Koh Chang Diving – Things to Do on Koh Chang

Diving is one of the most exciting things to do while you are here, with terrific dive sites at the local coral reefsl,  down at Koh Rang (the Marine Park) or over at the wreck, HTMS Chang, off the south west tip of the island.

There are five dive schools to choose from – we give you the rundown on them, where they are and what they offer.

As a guide, fun dives (PADI qualified) go from 3,500bt for two dives or a package of six is from 7,500bt to 8,500bt. Open Water courses range from 14,500bt to 16,500bt (Touch online) – that’s the one which you need to dive anywhere in the world. DSD (Discover Scuba Diving), a day’s course for those that have never tried, is 4,500bt to 6,000bt depending on the company.

Whatever your requirements, we can organize it all for you, so do please head on over to our diving section, see what you fancy and get in contact.

Boat Trips – Snorkeling, Fishing

A day out on the water snorkeling, fishing or just cruising around the Koh Chang Islands is a must when visiting Koh Chang.

Many companies offer boat trips for full days or half days on large wooden boats or speedboats, with lunch and transfers from your resort included in the price. These trips go down to Koh Rang or Koh Wai and other smaller uninhabited islands nearby.

We list the companies and what they offer with prices ranging from 800bt for the tour boats to 4,500bt for a 1/2 day in a small private speedboat locally off the one of the beaches.

Mr Khai’s wooden boats make for a great day out, with a 3 Island trip (Wai, Klum, Laoya) at 750bt and 4 Island (Koh Rang, Wai) at 800bt per person. 1/2 day speedboat trips to the islands as above with Permpoon are 1,000bt per person. Or there’s the luxury cruise, Thai Fun at 1,490bt which takes in Koh Mak alongside Koh Rang. Sea Adventures, meanwhile, offers a lazy day aboard a catamaran off the west coast of Koh Chang, 2,200bt per person.  All these are share or ‘join’ trips.

Note: All visitors pay 200bt for the Marine Park Tax at Koh Rang, 100bt for kids, Thais 40bt and 20bt.

Thai Cooking School

Love Thai food but just wish you knew how to make it properly at home? Well, a day at one of Koh Chang’s Thai cooking schools could be the answer to your problem.

There are four schools, Kati Culinary, Napalai, Nam and Ban Suan, where prices range from 1,200bt to 2,000bt, including transfers to and from your resort.

Classes at Kati Culinary are held during the day from 11.00 to 15.30, whilst Napalai and Nam run shorter sessions in the morning, afternoon and evening. Ban Suan is 3 hours, start time on reservation.

As well as the actual cooking, you’ll also learn about Thai herbs, spices and vegetables, preparation techniques and even some Thai food history. And don’t forget too, you eat what you cook – so no pressure then!

Kati, Napalai and Ban Suan are based in the Klong Prao Beach area, with Nam in Chai Chet, northern end.

Sailing, Kayak and SUP

Sailing in the Koh Chang archipelago is a fabulous way to explore this part of the world – island hopping from Koh Chang to Koh Mak and Koh Kood, taking in other smaller islands such as Koh Wai, Koh Ngam along the way.

There are 2 main companies, Aqua Sailing and Gulf Charters which offer monohulls including Catalina 375, Jenneau Sun Odyssey 33i, 409 and Beneteau 44.3, 55.4 or multihulls featuring Island Spirit 38 and Lagoon 400s, 410, 421 and 450.

Yachts are available either as bareboat or in some cases skippered, with a sailing week a standard charter. Full anchorage guides, briefings, provisioning lists and transport to/from the island are all part of the packages on offer.

Kayaks are available for rent from most resorts direct, 300bt to 500bt for a 1/2/full day, though you can get deals.

You can also try you SUP (Stand Up Paddling), with Iyara on the canal in Klong Prao or Sea Paradise in Bang Bao Beach, two great places to head. Prices will be in the region of 500bt for 90 minutes with instruction.

Elephant Trekking

Elephant trekking is offered by 5 companies on Koh Chang, mostly located in Klong Prao Beach.

Each follows a similar format and price, with 500bt for 1 hour and 900bt for 2 hours. The 2 hour trek allows you to swim and wash the elephants at the end of the trek, great fun for all the family. Transfer to and from your resort is included.

We list all the companies to help you choose one convenient to your location or we can organise it for you using our recommendation, Klong Son Elephant Camp (Ban Kwan Chang). Based in the forest on the north west of the island, they run 4 sessions a day at 09.00, 11.00. 13.00 and 15.00.

In our guide, we also give you information on how the elephants are kept and treated here on Koh Chang.

Sports and Fitness

Koh Chang does not have an 18 hole golf course, but it does have a 9 hole pitch and putt course (3 par) in Klong Son, which also doubles up for disc golf.

For shooting enthusiasts, an ex Thai army expert runs a shooting club down on the east coast, with a vast array of guns and rifles.

Across the island, you can work-out at a handful of walk-in gyms, notably in White Sand Beach near the White Sand Princess Resort, Klong Prao Beach on the street near Klong Prao Resort and in Kai Bae, roadside near the bridge. The larger resorts too have excellent in-house facilities.

In Klong Prao, you can play a few sets on an all-weather tennis court located down one of the lanes opposite the temple – currently closed, may re-open if demand picks up.

ATV Quad Bikes

ATV Quad Bikes are another great option when looking for things to do on the island, especially fun for kids.

Two companies, ATV Winner and ATV Monster Adventure run tours into the jungle from their base in Klong Prao.

ATV Winner is hourly from 09.00 till 15.00. ATV Monster is three times daily at 09.00, 12.00 and 15.00 with a sunet option too at 17.00.

On the 300cc (ATV Winner) rates are 1,500bt for 30 minutes with the passenger free and 1,900bt for the driver/900bt for the passenger for an hour. On the 700cc (ATV Monster Adventure), prices range from 2,500bt to 3,000bt (90 minutes) for the driver and 1,500bt to 1,800bt (90 minutes) for the passenger.

Before setting off, you are given full safety instruction, accident insurance is included but not damage insurance.

Muay Thai

You can enjoy the hugely popular Thai combat sport of Muay Thai on the island.

You can learn from scratch or hone your skills at the three island gyms – Koh Chang Muay Thai in White Sand Beach, Soeren in Klong Prao and Wan Rung in Kai Bae.  Look out too for live tournaments (900bt per person, kids at 1/2 price) on Wednesdays and Saturdays in Grand View Plaza, White Sand Beach (moving from its current home in Klong Prao ) and from time to time in Kai Bae behind the food court.

Hourly group classes are priced at 500bt, private from 1,200bt to 1,500bt (90 minutes to 2 hours). Weekly and monthly rates too. Novices are welcomed.

Massage, Spa, Yoga and Detox

Massage at any of the hundreds of beach-side or road-side spots is a Thai institution with prices at 250bt to 350bt an a hour for the most basic.

Spas, saunas and steam rooms are available at all of the bigger resorts, where prices will increase considerably in line with the comfort of your surroundings. Rainforest at Sylvan Resort is very popular for losing an afternoon.

Yoga classes run daily during the season at places like Indie Beach, Blue Lagoon and Sol Beach Resort, with rates from 200bt an hour to 400bt for daily drop-in or weekly courses at a reduced rate.

You can find a detox, wellness and fasting centre down the east coast in Salak Khok at Spa Koh Chang,  where a 7 day course costs from 16,950bt excluding the accommodation. They also have a very active yoga scene. 

Shopping and Tattoo

Head here for a full round-up on where to get what you need during your holiday on Koh Chang.

You’ll find a wide selection of western foodstuffs and brand alcohol available in the large retails outlets, Big C, Lotus’s and Makro, numerous 7-11s and of course the many Mom-and-Pop minimarts.

If you need a new mobile phone, laptop or their accessories, White Sand Beach, Chai Chet and Klong Prao all have decent outlets.  Emergency repairs are possible too.

There are opticians and pharmacies all over the island.

For clothes and souvenirs, look out for the numerous stalls which line the streets in the major beach areas. None of it is exactly original but you’ll likely happen upon something that will do the trick – Bang Bao Pier has perhaps the widest choice.

In this section, we also look at the some of Koh Chang’s most prominent tattoo artists, with recommendations on where to head if you want to get inked.

Volunteering

Volunteering in Koh Chang is possible in education, animal welfare and the environment – giving up your time to help, whether for a day,  a week or perhaps longer is always hugely appreciated.

Cambodian Kids Care, based in Klong Prao, welcomes allcomers to its kids’ school and day centre in the migrant workers’ camp.

Helping the local animals (dogs and cats in particular), Koh Chang Animal Project, Animal Voice and Happy Dogs Koh Chang carry out unstinting service  – everything from neutering, emergency care and feeding runs to adoption and international homing. Not surprisingly, they always need volunteers and donations.

The global operation Trash Hero has successfully established itself on the island, with weekly clean-up days on beaches, roadside and indeed at sea on the reefs. If you’re free on a Wednesday, that’s when they normally head out in a different area each week.