Ko Chang a tropical island paradise.

Ko Chang is the third largest island in Thailand after Phuket and Ko Samui .

"Chang" in Thai means elephant so this is also known as Elephant Island.Located just 315km away from Bangkok,Ko Chang is a weekend paradise island to most Bangkokian and a place for retirement too.

There are more than 50 smaller islands surrounding it to form the Mu Ko Chang Marine National Park.

For beach lovers,Ko Chang's long white sandy beaches,unspoilt coral reefs and sceneries offers a transquil hideouts.
A great place to unwind yourself from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Ko Chang also has many spectacular waterfalls in the interior mountainous terrain.

The most popular one is the Than Mayom Falls which is near Ko Chang's Marine National Park Office on the eastern part of the island.

Khlong Phiu Falls is near to Klong Prao and Kai Bae beaches.
 Khiri Phet Waterfalls is a medium size falls just 2km from the Salak Phet community in the south of the island.

Ko Chang consisted of the following 9 villages:
Salak Phet(south),Salak Phet Nuea,Salak Khok,Chek Bae(rubber,coconut plantations),Ban Dan Mai(lychee farms),Bang Bao(stilts houses),Khlong Son(orchards),Khlong Phrao(sloping beaches suitable for swimming) and Khlong Nonsi(fishery).

The rainy season is between June till October.

Khlong Nongsi Waterfalls is near Ko Chang Police Station.

The ferries terminal are north of Ban Laem Takhian which is the eastern part of the island.

Most of the hotel resorts are towards the western shoreline around settlements such as Hat Sai Khao,Hat Kai Mook and Hat Ta Nam which attract the most tourists.

There is only one single main road linking the west meandering through steep gradients due to the topography.





3 major landing piers in Ko Chang namely Ao Sapparot,Center Point Ferry Pier,Dan Kao Pier and Ko Chang Ferry Pier.

It takes about 30 minutes to travel from one point to the other and ferry services are between 7:30am till 4:30pm.

On arriving at the pier there are many songtheaws to transport travellers to any destinations within the island charging between 40 -80 Baht depending on the distances.

 A section of the northern tip of Ko Chang map.
 About 18 km from Trat is Laem Sok Pier also called the Siriwhite Pier.

At the pier only taxi speedboat to Koh Kood are available.
The speedboat carry around 30 passengers leaving only at 1:00pm daily arriving at Koh Mak at 1:40pm and reaching Koh Kood at 2:10pm

Between Koh Kood and Koh Mak the fare is 300Baht.

  Laem Ngop is at the mainland in Trat where the ferry terminals are located.

The 3 piers offering ferry services are at Ao Thammachat to Ao Sapparot Pier(30 minutes)--50 Baht per person and 150Baht for car,Center Point Pier to Dan Kao Pier(40 minutes)--90Baht person and vehicles free while Laem Ngop Pier with less ferry frequencies--mostly fishing boats.

 Use only the Laem Ngop Kromaluang Chumporn Pier if you plan to go to Koh Kood(400 Baht),Koh Mak(500 Baht),Koh Wai,Koh Kham and Koh Laoya.

There are also many vans plying between Khao San Road to Laem Ngop and the fares per person one way is around Baht500.

There will be no songtheaw after 6 pm to go back to Trat town. Trat Bus Terminal.

Trat is the capital city of Trat Province located near the Cambodian border in the eastern part of Thailand.

This is the only access point to go to Ko Chang Island which is about 20km to the pier roughly 30 minutes ride.

A songtheaw to the pier cost about Baht50 and can be easily found near the Trat municipal market starting from 6am.





  The Cherdchai Bus ticketing counter on the left while another counter offers Trat to Nakhon Ratchasima with departure time at 9:30am,11:30am,14:30hrs and 15:30hrs.

The triple 9 bus company ticketing counter has services to Ekamai and Morchit Bus Terminal in Bangkok while other companies has both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses departing from Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal(Ekamai) to Trat every hour from 6 am till midnight.

The Trat Bus Terminal has buses to each particular ferry pier.

Ao Thammachat ferry pier is about 3km from Dan Kao pier and 15 km west of Laem Ngop.

Ban Ao Thammachat Bay location map.
This is the vehicle ferry pier .

The Centre Point ferry pier is for both passengers and vehicles about 20km from Trat town.

Koh Chang ferry pier is 29.4km,Dan Kao pier is 6.9km from Trat bus terminal.

 Cherdchai first class 42 seater aircond bus to Bangkok ends at Ekamai Bus Terminal only.The bus fare is Baht241.Departure Time:07:00,08:00,09:00,10:00,11:00,12:00,13:00,14:00,16:00,18:00,21:30,23:00 and 23:30 hrs. To Morchit Terminal only 06:30 and 14:30 hrs.

 A government second class bus will cost Baht188.Departure time:6:30,7:30,8:30,10:30,13:3015:30,16:30,1730 and 23:30 hrs.

Suvarnabhumi Airport to Trat is about 293km.

Traveling time about 5 hours by bus.



Places to stay:

 1) Bailian Family Bungalows:Hut(300 Baht),Bungalow aircond(600 Baht)
Tel:(66) 0 9051 2701

2) Siam Hut Koh Chang:1001/1 Moo 4 Lonely Beach Tel:(66) 0 3955 8084/5

3) Ko Chang Withithai Stay:Kai Bae Beach Tel:08 6142 1397,08 1945 3079

4) Paradise Cottage:104/1Moo 1,Lonely Beach Tel:(66 34) 217 042,(66 2) 497 1588

5) Oasis Bungalow and Restaurant:Tel (66) 0 817212745

6) Baan Rim Naan Guesthouse:Khlong Prao.Tel (66) 87 005 8575

7) Clif Cottage:Bang Bao Tel:(66) 0 8590 46706

Koh Kong town the gateway to Thailand.

The free pick up minivan was very punctual and I was transported to the Sorya Bus terminal office at Psar Themey where the Koh Kong enroute bus was waiting.

The departure time was 7:00am. Koh Kong is about 271 kilometres from Phnom Penh and this small little town is about 10 kilometres to the Thai border town of Had Lek,a coastal town towards the eastern Thailand's frontier facing the Gulf of Thailand.

Thirty minutes after leaving Phnom Penh,the bus will stop at a shop selling baguettes,cakes,hot dogs and other kind of snacks for bus passengers to buy as breakfast.

The journey is going to be a long one travelling 133km west along the national highway and then another 138km through hilly winding roads through the Cardamom Mountains with its dense tropical rain forests.

 The roads are all in excellent condition. It was a rainy season between late August till early November where the south westerly winds bring heavy rainfall to this part of Indochina.




  At about 12noon,the bus stopped for lunch at a foodstall near the Sre Ambel Bridge.

The bus has no toilet so it's advisable not to drink too much water in the morning as the first part of the journey took nearly 4 hours.

  The Sre Ambel Bridge was a joint venture project between Thailand and Cambodia.





The bridge was named after the Sre Ambel River that flows beneath it.
In fact this area is the valley and foothill of the Cardamom Mountain,a very scenic view.

 Sre Ambel is about 110kilometres north of Sihanoukville.
The virgin jungles here is a great place for jungle trekking adventures.
 As we continued our journey after lunch,the bus had a good stress test going uphill and downhill negotiating through the winding roads on the way to Koh Kong.

 Due to the intermittent rainfalls and drizzles all along the way,the bus diver was very competent and carefull in his driving.

Finally at 3:30pm,the bus reached Koh Kong's small little bus terminal and expect to step out of the bus meeting a handful of touts.

The terminal's grounds was unpaved and muddy.It was about 2 kilometres from town. I decided to abort my stay in Koh Kong and paid 100 baht for a moto ride to the Thai border.

Koh Kong is such a relaxing town to stay as there were also entertainment outlets,casinos and many interesting sights.

A theme park called the Safari World is near the Thai-Cambodian border. As for jungle trekking to the Cardamoms and Botum Sakor National Park,there are travel agencies that provide guides as well.





  List of cheap guesthouses:

Koh Kong Guesthouse Restaurant and Bar.(USD5 - USD15)
Neptune Guesthouse.(USD3 -USD6)Tel:011-984 512
Ai Oun Guesthouse.(USD8 -USD12)Tel:011-939 585,016-860
Kolab Koh Kong Guesthouse.(USD8- USD13) Tel:016-202 333,099-958 181
 Phomin Koh Kong Hotel.(USD5 -USD15)Tel:011-948 255,011-760 259
Riverside Guesthouse Bungalow Restaurant and Bar.(USD3 - USD10)Tel:016-823 221
 Asean Hotel.(USD10 -USD30) Tel:012-936 667
Apex Koh Kong Resort.(USD10 -USd15) Tel:016-307 919
Sen Sok Guesthouse.(USD7 -USD12) Tel:016-587 185 (near traffic circle)
Otto's Guesthouse.(USD5) Tel:012-924 249,035 39 39 27  
 


Basic Khmer language:-
Please (Som)
Thank You(Aakoon)
Yes (Baat)
No(Awt Tay)
Stop (Choop sun)
Go (Dto)
Check please (ketloy)

The moto ride passed through the longest bridge in Cambodia,a 1,900 metres friendship bridge opened in April,year 2002 costing USD7.2 million. Koh kong is no more an isolated frontier town.

  Even moto passing through the toll booth need to pay.

No wonder we can't haggle with the touts because of this additional charges.
He will just send us to the Cambodian immigration office and after that we need to walk a short distance to the Thai side.





The international boundary marked by the flag poles of Cambodia and Thailand beside the beautiful beachfront and the Gulf of Thailand.

I just can't figure out why the Thai flag is flying half mast!
Many Expats who live in Thailand used Koh Kong to do their "Visa Run".

I was totally drenched and soaked with rain water as I walked towards Thailand's border.

The weather condition is not so friendly to travellers.

The quiet town of Had Lek.
Only two rows of shophouses on both side.
Ban Had Lek is located in the Khlong Yai District. There won't be any public buses plying here.
The locals rely on the songtheaw and minivans.










  At this corner near the Thai immigration office are the minivans that goes to Trat.

Had Lek to Trat in a 14 seater mini bus timetable.
The fare price is 120 Baht.
duration:One hour 15 minutes.
about 89 kilometres.
Stop only at Trat Bus terminal.

Somewhere 12 km before Trat (Amphoe Thakum) and another 15 km off the main road,there lies the "Dhamma Resort" or Wat Tung Kai Duk,a meditation retreat.

The only restaurant in Had Lek that faces the seafront.

A night out at Psar Orussey area

The lobby of Spring Guesthouse has on display a list of bus fares and travel time with free pickup.

Destinations and price:
Sihanoukville--Mekong Express--USD7---7:45, 14;30 hrs

Sihanoukville--Sorya Transport--USD6--7:00.8:00,9:00,11:00,12:45 ,13:00 hrs

Angkor Express and Paramount buses both cost USD6

Siem Reap--Mekong Express--USD11--7:30,8:30,12:30,14:00 hrs.

Via Angkor Express is USD8 while Paramount is USD10.

Mailinh charges USD9 To Stung Treng if you're en route to Laos,

Sorya Bus Transport charges USD12 with only one departure at 7:15 am.

To Rattanakiri---USD13 by Sorya Transport,only one departure at 7:00am.

 Rattanakiri is a province in the north east of Cambodia bordering Laos and Vietnam.

Kep or Kampot by Sorya Bus--USD6.

Southeast of Cambodia,a gateway to Bokor National Park.

Kratie by Sorya Transport--USD8.

Northeastern remote town. Battambang by Sorya Transport--USD6.

The second largest city of Cambodia and shortest route to Thailand's border town of Aranyaprathet. Poipet--Sorya Bus--USD9.Border town with many casinos.Just walk across after immigration will be Thailand.

Direct Bangkok:--Sorya Bus--USD17.Only one departure at 6:30am.Cheaper than airport tax by USD8.

Please note that the local buses are not allowed to cross the border so check out what will be the connection after the border to avoid being mislead by touts.

Buses to Ho Chi Minh City varies according to the type of buses used and the extra services provided.

 Boat to Chau Doc,a border town in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam,USD12 for slow boat while USD20 will be speed boat.

To Siem Reap by boat cost USD35.

I will be leaving Phnom Penh for Koh Kong but the fare prices was not on displayed.The guesthouse reception contacted Sorya Bus Transport to book a seat for me at USD8 with a free pickup and leaving before 6:45 am.




 In the late evening after converting USD5 into 20,000 riels,I made my way to the Psar Orussey market area which was less than 10 minutes walk.

 The whole area was filled with food stalls and the restaurants just across the Cathay Guesthouse is the busiest with hardly any seats available.

 Most of the local people also spend their dinner time eating out.

One thing I dislike about the streets of Phnom Penh is that they are all dimly lit and quite dark.




Psar Orussey market has already closed by late evening and the only activities are the food vendors lining all along the streets.

The neon lights at the Psar Orussey market adds to the liveliness of the surroundings,otherwise it will be very dark.

It has been drizzling nearly day and night and the roads were easily filled with pool of filthy waters.

After having a bowl of soup noodles that cost 6,000 riels,I went back to the guesthouse to spend my time surfing the Internet which was available at the guesthouse lobby for free.









A Chinese restaurant at Street 163 near the Olympic Stadium called The Emperors of China offering dim sum buffet for USD6.

 Dim Sum is a Cantonese term for snacks where fully cooked and ready to serve dishes would be pushed around the restaurant on steamed carts by servers. Chinese tea will normally be served together with the dim sum.