Natural Environment

Koh Chang Destination Information
Beaches and Islands
Diving
Excursions

Pristine rain forest covers most of Koh Chang, making the island an eco paradise. The island appears very mountainous from the shore, with the highest peak, Khao Salak Phet (744 meters), in the middle of the island.   The rocks are mainly granite and the slopes are rounded rather than sheer cliffs, so that trekking is possible.   Mangroves and beach forest line the shores, and the whole island supports a huge diversity of wildlife, including macaques, monitor lizards, pythons and barking deer. White-winged terns, nightjars and several species of hornbill are some of the indigenous birds and many others migrate here.

Our guide to enjoying Koh Chang

= Recommended

= Family friendly

= Soft adventure

Hiking Trails

Koh Chang offers scenic hiking trails that take just a few hours, particularly from Khlong Son to Hat Sai Khao (white Sand Beach) and from there to Hat Khlong Prao. In the south, the harder and longer Kai Bae - Bang Bao trail is a challenging experience and passes through shady rubber and coconut plantations.

Elephant Trekking

There are two different elephant treks to try in Koh Chang. The Chang Chutiman company between Klong Prao and Kai Bae has a choice of two trekking trails, a one-hour and a two-hour trail which go into a pomelo orchard, and then for the longer trek, into the National Park's rain forest. The Ban Kwan Chang elephant camp in the north of Koh Chang is supported by the Asian Elephant Foundation.   There are a forty-minute and a one-hour-and-twenty-minute treks into the island's beautiful valley, through peaceful pomelo, durian and rubber plantations and a chance to watch the animals bath and feed.

Waterfalls

The mountainous terrain of Koh Chang creates some quite spectacular waterfalls in the tropical forest. The following are some of the better known ones which can be visited.

Than Mayom Waterfall

This is probably the most famous waterfall on the island, near the Than Mayom pier of the east coast of the island and near the Koh Chang Marine National Park Office.  A pathway of about 400m, leads through a durian orchard, to the waterfall. The waterfall is medium sized, with four levels and a large pool at the front. Visitors mostly do not go to the fourth level which is quite far and used as a source of drinking water by the locals. Swimming is allowed at the waterfall and watching sunrise from here can be a real treat.

The three-step Than Mayom Falls, the first of which is less than an hour's walk from Tha Than Mayom, is well worth hiking to. Rocks on the first and third steps bear the engraved initials of Kings Rama VI and Rama VII, and Rama V respectively.

Klong Plu Waterfall

This is the most popular and frequently visited of the waterfalls as it is close to both Klong Prao and Kai Bae beaches. It is about a 20 minute hike to the waterfall which is on 3 levels. Most visitors stay on the 1st level as the 10 metre fall here is already an impressive site and it is quite a slippery climb to get up to the other two levels.

 

Nang Yom

Located in the north of Koh Chang, Nang Yom is a small-sized waterfall with several cascades. You can get there by following a path from Ban Dan Mai near the Koh Chang sub-district police station and the trail is about one hour long.

Khiri Phet  Waterfall

This medium sized waterfall is about 2 kms from the Salak Phet community, in the south of Koh Chang.   During wet season the fall can look as if it is a two-storey waterfall of about 5 meters high, but in the dry season you can climb up to the 7th level.   There is water in the falls all year round and a pool to swim in at the first level.

Klong Nueng Waterfall

Not far from Khiri Phet, this is the tallest in Koh Chang and an excellent place to take a dip in the chest deep pool, once you have made the hour's hike there. You have to climb across a huge boulder, which blocks the trail, to see the sight of the water cascading down the ravine.