Part of the charm of Koh Chang is the relaxed atmosphere and traditional lifestyle which still carries on. Guests can enjoy a feeling of how the local people live and the area's scenic natural beauty.
All island tour
All island tours, stop at a Chinese style temple, Chao Po Koh Chang or the Godfather of Koh Chang in the north of the island which has particular significance for the inhabitants of the island.
The east of the island should also be visited, it has dramatic rocky beaches rather than the white sands of its western counterparts. Here, there is little development and life continues on the island much as it has for decades, with people living from fishing and small scale farming. Fruit bushes laiden with rambattans, for which the province is famous, bloom at the roadside in season. In the far south, a fishing village, Salak Phet, is nestled in the mangrove with boats lined up waiting to go out to sea and others awaiting repair. Everywhere there is the rhythmic sound of hammering, as essential work is carried out on the boats. Aboard small crafts, women deftly repair the nets, whilst the men store the fish traps on the jettys for use the next day.
A short distance away as the crow flies is Bang Bao, a photogenic fishing village built on stilts and extending out over the water. This can be reached from the western side of the island with a roller coaster of a drive with dramatic views down the shear drop at the side of the road to the beach below.
An island tour could also include a stop at one of the island's waterfalls, with a chance to have a swim and cool down.
Half Day Tours
A great way to explore the interior of the island is by the I island's namesake, a "chang" or I elephant. Actually, the island I was so named because of its shape, and elephants are not ingenious and have, infact, only been recently brought to the island. Nevertheless, it is a pleasant way to spend an hour or two and there is a choice of two starting points for treks. One which takes you through a rubber plantation and into a pomello orchard and the second route is longer and takes you into an inland valley and waterfall in the north of the island.
Bang Bao is the best place on the island to enjoy seafood, with a great selection in the restaurants, which has been freshly caughf that day. The rest~urants also have large tanks as you walk in, filled with different types of live crab, king prawns and other crustacians for you to select. It's a relaxed place to enjoy simple but delicious cuisine and watch the breeze gently blow through the homemade shell mobiles, which are hung from the wooden beams of the restaurants.
Trekking on Foot
Treks of varying lengths and difficulty and be arranged into the rain forest in the island's tropical interior with a local guide.
Island Hopping and Snorkeling
The many small islands surrounding Koh Chang provide many opportunities for a variety of boat trips to different white sand beaches for picnics and snorkeling. Highlights could include a stop a "Koh Nok" or "Bird Island" which has wonderful coloured corals in very shallow waters.
