Koh Chang / Koh Kood

Looking for the ultimate “unspoiled” Thai paradise, people might say it is Koh Chang (Elephant Island). It is called Koh Chang due to the shape of the island, which resembles a sleeping elephant. Set in the Gulf of Thailand just 315 kilometers south-east of Bangkok, the island is incredibly mountainous and lush. With 75 percent of undisturbed rainforest, Koh Chang is perhaps the best-preserved island in Southeast Asia. Beaches, waterfalls, coral reefs and wildlife abound.

Koh Chang had escaped heavy development for so long thanks to its difficult accessible location, some national park protection and the near-then turbulent situation in Cambodia. After Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced his vision for Koh Chang in October 2001, a spree of construction of luxury resorts has erupted. Restaurants, pubs, tour agencies, shops and minimarts are springing up like mushrooms. Land prices have soared more than double those of last year. Moreover, the recent construction of a four-lane highway from Bangkok, plus newly opened airport in Trat will certainly help promoting the island.