Guide to South East

South East is reputed for the local life of fishermen, fruit plantation and fresh seafood, although, the shore is not blessed for swimming leisure or accommodation.

Most of travelers visit the South East for nature and local-life sightseeing and seafood, but not to stay. Since the civilization grows up in the other part, the virgin nature and folk living is well preserved. The largest mangrove and several waterfalls are waiting to welcome all visitors.

Drive from Dan Kao pier about 20 km, then turn left before arriving Baan Salakphet about 2 km. And go straight on for 5 km. Drive carefully, the road is not concreted yet.

Salakkok is a small village. The villagers earn with fishing and coconut plantation. The water level is high throughout the year so they almost journey by boat. The seafood is cheap and fresh from the sea.

• SERVICES: If you drive for a long way to here, do not worry, as a petrol station is available. There is no mini-mart or tourist center but Chang Spirit Salakkok Station will assist your trip to explore the largest mangrove on Koh Chang.
• SHOPPING: It seems that seafood and local product are two things you can buy here. Due to most of the villager's plant coconut, the product and by-product from coconut are sold along the road such as coconut juice, a toy or a lamp made from coconut shell.
• ENTERTAINMENT: The largest mangrove, a view point, is often neglected by the Koh Chang's visitors because of the long way from the West. But it is recommended and worth to see, if you have enough time and do not mind for driving.
  
  Chang Spirit Salakkok Station will give you the information and assist you to explore the mangrove. You can sail a kayak along the forest out to the bay unto the sea. That's the memorable scene of the great nature. In the night (in case of staying around this beach) the fire-fly sightseeing is provided.
  
• RESTAURANTS: Although the fisherman village is here, there is no restaurant to cook the seafood. The seafood is passed to the restaurant at Salakphet or the West, so you would better to go to Salakphet.
• ACCOMMODATION: As Salakkok is a true village, for accommodation you have to drive further to Salakphet area where a lot of bungalows and resorts are available.

Due to the geography of the big bay hidden in the mountain curve, calm wind, soil sand and rock; Salakphet has no sandy beach. However, Salakphet has been full of the fishing boat hidden from the monsoon behind the mountains from the past till then grow up to be a big fisherman village.

Salakphet is the oldest community on Koh Chang, of which the villagers earn with fishing.

• SERVICES : Health Care provides the primary healing, but in a serious and emergency case you should go to Koh Chang hospital at Dan Mai.
• SHOPPING : A mini-mart and several local groceries are where you can buy your things. Yet there is no modern shop or water-sport equipment shop.
• ENTERTAINMENT: Kiri Phet waterfall and Klong Nueng waterfall are small waterfalls. The water flows only on raining season but they are drought in summer and winter. They are one level waterfall but 20 meters height.
  
  Surprisingly, the only one yacht club is here. Although, the beach is not suitable for swimming, the sea and the wind is well for yachting (and fishing). Thida yacht club is operated by a group of yachting lovers near Salakphet seafood restaurant at the Southernmost of Koh Chang.
  
• RESTAURANTS: Salakphet seafood restaurant is recommended to try the freshness. The various and rare types of fish, squid, cancer, oyster, scallop, prawn are kept alive in the separated nets in the sea, of which you can point at what you wish to try. The cost is counted by kilogram and cooking. That's the reason for some travelers drive almost 2 hours to try this famous seafood restaurant.
• ACCOMMODATION: The accommodations at Salakphet are operated by the local, and so the facilities and service are not standardized; and room decorations are not in trendy style. Home stay is a choice for who want to learn living in Thai life-style. It is not convenient but interesting.

Had Sai Yao or Long Beach is a small part, located on the southern part of Koh Chang near Salakpetch Bay. This beach is the only one area of the East where has the sandy beach and is suitable for water sport. From here, visitors can walk to a viewpoint to see the location of memorable Koh Chang war zone (Naval Battle Memorial) as well as panoramic view of nearby islands such as Koh Laoya, Salakpetch Bay and Koh Wai. Only one way to Long Beach is by boat, no drive way nor pathway. At the end of the beach is the cluster of corals and clear sea offering one of the wonderful site for snorkeling.