that means “Elephant Island” in Thai due to its resemblance to the mammal from above, is Thailand’s third-largest island after Phuket and Koh Samui. It’s the anchor island within the Mu Ko Chang Nationwide Park, a marine protected space that features 51 different islands identified for his or her pristine seashores, speeding waterfalls, jungle treks, and greater than six sq. miles of coral reefs. The island has no airport and is simply reachable by a roughly 30-minute ferry from the mainland. It’s a trek that total leads to fewer vacationers, a welcome respite from the crowds which might be spreading throughout Thailand, particularly following the premiere of the third season of The White Lotus. “Koh Chang affords a novel mix of comparatively built-out vacationer choices with out the crowds and impression of overtourism seen on different main islands like Phuket and Koh Samui,” says Grant Ekelund, a Journey + Leisure A-list advisor and journey marketing consultant at InsideAsia Excursions. “Which means that costs are way more affordable than Phuket, even for luxurious properties.”

House to unbelievable stretches of white-sand seashores, jaw-dropping viewpoints, and nice seafood, right here’s why Koh Chang could be certainly one of Thailand’s most underrated islands.

Finest Resorts & Resorts

KC Grande Resort Koh Chang

This sprawling five-star resort, which I stayed at, stretches throughout the island’s common White Sand Seashore and again into the jungle-clad hills. The grounds are ensconced in swaying palm bushes and lotus ponds that supply panoramic vistas of the ocean from almost each angle. Rooms are modern with Thai-inspired shade palettes and balconies displaying hill and sea views. Upgraded rooms and suites have Jacuzzis and direct pool entry, and mini beachfront villas are additionally obtainable. The resort is positioned on the island’s predominant highway, inside strolling distance of a number of bars, eating places, outlets, and comfort shops. Additionally on the grounds are two eating places, a espresso store, and 4 outside swimming pools, together with one infinity rooftop pool with a bar.

The Dewa Koh Chang

The Dewa Koh Chang is a beachfront resort that seamlessly blends rustic structure with the pure environment. The property options a number of silo-like concrete buildings with sweeping ceilings accented by pure supplies resembling thatched roofs and picket furnishings. Rooms are spacious and have fashionable Thai decor, floor-to-ceiling home windows, personal balconies, deep soaking tubs, and rainfall showers. Black-tiled swimming pools are ensconced in lush tropical gardens and a full-service spa caters to these looking for next-level rest. The resort feeds into Klong Prao Seashore.

Centara Koh Chang Tropicana Resort

Tucked inside landscaped tropical gardens, this 157-room resort affords direct entry to a personal stretch of Klong Prao Seashore. The rooms are rustic but elevated with picket furnishings and huge breezy home windows, and so they function balconies and terraces with backyard and seashore views. The resort has a bar and a restaurant positioned straight on the sand—arguably the most effective level to observe the solar sink beneath the waves. Good to know: Pets are welcome for a small charge.

Santhiya Koh Chang Resort

This serene resort is nestled between tropical hills and Klong Prao Seashore. Villas and suites are embellished with ornate teak and rattan furnishings, and include personal swimming pools and views overlooking tropical gardens, canals, and mountains. Friends can take pleasure in each a beachfront pool lined with palm bushes and an infinity pool providing elevated vistas of the grounds.

GajaPuri Resort

Designed to mimic a quaint village, GajaPuri Resort is a tranquil retreat set amongst lush gardens, backed on one finish by a pure rain forest reserve and on the opposite by the serene shores of Kai Bae Seashore. The property options two saltwater swimming pools and particular person picket bungalows linked by winding picket walkways. Upgraded rooms have personal villas and Jacuzzis, and there’s even a tent-like lodging with an out of doors bathe, a sink, and a mini waterfall.

Finest Issues to Do

Sunbathe on one of many island’s 5 predominant seashores.

Koh Chang is house to 5 predominant seashores, all of that are positioned on its west coast. These are White Sand Seashore, Klong Prao Seashore, Kai Bae Seashore, Lonely Seashore, and Klong Kloi Seashore. “As a Thai island, the seashores of Koh Chang are precisely what you’ll anticipate—a very idyllic panorama of soppy white sand with heat waters rolling onto the shore all day,” says Ekelund.

White Sand Seashore is probably the most developed and energetic of the 5. Stretching just below two miles, it boasts powder-white sand, gin-clear waters, and loads of beachfront bars and eating places. At nightfall, the world is lit by colourful fairy lights strung between large mangroves. Right here, many eating places supply barbecue meals the place you’ll be able to select your personal meats and freshly caught seafood from a show. Klong Prao Seashore, a quieter different to White Sand Seashore, is broadly thought to be the island’s most stunning with its two-plus miles of pristine sand. Lonely Seashore has been coined the final word “backpacker scene” for its laid-back vibe, whereas Klong Kloi is thought for being secluded and quiet.

Take pleasure in avenue meals on the White Sand Seashore evening market.

For those who’re in search of a extra laid-back meal, the Koh Chang Night time Market, positioned proper off of White Sand Seashore, is a good place to pattern avenue meals amongst locals and vacationers. Illuminated by fairy lights, the market is small however energetic and options a number of stalls the place distributors supply all the things from desserts, recent fruit, and cocktails to spring rolls, seafood, and meats which might be grilled proper earlier than your eyes. Native delicacies like horseshoe crab, which is served as a salad or grilled, and barbecued crocodile skewers are a few of the extra distinctive choices. You’ll be able to both take your meals to go or eat at supplied benches and tables.

Discover Bang Bao fishing village.

Bang Bao is a fishing village constructed on picket stilts that stretches between dramatic hills and alongside a 1,100-foot-long pier on the southern tip of the island. Whereas tourism has now changed fishing because the group’s main supply of earnings, the world is an effective way to see the island away from the resorts. “Being remotely positioned, Koh Chang has developed its personal distinctive tradition as an island over a whole bunch of years,” explains Ekelund. Right here, you’ll discover loads of memento outlets, quaint guesthouses, and seafood eating places providing panoramic views of the bay.

Go snorkeling and diving amongst vibrant coral reefs and wreck websites.

There are a number of coral reefs that may be visited proper off the seashores in Koh Chang or by taking a brief snorkeling day journey. Clownfish, parrotfish, and angelfish are simply a few of the tropical species you’ll see flitting between vibrant corals. Adventurous divers will take pleasure in exploring the HTMS Chang wreck, Thailand’s most well-known and largest shipwreck dive website. A former U.S. World Battle II and Korean Battle tank that was later offered to the Thai Navy, it was deliberately sunk in 2012 to create a synthetic coral reef. Stretching 328 toes, it’s now house to all kinds of marine life, together with big groupers, barracudas, and swish whale sharks.

Swim in waterfalls tucked throughout the rain forest.

As Koh Chang is usually composed of rain forest, it’s no shock the island is house to a number of waterfalls. The preferred is Klong Plu, positioned down a brief winding path a brief distance away from Klong Prao Seashore. Utterly sheltered in dense vegetation, the waterfall has a gushing 130-foot drop and a big basin that’s good for swimming. A phrase to the clever: The path, whereas properly maintained, might be fairly uneven and steep in some locations, so it ought to solely be tried with correct footwear and a good degree of health, particularly in case you plan to see the waterfall from a better vantage level.

Finest Eating places

Sabay Bar

Having fun with a first-rate location on White Sand Seashore, this bar and restaurant places out cozy chairs and tables straight on the sand at sundown, and colourful handmade lighting fixtures grasp from the mangrove bushes to offer a chilled glow as nightfall falls. The restaurant serves nice cocktails, tender drinks, and native Thai beers, that are greatest loved as an aperitif within the night, and at evening you’ll be able to select typical Thai dishes from the menu or choose your personal seafood, meats, and greens from a show to be barbecued earlier than your eyes. Hearth dancing performances happen on the seashore each evening.

Jae Eaw Seafood

This long-standing family-run institution is a favourite amongst locals, identified for its inexpensive costs, giant parts, and nice high quality. Right here, you’ll discover all kinds of recent seafood and typical Thai dishes, together with grilled tiger prawns, garlic fried calamari, and tom yum soup.

Nong Bua Seafood Klong Prao

Set in a small however ethereal area with excessive ceilings, this cozy restaurant is positioned alongside Klong Prao Seashore, a sister location to its authentic that opened on White Sand Seashore greater than 20 years in the past. It’s identified for serving plates heaped with seafood, together with clams, squid, tiger prawns, and extra. Conventional Thai dishes like pineapple stir-fried rice or pad Thai are additionally on the menu.

Finest Time to Go to

It’s greatest time to go to between November and early April, throughout the island’s dry season, for clear skies, calm seas, and temperatures averaging between 82 and 86 levels Fahrenheit. Whereas the months between December and February are thought of peak season, this additionally coincides with a livelier ambiance and extra open bars and eating places. November and April are the island’s shoulder season and nice for fewer crowds and barely cheaper costs. Ekelund recommends avoiding Could via October—the wet season—as heavy showers and tough seas can disrupt outside actions. Nonetheless, in case you’re prepared to get moist, that is when budget-conscious vacationers will be capable of discover the most effective offers on lodging.

Get There

The one option to attain Koh Chang is by way of a ferry from the city of Trat. The closest airport, the regional Trat Airport (TDX), is about 20 minutes north of Ao Thammachat Pier, the principle ferry level for the island. You’ll be able to fly into TDX straight from Bangkok, and the airport itself is a roughly four-hour drive from the metropolis. Most lodging on the island supply personal transfers from Trat Airport to the ferry pier. It is also doable to cross the border from Cambodia to Trat after which journey to Koh Chang by way of ferry, which is what I did.

Get Round

Koh Chang is nearly totally encircled by one predominant highway, and the island does not have any personal tuk-tuks or taxis. Relatively, there are songthaews, that are mainly modified pickup vehicles whose beds have been outfitted with benches and have a canopy-like construction for defense and to retailer baggage. These function like buses with mounted schedules and locations, and might be flagged down on the aspect of the highway.

The simplest and least expensive option to get round, nevertheless, is by renting a motorbike. This affords probably the most flexibility and prices between 200 and 300 Thai baht (THB), roughly between $6 and $9 a day, though outlets usually supply reductions for longer leases. Gasoline is offered in outdated glass liquor bottles at small kiosks across the island for as little as 40 THB, or about $1.22.