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At the time of writing, a new marina is planned on the mainland opposite Koh Chang. Its close proximity to the airport at Trat, together with facilities for basing a fleet of charter yachts, will make it ideal as a charter gateway to the islands off Koh Chang National Park and Koh Kut to the south. Sunsail will most likely use this spot as their base of operations for eastern Thailand. |
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Koh Chang National Park
Koh Chang national park, a group of more than 50 islands near the Cambodian border, is about 200 miles, by land and sea, to the southeast of Bangkok. It is famous for beautiful coral, waterfalls and beaches.
The biggest island, Koh Chang (30 km long, 18 km wide), is the second largest in Thailand after Phuket. The highest point is Khao Jom Peasat at 744 metres above sea level. The waters surrounding the islands have a good variety of hard and soft corals.
The nearest city is Trat, served by highways to Bangkok and an airport. It is the capital of Thailand’s most southeastern province, adjoining the Cambodian border. Ferries operate from Laem Ngop to the main islands in the group.
Koh Chang has long sandy beaches, especially on the west coast, and is still covered with mountainous rain forest for more than 60 percent of its area.
Koh Mak, the major island between Koh Chang and Koh Kut is covered with coconut groves and has a good beach on the northwest bay. |
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Koh Chang Archipelago |
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Anchor anywhere in the bay in 4-5 metres on a sandy bottom. On the southern headland of the bay is the Aiyapura Resort and Spa.
This spot offers good all-round shelter for an overnight stop, although in very strong northeast winds it is better to favour the northern side of the bay. The main village on Koh Chang is approximately 4 kilometres from the ferry jetty at the mouth of the river in the bay.
The Koh Chang Marina project due to open late in 2007 will be located just at the mouth of this river deep in the bay near the jetties. There is a dredged channel. The marina is planned to have 60 berths from 8 to 20 metres, 20 mooring buoys and a dry-stack for 200 smaller vessels. It will have full facilities and serve the high-end property development Siam Royal View Marina which is being built around this natural harbour. |
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This makes a good haven in the northeast season. Anchor in the northern corner opposite the creek entrance in 3-4 metres. Explore the many resorts and facilities ashore, or mount a high-tide dinghy expedition along the river, which leads to a beautiful waterfall.
Just to the south is another bay Had Kae Bai where you can anchor in 5-6 metres. There are a few resorts ashore. |
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Anchor off the jetty in 3-5 metres on a muddy bottom.
Ao Bang Bao, at the southwestern tip of the island, supports a large fishing village and offers an alternative mooring. Many of the old fishing village huts, on poles out over the water, have been converted into up-market restaurants and bars for the tourist community.
The activity is largely centred on White Sands Beach on the east side of the headland. This area offers good day mooring in the northeast season with resorts, bungalows, bars and cafes ashore. Fifteen Palms arguably offers the best Pizza on the Island. |
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| Anchor to the west of the bay in 3-4 metres for good all-round protection, or go alongside the jetty. |
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The facilities ashore include a restaurant and minimal provisioning.
Ao Salak Phet provides good protection for year round mooring. Koh Chang Marina is located in this bay and there are several locations to refuel and restock.
Not surprisingly, Ao Salak Pet is the base of the island’s sailing community. Gulf Charters are a good source of local information. Ao Salak Phet makes a good base, offering numerous interesting day trips to outlying islands. |
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Often referred to as Koh Chang’s Phi Phi island, the two peaks are bridged by a palm tree scatted sandy spit that delivers the idyllic tropical island scene.
The bay on the southeast side makes for a great day mooring, but the shape of the island can cause turbulent winds. This Island is a part of the national park; hence there are no facilities. |
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| Good protected overnight mooring on the southeast side of the island. Ashore is a small fishing community but no facilities. |
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| Beaches on the east side of the island are protected during the southwest winds and make for good overnight mooring. The northernmost beach on the east side has a small bungalow resort. |
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This is a beautiful island, one favoured by local sailors.
The bay on the northeast side of the island offers good protection in the Southwest season and makes for a great overnight anchorage.
The beach has some bungalow style resorts and offers good snorkelling and swimming. During the northeast season the bay on the south side of the island offers good protection for overnight mooring though there is no beach. |
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Another favourite of local sailors, the northern tip offers good overnight anchorage during the southwest season. Nice beaches surrounded by small islands and rocky outcrops make for a great view and excellent snorkelling.
Koh Rang is a part of the national park and offers limited daytime facilities. Entry to the national park is 200 baht (10 baht for locals).
During the northwest season the west side of the island offers good protection for overnight anchorage. However, approximately 100 metres due west off the tip of the island is an unmarked hazard. Known locally as Koh Tien, this 24m high rock spire ends 1 metre below water level and is not marked on the charts, though can sometimes be marked by local divers with a red buoy. This mysterious spire makes for a spectacular dive site and is known for shark sightings. |
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This is a large island that has been inhabited for over 100 years, yet to date there are no cars. This island is very flat; the favoured mode of transportation is by foot, which makes for a pleasant atmosphere.
Local ferries deliver passengers to the numerous resorts scattered around the island.
N: The large bay on the northwest side of the island has good protection all year round in 8-10 metres. Beware the reef, which extends all along the east side of the bay. It is also the location of the islands town which offers various shops, general stores and a post office.
Koh Kham lies due west off the northern tip of the bay and is often joined to Koh Mak by a sand bar, this makes for a very spectacular location enhanced further by the mass of unusual rock formations.
O: The bay on the southwest side of the island is less populated and offers protection in 8-10 metres for overnight anchorage during the northeast season. Stay well clear of the fringing reef that runs the length of the beach. The surrounding smaller islands in the bay offer good views and great snorkelling. |
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| Anchor in 8-10 metres in this well protected bay. There is a large coral outcrop just off the centre of the beach. |
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Koh Kut Archipelago |
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Koh Maisi Lek protects the bay on the northwest end of Koh Kut. This makes for an excellent year-round anchorage with spectacular views and beaches.
There is a small bungalow resort on this bay. |
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The last group of islands in Thai waters, the Koh Kut archipelago is a lot less-explored than Koh Chang.
Koh Kut, the second biggest island in the Koh Chang group, is mountainous and heavily forested over half of its land area. |
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The island is covered with coconut groves, has a good beach on the northwest bay and several fine waterfalls.
The island offers good general protection down the west side during the northeast season. |
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| Further south, Koh Raet provides similar protection for the bay and makes for a good year round anchorage. Anchor in 6-7 metres between the small island and the beach. There are several resorts in this area. If approaching from the southwest watch out for the coral heads in the channel. |
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| Ao Khlong Choa offers sufficient protection during the northeast season. One of the larger rivers on Koh Chang enters the ocean in this bay. A short way up river are several fresh water waterfalls, reachable by small craft. |
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| Anchor in 3-6 metres in this very pretty bay. Ashore there is a small village with restaurants and local styled shops. |
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| This quiet spot offers anchorage in 5-6 metres off the centre of the beach. |
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| Anchor in no less than 8 metres just north of the village, which boasts a small resort and a restaurant. Ao Salat is pleasant but offers day stay only. |
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The east side of Koh Kut offers limited protection during the southwest season; however it offers little of interest to sailors.
Ao Yai supports a significant fishing community of various nationalities but does not make for a good anchorage. |
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