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Koh Chang is the largest island in the gulf of Thailand and the second largest one in the country after Phuket. Visitors mostly travel for 5 and a half hours by road and take a 45 minute boat ride to the island. Nowadays, Bangkok Airways offers a 45 minute flight from the capital to Trad.
Its close proximity to the shore makes Koh Chang accessible all year round. The best time to visit the island is between November and April. The sea is less clear during the rainy season from August and October.
Touring the island on a motorcycle is also easy since the road network is now complete. There are a various styles of accommodation here, from a basic thatched roof bungalow to a boutique cottage. Grocery stores are plenty and tend to increase in number in the future. Presently, many pubs and bars are centred around Had Sai Khao and Had Kai Bae.
Beaches in Koh Chang
Had Sai Khao
Had Sai Khao is famed for delicate white sand along a 6-kilometer beach. The beach is dotted with towering palms and coconut tress. The most popular beach in the island, it is not surprising to see a wide variety of resorts and bungalows lining behind the trees.
At night Had Sai Khao is illuminated with lights from pubs and bars, restaurants that are located along its beachside road. There are plenty of grocery stores, car and motorbike rental shops and petrol stations.
Had Klong Prao
Had Klong Prao, which means the bay of coconuts, derives its name from a number of coconut trees found along its beach.
This beach begins at Chaiyachet Cape, which offers a good viewpoint of the island at sunset. The beach is less crowded than Had Sai Khao and suitable for swimming and water sports. People staying on this beach can rent a bicycle or take a minibus to Klong Plu Waterfall which is only 3 kilometers from the beach. Accommodations on this beach are simple. Most of them nestle among dotting trees.
Had Kai Bae
Fifteen kilometres from Had Klong Prao is Had Kai Bae. It is a popular place among foreign tourists who come here for sunbathing. The beach has a slight slope into the sea that is favourable for swimming. Tourists who want to visit neighbouring islands such as Koh Yuak, Kh Man Nok and Koh Man Nai can hop in a boat from this beach.
Had Kai Bae is more colourful at night with restaurants and pubs vying for customers. For those who enjoy seafood, there are many seafood restaurants overlooking the beach. Accommodations here come in different styles from basic to luxury.
Waterfalls
Situated near the office of Koh Chang National Park, Thanmayom Waterfall is the largest waterfall in the island and also a major source of water for islanders. The four-tier waterfall has a historical significance to the locals as it was visited by two Thai kings in the early twentieth century. Even though the fall can be accessed throughout the year, it looks more picturesque in the cool season. Most people stay around the first and second tier of the fall because the path to the third and fourth tiers is too steep and slippery.
Klong Plu Waterfall is another popular tourist attraction for those who stay near Had Klong Prao or Had Kai Bae. The fall is only 3 kilometres from Had Klong Prao and reached by road. The first tier of the fall is the best spot for a dip or relaxation since it has a small pool under the canopy of lush green trees. Like Thanmayom Waterfall, Klong Phu Waterfall is at its best in the cool season which starts from November until February.
Islands around Koh Chang
Koh Ngam: Little Phi Phi Island in the Gulf of Thailand
Lying 200 meters south of Koh Chang, Koh Ngam has a striking resemblance to Phi Phi Islands – a group of islands in the Andaman Seas in southern Thailand. It consists of two small island connected by a curved 150 metre long sand beach dotted with tilting coconut trees. The island is peaceful and has a beach that is ideal for swimming. Dolphins are sometimes spotted around this island. The head of Koh Ngam is also a good spot for angling.
Koh Wai
Koh Wai is another interesting island south of Koh Chang. There are two beaches on this island. The beach on Koh Wai is reddish. However, it’s very clean and suitable for snorkeling since it is home to various kinds of fish and shallow water coral like lump corals. Bungalows for rent are available here.
Other Islands
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