Koh Chang is Thailand’s third largest island and can be translated as “Elephant Island”. The name comes not only from the numerous elephants that you’ll find on the island, but also because of its elephant-shaped headland. Koh Chang is just five hours away by van or 7 hours by bus from Bangkok and can be combined with a trip to Cambodia. It’s an island that is perfect for people that don’t wanna just relax at the beach. A lot of activities can be easily booked via travel agencies and renting a motorcycle (if you feel at ease) is the easiest way to surround the whole island and discover different beaches and tiny villages. I’ve stayed ten days on the island and never felt bored. Here are the most exciting things to do in Koh Chang.
Five Islands Snorkeling Tour
Kai Bae Hut is organizing this amazing tour which is perfect for those who wanna do some snorkeling but at the same time discover different islands and relax at the beach. The tour takes around seven hours and brings you to following islands: Koh Rang, Koh Mapring, Koh Yak, Koh Nok and Koh Wai. The water in this area is crystal clear, you can see a nice variety of fish and corals and the beaches are amazing. Lunch and water is included in the tour.
Trekking
With its mountains and lush jungle Koh Chang offers the perfect scenery for trekking fans. Many different tours with different levels of difficulty are offered. I did a tour with Tan Trekking which was called Klong Prao Trek. We were a group of eight people plus two guides and the trek lasted about seven hours. The trek was quite exhausting because the paths, a few of them were really steep, went deep into the jungle so that you had to climb over trees and escalade some rocks. We did just four tiny breaks and walked for around 6 hours. At the end of the day I had scratches all over my body, but it was worth it, because it was a unique adventure and the views from the mountains were amazing.
Lonely Beach
Lonely Beach is known for being the most beautiful beach on the island. I didn’t see all the beaches so I can’t judge if it’s true or not, but if you are looking for a relaxed white sandy beach with palm trees and clear water you have to come to this one.
Half day snorkeling tour
If you don’t wanna do a full day activity then a half day snorkeling tour is perfect for you. Kai Bae Hut is organizing some half day tours to Koh Yuak (10 minutes by speed boat from Kai Bae Beach). You can snorkel for around three hours off the beach or just enjoy some time at this really nice white sandy beach.
Staying in a resort
There are many different choices when it comes to finding a place to stay on the island. If you are not traveling on a tight budget I would suggest that you stay in one of the amazing resorts that you can find on Koh Chang. I stayed for ten days in the wonderful resort “Mercure Koh Chang Hideaway”. The pool, the rooms, the food and the location are perfect, so that you can enjoy relaxing holidays in a nice surrounding.
