Koh Chang Archipelago’s 52 coral Islands: Maak, Wai, Hood and Kham as residence of snorkeling and lonely hearts

Of course, Koh Chang Island is not as civilized as Koh Samui, Koh Samet or Koh Phuket. On the other hand it's not so dull as Koh Larn Island (look at my previous post). But there are some urban attributes such as 7/11 stores, cash machines, Wi-Fi and Disco bars. All Koh Chang beaches are any shallow and not so much interesting for true snorkeling fans. But if you stay on this Island you must look around. There are some islands where you can stay for a few nights: Koh Maak, Koh Wai, Koh Hood, Koh Rung and Koh Kham. There are some coral islands where you can probably stay several nights too: Koh Kradat, Koh Rang Yai and Koh Mai Si Yai. And there are a lot of small coral islands where you can have adventures of Robinson Crusoe. In this case you will experience assuredly a lot of loneliness, fresh tastiest sea food and magic underwater trips.
The first step to these islands you can make even from the continent. There are a lot of ferries from any Trat’s pier. From Laem Ngop Pier you can go to Koh Wai, Koh Maak, Koh Kham and certainly to Koh Chang. The Ferry to Koh Maak and Koh Kham leaves every day at 3.00 A.M. and sails to the islands for 3 hours.
War Choke Wuttchai ferry leaves to Koh Kood Island from Dan Khao Pier.
It departs at 10.00 P.M. every Tuesday and Friday. It goes back to Koh Kood Island at 10.00 P.M. every Sunday and Friday.
One-way ticket costs THB200.
You can buy standard 3-day (or longer) tour in any tourist agency in the city of Trat or even in Pattaya. This is a model of 3-day tour to Koh Kham Island.
3 days/2 nights
3,600 Baht/Boat
4,200 Baht/Speed Boat
Seven Meals
Round trip transfer
Boat trip / on the second day
Accommodation with private bathroom
First day:
6.00 - from Komluangchoumporn Pier
8.30 - Arriving Koh Kham / Breakfast (Boiled rice)
12.00 - Lunch / Boat trip & Snorkeling around Koh Kham (Equipments prepared)
18.00 - Dinner with unlimited seafood
Second day:
8.00 - Breakfast / American breakfast
9.30 - Boat trip & Snorkeling to Rang island (Equipments prepared with
Lunch box)
15.00 - Back to Koh Kham
18.00 – Dinner
Third day:
8.00 - Breakfast
10.00 - Back to Trat
What about a visit to a coral island and snorkeling all three days? I heard such a cry from one German guy: 'Dieses ist Fhantasie!!!’ And I completely agree with him, they were really magic days. The variety of the forms of corals was striking! There were round coral, branchy coral, flat coral and coral with such psychedelic forms! They can have so magic colors: from tenderly yellow and pink to brown and blue. But you must know that they have their beauty only when they are alive. After dying they lose their soft integument tissues and you have only white calcium skeleton.
There were some problems with the sea urchins. Luckily, a Thai fisherman with lemon and sharp knife rescued me and my leg stopped aching in an hour. But I was sick for a long time after that trip: I was so stupid that I didn’t have an underwater box for my camera.
There is the most interesting way to coral islands from Chang’s beauty place. It is through Bang Bao fisher village. But I would like to write a special post about my stop in Bang Bao and on the other coral islands.
For more information about Koh Chang look at my previous posts: The best seafood in Thai: only on Islands, Koh Chang: the Island of the grate Waterfalls, lagoons and beaches, Koh Chang Island. The long walk to Kai Bae Beach and Koh Chang Island – the best alternative of Pattaya and Phuket for lovers, divers and other Thai addicts.