Koh Chang Thailand

The Island of Ko Chang Thailand

Koh Chang is Thailand's second largest island after Phuket. Situated to the east of the country in the province of Trat close to the Cambodian border.

Koh Chang translates as elephant island. However contrary to myth there are no indigenous elephants on the island although many have been imported to work in the forests and more recently as tourist attraction. As a result there are now a few wild elephants but the island is so named due to the elephant shaped North headland.

It is a tropical marine national park consisting of over 70% virgin rainforest and is the best preserved tourist holiday destination in Thailand.

Go Koh Chang gives honest reviews of the best hotels, bars, restaurants and beaches on Koh Chang. Unlike almost every other Koh Chang website we have NO hotel affiliate schemes and no relationship to any business on the island. We are not building a huge portal about Koh Chang; we will tell you how to get there, where to stay and what to do when you are on the island - that's it!

Ko Chang is one of Thailand’s most beautiful islands with long white sandy beaches on the West side of the island. The island is also home to a wide range of wildlife, including a good selection of birds, snakes, deer, wild pigs, monkeys and a number of elephants. Koh Chang and surrounding smaller islands are great places for snorkelling, diving and jungle hiking.

The popularity of the island as a tourist destination over the last none or ten years has brought on a large amount of rapid development, and while still far quieter than places like Phuket or Ko Samui, it is probably better to go now than later. The sudden tourist boom has resulted in a lot of new development with many areas, especially around Whitesands Beach looking more like a building site than an island paradise. Both the government and developers are attempting to turn Koh Chang into a high end destination so beach hut accommodation is becoming scarce as the best locations are turned into high end hotels and resorts.

If you are looking to see Koh Chang as an unspoiled destination we suggest you get there quickly.

Accommodation on the island ranges from simple huts and bungalows to luxury villas, hotels and apartments. You can hire motor bikes, jeeps and cars to take you to any of the beaches along the coastal roads and, in the evening, there are plenty of restaurants, live music bars and nightclubs to choose from.