About Koh Chang
Posted by Ian
An overview of Koh Chang
Location:
300km south east of Bangkok. Easily accessible by road or plane, via Trat airport. Car ferries run 365 days/year with sailings every 45 – 60 minutes from koh Chang Ferry Pier and centrepoint Ferry Pier on the mainland.
Area:
429 sq.km. (The second largest island in Thailand)
Topography:
Inland – jungle clad mountain range, the tallest peak rising to 744 metres above sea level. The coastline is fringed by fruit fields and coconut plantations. Long, sandy beaches are found on the west coast. The east coast is quieter with far less tourist development. Yacht moorings are available in Bangbao and Salakphet Bays in the south of the island.
Climate:
Koh Chang has three seasons. The coolest time of the year (Winter) is between November and February, when cooler winds blow down from China. At this time of year the evenigns can get quite cool, around 15-20C. The hot season follows from March -May. This is the hotest time of year in most parts of Thailand. On Koh Chang temperatures reach 36-37C. Epect some heavy rainshoers or thunderstorms during this time. The rainy season runs from June – October. It won’t rain all day every day but you can epect up to 800mm of rain per month, so it is much damper than the rest of the yar. September is usually the wettest month.
Infrastructure:
Roads - A good, new road circumnavigates 90% of the island. Work on the final 10km stretch has begin but has been stalled since 2005.
Telephone lines - Since 2006, landlines are island wide. Mobile phones can also be used virtually everywhere on the island and at sea and on islands to the south of Koh Chang.
Electricity - Island wide, occasional power cuts usually due to bad weather in the rainy season, falling trees etc.
Water – Mains water is planned but at present all supplies are from private wells or waterfalls & mountain springs.
Schools - No bilingual or international schools. Local Thai schools are of a comparatively low standard.
Medical care - Local hospital, local clinics in the main villages on east & west coast, an international standard clinic on White Sand Beach, run by the Bangkok General hospital group plus private clinics with English speaking doctors in Klong Prao and Kai Bae.
Status:
Part of the 52 island Koh Chang Marine National Park.
Local population:
Approximately 8,000 according to the most recent census. However, during High Season this is supplemented by 30-40,000 workers in hotels, restaurants, bars as well as numerous small business owners and their families. Plus several thousand Cambodian labourers.
Annual tourist visitors:
Approx 600,000 in 2008
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