Koh Chang Thailand
Koh Chang is the second largest island of Thailand, located on the Thai east coast 310 km away from Bangkok near the border to Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand. The name means Elephant Island. Koh Chang was named for the elephant shape of its headland, although elephants are not indigenous to the island.
At present, there are 8 villages in total. It is a mountainous island and Khao Salak Phet is the highest peak of all at 744 metres. Visitors are also met with several waterfalls, splendid reefs and rainforests. The island has an area of approximately 217 square kilometers. Koh Chang was previously an unsettled island but it is now important as a harbour for ships to escape from the monsoon, and dietary or fresh water resources, especially at Ao Salak Phet or Ao Salat which is well known to pirates, Hai Lam Chinese and Vietnamese.
Koh Chang Map
Hotels in Koh Chang
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| Aiyapura Resort and Spa Koh Chang |
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| The Chill Hotel Koh Chang |
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| Seaview Resort and Spa Koh Chang |
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| Koh Chang Paradise Resort Hotel |
Best Deal Hotels in Koh Chang
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Activities in Koh Chang
The main thing to do when in Koh Chang is to relax. Other than that, there are numerous activities for visitors such as fishing, snorkeling and visiting nearby islands. In addition, many resorts rent out kayaks and arrange jungle treks as well as provide all day boat tours to the nearby islands. Moreover, scooters can be rented in most places, which make the island easier to explore independently, however the driver should have some two-wheel experience as the roads have a tendency to fade away to nothing more than tracks.
Furthermore, there are diving schools at all of the 4 largest beaches on the west coast, where tours can be booked or various diving licenses can be obtained and sailing-tours can also be booked in many resorts and travel agencies.
Accommodations on Koh Chang
There are many resorts and bungalows on Koh Chang thus visitors purchasing boat/ferry tickets from any of the piers should inform the staff of the desired beach and resort accommodations reserved to prevent misunderstandings on the destination. Facilities on Koh Chang include mainly bungalow-type accommodations on most beaches which generally rent out bicycles and boats. Budget and high-end accommodations are also available with prices ranging from 100 baht (bungalow) to 6,500 baht for superior/deluxe rooms in boutique hotels and internationally accredited resorts.
Best time to visit Koh Chang and other islands
The season is from October to May as from mid May to mid October most of the resorts are closed, but visitors will still be able to find a few open, as some of the owners actually live there and are open all year round.
Dining delights in Koh Chang
Koh Chang is still virtually an untouched gastronomic paradise as the islanders have made a living fishing in the beautiful blue seas for centuries. There are plenty of seafood restaurants dotted around the island and with the recent addition of a number of resorts, visitors can now enjoy a wide range of local and international cuisines. As the island only has a single road and most restaurants are located on the road or in resort compounds, they are easy to find. It just takes a little looking around to find a place that suits your fancy. Reservations are not normally required but if you want to dine further up the scale it is best to book in advance.
