Prior to World War II, Ko Chang was little known to Westerners and was lightly-populated. The few families there made a living growing coconuts and fruit on the mainland. In January 1941, during the Franco-Thai War, the Thai Navy fought against a French surprise attack in in the waters to the south of Ko Chang.
The first backpacking foreigners started arriving on local fishing boats in the mid-1970s. In 1982, Ko Chang, along with surrounding areas, became part of Mu Ko Chang National Marine Park. Only very recently, in less than ten years, Ko Chang has turned into a major tourist destination, both for foreigners and local Thais.
This sudden tourism boom however, has been fraught with controversy concerning land use, etc. The government is trying to "develop" it from a backpackers' paradise to a top-level destination, and construction work is going on throughout the island, with basic huts torn down to make way for fancy resorts.
Ko Chang is the largest island in the Ko Chang Archipelago. The name means Elephant Island, named for the elephant shape of its headland, although elephants are not indigenous to the island.
Ko Chang has an area of approximately 429 square kilometres. The topography contains high mountains and complex stone cliffs. The highest mount is Khao Salak Phet which is 744 metres high, rich in fertile evergreen forest which is the main water source. Therefore, there are many waterfalls, beaches and splendid reefs in the west of the island.
Most accommodation is located on the western side of the island, where the sandy beaches are. On the eastern side of the island there are few sandy beaches; as such, this side is far less touristy. There are some nice waterfalls though.
70 percent of this undisturbed island is rainforest, steep hills, cliffs, waterfalls, and wildlife, fine beaches, coral reefs and an abundance of marine life. The island also offers tall mountains and rock cliffs.
Ko Chang has the same seasons as [wiki=3d147c6ba113929f5a004a5e9dcc832e]Bangkok[/wiki]. The best season to go is the (comparatively) cool season between November and February. March to May are roasting hot and between June and October it rains, and a lot at that: 4,000 mm in an average year. Many guest houses close during this season, so accommodation is limited.
Bangkok Airways [url=http://www.bangkokair.com]]flies 3 times a day from [[Bangkok#By_plane|Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport (the "new" BKK)[/url]] to [wiki=f176690ca2a775abc0e561e4dc105453]Trat[/wiki]. The flights depart at 08:30, 11:40 and 17:05, and take 1 hour exactly. Costs are between 3,200B and 3,800B return trip.
Direct door-to-door minibus transfers from Trat airport to Ko Chang resorts cost 500 baht/person one way and 900 baht/person return including the ferry crossing. The minibuses are air-conditioned.
From Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, take the free express shuttle bus from outside the arrivals concourse to the airport's own bus terminal, and from there the next available bus to either Trat or Chanthaburi, then proceed as described below.
From [wiki=3d147c6ba113929f5a004a5e9dcc832e]Bangkok[/wiki] the most economical way to get to [wiki=70f2233445e7d83b4579119f87571da8]Laem Ngop[/wiki] (where the Ko Chang ferry piers are) is to take a 1st class bus #999 from the Eastern (Ekamai) Bus Terminal direct to the Laem Ngop piers. The fare is 275 baht one-way (520 baht return) and takes just over five hours. Departures from Ekamai are at 07:45 & 09:45, and return at 14:00. Subject to seat availability, this bus can also be boarded at [wiki=f81c685090fdde424cf1eb3e75c90559]Chanthaburi[/wiki] and at [wiki=ac11ebfe1ea5886be1b0907f3541a7e3]Suvarnabhumi[/wiki] Airport. However, as of December 2009 there was a more comfortable way to travel from Bangkok Airport to Ko Chang: the new bus line # 392 starts from the airport bus terminus (make sure to take a free shuttle from main airport to airport bus terminus) at 07:30 and returns from Koh Chang at 12:30. Tickets can be bought online at the Suvarnabhumi Burapha Bus Company [url=http://www.bussuvarnabhumikohchang.com/].]As of 1 Nov. 2010 there are also express shared minibuses running from [[Suvarnabhumi[/url]] airport non-stop to Lonely Beach on [wiki=cdf4dee45c293de983db4a70853e5f52]Ko Chang[/wiki] [url=http://www.bussuvarnabhumikohchang.com/lonely-beach-express-bus.html].]Tickets are 308 baht for the big bus and 600 baht (800 baht round trip)for the Lonely Beach Express minibus which includes a ticket for the ferry. However, this service can be unreliable; jammed minivans with unsecure luggage and drivers breaking traffic rules. It is also not guaranteed that your return will be by minivan, but rather with a large bus carrying people for other destinations which requires lengthy stops along the way.
Alternatively, there are 1st class (approx. 5 hours, around 250 baht) and 2nd class services from both the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) and Northern Bus Terminal (Moh Chit) direct to [[Trat[/url]], and frequent [wiki=103357e3e40a9c0e4e9d36110f7bbc7a#Songthaew]songthaew[/wiki] services from Trat to Laem Ngop (approx. 30 minutes, 50 baht/person). Departures from Ekamai are more frequent than from Moh Chit. If coming by bus from the south, the #511 air-con bus can be used to connect directly between Bangkok's Southern (Sai Tai Mai) and Eastern (Ekamai) bus terminals.
Departures from Ekamai on the Cherdchai Private Bus company second class bus are 255 Baht to Trat (March 2015), with departures approximately every 2 hours during the day and advertised travel time being 4 hours.
There is a new government bus line 999 that travels between Ekamai station and the ferry to Ao Thammachart Pier. It is properly airconditioned and each traveller receives a refreshment pack. Unfortunately the travel times for bus 999 are limited. There are only 2 departure times per day, both in the morning.
The Cherdchai Private Bus company night sells seats on a first class airconditioned night bus that leaves Ekamai at 11.30pm and arrives in Trat town around 5am the next morning but it cannot be recommended as the bus was crowded, the airconditioning was almost non-existent, the toilet stank of urine and the bus itself was filthy. Be careful too that if the Cherdchai ticket booth at Ekamai charges you for a ferry ticket to Koh Chang as the ferry ticket is overpriced and puts you on a ferry to Centrepoint Pier, which is a 45 minutes trip compared to 25 minutes if you take the ferry to Ao Thammachart Pier.
Connection in Trat can also be used if coming from [wiki=0fd360636058b928fc4d4e875290241c]Pattaya[/wiki] (2nd class bus, 4 hours, around 200 baht).
There are direct minibus services to Laem Ngop from [wiki=0fd360636058b928fc4d4e875290241c]Pattaya[/wiki], [wiki=a38efd3d1268099b298d03dda2519a01]Ban Phe[/wiki] (gateway to [wiki=1d7bb366637ded3dd6add8185977dd19]Ko Samet[/wiki]), and Bangkok's [wiki=9f578747fee287ec11cedbf4c7d18c75]Khao San Road[/wiki] and Victory monument (in front of the Payathai hospital). They, however, are less comfortable and spacious than public buses, and you may be charged significantly more by travel agencies selling tickets to these, as often with any tourist-oriented transportation in Thailand.
It may also be possible to proceed directly to Laem Ngop by minibus or songthaew from the [wiki=2edf189af4fcdd4cd7bd24f566cb8e79]Hat Lek[/wiki] / [wiki=d73b4b790d685b3a407fa17a0ca78f7e]Koh Kong[/wiki] border crossing with southern [wiki=06c7a3c3a3344a62864b951aec4df830]Cambodia[/wiki], depending on the time of year, time of day, etc - enquire locally. Price around 120 baht (one way) from the border to Trat bus station
Most ferries operate from [wiki=70f2233445e7d83b4579119f87571da8]Laem Ngop[/wiki], which has three piers .
The Laem Ngop (Tha Khrom Luang or Tha Laern Ngop) pier is approximately 700 metres west of Laem Ngop.
The Centrepoint (Tha Centre Point) pier is located about 3.5 km north-west of Laem Ngop. These piers serve both vehicle and passenger ferries.
Koh Chang vehicle ferry pier is located in Thammachat Bay (Ao Thammachat), around 15 km west of Laem Ngop.
All piers on Ko Chang are situated on the eastern side of the island. The major piers are the two Dan Kao piers, Tha Dan Kao and Tha Ferry Dan Kao, who handles most of the traffic.
To take a boat from Laem Ngop to the Dan Kao piers take around 45 minutes. The car ferry from Laem Ngop take around 1 hour and arrives at the Tha Ferry Dan Kao pier, situated 400 metres southeast of the Tha Dan Kao pier. The car ferry from Thammachat Bay stops at the Ko Chang Ferry Pier (Tha Ferry Ko Chang) in the Sapparot Bay (Ao Sapparot), 3 kilometres northwest from the Dan Kao piers.
Light meals, fruit, fruits and beverages are available at all the piers and on the car ferries.
There are two operators that provide daily bus services from [wiki=4db6a001d14b1d6475fe77cfdaa218b9]Ko Kood[/wiki] to Ko Chang. One is based in Ban Bao, the other on Kai Bae Beach [http://www.kohchangspeedboat.com] Rates are the same but departures times can vary, so make sure to book ahead.
From [wiki=3d147c6ba113929f5a004a5e9dcc832e]Bangkok[/wiki] or [wiki=ac11ebfe1ea5886be1b0907f3541a7e3]Suvarnabhumi[/wiki] international airport the ride takes a total of about 5-5.5 hours by Limousine [url=http://www.limousine.in.th/]or]Taxi. Most taxi driver will decline this journey as the risk of empty return is too high for them. Most (airport) limousines or minibuses [http://www.kohchangminibus.com/[/url][http://www.coconut-realestate.com/private-transfer-by-car-or-mini-bus.html] will deliver you at the hotel or resort on Koh Chang, especially if they can make it back to the mainland before the last ferry sails.
In addition to limousines and taxis, transfers by private car or minibus, either from the airport or any hotel in Bangkok, can also be arranged easily. There are several companies who provide transfer bookings online. Prices depend on the number of passengers. This is an ideal way to travel for anyone who doesn't want to pay for flights to Trat on Bangkok Airways [url=http://www.bangkokair.com].]High season plane tickets are around 2,500 - 3,500 Baht per person.
Tickets for the shared minibuses from Suvarnabhumi Airport unfortunately can't be booked in advance. You'll need to buy tickets after you land at Suvarnabhumi Airport from the Suvarnabhumi Burupha ticket counter on Level 1 on the main terminal building. One way tickets are 600 Baht per person including ferry ticket.
Tickets for shared minibuses from hotels in central Bangkok to hotels on koh Chang are from 900 - 1,100 Baht per person including ferry ticket. These can be bought from hotels and tour agents in Bangkok or online in advance.
As of October 2015, there are no shared minibus services from [[Don Meuang Airport[/url]] to Koh Chang.
Most of the hotels are located on the west side of the island, with many resorts and guest houses all along the road that leads down the coast. Generally speaking, prices drop off the further away from the port you get. Supply far out-strips demand, so finding a place to stay should never be hard, though the best or cheapest places may fill up at weekends.
*
* at the right hand side of white sand beach, low price bungalows, all equipped with balcony, private bathroom/hot water. There's also an excellent restaurant.
* 3 night minimum.
* Bungalow village with restaurant.
* In the centre of the beach. Fantastic beachside swimming pool, beach-front bungalow-villas, pool-side deluxe villas, deluxe hotel rooms, and many rows of bungalow in tropical-style garden. The best place for families. Good value for money, friendly staff, delicious food.
* Roomy upstairs apartment with balcony, lounge and bathroom. The rooms are a great value. Three cheaper rooms available at 400-800 baht. Pattamas restaurant serves authentic Thai dishes, coffee, teas, beers, and spirits. Staff are friendly and happy.
* It is possible to book a double room for four for 2,500 baht (high season).
* Right by the sea with a terrace over the sea to sit and watch Ko Chang sunsets. Just above and behind the restaurant Rock Sand has rooms for backpackers and flashpackers.
* It appears to be family owned, but the family isn't very friendly. The cleaning staff are, though. Wi-Fi is not free. Rooms are clean, TV/balcony/A/C/private bath.
* Guests can head to their own private beach if they get the expensive 4,000 baht rooms and villas. Best are the sea view villas. Friendly staff, German and Thai food (and beer). Reasonable for families and single travellers.
*
Chang Noi Beach. Villas & beach bungalows.
* Four-bedroom, two story privately-owned villa on Chang Noi Beach. With four separately accessible bed rooms, this villa is ideal for families and small groups of friends. In high-season, the villa can only be rented as a whole and with a minimum stay of seven days. All facilities of the Siam Royal View village are available to our guests.
Emerald Cove, Koh Chang is located along the peaceful shores of Klong Prao Beach. This tropical getaway offers a dive centre, a 50 m lap pool and 5 dining options.
*Aana Resort and Spa is an upscale retreat. Some rooms have outdoor plunge pools and amazing views. Two gorgeous swimming pools, restaurant, two bars and a lovely (yet pricey) spa. The resort is 100m up the river that spills out into the bay and Klong Prao beach; free kayaks are available for use. Excellent service.
* Cozy park with holiday houses, bungalows, swimming pool, pool table, Internet.
* Centara Koh Chang Tropicana Resort offers 157 rooms and cabanas in quiet, natural surroundings on Klong Prao Beach. Two swimming pools, spa, restaurant and three bars. A variety of daily activities available for guests.
Beautiful, modern luxury resort with 38 rooms, including deluxe rooms, deluxe pool access rooms, Jacuzzi suites, and pool villas. Breakfast served any time of the day. Free Wi-Fi & Internet stations.
* Five-star bungalows on the beach.
* Quiet and charming resort with luxury bungalows, swimming pool, high speed internet and just 150 metres from the beach.
* Backpacker Bungalows with fan, hot shower and private bathrooms.*
*
* They have over 100 rooms.
* 60 luxury bungalows on the beach, large family bungalows on the hill side and new seaview and pool villas.
Be aware that, following a great deal of development, the name "Lonely Beach" has become something of a misnomer. Lonely Beach is the party capital of the island and each guest house on Lonely Beach takes it in turns to hold "party night," during which the partying and attendant thumping music goes on until about 05:00 and all the revellers on the island come to your guest house. If you do not want to be kept awake then Lonely Beach is definitely not the place for you. Most guest-houses giving "Lonely Beach" as address are not located along the actual beach but about 500 m down the road. From the village to the beach the coast is very rocky, but access is possible via signs and a small pathway. It goes through uneven terrain and a bit of forest so cannot be accessed after dark.
* The only four-star resort on Lonely Beach, offering beautiful sea view bungalows and hotel rooms.
* Great backpacker place. Listen to live music, enjoy great food and just chill out there. Nice little huts, that come with mosquito net, attached shower and toilet and free Wi-Fi, though signal is very weak at huts but works well in restaurant.
* Newly built, well-appointed concrete bungalows spread around a serene tropical garden layout in Hat Tha Nam's 'town' strip. It's a trek through the garden to get to the beach, which is anyway rather rocky, so better to walk 5-10 minutes down the road to the beach and bar at Siam Huts. Some noise from nearby bars at night in the bungalows near the road. The owners can be really unfriendly sometimes, but the bungalows are decent. High seazon price is 1000 baht for AC bungalow. Beautifull tropical garden.
* Best located Pool Villas on Ko Chang, right on the white sand of Lonely Beach. Officially a part of the Siam Beach Resort, but in a class of its own. Most popular with romantic couples and young families, because these villa have only a single large bed/livingroom.
* Small bungalow resort, up the hill away from the bustling village. Comfortable bungalows individually placed, 12 with fans 2 with air-con, 1 twin double room, hot showers, mosquito net, toiletries and free high-speed Wi-Fi. Restaurant has Thai and foreign food. Every bungalow has a hammock and a gallery in the bathroom. David the owner is a very friendly and helpfull guy. This place is a sanctuary compared to other places on lonely beach, not much noise from bars at night.
* Small guesthouse in the village. very basic room with a mattress (single or double), a fan and a mosquito net, clean, shared bathroom, hot water and good free Wi-Fi. there is a bar/restaurant downstairs with occasional live music. 200 bath for single room (Nov 2014), probably the cheapest on the island.
* New concrete bungalows with fan, TV and Wi-Fi at about 500 baht. Restaurant serves Thai and Western food. A 5-10 minute walk to the sandy beach.
* Situated on a hillside with sunset views from the restaurant deck, where you can enjoy home-style Thai dishes, sandwiches or Western favourites. The wooden huts come with fan and mosquito net, attached open-air bathroom with shower. Free Wi-Fi. The dutch owners are the best ever, great service, good food and a very chilled out place to stay. Pretty big climb to get up the hill, but worth every step!!
* It has very nice, large and clean waterfront concrete cottages. There is a rocky waterfront, an amazing bar, and lounging areas with very friendly staff and outstanding food. Wi-Fi is free.
* Brand new bungalow resort. Great price range (between 500 baht for 1-2 person bungalow with fan and private bathroom, and 1000 baht for sea front bungalow with air-con, cable TV, private bath. All bungalows are clean, new, and the grounds are very well taken care of on a daily basis by a maintenance crew. Nice lounging area on a patch of lawn right next to the water, and only a 5-10 minute walk along the water's edge to Lonely Beach. Very quiet at night considering how incredibly close by all the action is "downtown"! Free Wifi.
* Formerly a backpacker place, converted into an upper-scale resort with large swimming pool. Sea view and pool view hotel rooms, all with a sea view, cable TV, refrigerator, hot water, comfortable beds and breakfast for two.
* Right on the beach, offering a quiet atmosphere (unless they are hosting a beach party, in which case don't expect to sleep before 02:00). Friendly staff and delicious food. You can choose between cheaper Spartan waterfront bungalows or slightly more expensive air-conditioned bungalows.
* Nice bungalows with well-priced western and Thai restaurant with nightly movie screenings, free Wi-Fi and reclining cushions.
* Small bungalows are 250baht, not the nicest, outdoor toilet. Larger bungalows are 400 a bit nicer. (Nov. 2014) Attached to a tattoo shop owned by the same family.
Most of this beach is rocky, only the southern end - which is dominated by the resort, not really welcoming non-resdidents - is sandy.
* Oceanfront resort with spacious garden and large swimming pool. Five types of rooms ranging from bungalows to family suites. All 26 rooms are private and have hot water. Spectacular views of the sunset, ocean, and mountains. Fan and air-conditioned rooms available. Friendly multilingual staff. Reception is open from 8:00am to 11:00pm.
* Spacious, en suite, well-designed bungalows built into the hillside, going all the way down to the beach. Fan and air-conditioned rooms available. Friendly staff. Reception and restaurant are only open from 08:00 till 20:00.
*
* Each of the 22 bungalows has a computer inside, free wifi, hot shower, fan and air-conditioned rooms available. The bungalows are right by the sea with sunset views.
* They have six bungalows, pitching a private tent costs 50 baht per person per night.
* Self-styled "The Best of Bailan," cozy white cottages, swimming pool. air con, hot shower with open dec, free wi-fii. They have 15 standard rooms and 18 cottages.
Bang Bao is on the south side of the island. It's little more than a long stretch of wooden deck that takes probably 5 minutes to walk from end to end, with dive shops, seafood restaurants, local housing and a few places that provide accommodation for visitors.
* 27 rooms with air-conditioning, hot water, fridge, cable TV, safe and balcony. Internet. 1 km to beach, free shuttle service. English and German-speaking staff.
* 7 rooms with air-conditioning,female and mixed dorm(40 bunks) rooms, hot water, fridge, cable TV, safe and balcony. Internet. 400m to beach, free shuttle service to beach . English speaking staff.
*
*
*The Buddha View, a restaurant and guesthouse, offers a panoramic view and 8 cozy rooms, all with fan and aircon. The bathrooms are very spacious and built to European standards. Free Wi-Fi.
* [url=http://www.koh-chang.estate/"L]appartement "[/url]2 bedrooms sea view self catering apartement availaible in Tranquility Bay residence
El Greco Guesthouse Fan & air co room price 700 - 1400 thb with ensuite toilets & shower
3 rooms with fan, shared bathroom (200 Bath). Internet. located on a beach. Turkish, German, English-speaking owner. It is more a homestay where you can arrange meals with the owner. He cooks delicious Turkish dishes and serves home made Yogurt
The first beach on the east shore has very few places to stay as there is no sandy beach. The place is very natural, though.
This fisher village is located on the south part of the east shore.
*Baan Yemaya is a super cosy guest house in the centre of a fisher village. The house itself is over the sea, you can reach it on a pier, just follow the tables, or ask locals. This newly built guest house is run by Akrapar Hoonsart, or simply Air, who spent many years travelling around the globe. This helped her to build a very cozy, friendly guest huouse which mixes the best of Asia with other parts of the world. Enjoy your stay in the really clean rooms and try the perfect food. One free kayak is available to explore the area, and you can also go for fishing with the locals. Do not forget to book early: they have only 2 rooms.
Klong Kloi Beach is roughly 20 minutes on foot away from the little fishing village Bang Bao. On the beach itself are no shops for buying things, just some medium priced bars.
* The beach is very quiet and cleaned on a daily basis. The rooms have a fan, a shower and a Western toilet. The higher priced rooms have A/C and warm water. Free Wi-Fi is available at the bar and in the rooms as well. They have a very good cook, who makes all types of Thai food. In the evenings, BBQ is available. The owners are very friendly and like to teach a few words of Thai, to whomever is interested. The owners also help you with booking of all types of activities like diving, snorkelling, jungle trekking, etc. or order you a taxi, if you need one. Klong Kloi is a good place to stay for everyone who wants a relaxing stay on a quite beach.
* Big and new bungalows with fan, shower and western toilet. Free Wi-Fi in the rooms. You can use the fridge at the reception.
Overnight camping is possible. 2-person tents cost 150 baht and 8-person tents cost 400 baht. You can also camp in your own tent for 20 baht/person.
If you want to spend one night in the jungle, it can be arranged at a fee of 700 baht.
* Thai Villas and suites surrounded by greenery tropical garden with ocean view.
* Luxury bungalows right on the beach, or enjoy the spacious family bungalows with a Sea View.