Koh Kham   "The Emerald Pearl of Trat Sea"


Koh Kham, the emerald island in the Gulf of Thailand, is located approximately 20–25 km kilometre southeast of Bang Bao Bay at the southernmost end of Koh Chang, just a few hundred metres in front of the north-west coast of Koh Mak - have a look at the map: just click the Koh Mak logo top left.

The private island measures about 300 m from north to south and 200 m from east to west. At the west coast, mangroves, wild orchids and Thai herbs grow. At the east coast, facing Koh Mak, there are 2 small, beautiful, sandy beaches with a flat sandbank where you can – depending to the water level – comfortably sit in the warm crystal-clear sea. The turquoise water with innumerable fish in front of the flat beaches of Koh Kham invites to swim and snorkel. 

Koh Kham is the only island of the surroundings where a set of black volcano-rocks is directly embeds into the white sandy beach. This and the beautiful beaches, which are situated around the beautiful garden, make Koh Kham a popular spot for the tourist boats coming from Koh Chang.

On a small path at the southern beach you can reach a small place where you can watch the beautiful sunsets.

Koh Kham doesn’t have an own spring, so water has to be delivered by boat from Koh Mak. There is also no electricity on the island but the generator is started in the late afternoon. Mobil connection to most of the Thai mobile nets is guaranteed.

Arrival to Koh Kham and departure:
From November to May there are 2 daily Island-Hopper boats (8 am and 12 pm - Island-Hopper) starting from Baan Bang Bao (south of Koh Chang) to Koh Kham. The boats need about 2 - 2,5 hours to Koh Kham. The return trip starts either about 10.30 am or about 2.30 pm. You can also take the boat from Koh Kham Resort that starts from Laem Ngop at the Laem Ngop pier (also called Khrom Luang pier or Tha Khrom Luang) at 3 pm. It takes about 3 hours to reach Koh Kham. 

If you stay in a bungalow on Koh Kham you also have the possibility to get back to Laem Ngop at the mainland with the same boat that starts at 8 am from Koh Kham.

However, it may happen that the boats can’t go when the waves are too high - what rarely happens during the season.   

If you don’t stay in a bungalow on Koh Kham you must pay 30 THB for visiting the island.

There is only one bungalow resort on Koh Kham which can be booked here!

Koh Wai

Koh Wai is a medium sized island around 12 kilometres south of Salakphet Bay.  Reaching the island is easy with daily boat services from both Koh Chang and also Laem Ngop on the mainland. Although the island does have attractive beaches and several resorts in which to stay, it's best avoided if one of your prerequisites for a beach experience is that the beach have fine, white powdery sand.  Unlike small neighboring islands Koh Wai's quiet, narrow beaches are covered in coarser red sand.

The saving graces are that as the beaches aren't world classes they won't ever be inundated by visitors so if a few days of quiet time are what you need then head here.  Two good places to stay are Koh Wai Pakarang Resort offers bungalows built near the shore and on the hillside overlooking the beach below for 400 - 600 baht/night and Koh Wai Paradise where a bungalow a few metres from the sea is 250 - 400 baht.   From these resorts you get a great view of the mountains at the south of Koh Chang.

A coral reef, which is only 50 metres offshore and right in front of Paradise bungalows, is an excellent place for snorkelling.  During the day this spot can get busy as boatloads of day trippers on '4 island' tours will descend for 30minutes of splashing around.  Dive schools often head to the bay on the west coast.

The three beaches at the north of the island are all connected by wooden walkways which take visitors from one beach, past rocky outcrops and through slivers of jungle to the next.  What Koh Wai lacks above the waterline it makes up for underwater.  Anyone brought up to believe that fishing has to involve hanging around for a few unproductive hours before sloping of home to be laughed at by your mates should try casting a  line of a pier at the north of the island.  You're guaranteed to pull some kind of marine life out of the water, whether it will be edible and whether it'll be on an endangered species list you'll have to find out for yourself.

In many travel agencies or in various resorts on Ko Chang it is also possible to book boat trips to Koh Wai.

Daily at 8.00 pm a boat returns to the Laem-Ngop-Pier. The return fare also costs 130 Baht.
It may also be possible to return to Koh Chang with other tourist boat trips for an appropriate amount.

Accommodation is available on Koh Wai.

Koh Lao Ya

This wonderful island lies about 3 kilometres west off the south-eastern end of Koh Chang. With Koh Lao Klang and Koh Lao Ya Nok they form their own island group.

Koh Lao Ya is less than 1 kilometre long, approximately 300 metres wide and contains a long and very beautiful sand beach. It is connected to Koh Lao Ya Klang by a wooden bridge, where you can find wonderful coral banks.

There is only 1 Resort on Koh Lao Ya, which is mostly visited by Thais. You can only book a stay on the island in advance. The island can only be reached by chartered boats.

Koh Ngam
This island with its unique and unusual form is situated directly in front of the south-easternmost end of Koh Chang. Both of the two outside ends are about 1 kilometre wide, while the 2 beautiful beaches are separated only by a narrow 15 metre wide and 150 metre long land strip.

In length Koh Ngam measures only about 1 kilometre. Because of its shape, the island is also known as the 'little Koh Phi Phi in the Gulf of Thailand'.

There is only 1 Resort on Koh Ngam, which is mostly visited by Thais.
You can only book Koh Ngam in advance. Otherwise the island can only be reached by chartered boats

Koh Man Nai
This small island is situated directly in front of the southern end of Kai Bae Beach. It measures only 300 metres in length and 100 metres in width. There is one small strip of beach on the island which can be reached by foot at low tide. Otherwise it is possible to reach it by kayak or by boat.

There is no accommodation on Koh Man Nai.

Koh Phrao Nok
Koh Phrao Nok is situated in the bay of Salak Phet (Aow-Salak-Phet). The island is approximately 600 metres long and about 200 metres wide. It has a small sandy beach at the northern point.

There is only 1 Resort on Koh Phrao Nok, which is also mostly visited by Thais and can only be booked in advance. Otherwise Koh Phrao Nok can only be reached by chartered boats.