After my amazing few days on Coconut Beach in Cambodia, I was ready for another island and so I found myself chillin’ on Koh Chang Island.
Back in Thailand – remember my trip to Bangkok – there are certainly a few islands to choose from. However, given that Coconut Beach was pretty quiet, I wanted an island where I can be more active. And Koh Chang seemed like the perfect island for it.
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Koh Rong to Trat by bus
To get there was once again a long and hot day. This time, I had to cross the border into Thailand. I have read lots of bad reviews about long waiting hours when crossing the border with a bus company, so I booked a ticket to the border Koh Kong only. Once there, I walked across the border by myself, and picked further transit on the other side. Easy!
It was still 4pm by the time I arrived in Trat however it was definitely the quickest way. I was very happy and felt rather smart that I managed to avoid the hassles and potential financial pitfalls at the border.
Chillin’ on Koh Chang Island
Koh Chang is one of the largest Thai islands in the Gulf of Thailand and contains a dense and very steep jungle. So after a night in Trat, I made my way to the island in the morning. There is really nothing to see in Trat, but it was great to spend a night in a comfortable bed and enjoy a hot shower. Just before Chillin’ on Koh Chang Island.
Once in Koh Chang, I found my perfect base and settled in for 5 days near the White Sands Beach area. So what do you do on an island for 5 days? Especially when it is mostly jungle and bush land. Given the length of the island the best way to get around is on a bike. You can rent one from anywhere and just cruise around from place to place. And that’s what I did.
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On the first day I drove the very steep road along the western side of the island until there was no road no more. There are a few smaller villages along the way with plenty of restaurants and bars.
Fishing Village Bang Bao
At the bottom of the island, there is the cute fishing village Bang Bao that sits on a very long pier. The pier is suspended almost 700m over water and has been made into a market area. It is a great place to stock up on souvenirs or eat at one of the seafood restaurants. That said I haven’t done either of it, except buying an ice cream (first one since Siem Reap – Beautiful Cambodia and the Town of Siam Reap).
Bang Bao is a great little find and worth the scooter ride!
Otherwise chillin’ on Koh Chang island was easy. The island has plenty of different resorts (old and new) but only a few very good areas to access a nice beach. My base at White Sands beach seemed to be the best option although the beaches aren’t as grand as on Koh Rong Island in Cambodia. The soft white sand is definitely missing in my opinion. It is a beautiful island nevertheless and Chillin’ on Koh Chang Island was a success!
Read here my chillin’ in Oman!
Thai massage
I am back to having a massage every day. Where Cambodia won in the beach front, it didn’t have the value for money massages outside of Siem Reap. So it was great to get a nice professional Thai massage again.
Having a massage every day is definitely an investment into my health. The gentle pressure on energy lines and yoga-like stretching to relax the whole body on a deeper level. Yes please! So it releases stress, improves my mental well being and gives me a good night sleep. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?
Koh Chang food
No matter where I am, once I have found a great spot to eat, I go back there regularly. Because it is much easier then trying to find something new every day. Whether that means that I am loyal or a person of habit I am not sure, but I like supporting the locals. Especially when it is local home made food. The options are there.
From a great wood fired pizza and a pulled duck burger to super healthy juice and ice cream options, I love putting a smile on the owners face when I come back for more.
Furthermore, it is especially delicious after eating stir fry food for way too long now. My stomach is still trying to digest it well. Also most stir fry dishes are deep fried or cooked in palm oil anyway. So yes, I decided pizza and burger can be a healthy food choice, if done properly. We are not talking McDonalds here.
Beach Sunsets
At sunset, White Sand Beach (I can’t comment on the other beaches as I wasn’t there), is converted into restaurants. The bars and resorts place comfortable front row seats along the beach as well as dining tables in front of their own restaurant. There is plenty to choose from and the fresh fish display looks rather inviting. Pick your own catch of the day please!
However, I chose the beach for a relaxing drink at the end of the day before heading to one of my preferred local restaurants to eat.
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The Elephants
The word ‘Chang’ means elephant in Thai, so, of course there are plenty of elephants here. I haven’t seen any since Siem Reap and Angkor Wat – Angkor Wat and the Temples of Cambodia.
Koh Chang has very popular elephant treks and the Ban Kwan Chang camp is located deep inside the jungle. The camps on this island are all for saving the elephants and they have a good reputation for treating the elephants well. Very important! There is also the option to swim with the elephants, but I will leave that for Laos.
However, I could not resist saying hi to the elephants and I met one my height. Perfect for my first time being so close to an elephant. Did you know they are quite hairy? And they love pineapples!
The End
Now that I have my swing photo on the beach (because you have to have one of those) I can call it the the end of my island hopping. Until the next one! While I could have stopped at some other islands along the way, but the transit and time to get there, made me decide against it. After all, it would be just another island. Wouldn’t it?
So from here, I am now heading back to the big city Bangkok to do things you can do only in big cities in Asia. Going to the movies! xx
(post 66)
