Our Trip to Koh Chang Island

We arrived at Bang Bao village at the edge of the island after visiting the abandoned hotel. It’s located at the very tip of the island and surrounded by many hotels. There’s even a 7 Eleven here. You can join various tours from the village and it’s also possible to visit Kokut Island, which is very close. We’re planning to go there later this month.

Since Bang Bao is a fishing village, there are plenty of fresh seafood and fish restaurants here. We spent some time watching the fish and they were incredibly lively. But since we weren’t hungry yet, we didn’t eat there. I think they also organize boat tours to nearby islands.

We walked towards the lighthouse, which I found to be an impressive spot. But to be honest, it’s not worth coming all the way here just for the lighthouse. If you’re staying at one of the nearby hotels, I’d recommend stopping by. Otherwise, it’s not worth the extra time and effort. The lighthouse here isn’t as impressive as the one at Potaki in Pattaya, where the sunsets are absolutely stunning. Spending time on Ko Chang itself, relaxing on the beach and watching the palm trees, is a better idea. Of course, that’s just my opinion. Maybe you’ll think differently.

They sell frozen teas here, like the fruity popsicles from back in the day. We bought one to try. Unfortunately, it turned out to be just water-based, but it had a very natural taste. There’s also a mango version, which didn’t taste artificial at all, more like mango puree. It’s kind of like a frozen milkshake, but different and quite interesting.

Next we went to the Kai Bae viewpoint. The view was breathtaking with the evening sun. Unfortunately, the café here is currently closed, but having a coffee with that view would’ve been a great idea. If you visit, you could bring drinks from 7Eleven or something in a thermos.

I asked some friends, who have visited Thailand multiple times, why they always choose Ko Chang over other islands like Phuket or Koh Samet. Their response was: We’ve seen many places, but recently we keep coming back to Ko Chang because the sea here is amazing, clean and offers great value for money. In Thailand, especially near the sea, Ko Chang has some of the best prices for beachfront accommodations. This is our third time here. We’ve stayed at White Beach before and tried Merry once, but we weren’t very happy there. Ko Chang has wide beaches where kids can play freely. When the kids were little, they could play in the sand while we swam in the sea. It was perfect. The hotels, pools, sea and infrastructure here are well-developed. Food and drink prices are almost the same as in Pattaya, with a wide variety of options. You can easily find meals from any cuisine. We always enjoy combining a beach vacation with some city life. We stay on islands like Ko Chang or Samet and then head to Pattaya. We love Pattaya too because it offers plenty of local life, tours and shopping opportunities. Some places have closed recently, but everything you need is still there. Next year, we’re thinking of coming back to Ko Chang again.

One of our friends mentioned that they prefer living in Pattaya because of the nightlife and amusement parks.

As for Ko Chang, the island is said to resemble the shape of an elephant and there are plenty of elephants here too. We visited an elephant farm and got the chance to feed them. A basket of food costs 50 baht and the kids loved feeding the elephants. Some were a bit scared, but the brave ones kept feeding them.

Later we went to the night market at White Cent. It’s open every day except Monday and Tuesday. The market is small but offers a wide variety of products. It opens at 5 PM and you can find lots of delicious food like desserts, seafood, fried shrimp, squid and sushi.

At the Ko Chang market, skewers, salted fish, meat slices, chicken and pork portions range from 30 to 40 baht. You can also find cocktails like mojitos and muthai for 100 baht. The market is small but sufficient for Ko Chang since there aren’t many similar places around. You can also find interesting flavors here, like frozen drinks.

Afterward we visited a Turkish restaurant called Alaturka. The menu includes popular Turkish dishes like pide, lahmacun and kebabs (chicken kebabs are 200-250 baht, lamb Adana kebab is 320 baht). They even have lamb ribs. We ordered a mixed kebab for 650 baht and the waiters mentioned it was enough for 3-4 people. They also serve baklava and traditional Turkish tea.

The lamb kebab was very delicious: tender and seasoned with spices we love. The lavash bread was also excellent. Since we can’t do barbecues at home in Thailand, we sometimes look for places like this on the island.

Alaturka has created a Turkish atmosphere with carpets, plates and lamps, which brings back pleasant memories. If Turkish cuisine isn’t your thing, there’s also an Italian restaurant nearby called Belvita, where you can enjoy good pizza and a cozy ambiance.

The next day we decided to explore the other side of Ko Chang. This part of the island has fewer tourists, though there are some hotels. However, the beaches here aren’t as beautiful as the ones in the more popular areas, like Klong Prao.

On this side of the island, people who prefer being surrounded by nature and seeking solitude come to vacation. It’s a great option for those who want to connect with nature, but not ideal for those looking to enjoy the sea. Based on the information we found online, we decided to explore this side of the island before coming here. Since there isn’t a circular road around the island, we showed the touristy part, visited the beaches and then crossed over to the other side. The distance from Piers to the farthest point is about 30 km, but according to Google maps, the drive would take around an hour.

The roads on the island are in great condition. Although there are narrow spots and sharp turns, the overall road quality is good. Along the way, there aren’t many tourist hotels. You mostly see local houses and gardens. The atmosphere here is very calm and peaceful, with very few people around. Most of the vacationers in this area seem to be Thai locals, who are content just enjoying the view rather than swimming.

We stopped by a small café along the way. The sea here looked a bit murky compared to other beaches because there was a lot of sand in the water. Still, the scenery was beautiful.

This area is perfect for those looking for a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature. However, if you’re on a short vacation and want to spend your time on the beach, this might not be the best fit. If you’re staying for a longer period, say a week or more, I’d recommend renting a car or motorbike to explore this side of the island. The views here are stunning and while there aren’t beaches, the natural beauty makes up for it.

In this area, you’ll find a few 7Elevens, bank ATMs and some cafés where you can grab a bite. We entered the Salak Phet viewpoint forest along the way, which is quite popular. Entry to the forest is free, but bicycles cost 10 Baht and other vehicles cost 20 Baht. If you don’t want to rent your own vehicle, you can take a tuk-tuk to get there. These forests resemble the mangrove forests in the Rayong region, with wooden bridges and local crabs. However, the water level is higher at this time of year.

There aren’t any safety measures in the forest, such as railings or barriers. This is typical in Thailand. Everything is at your own risk.

We continued to explore a unique spot called Long Beach. Here, you can walk through the rocks to reach the water, but the sea has more brown and green tones. There’s a mangrove forest in the area and the sea looks a bit dirtier because of the many leaves on the seabed. With the higher water level right now, it’s a bit harder to get into the water.

This place isn’t very touristy and the atmosphere is tranquil. Accommodations here are quite basic, with prices around 250 Baht. If you’re looking for more luxurious options, prices range from 500 to 700 Baht. It’s a good spot for those who want to be close to nature, but most of the locals live here and tourists are mainly from Europe or Russia.

In our experience, it’s nice to see this area, but staying here might be challenging for those looking for more comfort. If you want more relaxation, it’s better to stay in areas with developed beaches and hotels like the other side of the island.

While exploring this area, we thought about taking a kayak for an island tour. However, since the sea was calm, we decided not to go further. Kayak rentals were around 200 Baht per person. If you have an adventurous spirit, visiting these islands can be an exciting experience, but if you’re short on time, it might be better to save it for another day.

The fee of 200 Baht per person applies to couples looking to kayak to the island. The island features a beautiful landscape with white sand and palm trees. The photos look amazing. Small groups are taken to the island by kayak. While the beach is called White Sand, the sand here is more brownish and the water level is a bit lower. Still the water is clean and a stunning blue.