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White Sands Beach Koh-Chang

September 12, 2013 by David Herd

Welcome to Koh Chang

White Sands Beach Koh-Chang

White Sands Beach Koh-Chang

White Sands Beach Koh-Chang I first visited 10 years ago & I wanted to see whether there were many changes on this lovely island. This jetty is the first thing you see upon arrival, then after a 10 minute hilly drive down the west coast you arrive at White Sands Beach.

It really has not changed much since I was there in 2003.

Ferry was a rust bucket.

White Sands Beach Koh-Chang

The ferry service is very good, 1/2 an hour across the water and only 280 Baht or $9 for our SUV & 2 people. Lots of drinks & snacks on board as well. For those without a vehicle there are busses waiting to take you to your hotel.

White Sands Beach Koh Chang

White Sands Beach Koh Chang

In many ways Koh Chang reminds me of Koh Samui 15 years ago. I used to love Koh Samui in the 90’s but the more it developed the more the attraction faded. That is until I returned in 2015 and found Chaweng had much more to offer with restaurants, bars & shopping centres.

Pool at the Kacha Resort.

White Sands Beach Koh-Chang

 The Kacha Resort was a great place to stay, close to lots of restaurants and bars and probably one of the best hotel rooms I have ever stayed in. This time I lived up to my name, the Five Star Vagabond. Here is a short video showing some details of this terrific hotel.

Use THIS LINK for a great room rate.

Kacha Resort

White Sands Beach Koh-Chang

A great location on the beach & near lots of restaurants & shops.

Nice pool

White Sands Beach Koh-Chang

Pool or beach, decisions decisions. 🙂

A cold Singha beer hits the spot.

White Sands Beach Koh Chang

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Banpu Resort, White Sands Beach.

White Sands Beach Koh-Chang

A more conventional Thai resort which is right ext door to Kacha.

Nong Bug restaurant.

White Sands Beach Koh-Chang

 

 

This Thai seafood restaurant with the great name was the busiest in White Sands Beach by a long way. To us that meant the food was fresh because of the turnover. The price was low and the food excellent.

Street market White Sands Beach.

White Sands Beach Koh Chang

All the usual stuff is on sale at the street markets, a sexy ladies bikini can be bought for 250 Baht or $8. Naturally you are expected to haggle.

Genuine reproductions here.

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There are many art shops in Thailand where you can have your favourite painting copied for a very low cost, want a Picasso? Well this guy will paint you one.  😳

Happy beach vendors.

White Sands Beach Koh Chang

 The beach vendors here are a happy bunch, lots of bracelets, and goodies for 50 to 100 Baht.

Amari Emerald Cove hotel Koh Chang.

White Sands Beach Koh Chang

 The Amari Hotel Emerald Cove is quite an amazing property, absolute luxury. It is on the beach and has the biggest swimming pool I have ever seen in a hotel. If you want to spoil yourself this could be the place for you.

La Dolce Vita.

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La Dolce Vita is a very good Italian restaurant in White Sands Beach, the staff are friendly and the food is good. The owner hails from Milan and knows how to make a very good pizza.

Caught up with the owner

White Sands Beach Koh-Chang

A happy Italian who serves up good food.

Beautiful Coconut Beach.

White Sands Beach Koh-Chang

Just 6 kms south of White Sands Beach is Coconut Beach, a beautiful almost deserted stretch of white sand where the water is clean and calm. A number of resorts are here for those who prefer a quieter more peaceful environment. The Coconut Beach Resort is one worth considering.

Coconut Beach Resort.

White Sands Beach Koh-Chang

Much quieter than White Sands Beach, and a much nicer stretch of sand, I imagine it would be an ideal honeymoon destination.

Koh Chang sunset.

White Sands Beach Koh-Chang

Koh Chang is famous for beautiful sunsets, I never get tired of watching the sun set in the west. My next Thai island adventure will probably be a return to Koh Samui.

In fact I went back to Koh Samui in June 2016, & was pleased to see it has improved out of sight.

Pothole is happy

White Sands Beach Koh Chang

Pothole aka John Martin loves Thai ladies & orange clothes. 🙂 He is with Tom & Annie from the Double Lucky bar.

Motorbike taxi

White Sands Beach Koh-Chang

I gave this nice lady 100 Baht to drive me 500 meters to the hotel before the rain, a small price to pay to stay dry.

Farewell to Annie & her friend.

White Sands Beach Koh-Chang

A nice friendly island.

Fun with the elephants

White Sands Beach Koh Chang

Here is my friend Hamish Elton having fun with the elephants.

This is lovely Nitt

                   White Sands Beach Koh Chang

 The gorgeous Thai girl is Nitt from Khon Kaen, Hamish of course is known is Thailand as the king of selfies. 🙂

White Sands Beach Koh Chang

White Sands Beach Koh-Chang

About a 40 minute cruise from the mainland.

Thanks for visiting my White Sands Beach Koh-Chang photo blog. 

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 That’s all folks

1g Duck

Well folks, many thanks for visiting my White Sands Beach Koh Chang photo blog, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed being here.

Please send the link to your friends https://fivestarvagabond.com/

 

Click here to see one of my popular Thailand posts.

 

If you like to play golf click here.

 

Pattaya is only a 4 hour drive away

 

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Southern tropical Thai island

August 30, 2013 by David Herd

Koh Chang is a place to relax

Southern tropical Thai island

Southern tropical Thai island

Southern tropical Thai island, beautiful white sand beaches and pristine clear water. Koh Chang is one of Thailand’s most beautiful islands with long white sandy beaches, most half deserted. The island is also home to a wide range of wildlife, including a good selection of birds, snakes, deer and a number of elephants. The island and its vicinity are great places for snorkeling, diving and jungle hiking. The “discovery” of the island as a tourist destination since 2000 has brought on a large amount of rapid development, and while still far quieter than places like Phuket or Koh Samui, it’s probably better to go now than later.

The beach at Coconut resort.

Southern tropical Thai island

Ko Chang has the same seasons as Bangkok. The best season to go is the (comparatively) cool season between November and February. March to May are roasting hot and between June and October it rains, and a lot at that: 4,000 mm in an average year. Many guest houses close during this season, so accommodation is limited.

 Coconut beach resort

Southern tropical Thai island

Coconut beach resort is just south of White Sands beach, it is very peaceful and relaxing with some bars & restaurants across the road. They have bungalows on the beach or more modern rooms if you prefer.

Bungalows on the beach

Southern tropical Thai island

 Koh Chang has turned into a major tourist destination, both for foreigners and local Thais.   This sudden tourism boom however, has been fraught with controversy concerning land use, etc. The government is trying to “develop” it from a backpackers’ paradise to a top-level destination, and construction work is going on throughout the island, with basic huts torn down to make way for fancy resorts. Sadly it will end up being another case of “paradise lost”.

Southern tropical Thai island White Sands Beach 

Southern tropical Thai island

White Sands Beach has lots of hotels and restaurants.

My friend from Beijing

Southern tropical Thai island

Mable & I met in Beijing last year so I flew her over to spend some time with me in Thailand.

Southern tropical Thai island beach bungalows

Southern tropical Thai island

When you stay in a bungalow it seems to feel more like a Southern tropical Thai island.

Peace and serenity

Southern tropical Thai island

Beautiful calm waters of Koh Chang.

Gorgeous children

Southern tropical Thai island

Such happy beautiful faces

Starting very young

Southern tropical Thai island

They start learning to box at a very young age.

Chang means Elephant in Thai.

Southern tropical Thai island

Elephants are such wonderful beasts.

 Koh Chang sunset

Southern tropical Thai island

There are some wonderful sunsets in Thailand.

Beautiful Koh Chang

Southern tropical Thai island

It would be ten long years before I would go back to this lovely Southern tropical Thai island

 

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Pattaya Hilton

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This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

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1g Duck

 

 
 

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