Ko Chang

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Ko Chang is known as the next big thing in Thailand. The island situated in the southeast of the country is about 40 kilometers long and 16 kilometers wide and thus after Phuket the largest island in the country. It is actually a big jungle, with steep roads and it’s difficult to navigate through certain parts of the island. This wild nature, the quiet atmosphere and beautiful beaches made Koh Chang a popular location among backpackers in Thailand years ago.

However, times are changing. Several hotels and travel agencies have also discovered the island and bring more tourists every year. Despite that there are still plenty of places to meet your expectations; You can also make a trip to surrounding, often uninhabited islands. If you want to admire the island in its old style (so before an airport is built), some haste is required.

There are three ports (piers) in Laem Ngop (mainland) from where boats go to Ko Chang; the most important one at the end of the road from Trat is called Tha Laem Ngop. About 4 km northwest of this is Tha Ko Chang Centrepoint and then there is the last, newest pier is Tha Thammachat near Ao Thammachat.

Tha Laem Ngop pier - Ko Chang: there is a rusty passenger boat every hour from here to Ko Chang; costs 80 Baht, duration: 1 hour. There are some risks to this crossing because there are often too many people on the boat which could be dangerous.

Tha Kong Chang Centrepoint - Ko Chang (Tha Dan Kao): every hour a big boat that also take cars etc. goes to “Tha Dan Kao (KC). The costs are 100 Baht and this trip takes about 45 minutes.

Tha Thammachat - Ko Chang (Ao Sapparot): this ferry also goes every hour. Costs 100 BAht. Duration: 30 minutes.

On Ko Chang you will have to step over to a "songthiaw" (depending on where you want to go). If you want to go to the hostel below you will first have to drive to Lonely Beach to change to a songthiaw to Long Beach (you go back a bit so do not be shocked).

• Name: Hotel Treehouse lodge

Address: Hat Yao (Long Beach)

Price: 250 Baht (single)

Phone nr. : 08 18478215

Website: www.tree-house.org

Content:

If you're tired of the crowds and you want to relax, hang out, chill out, yoga and not stay with many families on the beach then you can go to this hostel in a very remote spot on the island. The complex contains numerous simple bungalows built against a hill with lots of greenery. It gives a hippie-like atmosphere with a rather large terrace where you sit on the floor and what is also the meeting place and restaurant.

Coming here is a bit cumbersome and leaving is even more difficult because you do not just find such a place elsewhere. The showers, toilet and everything is outside your cabin where really only a mattress on a raise. Breakfast is exclusive.