Koh Chang

**KimThailand** · 26th September 2006 21:22

Hello!

I am heading to Koh Chang for about 5 days in October and just wanted to know if anyone had good sleeping recomendations. I read lonely planet but I want to hear more personal expeiriences, also what kinds of things are a must see or a must do there? I plan to go hiking alot and ride elephants, and of course relax on the beach!

**zehner** · 26th September 2006 21:37

whte sands is the most popular beach. it's really long and quite nice but the development has been rapid over the past few years and it can be crowded. also is a tad expensive.

most backbackers head for lonely beach which is not "lonely" anymore! plenty of places there for 200-300-400+, basic bungalows with a mozzie net and cold shower. beautiful beach as well. u can hire kayaks for around 500 a day and go explore around the little islands or go over to the neighbouring kai bae beach.

treehouse was the place that kicked lonely beach off but i think they have moved to another secluded beach on the island now (only accessable by boat). i had some great nights there on the buckets..good memories!

ko chang is great. just chill on the beach and let it all pass you by.

**defender** · 26th September 2006 21:42

Not much to be done in Koh Chang except relaxing on the beach to be honest. I've been several times and the most adventurous I ever got was canoeing to a nearby island - bloody hard-work too as it was new year's day in the morning.

I haven't seen any elephants there - but then I'm over elephants so I didn't look! I was brought up in the Lake District in England and did my share of hiking so I'm over that too!

Where to stay - personally I recommend Kai Bae beach (although it's very quiet!) and a beachside bungalow in the 500-1200 baht price range, there are loads to choose from and they're never full even in the school holidays.

If lively is your thang then try White Sands beach - I've never been!

I'm heading to Kai Bae myself in October with the family and I'm in the process of booking something, I need a pool for the little one and these aren't so easy to find down there on the beach front. If you aren't too fussy and have no kids or other special requirements it's perfectly fine to turn up there and do the rounds of a few places and negotiating a good deal!

**IsaanAlex** · 26th September 2006 22:11

**zehner** · 26th September 2006 22:21

alex had his barmitzvah on ko chang. he loves it there, don't ya buddy?

**kenkannif** · 27th September 2006 10:37

http://www.iamkohchang.com

**8ball** · 27th September 2006 10:50

Koh Chang is my least favorite Thai island

nothing to do there EXCEPT relax

beaches are narrow ..below par ....it's all hills

the best part of going to Koh Chang is the drive to get there

....if you enjoy driving

otherwise ..do yourself a favour and go to Koh Samet

Cheers chaps
-----
PS. New Year I'm going to Samui again

**traveler2** · 27th September 2006 11:04

I was just there. I would recommend staying on Lonely Beach or Kai Bae (You can party in these areas and can also chill out unlike white sands). There is also another area just passed the lonely beach called 'Boom Bow' (misspelled but prounced that way

) that is very nice from what I have heard.

I know of a great place you can stay. It's called "Kachapura" in lonely beach. The bungalows were outstanding. Its along the side of the road - you can't miss it. All I paid was 300 baht a night. For starters, the floor was hard wood and everything appeared to be brand spanken new (The mattress, mosquito net, etc....). I was most impressed with the bathroom of all things! The floor seemed to be made of some type of granite/stone and the shower area was not enclosed (no roof over the shower area - I liked this alot). There were two shower heads too. A big one for rinsing, and another one for a hot shower.

You can also get a room with AC and a TV/DVD player for 100 baht extra. I highly recommend this place. Two thumbs up!

This place can easily charge 1000 baht a night - I wondered why they don't. Maybe because it was low season?

Great place!

I love Koh chang

**IsaanAlex** · 27th September 2006 12:23

zehner wrote:

alex had his barmitzvah on ko chang. he loves it there, don't ya buddy?

**KimThailand** · 27th September 2006 16:41

Thanks! That place sounds great traveler, is it on the beach? I am really excited to go!

**jimbo** · 27th September 2006 16:53

I'd hit a resort if I had the dosh...talk about lap of luxury...

PS: the place Trav refers to is on the beach...methinks.

**Mr Smith** · 28th September 2006 14:23

Originally Posted by defender

Where to stay - personally I recommend Kai Bae beach

Good call Defender. I spent a month at Kai Bae a couple of years ago. Popped up to White Sands once which was more than enough. Kai Bae was a very relaxing place, hope it hasn't changed to much.

A German guy owned a restaurant and some bungalows by the fishing jetty, excellent food and loads of books to borrow for free and dvds to watch if it rained. If you follow the trail past The Reggae Bar, keep going up the hill there is a decent waterfal - watch out for snakes on the way though, but do keep going up.

I feel relaxed just thinking about the place.

**defender** · 28th September 2006 14:51

Kai Bae was a very relaxing place, hope it hasn't changed to much.

It's changed quite a bit since my first jaunt down there 18 months ago - IMO it is still a fair bit nicer than most other beach resort areas in this country!

**traveler2** · 28th September 2006 15:57

Originally Posted by KimThailand

Thanks! That place sounds great traveler, is it on the beach? I am really excited to go!

Kimthailand:

Its not exactly on the beach, but close enough. You can walk there. I think it is better not to be directly on the beach - its rainy season afterall. The sea gets preety rough. I have to say this place is perhaps the best Guest house I ever stayed at in all my times to Thailand - It's a bold statement, but very true. Enjoy it.

**Kuhn Gary** · 5th October 2006 09:43

I visited Ko Chang for about four days in August. I forget name of beach I stayed at, but was south of White Sands. No one has mentioned the waterfall (again I forget the name) in the national park on the east coast. I am old and cannot remember what I did yesterday.

But the waterfall, and you can find it in LP, is fabulous. Short hike in, 200 baht for farang, clean cool water. Great swimming! Very, very nice. The water is cool and clear, coming out of the jungle, wonderful place. Well worth the hike and trouble.

I also did an elephant ride and had a nice bath in a little stream with me and my (female) elephant. It was a lovely romantic experience. Occassional lumps of kee chaang floating by, but that did not interrupt the mood.