| Things To Do on Koh Chang Island |
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Elephant Trekking The Ban Chang Thai (084 863 8185, 089 891 7253, 039 551 474) lets you experience more than just the usual elephant trekking. With their charming elephant family, they can also arrange a Buddhist style wedding at the elephant camp. A 1-hour trek is at Baht 500 per person, while a 2-hour trek including river and mountain trekking and elephant bathing is at Baht 900 per person. These rates include transportation to/from your hotel, and complimentary fresh fruits and drinking water. The Chang Chutiman Tour (Tel : 089-939-6676) near Klong Prao Beach operates two-hour treks for 900 Baht (children under five years old free of charge) and a one-hour trek (500 Baht) without the waterfall. Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., you can start your tour any time of the day. The Klong Son Elephant Camp or Ban Kwan Chang operates half-day tours from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The cost is 900 Baht inclusive of transportation to and from the resort, drinking water and bananas and coconuts to feed the elephants. A 40-minute ride costs 500 Baht. A smaller programme at 1:00 p.m. includes a 35-minute trek and a 15-minute performance. Fare is 450 Baht inclusive of transportation. Snorkeling & Diving The best diving season is between October/November and April. The best sites are on the west and southern tip of the island, between Koh Chang and Koh Kood. There you can see soft corals, anemones, myriad reef fish, and sometimes eel. Hin Luk Bat and Hin Lap both have coral seamounts. Further south, white-tip reef sharks can be found near Hin Phrai Nam. In addition, there are two wreck dive sites. The Koh Chang Wreck is a Thai warship sunk by the French navy in 1941. The wreck is only 15 metres deep in the Salakphet Bay on the southern tip of the island. The other wreck is the Pak One Wreck which sank after hitting a coral reef in August 1996 on its way to Vietnam. It resurfaced almost 8 years later. The 900-ton sunken tanker posed a danger to ships on international waters. The Royal Thai Navy drained off its 600 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas and resank it between Koh Chang and Koh Samet. It now lies horizontally in 35-meter deep waters. There are a few diving centres on Koh Chang such as the Ploy Scuba Diving in Bang Bao. Following the standards of the sister centre in Koh Samet, this is the premier diving operator in Eastern Thailand. The Dolphin Divers at the Amari Emerald Cove Resort offers free trial in the resort's swimming pool. For those who prefer fun dives without a long boat trip Dolphin Divers operate speed boats from the resort's beach to the nearest dive sites in only 15 minutes. Others include the Koh Chang Dive Centre on Kai Bae Beach, Paradise Scuba Divers at the Klong Prao Resort and Koh Chang Divers on Had Sai Khao (White Sand Beach), which offers PADI certification for beginners. The Dive Adventure Koh Chang provides a diving experience that combines professionalism and fun, being the only PADI 5 Star IDC center in Koh Chang. With 10 years of experience under its belt, expect only the best from its multilingual instructors and divemasters. It is advantageously located at Bang Bao fishing village with its own resort, and their everyday trips range from snorkeling to professional dive trips. For the non divers, they can also arrange other activities such as elephant trekking, jungle trekking, quad driving, kayaking and fishing. A few dive centres operate out of Koh Mak. Boat trips to various dive sites range from 1,800 to 3,000 Baht depending on distances, and typically include two dives, full equipment, transportation, food, drinks and a divemaster. Spas Koh Chang offers a wealth of spas to pamper you after a day on the beach. Places such as the Koh Chang Grand Orchid Resort & Spa features a traditional Thai-styled building nestled in the vicinity of bungalows. The Aiyapura Resort & Spa offers massage and treatments in their 5-star ambience while the Aana Resort and Spa has its facilities set amidst swaying coconut trees and a great view of the Klong Prao area. At the V.J. Hotel & Health Spa, treatments are meant for long-term health while the Koh Chang Resort and Spa offers facial massages and treatments, using effective traditional approaches. The Sivara Spa at the Amari Emerald Cove Resort pampers you with soothing body and facial treatments in a 5-star ambience right on the sandy beach. Massages, beauty and body treatments As in any part of Thailand, masseuses soothe the muscles with traditional Thai massage or foot reflexology right on the beaches. A 1-hour massage on the beach costs around 200 Baht. Away from the beach are several massage places along the main road. Tattoo Tattoo artists can easily be found throughout the island. Both permanent and henna tattooing are available on the beaches. Tattoos, whether henna or permanent, begin at 400 Baht. Well-known tattooist, known as Jack, offers custom tattoos at Tantawan Pub and Restaurant on White Sand Beach. Canoes and Kayaking For a relaxing trip along the coastlines, try paddling canoes, which cost only 100 Baht an hour or about 500 Baht a day. Canoes can be found along the beaches and some resorts. Some resorts offer free kayaking for their guests. Triyaks at Kai Bae Hut Shop cost 150 Baht per hour or 100 Baht per hour for two. Speedboats If you don’t have enough time, speedboats can take you to more spots further from the island. A speedboat usually takes 15 people. Fishing gear can be rented at 200 Baht a day, not including hooks and weights. You can charter a boat for 7,000 Baht. Similar 3-island trips to Koh Kood, Koh Mak and Koh Kham cost 1,500 Baht per person or you can charter a boat for 15,000 Baht. Advance booking is necessary. A smaller excursion to Koh Yuak is available at only 200 Baht per person. The Klong Prao Resort offers chartered speedboat trips to Koh Yuak at 2,500 Baht or a four-island package at 8,000 Baht. There are some resorts on other islands such as Koh Kood, Koh Mak and Koh Ngam that include boat trips in their package rates. Boating Leisure trips can easily be arranged at most resorts, beaches, fishing villages or from Laem Ngob on the mainland. Boats can take you to various sites for snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing. There are many establishments along Hat Sai Khao (White Sand Beach), Klong Prao, Kai Bae and Bang Bao which organizes boat trips for groups. It costs about 400-600 Baht per person, usually with a minimum of 10 persons for a trip. There are sailboats to be chartered. The Sea Adventures in Bang Bao provides 13-meter catamaran ready to be chartered or cruise while you have your dinner while watching the spectacular sunset. Most boats are equipped with snorkeling equipments, freshwater shower and toilet. The Amari Emerald Cove Resort's Catamaran Cruise is the only day - cruise from Klong Prao to Koh Kood. It makes 3 stops on its way, all spectacular sites. The comfort of the Catamaran and its 5-star service ensures a memorable cruise experience. |
