Trip to Koh Chang November 2017

[Rockheart]

So shortly after the volleyball in Pattaya this November I took my girlfriend Layla for a trip to the island of Koh Chang.
I had been to Koh Chang 2 times before and the report and more detailed information on Koh Chang can be see on this thread.

https://theladyboyforums.com/asiaboard/forum/the-total-thailand-scene/phuket-the-islands-bars-etc/21242-koh-chang

It had been about 4 years since my last visit to the Island and some things have changed and it is a little busier than before it seems.
However Koh Chang is one of the best places in Thailand to enjoy the beaches. While they don't have the absolutely perfect beaches in some locations near Phuket, the Koh Chang beaches are extremely nice, clean and not too busy. As it is a National Park you do not see too many speed boat and zero jet skis. It is a really quiet place but still has a lot of fun attractions.

It is a great place to bring your girlfriend for a quiet romantic getaway or there is many ladyboys and ladies on the island if required.
The biggest thing is that it is far cheaper than Phuket and you can easily book beach front accomodations in Koh Chang. Phuket and islands nearby can get very expensive and busy, beach front accomodations go for big bucks.

So we first had to get to the island from Bangkok. Of course you can fly to Trat which is about a one hour flight but this means getting to bkk airport then waiting. After you get to Trat you are still about 40 minutes from the ferry to Koh Chang.
Overall I think driving you own car is the best way to go to Koh Chang. Flying is ok but I think hiring a car is the second best way even though it is about a 5 hour drive to the ferry from central Bangkok. This way you can stop when you like and the car we hired takes you right to your hotel on the island. Rushing around catching a flight can save an hour or so but is not relaxing and much more hectic.

I hired the same car company I used a few years ago with no problem.

https://www.kohchangminibus.com/

We paid about 8700 baht return to central Bangkok for two people including ferry tickets which I believe are 150 baht per person each way.
The driver showed up on time in a nice SUV/VAN which was very comfortable and the drive too just under 5 hours mid-day to the ferry.

We had to wait about 20 minutes to board the ferry so we inspect a shipment of pineapples while we waited.
Once on the ferry we could see what looked like heavy rain was coming but we hoped for the best, we wanted some sun for the beach.

[Rockheart]

As we got to the island I could see that things were a little more developed than before but not too much. The one improvement i noticed was more taxis. The taxis are just like bath buses and can take you around the island starting at about 50 baht to the furthest parts of the island costing 200 baht from the main village of "White Sand Beach". Unless you really want a secluded beach and resort, the main village is probably the best place to stay. You have bars, girls, ladyboys and restaurants plus many hotels and a busier scene. Although if you are young you may enjoy staying at lonely beach which is the party village on the island.

Our driver took us to the Grand View resort which is right in the main village and right on the beach, more details on this thread.
https://theladyboyforums.com/asiaboa...sort-koh-chang
It is also fairly close to all amenities including the main bar complex know as "Little Pattaya" and only 1900 baht per night.
We were very happy with our room.

We settled into our room and then went to eat at Monkey Bar which was across the street from our resort on main street.After we walked up main street past the stores and vendors. There is also food stands that are open until around 10pm or so.
We went to find Sabai Bar which is a staple in Koh Chang. They have live entertainment nightly and at 10pm have a fire show on the beach.
Most of their seating is on the Beach where you can sit and listen to the bands and watch the fire show.
We were able to walk all the way back to our resort on the beach and because the tide was out there was no wading.

[Rockheart]

So the next day we headed up White Sand Beach from our resort. During the day when the tide was in there was not much beach in front of our hotel but it is possible to walk right up the beach. We went up to the street bought a mask and snorkel for Layla and walked a couple blocks then went back down to the beach were the sand was more plentiful and no wading was required to get there. First we sat down and got some beers, bought some fake pearls and took our first swim in the ocean.

[Rockheart]

After a couple beers we pack up our bags and headed up the beach.
We stopped and took some pictures around a tree with a swing hanging over the ocean.
Then we continued up and found a shady spot under a tree in front of the KC Resort, one of the best on the island.

[Rockheart]

Still in front of the KC Resort it turns in to an all out photoshoot.

[Rockheart]

So after this we were a little hungry and had a bite to eat at at a place on White Sand beach, then we headed back to our hotel to freshen up. It was only about 3pm so we decided to hit lonely beach for sunset, as I knew a good spot.
So we grabbed a songtaew (baht bus) to Lonely Beach and it is 100 baht from White Sand Beach to Lonely Beach per person for a 30-45 minute ride. Sometimes the buses will stop and drop off or pick up people at resorts which may take longer. It is not easy to ride a motorbike to lonely beach especially if you are a novice since there is a huge hill with multiple hairpin turns just before you get to Lonely Beach. I was passenger on a motorbike her one time and it was scary.
The trip to Lonely Beach is very heavy Jungle and you will usually spot monkeys along the way. Once you hit Lonely beach there is a turn off to the actual beach then you hit the village which isn't too big. There is many very cheap places to stay in Lonely Beach as this this were all the young backpackers come to stay. You can see the one place pictured offering Fan Bungalows for 300 baht and there is other very cheap rooms to be had for those with little money. Lonely Beach is also the party capital of Koh Chang and this is where you can find jungle and beach parties regularly. Plus they have many beer bars and more upscale bars but most are outdoors, no indoor discos or anything, but usually quite a young crowd out here.
kcwsblb.JPG
image_82499.jpgimage_82502.jpgimage_82501.jpgimage_82500.jpg

[Rockheart]

We got dropped off in the village and we looked around a bit before trying to find the actual beach, I had been here before but forgotten.
Eventually we found out way over to the Lonely Beach proper and settled down at a bar right on the beach called "Nature Rocks".
It wasn't too busy and we watched the sun go down and had some barbeque later on. Nice relaxing location.

[Rockheart]

Since I am on more of a couples trip here, I will mention more options for finding ladies and ladyboys on Koh Chang.
In my previous thread on Koh Chang I had mentioned some places but now I can give some updated information.

You number one place to meet ladyboys and ladies is at the "Little Pattaya Complex" in White Sand Beach.
It is right across from the Chang Buri Hotel on the main street, further up from the main part of White Sand Beach. It is a complex of Beer Bars probably totalling up to 25 establishments which are supposed to stay open until midnight, but often will turn down the music and stay open later if there is customers.
I took some pictures during the day which are attached as our resort was only a 3 minute walk from the bars.

We went to Pearler Bar on the first night since I used to know the owner, he has since sold.
Pearler bar itself had 2 ladyboys on staff and later we toured the complex and it appeared as though there was up to a dozen or more ladyboys working there. No problem for ladies as there was many too, of course.
There is other small beer bar areas around the Island but I doubt many of them have ladyboys but there is a number on the island.

Other popular spots such as Sabay Bar has ladyboys and ladies hanging there since there is live music and seating on the beach.
Sabay bar is probably the most consistent busiest bar on the Island and attracts many and can seat many.

There is no more discos or real dance clubs on Koh Chang anymore, except at lonely beach there is some nightclub style outdoorsy bars.
Bars like Ting Tong Bar on Soi 1 in Lonely Beach village offer bands and DJs along with other clubs on Soi 1.
Here you are more likely to find local ladies and ladyboys trolling for young tourists.
If you are younger and like to party, Lonely Beach might work for you.
Older dudes may not find what they are looking for out here as easy.

Bigger events like concerts are magnets for ladyboys and ladies, so a good option to check out.
I imagine the majority of ladyboys on the island are contracted to the bars in little Pattaya though and don't get around tons.

Other villages on Koh Chang don't have so much for party life.
Still there is many other bars, clubs and pubs to check out for fun.

changburi.jpg

[Rockheart]

So the next day we wanted to find a Temple to pray at. When I checked there was a few on the island and there was a very old one in the fishing village of Bang Bao.
We loaded up our stuff late morning and took a taxi truck to Bang Bao from out hotel in White Sand Beach. The cost for a taxi to Bang Bao is 150 baht per person and it is one of the longer rides on the Island. Bang Bao pier is where most of the tourist, fishing, snorkeling and scuba boats depart from. There is a number of Islands to the south varying in size.

We got dropped off in the village and made our way down the pier, which started with many shops and restaurants ending with the pier full of moored boats.
The long dock lead to a lighthouse style tower at the end.

After we went over to the Temple which was small and rundown, not the tourist mecca many pages on the internet made it out to be.
I was quite surprised to see a fake skeleton asking for donations for the Temple.
Always wondered what happened to Geoff from the Late Late show with Craig Ferguson.

We were going to check out the beach if there was one near Bang Bao but it seemed the only beach was still up the road a ways.

bangbao.jpg

[Rockheart]

So after this we wanted to get to a beach so we thought we would try Kai Bae beach as we had never been before and it was fairly close and on the way back. Kai Bae was the next village past lonely beach on the return trip. I had noticed that there seemed to be many nice looking restaurants in Kai Bae the couple times we had passed through in the last couple days. From our hotel in White Sand Beach it is about 75 baht per person.
We got dropped off on the main street in the village and not knowing where to go we just headed in the direction of the beach. It turned out we ended up at KB Huts.
KB Huts is where most of the tourist speedboats depart from to do various private activities like snorkeling or just visiting the various islands.
The speedboats were not in the water and did not travel around the island, I believe they were only allowed to go out on expeditions and come back.
Nearly all other boat traffic departed from the Bang Bao pier or the two ferry docks on the North end. General motor boat traffic is not allowed around the island but sail boats are, so you will see the odd skiff moored.

Kai Bae also looks like an ideal place to kayak from as the water is generally shallow and there is an island very close by.
We turned left at the KB Huts and ended up at KB Resort Beach Bar where we grabbed a table right beside the beach.
We got some beers and food and some elephants even came by.

kaibae.jpg

image_82542.jpgimage_82546.jpg

[Rockheart]

While the sun was still up we took out the snorkling gear and tried our luck. The water was quite clear but still mostly sand but as we got closer to rocks there was more plants and we actually saw fish and other things. The tide was starting to go out and this area was already quite shallow so we were able to go out very far and still be able to touch the bottom.
This was the first time in my life I actually saw schools of fish and we explored while there was still good light. After we took a few pics on the beach and went back to sit down.
You can see our table just behind the poorly focused shot of me in the water.

[Rockheart]

Once it was dark we walked up the beach bit then cut back through the resort to get to main road. We wanted to grab a bite at one of the restaurants we had seen.
There was many nice looking places and it appeared there was a growing cocktail scene in Kai Bae with many high end looking clubs and restaurants.
We ordered a bucket and had a bite at Filou restaurant and cocktail lounge which looked very nice, and was.
After we looked around and couldn't help but stop at the Mojito Lounge as it looked very nice. The lounge was very high end with nice couches and the mojitos were top notch.
After a few mojitos we looked around a little more before taking a taxi back to our resort. Also included is a few pictures of Kai Bae in the daytime.

[Rockheart]

So we had a taste of some good snorkeling and thought we would try our luck at Khlong Prao beach. This was the next beach down from ours at White Sand Beach and it was the largest beach on the island. We took a baht taxi and it was 50 baht each from our resort to the Khlong Prao resort. We headed down to the beach this way. I had read on the internet that the was decent snorkeling at the pier at the Chai Chet resort which was north up the beach. The beach has many resorts that have their own umbrellas and sunchairs out on the beach. You can use the beaches but you cannot use the chairs and other goodies or they will charge you. So we first just found a spot under some trees with our towels and we tried some snorkeling there. It was all sand and no rocks there so we moved further down the beach until we got to a restaurant just before the Chai Chet resort where we had lunch.
After we ate we walked as far over as we could where it was very rocky and the water was very clear. There was some fish and other creatures to be seen, so we swam around there for a while. After we cut through the Coconut Beach resort to get back out to the main road to get a taxi back.

khlongprao.JPG

[Rockheart]

Here is a few more pictures from the Khlong Prao area. Don't forget to check out the Koh Koh Cabana club! There is also a small driving range and a pink elephant.
Fresh chicken anyone?

[Rockheart]

That night after we were back to our resort we walked down the main street of White Sand beach to eat at the food vendors that set up on the main strip in the evening. We were both craving noodles and I especially wanted some chicken balls with mine, so we went to the noodle stand.
There was no place to sit near the noodle place so I sat down at a Mojito Truck and the rest is history.
Special mention goes out to this guy at the Mai Jai Dum Mojito and coffee truck. This guy is a barista and can make all the coffees plus he has many flavors of mojitos and he is usually open from 5-11pm daily on the main strip in White sand beach. We ended up staying there for hours sampling the different flavored mojitos. The watermelon and pineapple mojitos were to notch. Plus this guy is fairly entertaining. After many mojitos we went up the street and had a drink at Sabay bar then on the way back we ended up buying a half day snorkeling tour for 9am the next day.
20171124_214710.jpg