SLOGAN : With no less than 50 offshore isles, it also boasts the finest red gems, sweet Rakam fruits, indigenous dogs, the historic Ko Chang Naval engagement, the eastern-most province.

Koh Chang (Ko Chang), the name means Elephant Island, is the second largest and biggest island in Eastern Thailand (largest island in the Ko Chang Marine Park archipelago). Koh Chang is located on the East Coast 310 km away from Bangkok near the border to Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand. At the present, there are 8 villages in total. It is a mountainous island and Khao Salak Phet is the highest peak of all at 744 meters. Visitors are also met with several waterfalls, splendid reefs and rainforests. The island has an area of approximately 217 square kilometers. Ko Chang previously an unsettled island but it is now important as a harbor for ships to escape from the monsoon, and dietary or fresh water resources, especially at Ao Salak Phet or Ao Salat which is well known to pirates, Hai Lam Chinese and Vietnamese.

Koh Chang (Ko Chang) is one of the most beautiful islands with long white sandy beaches. The island is also home to a wide range of wildlife, including a good selection of birds, snakes, deer and a number of elephants. The island and its vicinity are great places for snorkeling, diving and jungle hiking. The “discovery” of the island as a tourist destination since 2000 has brought on a large amount of rapid development, and while still far quieter than places like Phuket or Koh Samui, it’s probably better to go now than later.

Koh Chang (Ko Chang), was an unsettled island in the past but it is now important as a harbour for ships to escape from the monsoon, and dietary or fresh water resources, especially at Salak Phet Bay which is well known to pirates, Hai Lam Chinese and Vietnamese.

The island is part of the Mu Ko Chang Marine National Park. During World War II, when Thailand was occupied by Japanese forces, Koh Chang was the scene of a naval battle between the reluctant Royal Thai Navy and a Vichy France squadron, in which the Thais were decisively beaten.

Until the mid-1980s the infrastructure on the island was undeveloped, but tourism has increased significantly since then. Around the year 2000, malaria was eradicated, the area became a national park (and began charging entry fees). The island now receives 655,000 visitors annually, about two thirds of them Thai. Koh Chang is one the few places with virgin forest, but the mad rush to cash in on tourism has had a heavy toll on its virgin forests. Nowadays there are also numerous resorts all over the island. Land prices have been up since then.

Koh Chang has the same seasons as the capital Bangkok. The best season to go is the cool season between November and February. March to May are roasting hot and between June and October it rains, and a lot at that: 4,000 mm in an average year.

• Cool Season (November - February)
• Hot Season (March - May)
• Rainy Season (June - October)