- Ko Chang District
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Ko Chang
เกาะช้าง— Amphoe — Amphoe location in Trat Province
Coordinates: 12°6′13″N 102°21′7″E / 12.10361°N 102.35194°ECoordinates: 12°6′13″N 102°21′7″E / 12.10361°N 102.35194°E Country 
ThailandProvince Trat Seat Ko Chang Tambon Muban Amphoe established Area - Total 217 km2 (83.8 sq mi) Population (2005) - Total 5,356 - Density 34.6/km2 (89.6/sq mi) Time zone THA (UTC+7) Postal code 23170 Geocode 2307 Ko Chang (Thai: เกาะช้าง, pronounced [kɔ̀ʔ tɕʰáːŋ], also Koh Chang) is the third largest island of Thailand (largest island in the Ko Chang Marine Park archipelago), located on the Thai east coast 310 km away from Bangkok near the border to Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand. The name means Elephant Island. Ko Chang was named for the elephant shape of its headland, although elephants are not indigenous to the island. At present, there are eight villages in total. It is a mountainous island and Khao Salak Phet is the highest peak of all at 744 metres. The island is known for several waterfalls, thriving coral reefs and rainforests. The island has an area of approximately 217 square kilometers.
Contents
History
Ko Chang was an unsettled island in the past but it is now important as a harbour for ships to escape from the monsoon, and dietary or fresh water resources, especially at Ao Salak Phet or Ao Salat which is well known to pirates, Hai Lam Chinese and Vietnamese.
The island is part of the Mu Ko Chang National Park. During World War II, when Thailand was occupied by Japanese forces, Ko Chang was the scene of a naval battle between the reluctant Royal Thai Navy and a Vichy France squadron, in which the Thais were decisively beaten.
Until the mid-1980s the infrastructure on the island was undeveloped, but tourism has increased significantly since then. Around the year 2000, malaria was eradicated, the area became a national park (and began charging entry fees). The island now receives 655,000 visitors annually, about two thirds of them Thai. Ko Chang is one of the few places with virgin forest, but the mad rush to cash in on tourism has had a heavy toll on its virgin forests. Nowadays there are also numerous resorts all over the island. Land prices have been up since then.
Prior to World War II, Ko Chang was little known by anyone. During this period, the few families there made a living growing coconuts and fruit on the mainland. In January 1941, during the Japanese occupation, the Thai Navy fought the French in a battle in the waters to the south-east of Ko Chang. It was the French who were the victors after the Thai naval ship was sunk.
Nothing else happened to Ko Chang until the first backpacker foreigners started arriving on the back of local fishing boats in the mid-1970s. In 1982, Ko Chang along with surrounding area became part of the protected Mu Chang Marine. Only very recently, in less than ten years, Ko Chang has turned itself in to a major tourist destination in Thailand, both for foreigners and local Thais.
This sudden tourism boom however, has been hampered by controversy concerning land encroachment etcetera.
Geography
The topography contains high mountains and complex stone cliffs.
The island is about 30 km long and almost 14 km wide, totaling 217 km². The national marine park covers of 650 km² of which 70 % is offshore. The interior of the island is mountainous, covered by tropical rain forest. The highest elevation measuring 743m is Khao Salak Phet. There are plenty of sandy beaches on the island, dotted with hotels and resorts.
The west coast settlements of Hat Sai Khao, Hat Kai Mook and Hat Ta Nam attract most of the tourists. The village of Laem Bang Bao on the south coast is also a favored destination. There is a single road linking the west coast. The remaining roads on the west coast have a high gradient, while the topography of the east coast prohibits roads. Most buildings are wooden stilt houses. The island is mostly reached by a ferry departing from Laem Ngop near Trat.
Hat Klong Prao beach
Administration
The island forms a district (Amphoe) in the province of Trat. It was formed on April 30, 1994, when it was split off from Laem Ngop district, at first being a minor district (King Amphoe)[1].
Following a decision of the Thai government on May 15, 2007, all of the 81 minor districts were to be upgraded to full districts[2]. With the publishing in the Royal Gazette on August 24 the upgrade became official [3].
The district is subdivided into two subdistricts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 9 villages (muban). There are no municipal (thesaban) areas, and 2 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).
Nr. Name Thai name Villages Inh. 1. Ko Chang เกาะช้าง 4 3010 2. Ko Chang Tai เกาะช้างใต้ 5 2346 Ko Chang consists of the following villages:
- Salak Phet
- Salak Phet Nuea
- Salak Khok
- Chek Bae
- Ban Dan Mai
- Bang Bao
- Khlong Son
- Khlong Phrao
- Khlong Nonsi
Boundary
Ko Chang is surrounded by 51 islands. To the east of the area lies Cambodia and to the west, the Thai province of Chanthaburi.
Climate
Ko Chang has three seasons, they are:
- Cool season (Nov-Feb)
- Hot season (March-May)
- Rainy season ( June-Oct
Due to its location and being an island, Ko Chang does get more than its fair share of rain, 4,000 mm per year.
Transportation
Air
Ko Chang has no airport. The nearest airport is in Amphoe Muang Trat on the mainland. Koh Chang Air Taxi however, does offer scenic seaplane service.
Roads
There are only two main roads on Ko Chang, one on the east coast and one on the west coast. Both roads start at Ao Sapparot in the north near the ferry piers. The two main roads run the entirety of the coastlines. There are also shorter roads which branch out to Ploytalay Resort and Keereephet, Khlong Nueng and Klong Phu Waterfalls.
Ferry Boat
At Laem Ngob in Trat Town opposite Ko Chang there are 3 piers offering ferry service to Ko Chang.
- Located at Ao Thammachat, the ferries depart daily at Ao Sapparot pier.
- Located at Center Point Pier, ferries are hourly to Dan Kao Pier.
- Laem Ngob Pier has less frequent ferries.
Motorbike
These can be either hired or taxied out. The island is full of both motorbike rental places and motorbike-taxi drivers.
Songthaew (public passenger pick-up vehicle)
These run up and down the two main roads and can either be used as public transport or privately hired.
Long-tail Boat
Tourists enjoy hiring long-tail boats to take them to nearby islands.
Tourism
The recent success of Ko Chang as a serious tourist destination has been quite phenomenal. But it remains a lot more peaceful and less developed than islands like Samui and Phuket. It's some 5 hours from Bangkok by bus and there's no airport on the island yet so it should remain more tranquil than Samui or Phuket. Ko Chang too is one of Thailand's most beautiful islands with some white sandy beaches, some half deserted. Some of the beaches are rocky in parts though so it doesn't have ideal swimming beaches like Phuket. The island is also home to a wide range of wildlife, including a good selection of birds, snakes, deer and a number of elephants. The island and its vicinity are great places for snorkeling, diving and jungle hiking.
Some critics, however, worry that the Ko Chang tourism boom won’t survive as they believe that ‘gross over-development will only, over time, frighten off tourists to one of the other more unspoilt islands nearby. Investors though, claim that what they are now doing in Ko Chang is nothing on the scale of the likes of Samui. With the development of Ko Kong in Cambodia as a casino resort, it makes Ko Chang even more of an ideal place for a stop-over between the two islands.
This so called tourism boom is relative to a small base. Tourist numbers are a lot less than Samui or Phuket and approx 2/3 of the visitors are Thai.
Sights
Main article: Mu Ko Chang Marine National ParkIn 1982 the island together with 51 more surrounding small islands was protected as the Mu Ko Chang Marine National Park. About 85% of the island is part of the national park, mostly the rain forest in the interior of the island. Nearby coral reefs are also contained within the National Park. Notable animals in the park include the stump-tailed Macaque, the small Indian Civet, the Javan Mongoose, and 61 resident bird species. The Koh Chang Wart Frog (Limnonectes kohchangae) was originally thought to be an endemic species, but has now been found on the mainland as well.
Klong Plu (น้ำตกคลองพลู) - the most popular, and the only one on the west side of the island. Namtok Khlong Phlu is a large and most breathtaking waterfall on Ko Chang with water cascading down 3 tiers of the cliff to a basin, with an entrance located 3 km. from Ao Khlong Phrao.
- Klong Nonsi - on the east side of the island
- Klong Nueng - said to be the most breathtaking
- Khiri Petch - medium sized, about 3 kilometers from Salak Petch village
- Kongoi - 5 waterfalls near Bangbao
- The Thanmayom - near Thanmayom pier
Ban Salak Phet (บ้านสลักเพชร) the largest and oldest community on Ko Chang located in the southern part. The villagers’ main occupation is coastal fishery in an advantageous area sheltered from winds and storms by islands and mountains. There is an old temple in front of the village known as Wat Salak Phet built in the reign of King Rama V on his royal visit to the island. Ao Salak Phet is the largest bay on the island.
Bang Bao Fishery Village at Bang Bao Beach(หมู่บ้านประมงบางเบ้า) a village of houses on stilts built into the sea with bridges connecting them together. The villagers still live a simple way of life earning their living from coastal fishery. In the vicinity there is an abundance of cuttlefish and corals.
Ao Bai Lan (อ่าวใบลาน) located next to Hat Kai Bae and accessible by a pathway across the mountain has a scenic view of mountains along the way.
Hat Kai Bae (หาดไก่แบ้) a sloping and long stretch of beach connecting with Hat Khlong Phrao, suitable for swimming.
Hat Khlong Phrao- Laem Chaiyachet (หาดคลองพร้าว-แหลมไชยเชษฐ์) a long stretch of sloping beach connecting with Hat Kai Bae where swimming is possible. The northernmost end of Ao Khlong Phrao connects with Laem Chaiyachet with a scenic rocky cape but swimming is not possible. Laem Chaichet nestling between White Sand and Klong Prao beaches is a popular place to see the sunset and admire Klong Prao’s natural surroundings. Activities to do here include: snorkeling, kayaking and fishing.
White Sand Beach is one of the island’s longest beaches that attracts a lot of visitors. At the back or the beach are orchards of coconut trees and forests.
Activities
Hiking
Hiking on Ko Chang is popular due to the natural pristine surroundings including waterfalls, especially the routes Klong Son to Kai Bae and Kai Bae to Bang Bao.
Mountain Biking
Mountain bikes are available to rent at Hat Sai Khao and Hat Kaibae.
Elephant trekking at Ban Kwan.Elephant Trekking
Elephant Trekking is possible at the Ban Kwan Chang Elephant Camp at Klong Son, it is supported by the Asian Elephant Foundation to provide a natural environment for elephants and their mahouts.
Canoeing
Canoeing through the mangrove forests is most popular.
Diving & Snorkeling
This area does not have deep diving as in the west coast, but some very nice coral dives and a good variation in fish life. There are quite a lot of dive sites. There are several diving schools offering day trips and courses for different levels. For e.g.: Koh Rang national park has sites as Koh Laun, koh tong lang, Hin Kuak Maa, koh yak, koh thain. Then there are sites closer to Koh Chang, such as Hin Luk Bath, Hin Rap South, Hin Run Tek, Hin tai nam.
Spa
Ko Chang has plenty of spas offering various forms of massage, aromatherapy, herbal scrub, and reflexology. Spa service is found at many of the top resorts and hotels.
Local produce
Besides its seafood, Trat province is also renowned for its tropical fruits during the months of April to July, they include: rambutan, durian and pineapples.
Located in Nam Chieo district is a cottage industry which produces ‘ngop’ (traditional Thai farming hat).
Nightlife & Drink
Koh Chang nightlife and bar scene is constantly developing, there are a number of nice bars and restaurants to enjoy at. Other than that Ko Chang is not, unlike some of the islands down south, famed for its nightlife.
Local Culture
Thai Buddhism is a large part of the people’s lives on Ko Chang and so there are few temples scattered around the island.
Lifestyle
Many of the island’s villagers still, until this day, adhere to the traditional Siamese way of life. Visitors are able to soak up the ambience of traditional rural coastal life at a variety of locations.
Baan Bang Bao or Bang Bao Fishery Village is unique in that every dwelling was built in the sea. There are small bridges connecting each one. Some of the abodes have been transformed into guesthouses and seafood restaurants.
Baan Khlong Son or Khlong Son Village has rubber plantations, orchards and traditional fishery. For tourists there are fishing tours, squid fishing or snorkeling to view schools of fishes on Koh Mapring and Koh Chang Noi nearby.
Baan Dan Kao or Dan Kao Village has indigenous folk of Koh Chang Noi who rear the fish in floating baskets especially “Yamsawat Fish” or Blue Spotted Sea Bass which are popular among the locals who prefer to eat live fish.
Baan Dan Mai(Dan Mai Village) and Baan Khlong Non Si (Khlong Non Si Village) have orchards, coconut plantations and traditional fishery. The lychee trees grown here are the traditional breed called “Silaman 200 years”. This breed of lychee tree has the large size and it is believed to be found on Koh Chang Noi only. Baan Salak Petch or Salak Petch villagers mainly work about coastal fishery. Most houses were built in the sea like those in Bang Bao Village but it is a bigger community. Every house is connected with the wood bridge. Baan Rong Than or Rong Than Village is an area which used to be the sites, owned by most villagers, for charcoal making from mangrove wood.
Baan Jek Bae or Jek Bae villagers work about traditional fishery, rubber plantation and coconut plantation.
Events & Festivals
The Koh Chang Yutthanavi Day
The Ko Chang Yutthanavi Day is organized in late January at the Ko Chang Yutthanavi Memorial on Laem Ngop. The event commemorates the Royal Thai Navy’s fight against the French on January 17, 1941. There is an exhibition by the Royal Thai Navy and merit-making and tribute rites are performed.
Local Food
Similar to the rest of Thailand, including the prices. There are many restaurants at the beach open both daytime and evening. Ko Chang’s restaurants specialize in seafood while offering their customers splendid views. The island also produces its own variety of fruity wines which include: mangosteen, pineapple and grape.
Learn
Besides diving, Thai cooking courses on Ko Chang are where wanna-be Thai cuisine chefs can learn to cook up all their favourite dishes such as tom yum kung, sweet green curry and chicken with cashew nuts.
Medical Health Care
Ko Chang now has two main medical centers, the Bangkok Koh Chang Hospital and Koh Chang Hospital. There are plenty of clinics also scattered around the island.
Retirement
More and more foreigners are living on Ko Chang, many of them retirees. A favourite spot for them are on the beaches. There are some other retirees though, who reside in quieter locations away from the tourist scene.
Media/Contact
Nationwide Television, Satellite TV, cable TV and local TV (Koh Chang Television) channels are available on Koh Chang (http://www.kohchangtv.com). International newspapers and magazines are also available in a couple bookstores at White Sand Beach, Lonely beach and Ao Khlong Phrao.
Landline telephone, satellite telephone system, mobile phones and internet connection are available on Koh Chang. And, there is a Post Office on the island.
References
- ^ "ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง แบ่งเขตท้องที่อำเภอแหลมงอบ จังหวัดตราด ตั้งเป็นกิ่งอำเภอเกาะช้าง" (in Thai) (PDF). Royal Gazette 111 (42 ง): 24. May 26, 1994. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2537/D/042/24.PDF.
- ^ "แถลงผลการประชุม ครม. ประจำวันที่ 15 พ.ค. 2550" (in Thai). Manager Online. http://www.manager.co.th/Politics/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9500000055625.
- ^ "พระราชกฤษฎีกาตั้งอำเภอฆ้องชัย...และอำเภอเหล่าเสือโก้ก พ.ศ. ๒๕๕๐" (in Thai) (PDF). Royal Gazette 124 (46 ก): 14–21. August 24, 2007. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2550/A/046/14.PDF.
External links
Categories:- Amphoe of Trat
- Islands of Thailand
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