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Koh Chang National Park |
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Koh Chang
Click on map to enlarge
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Koh Chang National Park |
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Koh Chang
Click on map to enlarge
Koh Chang, the second largest Thai Island after Puket, lies off the coast of Trat Province, near the Cambodian border. Koh Chang National Park consists of 47 islands off the Trat Coast.
It is also the second largest island after Phuket. 70% of Koh Chang is virgin rainforest, which is among the best preserved in all of South East-Asia.
There is an abundance of wildlife to be found on Koh Chang. Including Macaque, Javan Mongoose, Monitor lizards and Water Lizards as well as Burmese Pythons, King Cobras, Barking Deer & Wild Boar. Among the 61 resident species to be found include Nightjar, Green Imperial Pigeon, White winged tern, Blue winged pitta & hooded pitta.The island is some 30 km in lenght and 8 km broad at its widest point. Dense vegetation covers the mountainous interior, with some hills reacking a height of 800 meters. Some spectacular waterfalls and number of totally secluded beautiful beaches are worth a visit.
Until very recently there was no road, electricity or telephone cables to the island. But it is now possible to travel on paved road from Ban Dan Mai to Ban Khlong Phrao and from Kaibae to Ao Bang Bao. Electricity is now available almost everywhere on the island. Telephone booths only accommodate calls within the Kingdom at the moment. E-mail is available at Ban Phu opposite Alina resort and at Kai Bae village.
We can say that Koh Chang and Koh Payam are very similar to what Koh Samui or Koh Tao would have been 20 years ago. We can also say that both Koh Samui and Koh Tao did not come out very well from the experience of becoming famous tourist places. So many people doing business there, too many of them only thinking how to make quick money, the lack of central coordination and the sudden influx of thousands of tourists badly disturbed the environment.
"This will not happen to Koh Chang" says Ko Maew, the owner of Cashew Resort, "not if I can help it!" Of course everyone would be happy to make some money out of the tourist business, "but everything has a limit!". Coming to the island KO Maew started what I call the "Koh Chang experiment".
I'm not a rich person - he says - not at all. I had the good luck to arrive here when the land was still very cheap and I got as much as I could.
Now he owns almost half of the Aow Yai beach, the best part of the best beach in the island.
"I get many pressures to sell, but I will not do it. It would make my life much easier to have a few millions in the bank, I could make more and better bungalows, more services, I could get a new boat. But what the cost would be? To get hotels, restaurants and bars straight on the beach? How many trees would they cut down? It would be Koh Samui and Puket all over again. I would like to build 10 new bungalows during the rainy season, a little bit better then the old ones, but maybe I'll be able to make only 3 or 4. Never mind! It will take longer to develop, but it will be done in harmony with the Nature. No one of the big trees will be cut down. I cant afford to buy more land, but the one I have will never see ugly buildings put up just to make some easy money. That's for sure."
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Facilities |
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| Company | Contact | Address | Information |
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Lodgings There are over 100 resorts with bungalows around the island and this number is rapidly increasing, wherever there is a beach there is a bungalow cluster. The main clusters you will find at major beaches like White Sands beach and Kai Bae beach on the west coast. Not all of them are open all the time and many are closing down during the rainy season. Prices are very similar: 150/250 for a bungalow without bathroom, 350/500 for a bungalow with bathroom. Here is a list of some of the resorts in Koh Chang. You can check their pages for more detailed information about prices and services. Most of the resorts in Koh Chang are in Aow Yai or in the Aow Yai area. You can walk from one to another without the need to cross the island.
White Sands Beach Click on picture for enlargement
Kai Bae Beach Click for enlargement
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Aow Yai: Eden Bungalows: small place with few bungalows and a small restaurant. Very friendly atmosphere and a good menu of Thai and Western food. Sunset Bungalows: It is the place for the night: soft Indian, folk or South American music, people enjoying themselves, but quietly. The owner Ko Moo, and his family, are a big part of the charm of the place. They are well equipped for fishing. Cashew Resort: is the one belonging to Ko Maew. The largest resort in the island is also the one offering more services. When the resort will reopen after the rainy season you will be able to find there a few bungalows of higher standard, with fan and western style bathroom. You will also find a small office from where you will be able to make bookings for train, bus etc. and a supermarket for the most necessary goods as cigarettes and soap. Golden Bee Bungalows: a favored place for many German tourists. They also organize some fishing. Chang Thong: while all the resorts in Koh Chang are more or less westernized, this one offers a real nice ALL THAI atmosphere, village style. I have seen the sea Gipsies going there to sell their fish and shells to the restaurant. Koh Chang Resort: On Kai Bae Beach.
Paradise: The lady who own the place told us: "we have ten bungalows and that's enough. No telephone. The owner here likes it quiet as well, not only the tourists. They stay with us long and they come back often. That's enough." Full Moon: maybe one of the better looking resorts, with big trees fronting the beach. Ta Dang Bay: small resort at the far side of Aow Yai Beach. To get there you have to cross a stream on an adventurous looking wooden bridge. Lae Tawan Bungalows: open from only a few month, the resort is in a separate beach, small but real nice. The family owning the place is charming. Perfect place if you like to be in a family style place a bit isolated from the rest but not too far. There are 2 other resorts in separate beaches on the right of Aow Yai: Contay and Horn Bill, they are almost cut out from the rest and if you go by yourself it is a long walk to get there. From the sea they look nice. |
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| White
Sand Beach Koh Chang Trat
Province |
Alina's,
on the western coast, is a small 18 room resort run by Ek & Dave (not forgetting their 2
1/2 year old daughter Alina). Set on the beach-front at the south end of
White Sand Beach it is nice and quiet but still close to the other main
restaurants and bars, next to Ban Puh Koh Chang Hotel.
Rates 500 -1500 bath; bungalow with seaview, bathroom, 600 bath |
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| Ban Sakakpetch Bungalow | Ko
Chang
Trat 23000 |
rooms
12
rates 50 |
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| Bang Bao Resort | Ko
Chang
Trat
23000 |
rooms
10
rates 100 |
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| Cashew Resort | Ko Maew | Postal
Address: Cashew Resort - Koh Chang - Ranong - Thailand
Tel 66 01-2296667 |
Owner is Ko Maew. The largest resort in the island is also the one offering more services. When the resort will reopen after the rainy season you will be able to find there a few bungalows of higher standard, with fan and western style bathroom. You will also find a small office from where you will be able to make bookings for train, bus etc. and a supermarket for the most necessary goods as cigarettes and soap. rates 180 - 350 bath |
| Chang
Tong
Resort
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Ms. Hoy | Tel 66 77 833820 |
While all the resorts in Koh Chang are more or less westernized, this one offers a real nice ALL THAI atmosphere, village style. I have seen the sea Gipsies going there to sell their fish and shells to the restaurant. rates; with bathroom & shower 150 bath |
| Eden Bungalows | Tel 66 01-2296667 |
small place with few bungalows and a small restaurant. Very friendly atmosphere and a good menu of Thai and Western food. rates; with bathroom & shower 150 bath |
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| Klong Hin Bungalow | Ko
Chang
Trat 23000 |
rooms
12
rates 50-100 |
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| Klong Prao Resort | Ko
Chang
Trat 23000 |
rooms
30
rates 50-200 |
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| Manee Guesthouse | Ko
Chang
Trat 23000 |
rooms
12
rates 70-100 |
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| Had Sai Khao | Ko
Chang
Trat
23000 |
rooms
20
rates 100 |
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| Hat Sai Thong | Ko
Chang
Trat 23000 |
rooms
10
rates 100 |
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| Kai Bae | Ko
Chang
Trat 23000 |
rooms
50
rates 100
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| Klong Son Bungalow | Ko
Chang
Trat 23000 |
rooms
15
rates 100 |
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| Koh Chang Resort | Kai Bae Beach |
On the eastern coast, Kai Bae Beach, right on the beach |
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| Koh
Chang Cabana
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tel 512818 | On the east coast, Kai Bae Beach, right on the beach | |
| Ban Puh Koh Chang Hotel | Sai Khao / White Sand Beach |
On the western coast. This comfortable Bungalowhotel on one of the most beautifil beaches, White Sand Beach. |
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| Plaloma Cliff Resort | Sai Khao / White Sand Beach | This small cluster of bungalows sits on top of the cliff at the end of the long White Sand Beach. The simple bungalows are scattered in a generous garden right on the beach. | |
| Ban Nuna | Sai Khao / White Sand Beach | ||
| Karang Bayview Resort | Karang Bay Beach | ||
| Koh Kradat Island | |||
| Ko Kradat Island Resort | Ko
Kradat
Trat Tel
039-511145 # 32 |
rooms
32
rates 1,600 |
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| Eating
Fish and seafood, of course, are the best part of every menu card. And it is so unexpensive at Koh Chang! You can have a good dinner at the Cashew Bungalows and the most expensive item in the menu is 60 baht. |
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Koh Chang Anchorages |
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Koh Chang anchorages Click for enlargement
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A. Ao Son
Anchor between islet and headland in the south of the bay in 5 metres on a sandy bottom. This spot offers good all-round shelter for an overnight stop. |
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B. Ao Khlong Phrao
This makes a good haven in the northeast season. Anchor in the northern corner opposite the creek entrance in 4-5 metres. Explore the many resorts and facilities ashore, or mount a gigh-tide dinghy expedition along the river, which leads to a beautiful waterfall. |
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C. Ao Bang Bao Anchor in the middle of the bay in 3-5 metres on a sandy bottom. You'll see a small village with a jetty midway along the long sandy beach.
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D. Ao Salak Phet
Anchor in 3-4 metres water, well inside the bay for good all-round protection. The many facilities ashore include restaurants and provisioning. |
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Tha Premwadee
anchorage
NE of Aow Klong Son |
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Kai Bae
"harbour"
Close to Kai Bae village with many facilities like an Internet café, a minimarket, taxi, restaurant etc |
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Aow Sapporod ferry
landing
East of Tha Premwadee anchorage |
