Top Things to do in Ko Chang
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The 10 Best Things to do in Ko Chang, Trat Province
Ko Chang means “Elephant Island,” and indeed, if you’d like an up-close-and-personal encounter with the world’s largest land mammal, you can do that here—you can even swim with them at Ban Kwan Chang, an elephant preserve recommended by TripAdvisor travelers. In the past few years, the island has experienced a huge boom in tourism, so new hotels and restaurants abound.
Restaurants in Ko Chang
1. Khlong Prao Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 960 reviews
Reviewed By S4468OMjenniferh - Guildford, United Kingdom
Khlong Prao Beach is peaceful, quiet and pretty in a rustic natural way. The tide brings the sea right up in the morning, and by evening it’s gone out a way enabling you to walk along the beach on the sand in the afternoon. It’s so peaceful here; even with some busy resorts, you still don’t have people swimming by you. Soft sand, shallow for ages so safe swimming. No tall buildings spoiling the look of nature. Great little local places to eat at the quieter end near Santhiya Tree resort. Walking further south there are more hotels, Emerald and Dewa get busier, but still not as crowded as other islands. More beach bars and places to eat as you pass these hotels. I’d thoroughly recommend this beach if you want a quiet peaceful time.
2. Kong Koi Beach
3. Mu Ko Chang National Park View Point
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 378 reviews
Reviewed By abdulrQ3400EB - Singapore, Singapore
a bit of a hike but it is worth it. Have a nice afternoon and watch sunset or early birds can view sunrises very nice indeed.
4. Ko Rang
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 97 reviews
Reviewed By breidysb - Barranquilla, Colombia
El parque natural Koh Rang es bellísimo, limpio, con muchos corales para hacer snorquel y unas playas con colores vibrantes, el parque esta protegido por el gobierno asi que todo esta bien cuidado. Para llegar a ellos se ofrecen muchos tours diarios de todo el dia 9:30 a 4:30pm (hora llegada al pier), con buena comida, snorquel y agua gratis, rondan entre los 700 a 800baths incluido los 200baths de entrada al parque. Si estas en Trat, Koh chang o algunas de las islas cercanas, vale la pena hacer este tour, se ven muchos animales marinos preciosos. No importa si no sabes nadar, el staff te lleva de la mano a hacer el careteo para que no te pierdas la oportunidad. The Koh Rang Nature Park is beautiful, clean, with many corals to make snorkeling and vibrantly coloured beaches, the park is protected by the government so everything is well maintained. To reach them are offered many daily tours from all day 9:30 to 4:30pm (arrival time at the pier), with good food, snorkeling and free water, the price is about 700 or 800baths including the 200baths entrance fee to the park. If you are in Trat, Koh chang or some of the nearby islands, it is worth doing this tour, you will see many beautiful marine animals. It doesn't matter if you don't know how to swim, the staff takes you hand in hand to make the face so you don't miss the opportunity.
5. Kai Bae Viewpoint
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 82 reviews
Reviewed By sup1522 - Chanthaburi, Thailand
we were take motorbike and go around island since we stop here to relax and take some photo then by sunset time you can see full off sun go down to the see.
6. Ban Kwan Chang
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 501 reviews
Reviewed By AlmaDinx - Dinxperlo, The Netherlands
Ok, so a visit like this is always subject to an inner discussion: to go or not to go. Is this ethical or not? But visiting the Ban Kwan Chang elephant camp was an absolute highlight. I guess opening your heart as wide as possible to these magnificent creatures is a tiny tiny way of giving back what I received this magical morning. Waking up early for the first possible tour was worth it. So is going in the low season. We were practically alone. First, the bathing of the elephants. The camps grand old dame Shirley and a younger lady elephant ambled with us to the river. Their mahouts only used spoken commands. Getting into the water to scrub the ladies was magic. They are so big, yet calm and gentle. We were allowed to sit on Shirley’s neck and back and scrub her, dipping water over her and watching as she sprayed water through her trunk (on command). She wallowed in the water a long time with us. It was so beautiful and peaceful. Back at the camp Shirley got a pile of pineapple leaves. And yes, she was chained to a tree ( I understand it wouldn’t be a good idea to let these powerful animals roam free in a populated area, let alone a camp where inexperienced tourists walk around thinking that the elephants are your average docile cow...). The trekking into the jungle was also a gift. Again we were with 2 elephants, taking their time to walk and check out their usual round on the surprisingly narrow paths. Again, and thankfully, just spoken commands and sometimes a bump by foot against the elephants ears (no using the hook). Our elephant, named ‘Smell Bananas’ (กล้วยหอม), made squeaky-trumpet noises and low rumbles. I may of course be wrong, but it felt like she was contented. It was peaceful, quiet, and she would sometimes leave the path to get a mouthful (or trunkful) of leaves. At the end of the trekking, we were shown jewelry made of elephant bone. I had read about this in another review, and yes, it is a bit awkward... But as long as it’s not ivory. And these men/mahouts who live with the elephants, take care of them, and who are co-dependent on the elephants (and vice versatile) probably don’t have much of an income, nor is Koh Chang their home island. (I found out from the mahout who was with us that he came from Surin (eastern Thailand bordering Cambodia) where many of the Thai elephants historically come from (captured, trained)). I was allowed to ride ‘Smell Bananas’, and did so with the utmost respect. Leaning over that powerful neck and head, rubbing her skin, kissing her between the thick stubby hairs and just feeling such immense awe and gratitude for her, was a gift. All in all, as long as we tourists go to these camps, they will exist. So... go, open your hearts to these magnificent creatures, be respectful and calm and gentle, and support them and their caretakers financially. Because, if we don’t go, the elephants will lose all their economic value (yes, it is as harsh as that...), and what will become come of them than? On a side note: I saw pictures and YouTube films of several of the “ethical” camps in a Chiang Mai. They all advertise with “no riding”, only feeding, walking and swimming. For exorbitant prices. But the photos showed large groups accompanying one or two elephants, which didn’t look respectful or peaceful at all... The swimming with elephants wasn’t swimming at all. It looked more like pestering: 20 people dressed up in hilltribe style shirts, in a semi circle all throwing water onto one or two elephants standing knee deep in muddy water and who in fact didn’t seem to enjoy the spectacle at all. We decided not to go to one of these “ethical” camps. And in hindsight I am happy I didn’t. I’m happy that with all the pre-visit debate going on in my head, I chose to come to Ban Kwan Chang. Of course I have no idea how things go in the high season when of course many many more tourists come... I can only hope and pray that the elephants well-being is priority no.1.
7. Klong Plu Waterfall
8. White Sand Beach
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,944 reviews
Reviewed By jb1233 - Saint Louis, United States
Our family of 8 (4 adults and 4 teens) stayed at Apple Beachfront resort for 3 nights. This hotel is right on the beach, so we enjoyed White Sands beach from sun up to sunset for 3 days! It has many tourists, but the beach is long enough to accommodate without feeling crowded. There are many restaurants along the beach (Pen’s was our favorite at the North end of the beach) and we took a day snorkeling cruise (Thaifun) that picked us up right at the beach.
9. Kai Bae Beach
10. Lonely Beach
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 548 reviews
Reviewed By StephenE1352 - Preston, United Kingdom
The mow bar make you family when you visit. A great bar at the top of the village on the right joy cottage is a fantastic bar for live music and the many restaurants serve amazing food
