Beaches
Perhaps the biggest attractions on Koh Chang for most people are the beaches. There are several beautiful long powdery stretches of sand to choose from, mostly on the island’s West coast, starting with Klong Son beach, 4km of which fringes the Siam Royal View village. Just a bit south is White Sand beach, the most popular and busiest beach, though even in high season there is plenty of room for all to enjoy it -- especially at low tide when the strip of sand is very wide. There are numerous eateries and bars along the beach here and loads of minimarts and other conveniences on the main road nearby.
One beautiful beach follows the other as you head south past each headland, with Klong Phrao, Kai Bae, Lonely Beach, Bai Lan, Bang Bao, Than Mayom, Kong Kang Bay, and others, each with its own character, and varying degrees of seclusion and quietude -- all a joy to explore -- and that’s just on the main island.
Nature Trails
Within the protected national parkland of Koh Chang are dozens of kilometres of hiking trails, most leading to the numerous waterfalls that decorate the island’s interior, perfect for a cooling dip in the clean fresh water. Most of the trails only take a few hours and can lead to incredibly scenic vantage points, giving you a commanding view of the island.
Elephant Trekking
Explore Koh Chang’s forest from an elephant’s eye view. There are a couple of elephant camps on the island that will take you on a trek through the jungle and fruit orchards swaying aboard one of these majestic beasts. Excursions include elephant bathing, feeding and performances.
Island Hopping across the archipelago
There are more around 60 islands of all shapes and sizes in the Chang archipelago, most as pristine as nature made them, with verdant interiors and surrounded by powdery beaches and sea life for fantastic hiking, swimming, fishing and snorkelling. Only ten or so of these islands have accommodation, which ranges from back-to-basics huts and a handful of luxury resorts.
One can spend literally years exploring these lush hideaways, whether in your own craft, a readily available charter boat or by taking the daily transports to the larger islands of Koh Kut, Koh Mak and other popular islands.
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Boating/Yachting/ Watersports/ Game fishing
There are plenty of boating and water sport activities available in Koh Chang just minutes from Siam Royal View Village. Charter a sailing or powered yacht for the day or overnight and set off to explore the Koh Chang Marine Park, or stay closer to shore on a rented sailing dinghy, windsurfer or speedboat.
Diving & Snorkeling
With the several dozen islands and plentiful coral in the area islands, Koh Chang offers a first class variety of diving and snorkelling. Aspiring or experienced divers can earn their PADI certificates and take additional courses, including wreck diving on a sunken World War II ship. For those who like to stay closer to the surface, there are countless excellent coral reefs throughout the archipelago.
Game Fishing
Throughout the year, you can haul in the big ones including barracuda, king mackerel, rays, snapper, rock cod, tuna and more in the pristine waters of the huge Koh Chang MarinePark. Charters for groups are available for day, night and overnight expeditions or you can head for the open seas on of the scheduled daily excursions.
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