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        KOH CHANG is in Trat Province, in Eastern Thailand, about 330 kilometers from Bangkok. It is Thailand's second largest island, and the biggest in Ko Chang National Park. With about 5000 permanent residents the island is not heavily populated, but tourism (and development) has increased dramatically over the last few years.The largest island in the Koh Chang Marine Park archipelago, Koh Chang was named for the elephant shape of its headland, although elephants are not indigenous to the island.Koh Chang previously an unsettled island, is now important as a harbour for ships to escape from the monsoon, and dietary or fresh water resources, especially at Ao Salak Phet or Ao Salat which is well known to pirates, Hai Lam Chinese and Vietnamese. At present, there are 8 villages on the island.Koh Chang is being heavily developed. It seems like the government is trying to "develop" it from a backpackers' paradise to a top-level destination. Construction work is going on throughout the island, with basic huts torn down to make way for fancy resorts.

HISTORY

        Prior to World War II, Koh Chang was little known by anyone. During this period, the few families there made a living growing coconuts and fruit on the mainland. In January 1941, during the Japanese occupation, the Thai Navy fought the French in a battle in the waters to the south-east of Koh Chang. Nothing else happened to Koh Chang until the first backpacker foreigners started arriving on the back local fishing boats in the mid-1970s. In 1982, Koh Chang along with surrounding area became part of the protected Mu Chang Marine. Only very recently, in less than ten years, Koh Chang has turned itself into a major tourist destination, both for foreigners and local Thais. This sudden tourism boom however, has been thwart with controversy concerning land encroachment etc. 

  GEOGRAPHY

 Koh Chang has an area of approximately 429 square kilometres. The topography contains high mountains and complex stone cliffs. The highest mount is Khao Salak Phet which is 744 metres high, rich in fertile evergreen forest which is the main water source. Therefore, there are many waterfalls, beaches and splendid reefs in the west of the island.Most accommodation is located on the western side of the island, where the sandy beaches are. On the eastern side of the island there are no sandy beaches and this side is far less touristy. There are some nice waterfalls. 70 percent of this undisturbed island is rainforest, steep hills, cliffs, waterfalls, and wildlife, fine beaches, coral reefs and an abundance of marine life. The island also offers tall mountains and rock cliffs. The tallest mountain on Koh Chang is Salakpetch.

 HOW TO GET IN

     AIR  BANGKOK AIRWAYS flies two times a day from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport to Trat. ,and the flight takes 1 hour and 5 minutes.Direct door-to-door minibus transfers from Trat airport to Koh Chang resorts cost 280 baht/person including the ferry crossing.

     BUS  From Bangkok the easiest, most direct, and most economical way to get to Laem Ngop (where the Koh Chang ferry piers are) is to take a 1st class bus from the Eastern (Ekamai) Bus Terminal direct to the Centrepoint pier. The fare is 232 baht (or 438 baht for a round trip) and takes just over five hours. Departures from Ekamai are at 07:45 & 09:45, and return at 14:00 and 16:00. Subject to seat availability, this bus can also be boarded at Chanthaburi.

Alternatively, there are 1st class (approx. 5 hours) and 2nd class services from both the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) and Northern Bus Terminal (Moh Chit) direct to Trat, and frequent songthaew services from Trat to Laem Ngop (approx. 30 minutes). Departures from Ekamai are more frequent than from Moh Chit.If coming by bus from the south, the #511 air-con bus can be used to connect directly between Bangkok's Southern (Sai Tai Mai) and Eastern (Ekamai) bus terminals.There are direct minibus services to Laem Ngop from Pattaya, Ban Phe, and Bangkok's Khao San Road. It may also be possible to proceed directly to Laem Ngop by minibus or songthaew from the Hat Lek / Koh Kong border crossing with southern Cambodia, depending on the time of year, time of day, phase of the moon, etc.

      BOAT  Most ferries operate from Laem Ngop, which has three piers, of which two are currently operational. The Laem Ngop (Tha Khrom Luang or Tha Laern Ngop) pier is approximately 700 metres west of Laem Ngop. The Centrepoint (Tha Centre Point) pier is located about 3.5 km north-west of Laem Ngop. These piers serve both vehicle and passenger ferries.Another vehicle ferry pier is located in Thammachat Bay (Ao Thammachat), around 15 km west of Laem Ngop.Almost all piers on Koh Chang are situated on the eastern side of the island. The major piers are the two Dan Kao piers, Tha Dan Kao and Tha Ferry Dan Kao, who handles most of the traffic. To take a boat from Laem Ngop to the Dan Kao piers take around 45 minutes. The car ferry from Laem Ngop take around 1 hour and arrives at the Tha Ferry Dan Kao pier, situated 400 minutes southeast of the Tha Dan Kao pier. The car ferry from Thaachat Bay stops at the Koh Chang Ferry Pier (Tha Ferry Koh Chang) in the Sapparot Bay (Ao Sapparot), 3 kilometres northwest fom the Dan Kao piers.Light meals, fruit, fruits and beverages are available at all the piers and on the car ferries.

 CULTURES

       Thai Buddhism is a large part of the people’s lives on Koh Chang and so there are some temples scattered around.

GET AROUND

       In the daytime, you can catch a songthaew on its route around the main road. These taxis are also waiting at the Dan Kao Pier. At the Dan Kao Ferry-Pier there may be no taxis available. If you arrive without a vehicle you may have to walk the 400 metres to Dan Kao Pier. Small motorcycles can be hired for 150-250B. The main road almost circles the island and there are plans to complete the circuit in the near future. Cars are also available for rental, most hotels can help with it. 4x4 car recommended, since some roads might be in bad condition, especially near Lonely Beach.Unless you are intent on traveling around the island all day by public transport, then a Songthaew (public passenger pick-up vehicle) sounds like the best bet. Most folk however, just stay put on the beach of their choice and walk to wherever they want to go.

TOURISM

         The recent success of Koh Chang as a serious tourist destination has been quite phenomenal. Much of that success must be due to its close proximity to Bangkok. Koh Chang is just 5 hours away, much more convenient for the average Bangkokian family holidaying for the weekend than say Phuket. Koh Chang too is one of Thailand’s most beautiful islands with long white sandy beaches, most half deserted. The island is also home to a wide range of wildlife, including a good selection of birds, snakes, deer and a number of elephants. The island and its vicinity are great places for snorkeling, diving and jungle hiking. Some critics however, worry that the Koh Chang tourism boom won’t survive as they believe that ‘gross over-development’ will only, over time, frighten off tourists to on of the other more unspoilt islands nearby. Investors though, claim that what they are now doing in Koh Chang is nothing on the scale of the likes of Samui.With the development of Koh Kong in Cambodia as a casino resort, it makes Koh Chang even more of an ideal place for a stop-over between the two islands.

BEACH

• White Sand beach
• Klong Prao beach
• Kai Bae beach
• Lonely beach
• Klong Son beach
• Bang Bao beach

 USEFUL CONTACT

Bangkok Airways 039 525 767-8

Centrepoint Ferry 039 538 196

Koh Chang Ferry 039 528 288

Koh Chang International Clinic 039 551 151-2

Koh Chang Police Station 039 586 191

Lost Visa Cards 02 252 2212

Lost Mastercard 02 252 2212

Lost Amex 02 273 0040

KOH CHANG