Koh Chang | Travel Guide

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Travel Information about Koh Chang






















































Koh Chang is a rather large island with its diverse range of beaches, each having a distinct vibe, and are known to be relatively garbage-free. Whilst the Klong Prao, White Sand, and Lonely Beaches are some of the most popular spots, make sure to conduct your own research to choose the beach that best caters to your preferences. Indulge in your favourite beach activities, from sunbathing and swimming in crystal-clear waters to building sandcastles or attending beach parties and bars – the choice is yours. However, one activity is a must in Koh Chang, and that is experiencing a beach sunset. Grab a drink with friends or sit on the white sand beach in solitude while the sun dips below the horizon. The enchanting sunsets are not to be missed during your time on the island.

Trekking independently on the island can be challenging, as there are no easily navigable trails. Therefore, most visitors opt for a guide who is not only familiar with the various routes, but can also point out wildlife that might otherwise go unnoticed. The primary trekking routes can be found in the Klong Son Valley, Klong Prao Beach, Khao Laem mountain, and Salakphet area. Numerous beautiful waterfalls can be found on Koh Chang, with Klong Plu on the west coast being the most frequented by tourists. Its popularity can be attributed to three key aspects: its appealing accessibility, sizable pools perfect for swimming, and how it maintains water almost year-round. Other waterfalls that are worth visiting are: Kai Bae, Klong Chao Lueam, Klong Nonsi, Than Mayom, Klong Neung, and Kiripetch. The optimal period for visiting the waterfalls is from October to late December – this is when they are in full flow. During the dry season, which usually begins in February, smaller waterfalls tend to diminish significantly or even dry up completely.

When in Koh Chang, make sure to visit its captivating fishing villages – Bang Bao and Salak Khok, both of which are special in their own ways. Bang Bao Pier and Fishing Village is a scenic spot featuring a charming lighthouse, surrounded by a myriad of colorful fishing and tourist boats. You can find gifts and souvenirs while walking along the pier. Though some call it a tourist trap, many enjoy exploring the charming village. With tasty food options like spicy seafood salads and the peaceful lighthouse, Bang Bao Pier and Fishing Village is a pleasant mix of pretty views, culture, and relaxation. Bang Bao Pier and Fishing Village during sunset. Salak Khok Fishing Village, in the southeast part of Koh Chang, offers great experiences and views of the calm Salak Khok Bay. The village showcases Koh Chang’s past and local culture before tourism became popular on the island. Visitors can enjoy delicious seafood at the famous Sala Khok Seafood Restaurant and explore wooden walkways near the fishermen’s homes. This unique experience gives you a chance to see an untouched, beautiful area.


How to get to Koh Chang

From Bangkok

• From Suvarnabhumi Airport | Koh Chang 6:00 am
  Transfer service from Koh Chang Pier to Koh Chang Hotels (add Fee)
  Pick up from Mochit Station (pick up time: 05:00)
  Pick up from Ekkamai Station (pick up time: 05:30
  Pick up from Khaosan Rd. (pick up time: 05:30)
• From Koh Chang | Suvarnabhumi Airport 10:00 am
  Drop off @ Mochit Station
  Drop off @ Ekkamai Station
  Drop off @ Khaosan Rd.
• From Laem Sok Pier | Suvarnabhumi Airport 12:00 pm
  available from April 30

Website

From Pattaya

• Koh Chang 8:00 am
• From Koh Chang | Pattaya 10:00 am

Website

Private Transfers and Tours from Bangkok

• Koh Chang
• Koh Mak

Website

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Koh Chang Diving Hot Spots

Koh Chang Karp has recently emerged as the most stunning scuba diving destination in Trang, in the southern part of Thailand. Local tour boats hailed the island as the most beautiful scuba diving site in the province.Koh Chang Karp, also known as Koh Reur Rop (battleship island), is a hidden gem located between two popular attractions in Trang: Koh Lao Liang and Koh Phetra. Several Thai media outlets invited diving enthusiasts to visit the island, saying it is a new and popular diving site in the province.



After being closed for a long period during the pandemic, the island’s natural marine resources in Trang’s sea have fully recovered, and Koh Chang Karp has become more abundant and resourceful after its long break. According to the local tour boat operator, Suriya Haadden, Koh Chang Karp is the most beautiful diving spot in Trang at the moment. The 500 square metres diving site offers diverse species and formations of coral reefs, and it is also home to a variety of marine life, particularly clownfish.

Suriya further stated that most divers who visit Trang rate Koh Phetra as the best diving site in the province. However, he believed that Koh Chang Karp was now taking the lead in this regard. He added that the island is now popular among foreign tourists. Koh Chang Karp can be reached most easily by taking a boat for one hour from Koh Libong. Visitors can also continue their journey to nearby islands like Koh Sukorn, Koh Petra, and Koh Lao Liang.

Koh Chang Karp is included in the legend of the islands in Trang, which narrates the story of a man named Libong and his wife Mook, who travelled to China by ship to start a business. However, the couple ended up dying in the sea due to their parents’ curse.

As they did not visit their parents upon their return to Thailand, the parents were angry and cursed their boat to capsize. Libong, Mook, and all of their belongings and products floated separately in the sea, bringing the names of each island in Trang, such as Koh Libong, Koh Mook, Koh Chueak (Rope island), Koh Waen (Ring Island), etc.

The southern provinces of Thailand offer tourists several stunning diving spots like Koh Similan in Phang Nga, Koh Tao in Surat Thani, Koh Phi Phi, and Koh Lanta in Krabi, etc. For travellers who have a full schedule or do not want to travel far from Bangkok, Koh Samae San in Chon Buri and Koh Chang in Trat are the perfect choices.





Marine Life
Schooling fish, such as fusiliers, barracuda, batfish and snappers, parrotfish, boxfish, puffers, large and small groupers, great barracuda, trevally, trigger fish, file fish, moray eels, anemone fish, angelfish, butterfly fish, banner fish, stingrays, lion and scorpionfish. Hermit crabs, cleaner and dancing shrimp, squid, octopus, medusa and, of course, nudibranch can also be found. Whale sharks are no longer a rarity in the area especially in high season. Bamboo and nurse sharks can be found though sightings of other sharks and eagle rays are rare. Cobia are often seen and there have been sightings of Sailfish. Whilst there may be more chance of seeing particular marine life at different sites, there is always the possibilty of seeing them at any of the sites. Without a doubt, the HTMS Chang is now home to the greatest concentration of local marine life.

Diving Sites
Some of the best preserved coral in Thailand can be found on these local sites which are found to the West and South of Koh Chang with dive depths ranging from 5 to 25 metres. Visibility in high season can be in excess of 30 metres, especially those sites furthest away from the Koh Chang itself. Average visibility throughout the year is around 15 metres. Travel to them by dive boat takes between 25 and 45 minutes. During low season sea conditions often prevent us visiting these sites. Hin Luk Bath: A rock in the shape of an upturned bowl marks the top of this site which is a collection of boulders surrounded by coral both hard and soft. A spectacular view in good visibility but also lots to see at shallow depths when visibility not so good. The boulders provide some simple swimthroughs and the site attracts any and all of the local marine life. Hin Raab: A narrow flat rock, Hin Raab, some 80 metres long which was once used as target practice by the RoyalThai Navy, forms one ‘leg’ of a horseshoe shaped reef system, the other being the rock known as Secret reef. Both are covered in both hard and soft coral and create two dives that can be done from the same mooring. It is not unusual to see two or more Titan trigger fish on this site. Blueberry Hill: Some 250metres from Hin Raab and Secret Reef lies another rock/reef formation, Hin Tai Nam. There are a number of gullies and small cracks and caves in the rocks. Great hiding places for big groupers, shrimp, moray and stingrays. The reef is surrounded by smaller coral outcrops and coral gardens that are worth exploring too. Banana Rock: Best described as a wedge shaped rock formation with the thick end of the wedge forming a west facing wall whilst the thin edge tapers away to the east. There are a couple of small caves, usually home to stingrays on the wall and lots of fern coral amongst the rocks on the eastern side. The large rock formation provides a home to scorpion fish and nudibranch. The site is often affected by the currents and visibility can be a poor. T11 Wreck: A motor torpedo boat used by the navy as a patrol boat was sunk in 2013 almost equidistant from Secret Reef (south) and Blueberry Hill (west). Lying in 16 metres of water, the wreck was broken up during the first low season probably due to a shallow depth, unstable seabed, current and swell. It now provides a useful start to a dive which ends by travelling over the coral gardens between the wreck and the two closest coral sites. Hin Sam Sao: These two very similar dive sites are the closest of all the sites to Koh Chang Island and, whilst worth a visit when conditions are good, often suffer poor visibility.


Koh Chang Diver - Website
BB Diver PADI - Website
Dolphin Divers - Website