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Situated in the Trat Province of Thailand, Koh Chang means ‘Elephant Island’. Koh Chang is considered to be the largest island in the eastern part of Thailand and is the second biggest island in the country.
It is so called because of the shape of its headland. Koh Chang is a four hour drive by road from the Bangkok Airport, from where one can sail to Koh Chang by a ferry or boat. This takes around 30-45 minutes.
Koh Chang was unheard of before World War II and there were only a handful of families living here; they were dependent on coconut and fruit farming. The island came to be known when the Thai Navy contended with the French near the south-eastern shore during the military control of the Japanese over Koh Chang in 1941.
Foreigners who came to the island around the mid 1970s in local fishing boats popularised the place. Koh Chang and its vicinity became a part of the Mu Chang Marine National Park.
A gradual enhancement of the tourism industry as well as its associated economic growth has been observed in the last few years with only 5000 permanent local residents on the island.
Counted among the group of islands in Thailand, Koh Chang with other islands constitutes the Koh Chang Marine Park. The island is 429 square kilometres in area with mountains and numerous stone cliffs.
Khao Salak Phet is one of the highest peaks here and the island is 744 metres above sea level. The island is known for its evergreen forest and its western side attracts travellers owing to waterfalls, reefs and beaches.
This deserted beach has long stretches of white sand and the island is home to a variety of flora and fauna. The island and its nearby regions are popular for jungle hiking, diving and snorkelling.
Almost three fourth of the island is covered by steep hills, waterfalls, rainforest, cliffs, and other variant topologies. The primary source of development of the island has been the tourism industry since 2000. Compared to Koh Samui, Phuket or other congested places in Thailand, this island boasts of a more peaceful environment.
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