You may have heard people talk about how Thailand used to be: "Once there were quiet islands without many tourists or a large tourist industry." There were few hotels, a natural white beach and lots of nature. You will be surprised that such islands still exist. Take Koh Chang for example.
More about Koh ChangKoh Chang is located in the east of Thailand, not far from the border with Cambodia, 300 km away from Bangkok, and has become a tourist attraction only in recent years with an amazing primeval look, and breathtaking sights. So what’s there to do?
Thailand’s islands are primarily suitable for those who seek peace and quiet. If you want parties, attractions, the noise of tourists and a variety of hotels, restaurants, etc – this is not the place for you. But if what you want is a good hotel, a white and pristine beach, surrounded by mountains and huge rain forests, waterfalls and plenty of vegetation, Koh Chang is your place.
The island is developing and the tourism industry is with it. There are cheap and simple hotels, but also luxurious hotels. On the western side, restaurants, shops and nightlife have grown, but are still pretty modest for now. Because the development is relatively slow (Koh Chang is considered a Nature Reserve, and it is forbidden to build buildings taller than the trees), the main attraction of the island remains the peace and quiet, that made the Thai islands into what they are – a haven.
Sighting Animals Koh Chang
Koh Chang is mostly covered by a tropical jungle and offers tourists amazing treks in the jungle, listening to the birds, the screams of the cicadas and perhaps catching a glimpse of a monkey running between the branches. But if you want to see the island’s animals from up close, or you want to take the kids with you, that’s not a problem.
The island has several animal-related attractions. There are several elephant farms like Ban Kwan or Ban Chang Thai and more. In all the farms, the elephants live in their natural habitat in the jungle, and you can ride them through forest paths and streams and even bathe with them in the water. In the snake and crocodile farm, you can watch brave Thais risk their lives confronting a crocodile with sharp teeth and venomous snakes. If you want to meet monkeys, you can visit the new monkey school near the White Sands beach where trained monkeys will entertain you with the best tricks.
You can take a day trip back to the mainland and visit the Dolphinarium to see rare dolphins (pink and black), a great dolphin show and the main attraction – to swim with dolphins and feed them.
After a long day of sightseeing, you can take a night cruise to see the fireflies lighting up the night. There you can relax and breathe in the sea air and admire the wealth of life that nature can show us.
Getting to Koh Chang:
Bus ride: There is a bus from Bangkok to the city of Trat near Koh Chang, and the journey takes about four and a half hours. From there you will spend about an hour sailing to the island.
Hamerkaz Lametayel can help you book a combo ticket, which includes the bus ride and the ferry tickets – all for a great price!
Flight: You can fly to the city of Trat from Bangkok, the flight takes about 40 minutes. Keep in mind that you have to get to the airport about two hours ahead of time, and the journey to the airport usually takes about half an hour (depending on traffic) so the flight doesn’t save much time. It is definitely more convenient, and if you wish, we can help you with booking your flight ticket.
Koh Chang is not a place to be missed when visiting Thailand. If you are on your way to Koh Chang, contact us today, and we will provide you with all the information you need and the best prices!
