Koh Chang and Koh Phangan, Thailand

By | December 10, 2021

Koh Chang

Be active in Koh Chang

The attractive range of activities in this beautiful holiday destination ranges from diving to snorkeling, swimming with elephants, jungle hikes, cooking schools, visiting the waterfalls and much more. There are enough options to satisfy the needs of even the most discerning visitor to the island.

Diving off Koh Chang

This is perhaps one of the most exciting things to do on the island, with great dive sites on the coral reefs of Koh Rang (the marine park) and the new wrecks in the southwest of the island. There are quite a number of diving schools to choose from.

Walking with elephants

Elephant trekking is offered by 6 companies on Koh Chang, most of which are located on Klong Prao Beach. The 2 hour hike allows you to swim and wash the elephants at the end of the hike – great fun for the whole family.

Snorkeling and excursions by fishing boat

A day on the water for snorkeling, fishing or just touring the Koh Chang Islands is perhaps the most popular thing to do in Koh Chang. Many companies offer boat trips for full days or half days on large wooden boats or speedboats. These trips go down to Koh Rang, Koh Wai and other smaller uninhabited islands.

For the adventurous

Trekking is one of the most fantastic things to do in Koh Chang, with expert guides planning the route through the jungle. The treks are arranged in groups. There are easy tours to the small waterfalls in the rainforest or harder trips with exploring the peaks of Koh Chang at 644m and 730m.

Thai cooking school

In a cooking school, the visitor learns to cook real Thai food. It’s a great way to spend a day on Koh Chang. During the class, knowledge about the special ingredients and techniques is also imparted. Classes can be either all day or mornings and afternoons.

Klong Prao Beach

This beach makes every visitor happy. Whether you are swinging in a hammock under palm trees, taking a long walk on the beach or enjoying a yoga session in the sand, there is plenty of space over 6 kilometers. Along the beach there is a wide variety of accommodations from backpacker huts to luxury hotels.

Koh Phangan

Small island but great

Koh Phangan is a small island with numerous beautiful beaches in the Gulf of Thailand. On the one hand it enjoys a reputation as a party island on the other hand as a place of rest and relaxation. The highlight of the Thai island are its dream beaches with white sand and turquoise sea water. Vacationers can find some of Thailand’s most beautiful beaches among the 30+. Swimming, snorkeling or relaxing under the palm trees on the beach are the most popular activities.

Full moon party

The island has achieved fame with its so-called full moon parties. The parties at Haad Rin Beach are extremely popular with young people and backpackers from all over the world. In the mid-1980s, a few backpackers are said to have gathered on Haad Rin Beach for the first time to celebrate under the full moon. This resulted in today’s largest open-air event in Thailand with electro music, at which well-known DJs play. The Full Moon Party starts in the late afternoon of a full moon day and continues into the morning hours of the following day.

Than Sadet-Ko Pha-ngan National Park

In the national park you can marvel at dense jungle forests and the largest waterfall on the island. Many kings of Thailand have paid a visit to this waterfall. The water of Than Sadet is considered sacred and is used in royal ceremonies. In general, there are many wonderful and impressive waterfalls to look at on Koh Phangan.

The Bottle Beach

This beach is considered to be one of the most beautiful islands and is very popular. Many areas and beaches on Koh Phangan are difficult or impossible to reach by land – including the dreamy Bottle Beach. The remote beaches on Koh Phangan can only be reached with the so-called longtail boat. Longtail boats are the number one mode of transport in Thailand and throughout Southeast Asia.

Wat Phra Kaeo

The royal temple complex

The royal temple complex Wat Phra Kaeo (translated: Temple of the Emerald Buddha) is one of Thailand’s tourist hotspots and one of the most important landmarks of the mega-metropolis of Bangkok. The extensive complex of the old royal palace attracts millions of visitors every year. A large number of historical buildings such as temples, statues, pavilions, towers and above all the diverse richness of detail of the relics make the venerable walls of the palace an indispensable destination for any trip to Thailand. A magnetic point of attraction of the complex is Phra Ubosot, the sacred temple in which the Emerald Buddha is located. Surrounded by Buddha statues, the emerald Buddha sits enthroned on a gold-decorated pedestal that is 11 meters high.

Wat Phra Kaeo: Easily accessible in the heart of the country

When entering the old royal palace, great importance is attached to the appearance of the visitors. The sight of shorts and skirts is not welcome. Wide cotton trousers can, however, be purchased in the entrance area. Even if such a large facility has to be restored and maintained, the entrance fees are quite high by Thai standards. Annoying and also somewhat discriminatory is the fact that Thais have to pay much less entry than foreign guests.

Wat Phra Kaeo can be easily reached from anywhere in Thailand by public transport. Those who shy away from traveling by bus and train in a foreign country have the opportunity to book organized excursions through a tourist agency in almost every major city. For those who are interested in Asian cultures, especially the Thai, Wat Phra Kaeo is recommended as an attractive destination for a study trip. Guided tours through the royal palace as well as a diverse range of specialist literature make the temple complex a worthwhile study object.

Wat Phra Kaeo, Thailand