A district located in Thailand’s Trat Province, Koh Chang is the third-largest island in the country.
Its oceanic beauty, with the backdrop of hills of green, makes it one of the most underrated destinations on the planet.
The name Koh Chang translates to “Elephant Island.”
However, despite elephants being present on the island, it is more known for other animal species like macaques, snakes, and loads of deer habitat.
The island is home to restaurants serving a variety of cuisines.
They not only serve their home cuisine, but there are also restaurants that specialize in Mexican, Greek, Turkish, Belgium, French, German, Indian, and even Russian food.
If you’re looking for someplace to eat, be prepared to be overwhelmed as you’ll be spoiled for choice!
Prepare for a trip filled with delicious food, gorgeous scenery, fascinating museums, and sunny days at the beach.
These are the best things to do in Koh Chang, Thailand:
Anna Krivitskaya / Shutterstock.com
There are not many restaurants that serve traditional Thai food the way they used to.
As Thailand grew to become more of a tourist hub, the cuisine accordingly went through various developments.
Now, they serve Thai food with a twist, such as with international sauces and spices.
When dining in Thailand, one of the many things you won’t have to worry about is the price.
The food in your country is probably a lot more expensive than the food here.
With just 100 to 250 baht, you can eat everything, everywhere—except the luxury hotels, of course.
For those who just want to eat pizza all the time, this will cost you not more than 350 baht.
Invito Al Cibo is the place to eat, not only for mouth-watering pizzas but everything Italian.
The people who love meat will not have the right to search for anything cheaper; every meat dish costs well over 1,000 baht, as the meat is usually imported from other countries.
However, if you opt for meat dishes prepared with locally sourced meat, you’ll only be spending over 350 baht.
Nataliia Sokolovska / Shutterstock.com
On the inland side of the main road and opposite Banpu Resort, you’ll find Boogie Chicken and Nong Bua.
The latter is mainly a seafood restaurant.
If you love restaurants for their food and not their interiors, this is the place you have to check out.
On the other hand, Boogie Chicken is, as its name suggests, a chicken restaurant that is famous for its rotisserie chicken.
You will always see grills and chickens rotating over charcoal.
Both of the most recently mentioned restaurants also serve authentic Thai food.
Sun and Soul, located at the Cookies Hotel, has quite an extensive menu and decent cocktails.
This place not only serves Thai food but a wide variety of flavors varying from eastern to western, spicy to savory, and seafood to pasta.
Another restaurant to check out is one is near KC Grande, by the name of 15 Palms.
This restaurant has better service and better food than many other places on the beachfront.
For Indians who can’t survive without naan bread and anyone who is simply in love with Indian Cuisine, head to A Taste of India near Koh Chang Hut Resort, in the center of the beach.
Zhukov Oleg / Shutterstock.com
As for people who want to try new and delicious dishes, check out this Turkish restaurant by the name of Alaturka for mouth-watering specials.
For those who wish to taste the street food, there is the street food market in the center of White Sand Beach, the back of Apple and Bamboo Resort.
The stalls are more focused on tourists, and you’ll find every type of snack there, may it be rolls or smoothies.
For anyone on the lookout for caffeine to enjoy the rest of the day, you have to go to Le JaoJom.
It is both a bistro and coffee shop that serves excellent cakes by the beach.
The list of places to eat is never-ending.
Koh Chang is dotted with places that serve amazing food, and every beach you’ll visit has a chain of restaurants for you to choose from.
KOHYAO / Shutterstock.com
Starting from the northwest part of Koh Chang, Klong Son Beach is one of the best beaches on the island.
It is a local village attached to a beautiful white beach that shines relaxingly bright.
This beach has the best elephant camp on the island.
Santi Paetem / Shutterstock.com
It also comprises fruit farms, providing visitors with the opportunity for trekking.
You’ll spot a romantic waterfall when you enter the valley nearby, making this place the perfect destination for couples.
The next one is the North White Sand Beach, a kilometer-long beach with hotels, restaurants, and humble stores along the main road.
This beach is also called the Thai Paradise, being the busiest and most developed one on the island.
Interested in getting a tattoo as a souvenir?
The tattoo shops will be visible to you from the beach only.
If perhaps you want other kinds of souvenirs, you’ll find them here, too.
Even if you’re clueless about where to go and are searching for a tour agent, it won’t be difficult; just gaze at the people around you, and you’ll find many.
Asia Travel / Shutterstock.com
South White Sand Beach is a bit quieter than the former but is a beautiful beach nonetheless.
If you want to lounge back, lay low, and enjoy the grill all day, this is your place.
For the people who have come to Koh Chang to seek refuge from the chaos of everyday life, this beach is a low-key relaxing station where you can finally do nothing.
The road here leads to the Little Pattaya area, the main bar area near the beach.
AntonMaltsev / Shutterstock.com
North and South Klong Prao beaches are located close to each other.
The north beach is a curved land that is split by an estuary.
khak / Shutterstock.com
The beautiful scenery of the estuary makes it one of the most serene beaches on the island, with a bunch of shopping plazas on the roadside.
South Klong Prao Beach is more for people who want a little privacy.
lemaret pierrick / Shutterstock.com
Here, you’ll find fewer people, quieter sands, and gushing winds on the water.
This part of the beach is still in development but won’t ever give you the feeling that it’s incomplete, making it a must-visit for tourists.
Natalia Sidorova / Shutterstock.com
Kai Bae Beach is the beach you should visit with your significant other or your kids.
People who wish to stay here usually want their privacy.
maodoltee / Shutterstock.com
This one is for the fellas who don’t really prefer the hotels and would rather stay at a beach bungalow instead.
The best resorts are located here, just in the center of the village.
maodoltee / Shutterstock.com
As there is a surplus of restaurants to choose from, you’ll have many things to eat and drink.
Itdedigos / Shutterstock.com
Snorkeling trips vary as per your time preferences and budget, but everybody knows that even 20 minutes of getting to see marine life underwater is something incomparable.
Many are often confused between snorkeling and scuba diving.
The major difference is that snorkeling is done without any complex apparatus, while scuba diving is all about having the right equipment.
Jill WT / Shutterstock.com
For snorkeling, you can visit Koh Rang National Marine Park, Koh Thang Lang, and Koh Wai.
The best season for snorkeling is between October and May.
The budget may vary from 500 to 1,400 baht.
MaeManee / Shutterstock.com
For those interested in scuba diving, HTMS Chang Wreck is the place that offers diving in 30-meter-deep waters.
A scuba diving adventure can cost anywhere from 1,000 to 30,000 baht.
Lannamarket / Shutterstock.com
One of the best things you can do in Koh Chang is to go on a speed boat tour.
This will take you around the marines and the aquatic beauty of the island, and will surely leave you awestruck amid the serene water crashing against the hull.
Chanawat Phadwichit / Shutterstock.com
The best season for speed boat tours is between October and May.
With 1,300 baht, you can marvel at the scenic beauty of the island on a speed boat tour—with a guide included.
IRA_EVVA / Shutterstock.com
Kayaking is one of the many popular water-based activities that tourists can enjoy in Koh Chang.
Along with speed boating, kayaking is among the most fantastic ways to relish the beaches and the waters of the island.
NavinTar / Shutterstock.com
All the beaches mentioned above offer packages complete with speed boat tours and kayaking.
This will only set you back about 57,000 baht for everything: equipment, food, and accommodations.
The best time to go kayaking is between October and April.
NavinTar / Shutterstock.com
For Man vs. Wild fans, Koh Chang hosts a famous Crocodile and Snake Show.
Presented in Chai Chet from October to April, this show features professionals playing with snakes and jeopardous crocodiles.
The admission fees range from 200 to 400 baht, depending on your age group.
You have the option to play with these creatures, too.
Anna Ewa Bieniek / Shutterstock.com
Koh Chang is the second-largest island in Thailand and has vast stretches of beaches, making it an ideal destination for camping.
The tourists here usually camp amid the island’s tropical forests.
© Vyacheslav Argenberg / http://www.vascoplanet.com/, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Even if you know nothing about camping, there are guides and pre-established accommodations so you can go and stay there without any problems.
There are treehouses, too.
Koh Chang has something for every type of camper.
At Zip N Zorb Adventure Park, zorbing is one of the most exciting activities that will get your adrenaline pumping.
If you haven’t heard of it yet, zorbing involves rolling inside a giant ball inflated with air.
This attraction is targeted especially to kids, but it is suitable for whoever is interested in trying out this fun activity.
The 150 feet Zorb Run is highly recommended for kids above five years of age.
With just 700 baht, you can roll five times.
It is very easy, even for people who are a little claustrophobic.
If rolling is not your thing, zip lining at Tree Top Adventure Park makes for an excellent alternative.
The best time to go zip lining is between October and November.
If you even want to venture along a more challenging route for zip lining, you’ll have professionals to guide you.
The red courses are tough, while the blue ones are the easy ones.
Zip lining is a must-do when you’re in Koh Chang.
With 1,250 baht, you can surf in the air, across the sky, from tree to tree.
You can enjoy ATV rides almost all over Koh Chang valley, across Klong Plu River.
These rides are available in different batches.
Only night tours are available during the bright seasons of summer, though the day rides are available every season of the year.
For around 2,500 to 2,800 baht, you can enjoy riding the ATVs for up to 90 minutes.
If you want, you can even learn how to ride them for 450 baht.
COZ / Shutterstock.com
People who visit Koh Chang often do it for privacy and relaxation.
To relax, a lot of people turn to adventure.
Sytilin Pavel / Shutterstock.com
One of the best things to do on the island is sailing.
About 15 to 20 yachts are available during peak seasons.
The two primary locations for sailing are Salakphet Bay and Island View Pier, and you can even find accommodations here.
Pelikh Alexey / Shutterstock.com
You can get a great view of the countryside at Cape Chai Chet, but you have to be staying at Chai Chet Resort.
There’s a saying that the beauty of the summit of the hills stretches out for miles.
This is a very small cape with some rugged rocks sitting on the water.
Climbing one of these rocks is a very exciting activity.
khak / Shutterstock.com
People often come here to enjoy the tranquility and nature’s beauty.
Cape Chai Chet is known for its amazing coastal views.
One can gaze upon mountains and the sea, the blue and green colors combined with the peaceful waters that look like glass.
Anastasia Pelikh / Shutterstock.com
Many more water activities are available at the resort, as fishing is prohibited.
On the other hand, you can have a deep-dive experience to view some vivid marine life.
Anna Ewa Bieniek / Shutterstock.com
Nestled in Koh Chang’s incredibly beautiful tropical rain forest, Kai Bae Waterfall is a sight to behold.
With its easy to semi-difficult hiking trail and stunning tropical rainforest backdrop, it will take roughly 20 minutes to trek towards this captivating natural gem.
Evgeny Troyakov / Shutterstock.com
If you’re a first-time hiker, you won’t have to worry as you’ll be accompanied by safety rangers stationed at both ends of the well-marked path,
Just below the waterfall is a small pond where you can go skinny dipping.
Not many tourists visit Kai Bae Waterfall, so the chance is high that you’ll be somewhere private and won’t have to deal with any crowds.
It’s no wonder this waterfall is a favorite among resort goers who seek peace and quiet.
Jakkomo Youri Ortlepp / Shutterstock.com
Bang Bao Pier is a very touristy yet scenic part of Koh Chang.
Many dining options are available, with small bars and shops that sell handmade seafood products.
The pier is narrow, with many shops on either side, where locals sell items such as quirky souvenirs and other typical items that travelers might be interested in buying.
JonMilnes / Shutterstock.com
Boats leave from the pier for snorkeling or fishing trips as well, making this area an excellent place for all sorts of activities.
Snorkelers and divers will wind up at Bang Bao Pier and find that the services offered are often less expensive than those booked directly through the hotels.
You can also head to the lighthouse at the end of the bay for a beautiful panoramic view of the water.
Zhukov Oleg / Shutterstock.com
Thailand is a stunning country, which is why it’s no surprise that it attracts so many tourists every year.
The island paradise of Koh Chang is one of Thailand’s main tourist attractions.
There are so many amazing things to do here—but you should make sure to visit during the dry season if you can, as this is the best time to enjoy all the activities.
In case you didn’t know, the dry season runs from November to April and is often referred to as the best time to explore Koh Chang.
Discover the world.
© All rights reserved.
