Day trips from Koh Chang (snorkelling etc)

Replies: 13 - Last Post: 27-Nov-2007 22:01 Last Post By: KevinCorr

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TRRK

19-Nov-2007 05:22
Posts: 1,696

Day trips from Koh Chang (snorkelling etc)

When I went to Koh Samui and Phuket there was lots of daytrips available to nearby islands etc so I'm assuming the situation is similar from Koh Chang.

Can anyone recommend any good day trips to look out for? Which places near Koh Chang are best for snorkelling? We'd love to do some snorkelling but my partner is not a confident swimmer so would prefer a trip where you go snorkelling off the beach on an island (rather than jumping off the boat into deep water). Is there any islands near Koh Chang that are good for this?

Thanks!

canaconaman

19-Nov-2007 06:07
Posts: 187

there are lots of small islands around ko chang that are great for snorkeling however at all the sites i've been to you have to jump off the boat to get in the water, they don't beach the boats, i'd recomend going with a diving party that also do snorkeling, you will be in a smaller party, the snorkel trip boats often take really large groups. Talk to the dive operators, they will try and fix you up with something suitable. BB Divers who operate out of Bang Bao are very good. Many thais who dont swim go snorkeling wearing life jackets, you will see lots of them in the big snorkel trip boats.

Tlow

19-Nov-2007 11:43
Posts: 8

Most of the snorkelling trips from Chang are on huge boats with loads of people rather than longtails. (As far as i'm aware). If you want to snorkel off the beach, it might be worth taking one of the snorkelling boats to Ko Wai - (Smaller island not too far from Chang.) and having them drop you off for a few hours and pick you up later. The snorkelling isn't amazing, but there's plenty of clams, hard corals, reasonable amount of fish, few anemones with clownfish etc. you can walk out on to the reef in shallow water, easy for non-swimmers.
Most boats will drop you at a resort called "Paradise". My recommendation would be to walk around to Pakkarang resort and snorkel there - less tourists and similar coral etc
if you walk further around the island, there's a really nice quiet beach (v small) with bleach white sand, and just offshore there's some large colonies of anemones ( maybe 100 or so) that are worth a look. Whenever I'm there I walk/swim round to this point. - you should have the beach to yourself most days - unless i"m there of course!!
i did once take a fishing/snorkelling trip in a longtail from Ko Chang, but to be honest, the fishing was fun, the snorkelling was Sh**t!
One more thing that might make a difference, the best time to snorkel at Ko Wai (at least in Jan when I've been there) was after midday, maybe 2pm onwards. the water is much stiller so much better visibility.

tezza

20-Nov-2007 00:30
Posts: 7,978

Ko Whai has quite good snorkelling off the beach at Ko Whai Paradise, which is a nice budget resort, by Thai standards. Chang itself is pretty ordinary, but I understand the snorkelling trips to the islands south of Chang visit some good spots.
I have a snorkelling in Thailand thread in the second link below.

Beaches and Islands Info
Wet Season Info
Some Tips on Not Drowning

KevinCorr

20-Nov-2007 02:37
Posts: 3,758

Many of those day trips advertise 5 islands. They pick you up early 7-8 am and have you back by dinner 5-6 pm. While you are packed into a speed boat with 20 others, it can be a fun day. As said, most do lunch and hang at KoWai Paradise. The trip includes rides, drink and food. Probably 1000 baht for the day. If you want a more liesurely pace you can just visit the islands on your own. To see some of the small snorkeling spots you may take short boat trips from other islands, such as Ko Maak.
To go on your own from Ko Chang just visit the Island Hopper just at the start of the boat dock at Bang Bao. You could buy a ticket from a travel agent but Bang Bao has great cheap seafood restaurants on the pier. This is a much more pleasant way to visit KoWai. Spend at least one night so you can enjoy the long lovely evening after all the day trip people have gone back to dinner on Ko Chang.

See Ko Chang guide on travelfish.org

tezza

20-Nov-2007 14:57
Posts: 7,978

Doing some threadjacking here.

Kevin, I have stayed at Whai Paradise before and I'm pretty keen of trying something new this trip. Is it easy to access Aow Yai Mai bungalows and Good Feeling from Paradise? I understand the Island Hopper unloads at Paradise.

Beaches and Islands Info
Wet Season Info
Some Tips on Not Drowning

KevinCorr

20-Nov-2007 15:35
Posts: 3,758

The Hopper will drop you at Pakarang (Coral) Resort if you want. It has a very long pier so boats can dock even in lowest tide.
So will the speed boats. Same with pick ups. On request. The main difference there from Paradise is the daytrip traffic. That is caused because the restaurant is much cheaper and was better at one time before they got overwhelmed and ceased to care. Coral food is not excessively expensive but the kitchen is small and they could not deal with the traffic even if they wanted to. Fairly slow but ok food.
Back to the question- It is about a 45 min walk between Paradise and Coral, but it is a jungle trail and you would need a good light to do it in the dark.
2d, the huts are much nicer at Coral and a few hundred baht more per day.
Ao Yai Ma is another 30-40 min further south past Coral and around the end so you don't see it from the boat when arriving at Coral. I have only stayed at Pakarang/Coral but we visit Ao Yai Ma. We canoed there one time. It is a "mom and pop" operation.
Good Feeling is right at the dock at Paradise. Looks like part of the same resort and many people don't realize it is not. Paradise is actually a few min walk north of the dock.

I am getting set to upload some pics from around there. Is there a website ready to go where I could do it now, or do I have to set up my own? Well I could do it on that door of teak site but I have not learned that trick yet.

tezza

20-Nov-2007 20:12
Posts: 7,978

Kevin, Blogger (free from Google) is so easy to do it was even a doddle for a non tech-head like me. Just the thing if you want to write some stuff as well as post pictures.
My links below are on Blogger. It is very versatile, has lots of options. I'm sure someone with more imagination could end up with a much better site than mine.

Beaches and Islands Info
Wet Season Info
Some Tips on Not Drowning

KevinCorr

21-Nov-2007 00:30
Posts: 3,758

Thanks 7. I will give it a try.

TRRK

22-Nov-2007 08:57
Posts: 1,696

Thanks everyone for your thoughts! Ko Whai sounds nice so we will try to go there. We are also going to Ko Mak for 3 days.

KevinCorr

22-Nov-2007 16:34
Posts: 3,758

The water is not so clear at Ko Maak but is VERY close to some good snorkeling by boat.
On Ko Chang in the middle you can stop at Chaichet, Klong Prao beach area. There is a very good travel shop there, just next door to the left of the dive shop. Just get out of the songtaaw at the Supermarket or strip mall. There is a tent travel agent set up in the mini mall lot. OK but I like the lady in the little shop mentioned a few doors north.
She will make calls for you and help you get going.

TRRK

27-Nov-2007 01:40
Posts: 1,696

Thanks for the tip. Is the good travel shop you mention near Koh Chang Paridise Resort (we are staying here)?

KevinCorr

27-Nov-2007 21:51
Posts: 3,758

They are both in the Klong Prao Beach area. See travelfish.org. Just look for the supermarket at Chaichet. Songtaaw driver will stop there for you.
Botique is a very good restaurant just across the street from the supermarket. Good place for dinner.

KevinCorr

27-Nov-2007 22:01
Posts: 3,758

tezza- blogger won't accept any password I come up with?????????
I had that same problem trying to register on ebay this year. It took weeks and finally a chat room help session with them to get in.

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