How to visit Koh Chang from Pattaya
By Kirsty Turner
People flock to Koh Chang for the white beaches
The second largest island in the whole of Thailand, Koh Chang is the perfect place to spend time soaking up the sun. In fact, more than half-a-million people travel here from all over the globe each and every year, and the island boasts an excellent range of amenities, such as accommodation to suit all budgets, restaurants that cater to all tastes and a vibrant nightlife scene.
Koh Chang is located just 256kms from Pattaya, and visitors will be able to complete the journey in a little over four hours. Guests in Pattaya will be able to book a minibus with one of the many travel companies that can be found in the seaside city, and this will take them directly to the pier at Laem Ngop. Many companies also include the ferry ride to the island with the price of the minibus fare, while others expect visitors to make their own way from the pier.
Because standards of service and the packages that are offered vary, it is best to shop around before booking transportation, and if possible seek recommendations from those who have previously completed the journey. While some companies also try to sell travellers accommodation, they usually work on commission, meaning that prices may be slightly elevated.
Visitors who are on a tight budget will be able to spend the night in a wooden hut for as little as 200 baht. While these huts tend to be rather rough and ready, they usually come complete with a fan and mosquito net, while facilities such as bathrooms and showers are shared.
Those who want their own bathroom will need to shell out a little extra, while travellers who have plenty of cash to splash will find that there are many luxurious resorts and bungalows for them to stay in, where their every whim will be catered to. More on Koh Chang hotels.
The ferry journey from the mainland to Koh Chang takes around 45 minutes and is extremely scenic. Visitors will want to sit on the top deck of the ferry, which offers them an uninterrupted view of the stunning scenery as it slides slowly past.
Koh Chang boasts some superb sunsets
Koh Chang covers an area of around 429 square kilometres, and visitors who really want to get to know the island will need some form of transportation. Luckily, the roads that run around the island are in good condition and motorbike hire is cheap, making this a great way to explore. More on Koh Chang attractions.
However, driving on Koh Chang can be a little tricky, as some of the roads are rather steep, and beginners will probably want to make use of the public vehicles known as songtheaws that are available to take visitors to various areas of the island for a small fee.
There are a large number of pristine sandy beaches for visitors to Koh Chang to check out, and the most admired of these tend to be located on the west of the island. The most popular beach on Koh Chang is Hat Sai Khao, which means white sand beach. The beach is lined by luxurious resorts as well as bars and restaurants, and is also a popular place to party. More on Koh Chang restaurants and bars.
Those who are looking for a place to relax and unwind will want to check out the sandy beaches that can be found to the south of the island. Although there are few amenities in this area of Koh Chang, the stretches of sand that can be found here are ideal places to spread out on and simply drift away for a while.
Koh Chang is part of the stunningly beautiful Mu Ko Chang National Park, and this is an excellent place to take part in water sports such as snorkelling, scuba diving, canoeing and kayaking. Day-long boat trips offer visitors the chance to witness the natural beauty of this part of Thailand and usually include snorkelling or scuba diving equipment as well as lunch and an English-speaking guide. More on Koh Chang activities.
When it is time to return to Pattaya, travellers will be able to book transportation through their hotel or one of the local tour companies. Alternatively, independent travellers can save a little cash by making their own way to the ferry and catching a bus to Pattaya once on the mainland. Public buses are slightly cheaper than minibuses, but the journey time can be up to double, as they stop regularly to pick up or drop off passengers. More on Koh Chang transportation.
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