Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There is a daily ferry from here to Ko Phayam's main pier (150B, 1½ to two hours) at
9.30am, and speedboats (350B, 45 minutes) at 10am, noon, 2.30pm & 4pm. From Ko
Phayam back to Ranong the boats run at 9am, noon and 3.30pm. Long-tail boat charters
to Ko Chang are 1500B.
Getting Around
Motorcycle taxis provide transport around Ko Phayam; there are no cars. A motorcycle
taxi from the pier to the main beaches costs 50B to 80B per person each way, depending
on the beach. Walking is possible but distances are long - it's about 45 minutes from the
pier to Ao Khao Kwai, the nearest bay. Motorbike rentals (200B) are available in the vil-
lage and from most of the larger resorts, and you'll need one to properly explore the is-
land. It's best to rent yours immediately after getting off the boat in the village. Bicycles
are widely available as well.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Ko Chang
This little-visited rustic isle is a long way - in every respect - from its much more popu-
lar Trat Province namesake. Its speciality is no-frills living, and, yes, electricity is a frill
here, but its absence gives as much as it denies. The whole island is saturated in an all-
pervading quiet, where the blip and buzz of modern life are replaced with the slosh of the
sea, the intoxicating murmur of the cicadas and the far off rumbling of a long-tail.
Pass the time exploring the island's tiny village capital (where the boats dock during
the wet season) or wend your way around the island on one of the dirt trails. Sea eagles,
Andaman kites and hornbills all nest here and, if you're lucky, you'll catch sight of them
floating above the mangroves and the jungled east coast. The wide, west-coast beach of
Ao Yai
has gorgeous marbled white and black sand in the south, which obscures the other-
wise clear water. A short trail leads over the bluff to
Ao Tadeng
, another marbled beach
strewn with boulders and the island's best sunset spot. White-sand snobs will be happiest
on Ao Yai's north end. In the dry season you'll be dropped off directly in front of your
bungalow.
There are no banks or cars on Ko Chang, but internet has arrived at
Cashew Resort
(Ao Yai;
per min 2B)
and Crocodile Rock (
Click here
) (1B per minute). Yoga and tai chi classes are
held at
Om Tao
(
08 5470 9312;
www.omtao.net
;
Ao Yai)
, next door.
