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THE
NORTH I CENTRAL
&
EAST
COAST I THE
NORTHEAST I THE
SOUTH |
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 The
island
of
Ko
Chang
is a
tropical
marine
national
park.
Its
hinterland
consists
of
over
70%
virgin
rainforest
and
is
the
best
preserved
tourist
holiday
destination
in
Thailand.
Situated
to
the
east
of
the
country
in
the
province
of
Trat
on
the
Cambodian
border,
it's
Thailand's
second
largest
island
after
Phuket. |
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Recently,
with
the
surge
of
the
island's
development
and
popularity,
it
has
been
elevated
to
Thailand's
new
tourist
haven.
It
has
an
airport
near
Trat,
just
15
minutes
from
the
ferry
terminal.
Bangkok
Airways
run
twice-daily
services
from
Bangkok,
Phuket
and
Ko
Samui.
Also,
the
island
offers
fast
internet
access
via
many
of
the
island's
internet
cafés. |
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With
its
chain
of
white
sandy
coves
and
beaches,
pristine
rain
forests
and
abundance
of
wildlife
and
marine
life,
coral
reefs,
high
mountain
peaks,
several
scenic
waterfalls,
a
rich
variety
of
cuisine
and
great
nightlife,
Ko
Chang
is
one
of
Thailand's
most
sought-after
holiday
destinations. |
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Accommodation
on
the
island
ranges
from
simple
beach
huts
and
bungalows
to
luxury
villas,
suites
and
apartments.
If
you
drive,
you
can
hire
motorbikes,
jeeps
and
cars
to
take
you
to
any
of
the
beaches
along
the
coastal
roads
and,
in
the
evening,
there
are
plenty
of
restaurants,
live
music
bars
and
nightclubs
to
choose
from
to
spice
up
your
holiday. |
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Where
to
go |
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The
best
beaches
are
on
the
west
coast
of
the
island.
It
is
where
you'll
find
the
best
accommodation
and
nightlife,
the
most
popular
being
White
Sands
Beach. |
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White
Sands
Beach
(Had
Sai
Khao)
White
Sands
Beach
is
the
longest
and
busiest
on
Ko
Chang,
and
has
the
best
nightlife
on
the
island,
including
beach
bars,
jazz
clubs
and
nightclubs.
For
accommodation,
the
beach
is
full
of
thatched
huts
and
wooden
bungalows.
If
you're
looking
for
a
place
to
stay
with
a
bathroom,
air-conditioning,
television,
swimming
pool
and
sauna,
there
are
many
luxury
suites
and
duplex
rooms
available.
The
shops,
restaurants,
pubs
and
nightclubs
are
situated
along
the
main
road. |
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Klong
Prao
Beach
Klong
Prao
has
long,
white
sandy
beach.
It
is
steeper
than
White
Sands
but
safe
for
swimming.
The
northernmost
part
of
the
beach
has
beautiful
rocky
landscape. |
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Kai
Bae
Beach
Kai
Bae
beach,
like
that
of
Klong
Phrao,
is
steep
but
swimming
is
safe.
You
can
hire
canoes
and
kayaks
and
there
are
plenty
of
dive
shops. |
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Bang
Bao
Beach
Bang
Bao
is a
fishing
village
on
stilts,
is
rich
with
coral
and
is a
good
place
to
fish,
snorkel
or
swim.
It
also
has
boats
for
hire.
The
more
popular
of
the
other
islands
that
lie
to
the
south
of
Ko
Chang
are
Ko
Kood,
Ko
Maak
and
Ko
Wai.
If
it's
peace
and
solitude
and
the
chance
to
dive
or
snorkel
in
and
amongst
some
of
Asia's
most
stunning
coral
reefs,
then
the
outer
islands
is
where
you
should
head
for. |
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Ko
Kood
island
Ko
Kood
island
has
a
good
number
of
pristine
beaches
with
crystal
clear
water.
Inside
the
island
Ko
Kood
is
very
wild
and
jungle-like
with
scores
of
coconut
and
rubber
tree
plantations.
The
best
time
for
a
visit
to
Ko
Kood
is
between
beginning
of
November
and
the
end
of
February.
At
this
time
it
is
relatively
cool,
dry
and
mostly
sunny.
But
until
the
end
of
May,
when
it
is
hotter
than
the
cool
season,
a
visit
is
still
convenient.
But
it
is
the
underwater
world
of
Ko
Kood,
largely
untouched
and
unexplored,
that
is
the
main
attraction.
For
example,
the
reef
Ko
Mai
Si
Lek,
a
small
island
located
roughly
a
mile
off
the
northwest
side
of
Ko
Kood
consists
of
hard
corals
such
as
the
acropora
and
porites
species.
You
can
even
live
the
dive
lifestyle
and
explore
the
underwater
world
like
never
before
and
become
a
PADI
Master
Scuba
Diver.
For
accommodation,
Away
Ko
Kood
is
the
epitome
of
an
island
hideaway.
The
resort
features
spacious
luxury
bungalow
villas,
with
private
terraces
and
sea
views
from
almost
every
room.
The
resort
has
the
largest
activity
and
dive
centre
on
the
island,
so
guests
can
enjoy
not
only
the
beauty
and
peacefulness
of
the
resort,
but
also
everything
the
island
has
to
offer.
To
make
a
booking,
click
here. |
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Ko
Maak
island
Unlike
Ko
Chang
and
Ko
Kood,
Ko
Maak
is
fairly
flat
and
well
cultivated
with
coconut
and
rubber
plantations.
There
are
plenty
of
bays
to
the
west
of
the
island
and
has
windsurfing
and
diving
schools
at
the
Lazy
Days
resort. |
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Ko
Wai
Ko
Wai
is a
small
island
with
two
tranquil
beaches.
There
is
some
good
snorkelling
to
be
experienced
amongst
the
coral
and
is
possibly
the
most
beautiful
island
in
the
Ko
Chang
chain. |
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Activities |
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Diving
and
snorkelling
The
best
dive
sites
are
the
seamounts
off
the
southern
coast
to
the
island
of
Ko
Kood,
the
best
site
being
at
Ko
Wai
where
there
is
intensely
colourful
coral
reefs,
with
depths
of
five
to
18
metres.
During
the
rainy
season
visibility
can
be
poor
and
the
best
time
to
visit
is
from
November
to
April.
There
are
many
dive
centres
offering
specialising
in
PADI
certificates
on
most
of
the
main
beaches.
Prices
range
from
$70-$280
per
person.
There
is
no
snorkelling
to
speak
of
in
Ko
Chang
itself,
but
the
outer
islands
can
easily
be
reached
by
boat. |
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Waterfalls
There
are
a
series
of
scenic
waterfalls
across
the
island.
It
costs
200
baht
to
enter
the
national
parks.
On
the
east
coast
the
Nam
Tok
Mayom
waterfall
has
three
waterfalls
and
can
be
climbed
in
under
an
hour.
A
smaller
waterfall
at
Nam
Tok
Klong
Phu
on
the
west
coast
can
be
reached
via
Khlong
Prao.
There
are
plunge
pools
to
cool
yourself
off
after
the
trek
to
the
falls.
There
are
other,
less
impressive
falls
in
Khlong
Son,
White
Sands
Beach
and
Kai
Bae. |
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Elephant
trekking
and
walking
On
Khlong
Prao,
Chang
Chutiman
offer
elephant
safaris
into
the
interior
for
150
baht
for
half
and
hour
and
500
baht
for
an
hour.
Or,
if
you
prefer
to
do
it
on
foot,
you
can
take
a
hike
yourself.
The
best
place
to
start
is
from
the
southern
end
of
the
island.
But
be
warned,
it
is
advisable
to
hire
a
local
guide! |
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Yachting
Sailing
amongst
the
islands
of
Ko
Chang
with
Thida
Yachting
Co
Ltd
between
November
and
March,
when
you
can
count
on
steady
winds
of
15-30
knots.
This
time
of
the
year
there
is
the
most
agreeable
climate
too.
2-day
trips
available
from
7,500
baht,
3-day
trips
from
11,000
baht,
or
charter
a
boat
with
a
skipper
from
$400
per
day. |
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Getting
there |
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Ko
Chang
is
315
kilometres
away
from
Bangkok
in
the
province
of
Trat.
There
are
several
ways
of
getting
there:
by
air,
air-conditioned
bus,
taxi,
hire
car
or
motorcyle. |
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By
air
Bangkok
Airways
flies
from
Bangkok,
Phuket
and
Ko
Samui
to a
new
airport
at
Trat.
There
are
flights
out
of
Bangkok
day
which
takes
about
45
minutes.
For
reservations,
call
the
Bangkok
office
on
+66
(0)
2265
5555
and
Trat
+66
(0)
3952
5299-300.
For
more
information
and
bookings,
see
Bangkok
Air. |
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By
air-conditioned
bus
First/second-class
and
VIP
air-con
buses
leave
from
the
Eastern
Bus
Terminal
at
Ekkamai,
on
Sukhumvit
Road,
which
is
conveniently
serviced
by
the
BTS
Skytrain.
The
return
fare
to
Trat
—
the
stopping
off
point
for
Ko
Chang
—
ranges
from
147
baht
for
second-class
coaches
to
420
baht
for
the
VIP
coach.
From
the
Trat
bus
terminal,
take
a
cab
or
minibus
to
the
ferry
at
Laem
Ngop,
which
should
cost
you
around
200
baht. |
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By
taxi
Getting
out
of
Bangkok
is
always
going
to
be
troublesome
unless
you
leave
very
late
at
night
or
early
in
the
morning.
But
one
of
the
most
painless
ways
to
travel
is
order
a
taxi
that
will
take
you
all
the
way
to
the
ferry
port
at
Ko
Chang.
If
you're
a
good
negotiator,
you
can
pay
as
little
as
2,500
baht
one
way. |
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By
private
car
or
motorbike
By
hiring
a
private
car
or
motorbike,
you
make
the
decisions
as
to
how
and
when
to
travel.
However,
do
make
sure
you
bring
an
International
Driving
Permit
with
you
or
any
hassles
you
encounter
are
entirely
of
your
own
making.
Simply,
the
best
way
out
of
Bangkok
is
to
take
Highway
3 on
the
Bangna-Trat
road
until
you
reach
the
Chonburi
bypass.
Continue
along
this
road,
or
take
the
elevated
tollway,
then
take
the
exit
for
Klaeng
on
Highway
344.
When
you
reach
Klaeng,
get
back
on
to
Highway
3
again
(Highway
3
goes
via
Pattaya
and
Rayong,
which
you
don't
want).
Continue
on
through
Khlung
and,
from
here,
about
half-way
to
Trat,
turn
off
on
to
Highway
3156,
the
Laem
Ngop-Saen
Tung
road,
which
will
take
you
along
the
coast
to
the
ferry
ports. |
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Ferry
services
and
times
Ferries
leave
from
one
of
three
piers
every
30
minutes
from
7am
to
7pm.
Probably
the
most
popular
is
the
Centrepoint
Pier.
A
motorcycle
or
car
are
free
while
foot
passengers
are
charged.
Once
on
the
other
side,
sawngthaews
are
available
during
the
day. |
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