The largest island in the Ko Chang Marine Park archipelago, Ko Chang was named for the elephant shape of its headland, although elephants are not indigenous to the island. Best visited outside of the monsoon season -- which runs from about June to September -- the sea is warm and clear, the beaches for the most part white and sandy and the interior is filled with National Park protected forest and craggy, picturesque mountains.

Most of the beaches are on the western coast, and each has built up with a distinctive atmosphere based on shopping, activities, partying or chilling out. Accommodation offers a style to suit every type of traveller, from independent low budget backpackers to those wanting a touch of luxury. There are plenty of activities to be organised from almost anywhere on the island: snorkelling and diving trips to nearby coral reefs, jungle treks and elephant rides, not to mention various beach sports.

With it's long stretches of sandy beaches and bay, the west coast has become the focus of the development boom, and that's where most foreign travellers stay on the island. Beaches such as Haad Sai Khao (White Sands Beach), Khlong Prao and Kai Bae have developed more in the past few years than most of Thailand has in the last few decades. If you want to party, swim, dive or do practically anything else you'll find somewhere that's perfect for you. The east coast is home to major Thai villages but few beaches and so attracts far fewer foreign travellers. This side of the island is popular with Thais from cities such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai, who might never have seen the ocean before and want to join in traditional Thai seaside life.

Getting There

Air

Bangkok Airways has daily flights connecting the thai capital to Trat.

Bus

Getting to Ko Chang is easy by bus from Bangkok. As well as private bus companies that leve from tourist haunts such as Khao San Rd and Suhumvit, there are regular government buses departing from both the Eastern (Ekamai) bus terminal and the North-Eastern (Mor Chit) bus terminal. The trip takes about 5 hours and can cost anywhere from 180B to 250B depending on the route taken and the class of bus. There are also regular private mini-bus services and government buses from Pattaya and Ban Pae, the mainland springboad for the nearby island of Ko Samet. Governement buses stop in Trat town, and from there it's a short songthaew ride to the pier.

Boat