Koh
Chang Around the Islands
Islands around Koh Chang
South of Koh Chang, some 40-odd islands
are dotted around the clear waters of the Trat Sea including the
private islands of Koh Lao Ya, Koh Wai, Koh Sai Khao, Koh Kham and
Koh Ngam.
 Koh
Lao Ya, south of Koh Chang 
This wonderful island lies about 3 kilometres west off the south-eastern
end of Koh Chang. With Koh Lao Klang and Koh Lao Ya Nok they form
their own island group.
Koh Lao Ya is less than 1 kilometre long, approximately 300 metres
wide and contains a long and very beautiful sand beach.
Koh Lao Ya, made up of three small islands off the southern tip
of Koh Chang, forms part of the 52 islands dotted around Trat province.
Depending on the type of boat (speedboat or regular boat) you choose,
Koh Lao Ya can be reached in 40 minutes or two hours from the ferry
point at Laem Ngob in Trat Province. These small islands are a wonder
to explore with their white, sandy beaches, private surroundings
and just one beautiful resort called LaoYa Island Resort. This is
a veritable corner of peace and tranquility, in the bosom of nature,
yet with good facilities.
Koh Lao Ya Nai
Koh Lao Ya Nai provides the only pier and stepping-off point for
the other two islands, and is the center of activity. As your boats
nears the pier, you will immediately be attracted to the colorful,
marine world below your feet and the island-linking, quaint wooden
bridge with signs marking a shallow coral reef parallel to the beach.
A kaleidoscope of colorful corals and fish are found here and it
is quite safe to swim in the shallow waters. The white, sandy beach
provides an excellent viewpoint to admire sunrises over distant
islands in the Trat Sea.
After a full day’s activities, you can
choose either to spend an evening fishing for cuttlefish, or relax
watching others do so. After dinner, the lights from the bridge,
Lao Ya Island Resort, and the moon all seem to add to the intrigue
of an evening on this private island.
Moving across to neighboring Koh Lao Ya Klang is quite easy using
the bridge, known as Saphan Song. Watch a sunset, which can be quite
spectacular from this vantage point as the sun slowly disappears
between the two islands. At low tide, it is sometimes possible to
walk from one island to the other without using the bridge.
Koh Ngam
Location: Koh Ngam is located about 200 metres off the southern
tip of Koh Chang the biggest island in the area. Here, the sea between
the islands offers an inviting gateway to the open waters of the
Trat Sea.
The mention of Koh Ngam, to well-traveled tourists, brings to mind
an island of the same name in Chumphon province. But Koh Ngam in
Trat province is quite different, particularly in its geographical
features consisting of two islands linked by a huge sand dune that
brings to mind Koh Phi Phi in Krabi province. Not surprisingly,
therefore, Koh Ngam off the coast of Koh Chang has earned the title
“little Phi Phi in the Gulf of Thailand”.
The beach linking the island is 150 metres
in length and 50 metres wide, with several plantations of coconut
palms. The layout of the island forms semicircular bays known locally
as Dream Lagoon, to the east, and Sweet Lagoon to the west.
Blessed with ample freshwater from rivers and small waterfalls,
the island is covered with lush, green jungle year-round. An island
trail leads to a small beach covered with coral fragments that wash
ashore from nearby coral reefs.
The island is an excellent vantage
point for viewing the stunning scenery on the neighboring islands
of Koh Mak, Koh Wai and Koh Lao Ya.
Koh Wai 
Koh Wai is a bigger
island further south of Koh Laoya with huge bays. It has some of
the best corals for diving and snorkelling. It's a peaceful island
only 10 km south of Koh Chang (Ko Chang). Small and inviting,
Koh Wai can be reached from Laem Ngob Pier. Boat leaves daily during
the high season at 3.00 pm and arrives at 5.00 pm. The Island Hopper
boats (Tel. 081 865 0610) from Koh Chang run several times a week
during high season. On the return trip, boat leaves from Koh Wai
Paradise Pier early morning at 8.00 am. The one-way fare is Baht
250 (about USD 7) per person. Taxi boat leaves from Bang Bao Pier
which takes around 1 hr. The one-way fare is Baht 230 (about USD
6) per person.
The beaches of Koh Wai are beautiful with reddish clean sand, some
of which have corals right from the beach, especially lump corals
in large size and best condition. The northern beach is the most
popular due to its long sandy beachfront and healthy corals. Seawater
is relatively shallow and snorkelling is a favourite activity as
Koh Wai is blessed with a coral reef of up to 2 km long. Encircling
the island are many rocks making it a perfect fishing ground with
a great quantity and variety of fishes. Two major resorts in the
area are the Koh Wai Pakarang Resort which offers full board packages
and the Koh Wai Paradise Resort with cheap and simple lodgings.
Both are bungalow-style resorts.
Koh Man Nai
This small island is situated directly in front of the southern
end of Kai-Bae-Beach. It measures only 300 metres in the length
and 100 metres in width.
There is one small strip of beach on the island which can be reached
by foot at low tide. Otherwise it is possible to reach it by boat.
There is no accommodation on Koh Man Nai.
Koh Phrao Nok
Koh Phrao Nok is situated in the bay of Salak Phet (Aow-Salak-Phet).
The island is approximately 600 metres long and about 200 metres
wide. It has a small sandy beach at the northern point.
There is only 1 Resort on Koh Phrao Nok, which is also mostly visited
by Thais and can only be booked in advance.
Otherwise Koh Phrao Nok can only be reached by chartered boats.
Koh Maak
is situated in south of Koh Chang but on top of Koh Kood.
Most of the landscape is the coastal plain, pervaded iwth coconut
and ruber plantations. Beautiful coves and beaches can be
found every where on the island. In the coastal area around
the island are the small islands consisting of Koh Rayang Nai, Koh
Rayang Nok, Koh Pe, Koh Kham, Koh Kradad, Koh Nok and Koh Nok Nai.
The rich coral reefs are also found nearby. Todays, most of
the islanders are making rubber and coconut plantation and doing
the coastal fishery. Others have turned to earn their living
by doing tourism business.
Provided
by Tourism Authority of Thailand
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