Chang

The region is part of a national park and attracts travelers. The development of tourism has not spoiled the picturesque landscapes with emerald virgin jungles. This is a real paradise. Wild nature combined with excellent recreational conditions have made this place quite popular. There are excellent beaches with bars, cafes, and various accommodation options. The best hotels in Chang have excellent reviews, which allows you to be sure of comfort and good service. 

✔️ A bit of chronology and facts

Koh Chang was long an obscure place where a few families farmed. During World War II, it was fought over by Thailand and France, with the latter winning. The island later returned to royal control.

Today, locals are mainly engaged in tourism. It has only recently begun to develop, since the island is located far from the main resort areas. They also fish, grow coconuts, rubber, and fruits. It is believed that an endemic species of lychee grows here.

The area of ​​the island is 215 km². There are eight villages in total, the administrative center is Ban Dan Mai. Most of the island is covered with forests .

✔️ Entertainment Features

On Chang you can find a place and leisure for lovers of active and quiet rest. You will find snow-white sandy beaches , a bright underwater world, amazing tropical jungles, nearby wild islands, acquaintance with the animal world of the sea and land.

This paradise will delight you with magical sunsets, evening entertainment, delicious Thai and seafood dishes, a variety of outdoor activities - hiking in the mountains, zip-lining in the forest, swimming in waterfalls, etc. The prices for a holiday in Chang are affected by the long road and the star rating of the hotel. The island has elite and budget accommodation options.

✔️ Possible transfer options

Chang is located 8 km from the mainland. However, the island is quite far from international airports. The distance to Bangkok is 343 km. There are land options for travel, but it will be faster to use domestic airlines and fly to Trat, which is located on the mainland near Chang and is the center of the province of the same name. From there, you will need to get to the pier to transfer to a boat or ferry. It is better to agree on a transfer with the host company or hotel, if it provides such services. Then you will not have to worry about the road, and you will be able to save your energy for entertainment on the island.

✔️ Weather conditions

Chang has a tropical climate. This region is characterized by high humidity, in a year in Trat province there is more rainfall than in other parts of the country, except for Ranong, which is also very rainy. The island itself is mountainous, which creates conditions for different weather conditions at the same time in different parts of it. The dry season lasts from November to April, the best time to find and choose a tour online to Chang is January-February. March-April is the hottest on the island. During the wet period, there are days and weeks without rain, so you should watch the weather online. But you should not bet big on these months.

✔️ What to bring back from your trip

The island is not intended for big shopping. Here you can buy standard souvenirs, essentials, local fruits. For big purchases, you should go to Pattaya, located 270 km from Chang, or Bangkok. These are two large shopping centers. There you will find shopping centers, shops, boutiques of famous brands, shops with antiques, souvenirs, traditional markets, which in Thailand are of different types: regular, evening, night, floating. In such places, not only the goods are interesting, but also the locations themselves, this is a real live interactive museum where you can watch the locals and soak up the special atmosphere. They sell Thai spices, tea, alcohol, food, clothes, fresh and processed seafood, fruits, various handicrafts - dishes, home decor, accessories, souvenirs, etc.

✔️ Search and selection of tours online to Chang, reasons to buy a tour or a trip

This place will be a great option for lovers of outdoor recreation, divers, lovers, families with children.

▶️ Beach holidays

Snow-white parts of the coast, clear water, tropical greenery create excellent conditions for swimming and are one of the main reasons to buy a tour to Koh Chang. There are also wild rocky areas suitable only for admiring nature and picnics. Near most of the equipped locations there are hotels and guesthouses.

Most of the beaches are on the western part of the coast:

◼️ White Sands Beach is the most popular among tourists. People also settle here for the winter. The sandy strip stretches for 3 km, the descent into the water is gentle, especially at high tide. Nearby there are cafes, restaurants, massage parlors, shops, a small market, in the evening they organize a fire show, discos. There are no water activities here, since this is a protected area.
◼️ Pearl Beach is a predominantly rocky beach, which is why swimming here is not very comfortable. It is located in a cozy bay. This is a sparsely populated place, there is a cafe. The sandy beaches are not far here, so you can safely choose this place to stay.
◼️ Chai Chet and Klong Prao are great locations for a family holiday. There is a gentle slope into the water, sandy cover, only part of Klong Prao has some rocks. There are few people on these beaches, there is the necessary infrastructure, and it is quiet at sunset, there is no nightlife. There are elephant farms nearby, and everyone can meet their inhabitants.
◼️ Kai Bae is a picturesque place with islands opposite, which add special beauty to the landscape. A wide sandy strip is divided into several parts by stone cliffs. The entrance to the sea is gentle. This is a busier place than the previous two. There is evening entertainment, more people, a fruit market, cafes, bars, massage parlors, souvenir shops, stores, etc. operate on the street passing nearby. This is one of the best places for kayaking.
◼️ Lonely Beach is a sandy beach with a rocky southern part. In the tourist town there is a shop, a diving center, bars, cafes, and a fire show in the evening.
◼️ Bailan Beach is a rocky beach with a small sandy part. The infrastructure here is not very developed.

In the southern part of the island is Bang Bao Bay . It is home to a fishing village with souvenir shops, restaurants, and a pier. There are several beaches here, all of them sandy and calm. This is a real paradise for lovers of secluded relaxation. This part of the coast also boasts the picturesque Long Beach. This is a long and wide stretch. True, there is practically no infrastructure here.

In the north, there is also a bay with a beach. This is Klong Son. There is also a fishing village here with the necessary infrastructure for life. The shore is sandy, the sea is very shallow, there are almost no waves. This place is suitable for privacy. However, if you wish, you can go to White Sands Beach, which is 4 km away. In this part of the island is the beach of the Amber Sands resort. This is a quiet place, great for spending time alone with nature and yourself.

▶️ Nature

In 1982, Chang became part of the Mu Ko Chang National Park, which covers an archipelago of 52 islands and the adjacent waters of the Gulf of Thailand, where reefs are located. The total area of ​​the protected areas is approximately 600 km².

There are many luxurious diving spots here. Everyone can see picturesque underwater landscapes with rocks, slopes, coral gardens with a variety of marine life - sharks, turtles, exotic fish.

The kayaking route will take you to caves. In some walls there are ancient rock paintings.

Chang itself is famous for its waterfalls. There are five of them on the island, the most beautiful is considered to be Than Maiom. It has three levels and is located on the east coast. Klon Plu in the west of Chang is also worthy of attention.

Excursions to wild islands are popular among tourists. They attract cozy bays with white beaches, wonderful places for diving and snorkeling, virgin tropical jungle. Ngam Island is interesting for its shape, as it split into two parts connected only by a sand strip. In the coastal waters of Klum there is a sunken ship from World War II. Some areas of land can boast cozy resorts. Kut is the fourth largest island in the country. Its landscape is similar to Chang.

The list of representatives of the local fauna includes macaques, small Indian civets, small Asian mongooses, deer, several dozen species of birds, a number of snakes, the Koh Chang frog, which  was considered endemic until it was found on the birth certificate.

▶️ Additional entertainment

There are no architectural monuments here, but history buffs can go to the Royal Thai Navy Exhibition. There you will learn all about the battle between the Thais and the French. Events and traditional rituals are held here to honor the memory of the fallen soldiers.

There is no bright and noisy nightlife on Chang either. But restaurants, bars, hotels offer an entertaining evening program where you can have fun and dance. And Thai food will be a great addition to such measures. The national cuisine is rich in delicious dishes and amazing recipes.

You can buy a weekend tour to Koh Chang if you want to relax in the bosom of nature and continue having fun at famous resorts with different leisure options. For quiet beach-going among the wild tropics, this place is ideal.