I had discovered Koh Chang with delight at the end of 2020, I had vowed to return.
And Covid has arrived…
This bad sanitary episode passed, I am back in Koh Chang for a little more than 2 weeks of idleness …
Bang Bao Pier
The Bang Bao wharf is located in the very south of Koh Chang Island. You can get there by boat or by road.
For that day I had rented a scooter. A Honda Click 125 cc, in good condition, with brakes that I had checked. In the islands the roads wind along the hills, sometimes with quite steep slopes and hairpin bends. Check your front brakes!
From the main road, the dock is signposted in Thai only.
The wharf
The wharf is mainly lined with shops. Lots of tourist stalls and a few restaurants. Before being a tourist spot, this wharf was a fishing village.
Unfortunately, among the tourist stalls, only restaurants have a little interest, one is supposed to eat the fruit of local fishing. I didn’t try, but they made you want to.
The dock also seems to be the starting and ending point for small cruises and dive boats.
The bay is quite charming, with few constructions along its arms.
An interesting visit?
The bay is interesting, but the dock much less. The most fun was the scooter ride, including the unexpected encounters with monkeys and dogs napping in the middle of the road.
White Sand Beach
This beach is one of the first I visited during my stay 2 years ago.
I love this beach, lined with beautiful trees often happily decorated.
There is a very special atmosphere, made of serenity, joy and simple beauty.
This beach is like the island of Koh Chang, beauty and simplicity.
Note that at high tide, until about noon, a large part of the beach is submerged. It was never a problem for me.
From the end of the afternoon, restaurants and bars deploy their facilities on the beach to welcome customers.
The night is lively with lots of bands and DJs in the bars, even if it seemed to me that we went to bed early: nothing after midnight! (I don’t know if there are still Covid limitations on bar opening hours in Trat province)
How to get to Koh Chang?
From Bangkok, you can go to the island by road or by plane.
By Plane
There is no airport on the island, the nearest airport is Trat, an hour’s flight from Bangkok.
The Bangkok Air flight cost me just over 5,000 THB round trip. I used a transfer service between the airport and my arrival hotel.
Krungthep Limousine offers this transfer for 650 THB in a small modern van, including the ferry price. This company serves only the western part of the island.
It will take 1 to 2 hours of transfer depending on the location of your hotel.
By the road
You can find Bangkok-Koh Chang ferry deals for just over 400 THB in mini van. There is also more comfortable bus transport which is around 1,000 THB. It’s a 5 to 6 hour drive to the ferry.
Be careful!
Thailand has a very high rate of road accidents.
Bus or van drivers have a very bad reputation. Often overworked, they drive like crazy and/or tend to fall asleep at the wheel.
Ciao!
