Monday, August 1, 2011

KOH CHANG'S BEACHES, BEACHES KOH CHANG, KOH CHANG BEACH TOURS, KOH CHANG BEACHES THAILAND, POPULAR KOH CHANG BEACHES THAILAND, FAMOUS TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN KOH CHANG BEACHES THAILAND

KOH CHANG BEACHES THAILAND


Koh Chang‘s pristine white sand beaches are perfect for swimming, watching the sunset, sun-bathing or snorkeling in clear warm blue waters. The island hosts more than 400,000 visitors annually, and has increased dramatically over the years. The west coast, blessed with better beaches and clearer sea water, has most of the accommodations. It has developed repidly while the east coast remains as it once did years ago.
 
Shady on the beach

Salak Khok Bay
 
Location:
On the east coast between Kong Kang Bay and Salakphet.  

Description: It is a local fishing and agricultural community with a canal leading to the estuary. Fishing boats anchor along the canal flanked by mangrove forests.  

Commercial Features: Basic supplies for the locals only.  

Attractions: Fresh seafood from daily catches prepared by the locals who form a self-sustaining organization that runs a restaurant to serve visitors at reasonable prices. Sunset dinner cruise by local wooden boats starting around 05:30 p.m. and returning 07:30 p.m. which includes 4 dishes, water and a bottle of wine. Occasionally, firefly tours and kayaking can be arranged with the friendly villagers. 

Salakphet Beach

Location:
A fishing village on the southern tip. Distance-wise, Salakphet is close to Bang Bao but the stretch of 3-km ring road linking the west and east coasts have yet to be completed.  
Description: Salak-phet and nearby Ban Rong Than are two biggest communities on Koh Chang. Both are ideal shelters for fishing boats. Rong Than village on the west of the bay is the main residen-tial area for the community. Accessibility is possible from the east coast. 
Attractions: The Atulaporn Banpot and the Salakphet Temple are religious rendezvous for locals. At the south end of the bay is a small beach with a memorial commemorating the sea battle of 1941 between the Thai and French navies. Two kilometers northeast is the 12-storey Kiriphet waterfall with a great view of the bay. The area is open round the clock but the best time to visit is from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A marker on the waters near Salakphet indicates the location where the French and Thai navies fought. Salakphet is also famous for its seafood restaurants.

Klong Son Beach

Location:
On the northern end of the island, Klong Son Beach is the first beach that greets you after disembarking at the ferry pier. 

Description: It has a scenic cape with a stretch of sand and plenty of coconut trees. The sea water is calm. 

Commercial Features: The main road has numerous shops that are vital to the everyday life of local people. The beach is home to the island's first 5-star hotel with in-house spa facility. 

Attractions: Located behind a lush tropical rainforest, the beach's charm is in the seclusion and serenity.
 Busy area on White Sand Beach

White Sand Beach (Had Sai Khao)

Location:
Starts from the hill south of Klong Son. 
 
Description: A long strip of powdery sand that slopes gently into the sea. Casuarinas and palm trees line the beach while forested hills lurk in the background. During low tide, the beachfront becomes much wider and consequently attracts lots of beachgoers. The northern end is sandy and quiet, while the southern end is more pebbled. 

Commercial Features: The busiest area of Koh Chang, where a wide variety of accommodation ranges from the basic thatched-roof huts to the up-market units with air conditioning, hot water and TV. The main road features numerous shops, eateries, bars, pubs and restaurants, tour operators, vehicle rentals, mini-marts, shopping plaza, optical shops, a police kiosk, ATMs, foreign exchange counters and full-service banks. 

Attractions: The beach is a hub of many activities, such as taking a stroll while watching the sunset and various sport activities, such as football, volleyball and Frisbee games. Bars play their music while guests laze around on mats and decks, or while dining alfresco. On festivities or monthly full moon nights, live bands play outdoors. Northern style lanterns may be floated into the dark sky, usually to celebrate special occasions. 

Caution: Be cautious when swimming since the cur-rents can be strong especially during the green season (May-Oct) as there is no lifeguard on duty.

Kai Mook Beach
 
Location:
A small stretch after White Sand Beach. It is separated from Laem Chaichet by a forest hill. 

Description: Pebbled beach with corals on the sea bed that resemble pearls giving the beach its name which means pearl. 

Commercial Features: Almost none but the Post Office, a print shop and the Telephone Organization of Thailand's office is on its main road. 

Attractions: Snorkeling amongst fishes, corals and seaweeds. Quiet and peaceful place with only hotels' restaurants. 

Caution: Pebbles on sea bed may be slippery.

Laem Chaichet

Location:
White Sand and Klong Prao beaches. 

Description: The area has a small cape with a rocky curve that rounds into a secluded bay, thus very peaceful. The bay has a wide sandy beach that slopes gently into the sea. 

Commercial Features: An ideal spot for onshore fishing, sunset watching and swimming. Villagers can be seen collecting tiny shrimps, which are the crucial ingredient for the famous Koh Chang shrimp paste. The fishing pier at Laem (cape) Chaichet is a perfect viewpoint of the Klong Prao Bay. 
Small islands just off Klong Prao Beach 

Klong Prao Beach

Location:
Klong Prao Beach starts where the gently-curved Chaichet ends. 

Description: This is a long wide sandy beach lined with coconut trees and home to the popular Klong Plu Waterfall. It commands a spectacular view of the islands west of Koh Chang and the Chaichet cape. 

Commercial Features: High-end resort developments have grown rapidly, although the beach itself does not get too crowded. Restaurants, spas, massages, clinics, a dentist, convenient stores, tour & dive operators, a bakery, opticians, internet cafes, an airstrip, laundry, a takeaway pizza shop and a host of shops line the main road. 

Attractions: Fine sandy beach, blue marine waters and the beautiful backdrop of deep green mountains are the main draw. Picturesque view of offshore islands and sunset. Firefly tours along the canal are regularly organized. 

Kai Bae Beach
Location:
The last major beach on the west coast after Klong Prao.

Description: It has a sandy beach with many palm trees providing plenty of shade.

Commercial Features: Once a sleepy area, Kai Bae has become developed with the emergence of upscale resorts. At Kai Bae Village, you will find small shops, supermarkets, bars, restaurants and internet cafes. Dive shops provide rental services for boats, canoes, sea kayaks and diving gears to explore the sea and islands especially during the dry season (Nov-Apr). 

Attractions: Pristine beach and seawater. At low tide, you can actually walk chest-deep to Koh Man Nai from the beach. Another great location to watch the spectacular sunset. One of the jumping-off points for island trips.
 Taking refuge on Kai Beach Beach

Lonely Beach (Tha Nam Beach)

Location: A one km-stretch just after a forested hill south of Kai Bae. 

Description: Tha Nam Beach is popularly nicknamed as the Lonely Beach. It features fine white sand on the northern end and some stones at the south. 

Commercial Features: Small shops, restaurants and bars line the main road which becomes the focal point for guests who love to wine, meet and greet at nightfall. Few accommodations available rang- ing from budget huts to the more deluxe resorts. 

Attractions: Formerly a backpacker's haven, the once deserted beach derives its name from the total privacy it shares, while the fine white sand and swimmer-friendly waters are key attractions. 

Bai Lan Beach

Location:
Separated from Lonely Beach by a rock formation extending to the sea. 

Description: A small bay of mostly sandy beach with some expired corals. 

Commercial Features: Only few restaurants, shops and diving booths available. Most accommodations are simple and only one five-star beach resort is located here. 

Attractions: Quiet sandy beach with a forested hill which is also the site of Koh Chang's first adventure park. 

Claim an area as yours at Lonely Beach
 Bang Bao Beach

Location:
Southernmost tip of the west coast.
Description: A well-sheltered bay with a small and quiet beach. It is a fishing community where residents still live in houses built on stilts and are connected by wooden bridges.

Commercial Features: There are a growing number of tourist shops, scuba dive outlets and seafood restaurants offering a good selection of seafood. New bungalows have sprouted amidst the grove of coconut trees.

Attractions: Located on the southern tip of the island, it is a perfect springboard for
snorkeling and diving at nearby islands with dive operators and boats abound. Good seafood restaurants and souvenir shops at the fishing village. An upmarket restaurant overlooking the entire Bang Bao Bay with a viewpoint of the sunset can be found here.

Caution: Getting to Bang Bao is challenging as the southward road from Bai Lan is steep and winding. 

Than Mayom Beach

Location:
Situated on the eastern side of the island. 

Description: The beach is scattered with rocks and the seafront is muddy. 

Attractions: A good spot to catch the sunrise and good viewpoint. The headquarters of Koh Chang Marine National Park is located in nearby area close to Than Mayom Waterfall. 

Kong Kang Bay

Location:
East coast before approaching Salak Khok. 

Description: Local community with a nice sandy beach ready to attract visitors interested in rural lifestyle of agriculture, fishing and orchards of tropical fruits. 

Commercial Features: Almost none except for the newly opened luxury-class resort. 

Attractions: Known to be the first settlement on Koh Chang, the villagers still maintain their way of life making it another authentic fishing village. There is an abundance of seafood and tropical fruits and one of the finest beaches on the east.

Walking home after a day at the beach

Salak Khok Bay

Location:
On the east coast between Kong Kang Bay and Salakphet. 

Description: It is a local fishing and agricultural community with a canal leading to the estuary. Fishing boats anchor along the canal flanked by mangrove forests. 

Commercial Features: Basic supplies for the locals only. 

Attractions: Fresh seafood from daily catches prepared by the locals who form a self-sustaining organization that runs a restaurant to serve visitors at reasonable prices. Sunset dinner cruise by local wooden boats starting around 05:30 p.m. and returning 07:30 p.m. which includes 4 dishes, water and a bottle of wine. Occasionally, firefly tours and kayaking can be arranged with the friendly villagers. 

Salakphet Beach

Location:
A fishing village on the southern tip. Distance-wise, Salakphet is close to Bang Bao but the stretch of 3-km ring road linking the west and east coasts have yet to be completed. 

Description: Salak-phet and nearby Ban Rong Than are two biggest communities on Koh Chang. Both are ideal shelters for fishing boats. Rong Than village on the west of the bay is the main residen-tial area for the community. Accessibility is possible from the east coast. 

Attractions: The Atulaporn Banpot and the Salakphet Temple are religious rendezvous for locals. At the south end of the bay is a small beach with a memorial commemorating the sea battle of 1941 between the Thai and French navies. Two kilometers northeast is the 12-storey Kiriphet waterfall with a great view of the bay. The area is open round the clock but the best time to visit is from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A marker on the waters near Salakphet indicates the location where the French and Thai navies fought. Salakphet is also famous for its seafood restaurants.
Navigating Salak Khok on a gondola

Source:koh-chang.com
TAGS: KOH CHANG'S BEACHES, BEACHES KOH CHANG, KOH CHANG BEACH TOURS, KOH CHANG BEACHES THAILAND, POPULAR KOH CHANG BEACHES THAILAND, FAMOUS TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN KOH CHANG BEACHES THAILAND

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