The Koh Chang Sun - The Real Koh Chang Guide

The east side of Koh Chang is not that explored by tourists, being a bit of a hike over the mountain and so it remains more of a traditional Thai area. But there are some great things to do and the best way to do it is to grab a scooter or car and drive over. The roads are in good shape for the most part (see the Long Beach outtake for where it gets bad). if you are looking for some great places to stay that are quiet and some cool restaurants then this might just be the place to hang also. Things to do: Grab some great Vietnamese food in Paradise Behind The Sea, head down to the mangrove forest and kayak around this amazing area. Take some really great pictures on Salakphet Bay, visit the most remote beach – Long Beach. Catch some great seafood at various restaurants. Take in some of the best waterfalls on the island, see what a more traditional and less touristy side of Koh Chang looks like…

Robert

The Koh Chang Sun - The Real Koh Chang Guide

Koh Chang Dive Map If you are wondering where to go on Koh Chang to dive take a look at this Google map and chart your adventure! All the dive sites are listed in more detail in the Dive Guide. We hope you have a great time and enjoy the diving here on the island! Hin Rap: Located off a small island called Koh Klum this site has a rocky reef covered in sponges, shelves of small corals and lots of reef fish. Thonburi wreck: This is the resting area of the Thai warship Thonburi that was destroyed in WW2. Currents can be strong, visibility poor and it is best to arrange with a local shop as to the best time to see it – if at all! Hin Luk Bat: Lots of corals with soft shelves and lots of small crustaceans. Crowds of starfish and other animals. very popular due to the proximity to Koh Chang. Koh Wai:Reef dropping down to 20m. lots of corals such as brain and plate with softer corals at depth. Often rays on the sandy bottom. Koh Rang: One the better dive sites with corals to 15m. Good visibility and usually larger marine life from angelfish to parrot fish. sometimes even barracuda and tuna. Koh Kra: Shallow reef and ringing waters great for snorkeling and free divers. no more than 10m deep with shallow corals and a sandy bottom often with rays there. Koh Mai See Lek: Lots of hard corals, plate and sponges. Varied invertebrates, shrimps and sponges also. Larger fish have spotted many times also. [slideshow id=57]  

Robert

The Koh Chang Sun - The Real Koh Chang Guide

Chia Chet is mostly over run with small beer bars and a radio tower in the north, but there are some excellent places to go around VJ Plaza and area. Take a look a the plaza area as there always some great little places to eat and drink back there. Really recommend this to anyone! On the plus side Chia Chet has the first real gas station outside of White Sands, gas up there and save quite a bit over the bottles all around the island as this where all the sellers buy their bottles…  

Robert

The Koh Chang Sun - The Real Koh Chang Guide

View White Sands in a larger map White Sands: the biggest area for any tourist is undoubtedly White Sands. It has the most restaurants, services, bars and the two top night clubs in town. A plethora of options awaits you here with all kinds of shopping, places to stay from on the beach to back in the jungle, to all kinds of food from street vendors to upper-crust fine dining. The beach itself is a wonderful area, groomed every day at dawn to keep down the sand flies and lots of places all along it to eat, drink and party. Generally you will find this the busiest beach and it is packed come Christmas and new years with huge parties all along the shore. Being the main center for the island it has probably what you are looking for. Banks, books, sandals, clothing, tourist mementos, steak houses, live music, nightclubs, cafes, fresh bread, street carts selling Thai food along with lots of Thai restaurants, tailors, eye glass shops, travel agents and of course a small beer bar area called locally as mini-Pattaya. Accommodations run from basic huts to five star hotels with a concierge and everything in between. The prices for staying here are marginally higher than most other areas but then again – it is the center. Things To Do: Take in the fire show at Sabay Bar, check out some awesome restaurants along the shore, laze on the beach, buy souvenirs, Head to Oodies for some live music, discuss geo-politics at mini-Pattaya over jinga. Grab a coffee at one of the new and trendy cafes. Catch the best sunsets and sunrises from the shore, do some shopping at the numerous stalls and shops, try some street food.  

Robert

The Koh Chang Sun - The Real Koh Chang Guide

View Lonely Beach in a larger map Lonely Beach: It was a lonely beach at one time but the road and numerous write-ups in Lonely Planet helped to cure that. Lonely Beach is geared towards the younger crowd, many off for their first time to Thailand and right into Bob Marley and reggae music. For some reason Lonely Beach has a good amount of reggae music, very cheap bungalows and eateries but it is changing. Slowly but surely… The beach is not that wonderful as it is for the most part quite rocky and not a lot of sand in the main part but head up to the Siam Huts are and it is much better. There are no 7-11s, no upper crust restaurants but instead a lot of small shops, internet places abound, there are lots of funky places and for a really good time take in Himmel bar, magic garden, Om bar or Ting Tong Bar, all are quite exciting venues on the island and offer some great entertainment. Things To Do: Listen to reggae and world music at Ting Tong, find one of the rock bottom bargain rooms, have fun driving through the twisting roads around the area. Get a very good Thai tattoo at several places, take in the numerous small restaurants and just have a nice late night!   Bai Lan: Bail Lan is more or less the far suburb from Lonely Beach. If you want very quiet and laid back this would be the place. There are a couple of mini-marts and a few small restaurants but not a lot else. Most people drive into Lonely Beach for something to do. Bang Bao: Once upon a time this was a sleepy little fisherman’s village that was quiet and unknown. Today it is a small tourist center with the main dive companies all based here, boat services to the other islands and it still has a lot of fishermen here. If you are a diver, just stay here as it for the most part all on the water. The dock has restaurants, guesthouses, cafes, shops and such all on the water. If you are looking for the freshest seafood, this is also the place to come. There are no big resorts but instead quite a few good places to stay and certainly quite a few to eat at. It is not party central here and Bang Bao is very laid back. Bang Bao beach is actually located south by maybe two kilometers and it is wonderful, just wonderful. Not a very busy place being located as the last stop in Koh Chang, and we tend to like that at The Koh Chang Sun. Best massage on the island is here also with open huts, the surf crashing in – just wonderful and peaceful   Things To Do: Go diving, head out to the other islands with a boat, go fishing, setup for snorkeling. Take a dive master course and become the next Cousteau, rent a kayak and paddle the bay. Watch the sun come down sitting on the pier. Have a fresh and wonderful seafood meal. Take in one of the best beaches on Koh Chang.  

Robert

The Koh Chang Sun - The Real Koh Chang Guide

Kai Bae: Kai Bae has changed a lot in the last little while. It was really nothing to speak of a short while ago and now it has definitely become a great place to stay. The beaches are good, lots of accommodations, restaurants, bars and things to do. Lots of families are here walking around and lots of shopping and activities. “The Chill’ hotel has opened last year and is one of the top end hotels on the island. But there are also quite a few budget and mid range places also. The beach is a large bay and it is really quite interesting. At low tide one can actually walk out to one of the small islands. It is a large bay and the sand has accumulated really well here. Things To Do: Play a round of mini-golf, head for a walk down Walking Street, grab a look at the crocodile farm (not much action but worth a look, as crocs don’t really do a lot), mingle at Mojitos have a beer at the Pirate Pub, walk down an excellent beach, watch the sun go down at ChokDee Resort over the water…  

Robert

The Koh Chang Sun - The Real Koh Chang Guide

View Klong Prao in a larger map Klong Prao: Klong Prao is a section where most of the people who are here long term tend to live. It is the center village and it is about equidistant from here to White Sands as it is to Lonely Beach. Home to the local tennis courts, the tourist police, Crust bakery, the biggest hardware store, gas station, phone shop, repair centers, local schools etc…and such it is a good place to live. if you want to stay long term then definitely take a look around the area for a place to live. The beach here is the longest on Koh Chang and there are numerous places to stay from both high end and budget (try Tiger Huts for budget!). The river here is also home to a fabulous firefly area that is magnificent at night. There are a few good restaurants and definitely lots of local shops if you want to save a few Baht over the other places. If you see a tent market- go in and see hat they have as there is always something. Things To Do: Drop into the local temple and give thanks to Buddha, take a walk on the longest beach on the island, play tennis, hit the local shops looking for a deal..  

Robert