Koh Chang located in the eastern gulf in the Trat Province, close to the border of Cambodia, Thailands second largest island after Phuket, covers an area of approximately 425 square kilometers, some 320 kilometers south east of Bangkok, once only accessible by road and ferry, now with daily flights available from Bangkok to Trat, making access much easier, is fast becoming a top holiday destination.
Koh Chang is a tropical marine national park, with over fifty other islands scattered around it, still has 75 percent of its rainforest undisturbed, the pristine rain forests and abundance of wildlife and marine life, coral reefs, high mountain peaks, scenic waterfalls, white sand coves and beaches with clear blue waters, make it perfect for both snorkeling and diving enthusiasts.
To maintain the natural landscape of Koh Chang to keep the ialands as unspoiled possible, laws has been enforced to limit the height of buildings on the island to just three story, water treatment systems are required for all new construction projects, island residents are discouraged from cutting down trees.
The majority of accommodation and resorts in Koh Chang are thatched roof bungalows sitting on spacious land and long beaches, at the same time, there are numerous hotels and resorts of modern architecture providing luxury services and amenities, you can hire motorbikes, jeeps and cars to take you to any of the beaches along the coastal roads, in the evening, there are plenty of restaurants live music bars and nightclubs.
The beaches of Koh Chang are all unique in character among the most notable, White Sand Beach, where the most people get together, the excellent seafood restaurants, bars and pubs in the area make it the place to go to for night time entertainment, Klong Prao Beach, known for its natural beauty and more peaceful environment, idea for those who want a calm and quiet vacation, the most popular area for those on a tight budget is Kai Bae Beach, where you will find good quality economically priced bungalows scattered in and around the area.
While the western side of the island has undergone a transformation, the eastern side prefers to retain its traditional face, wherein fruit trees and orchard plantation are generally seen, fishing villages, such as Bang Bao and Salak Phet, incorporate visitors into their daily scene, homes are built on stilts that sit on the waters the village’s have pier’s with ferrys to the neighbouring islands, accommodation and small restaurants along the water take effort to blend in smoothly with the local lifestyle.
