 |
Koh Chang offers activities for beach lovers and mountain trekkers alike. Its pristine white sand beaches are perfect for swimming, sun-bathing, or snorkelling in clear blue waters. Watching the beautiful sunset after a day filled with satisfying activities remains one of the favourite pastime. Land activities, from elephant trekking to hiking through the mountains and rainforest with several waterfalls, form a great complement to the beach activities.
The biggest of the chain of 52 islands in the Gulf of Thailand and falling under the administration of Trat province, Koh Chang hosts more than 400,000 visitors annually, a quarter of them from Sweden, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Germany, Britain and Hong Kong. Word has gotten out on Koh Chang’s charms and the number of visitors has increased dramatically over the years. The west coast, blessed with better beaches and clearer sea water, has most of the accommodation. The major beaches on the west side of the island include Klong Son, Hat Sai Khao (White Sand), Klong Prao, Kai Bae, Bai Lan, Tha Nam (Lonely Beach) and Bang Bao. The east coast remains as it once did years ago, while the west coast has developed rapidly. |
 |
Klong Son Beach
Location: On the northern end of the island, Klong Son Beach is the first beach that greets you after disembarking at the ferry pier.
Description: It has a scenic cape with a stretch of sand and plenty of coconut trees. The sea-water is calm.
Commercial Features: The main road has numerous shops that are vital to the everyday life of local people. The beach is home to the island’s first 5-star hotel with in-house spa facility.
Why Go There: Located behind a lush tropical forest, the beach’s charm is in the seclusion and silence that it provides.
White Sand Beach (Had Sai Khao)
Description: A long strip of powdery sand that slopes gently into the sea. Casuarinas and palm trees line the beach while forested hills lurk in the background. During low tide, the beachfront becomes much wider and consequently attracts lots of beachgoers. The northern end is sandy and quiet, while the southern end has plenty of stones. |
|
Commercial Features: The busiest area of Koh Chang, where a wide variety of accommodation ranges from the basic thatched-roof huts to the upmarket units with air conditioning, hot water and TV. The main road features numerous shops, bars, pubs and restaurants, tour operators, vehicle rentals, mini-marts and a police kiosk. Many of the commercial banks offer mobile currency exchanges, which are scattered around the island.
Why Go There: White Sand Beach is the hub of many activities, where people like to take a stroll while watching the sunset. Various sport activities, such as football, volleyball and Frisbee games, regularly take place along the beach.
Caution: Be cautious when swimming since the currents can be strong especially during the green season (May-Oct) as there is no lifeguard on duty. |
|
