What to See in Mu Ko Chang National Park
Viewpoints
White Sand beach Viewpoint
Visitors arriving on Koh Chang will first pass through the village of Klong Son and drive over the big hill towards White Sand beach. As the road begins to descend there is an excellent viewpoint on the right hand side. From here you can get great views along the length of White Sand beach. Please note that there is no parking area here but a few cars can park on the roadside.
Kai Bae Viewpoint
This viewpoint is located on the hillside close to the turning for Sea View Resort, about 1km south of Kai Bae beach. From here visitors have an excellent view to the outlying islands of Koh Man Nai, Koh Man Nok, Koh Pli and Koh Yuak.
There is a car park here and also toilets and a coffee shop which is run by National Park rangers.
Waterfalls
Koh Chang has seven waterfalls that are accessible to visitors. These are located in different parts of the island. National Park entrance fees are only collected at the two busiest waterfalls, Klong Plu and Than Mayom .
You can use the same national park ticket to visit both these waterfalls on the same day.
Klong Plu Waterfall
Klong Plu is the busiest waterfall on Koh Chang. It is also the most easily accessible and the best spot for swimming.
It is the located at the end of an inland road in the Klong Prao area. The turning is signposted.
From the entrance to the waterfall it is a 600 metre walk along a well maintained trail by the river. There are information signs along the route which give walkers details about the type of flora and fauna they can see and also it’s significance and importance to the jungle’s eco-system.
It is also possible during the walk to get down to the river and see the friendly fish and, if you’re lucky, resident fresh water turtles.
The waterfall itself has an impressive 40 metre drop. At the bottom of the falls is a large plunge pool where visitors swim. Around the rim of the pool are rocks where people can sit or sunbathe.
Because of its location, Klong Plu gets very busy at weekends when Thai visitors come to the island. Visiting on a weekday will always be quieter. In addition, if you go when the park opens, at 8am, you are guaranteed to have the waterfall pretty much to yourself for an hour or two. It only gets busy from mid morning onwards.
This waterfall is open from 08:00 – 16:30 daily.
The entrance fee for foreigners is 200 Baht for foreign adults and 100 Baht for children.
Note that this is the only waterfall that has a lot of water all year round. The smaller waterfalls below will dry up.
Than Mayom Waterfall
In the past Than Mayom waterfall was the main attraction for Thai visitors to Koh Chang. There wasn’t a road along the west coast of the island and so no development on that side of the island. But visitors would take a boat from the mainland and come to the pier near Than Mayom waterfall to visit the site.
Than Mayom has a strong royal connection as the Thai Kings Rama V and VI were regular visitors. King Rama V also wrote his initials high up on a rock face near the first level. There is another inscription on a higher level, but only the first couple of levels are accessible for tourists.
There are a couple of smaller pools at Than Mayom where it is possible to swim. But overall a visit to this waterfall is more for history buffs than waterfall lovers.
This waterfall is open from 08:00 – 16:30 daily.
The entrance fee for foreigners is 200 Baht for foreign adults and 100 Baht for children.
Kai Bae Waterfall
Kai Bae waterfall is well worth visiting as it has a large pool where it’s possible to swim and is relatively easy to get to.
Access to the waterfall is through a small long stay house resort at the end of the track leading into Kai Bae valley. Pay the owner 40 Baht and they will show you the pathway that leads to the trail to the waterfall.
It is around 20 minutes walk from the entrance to the waterfall. During this time you are surrounded by the jungle. Care is needed in places as the trail isn’t well maintained and can be slippery.
The waterfall itself has a 20 metre drop into a deep pool.
There is also a trail leading around the left hand side of the pool and up to the top of the waterfall. From the top it’s possible to walk further along the river bed into the jungle. However care is needed as rocks at the top are slippery and so getting close to the edge of the falls isn’t recommended.
This waterfall doesn’t have any official opening hours. But it is only possible to visit in daylight.
The entrance / parking fee for foreigners is 40 Baht per person.
Klong Chao Lueam Waterfall
This waterfall is situated approximately 4km along Klong Son valley. There are handwritten signs to the waterfall and spellings vary, ‘Khlong Jao Lueam Waterfall’ is the same place.
Follow the road into the valley from Klong Son village and go to the very end. It dips down to cross a ford over a small river and then the road ends in the car park of a local resident. They have a few bungalows for rent and visitors must pay a 40 Baht fee for parking / access throuhg their land to the waterfall.
Take the marked path to the river and then there is a narrow trail along the riverside that it easy to follow. It is easy to follow the river deep into the jungle. As you go there are several small waterfall tiers. Most have pools where you can cool off. But they are small. Swimming is only possible at a couple of larger pools in the lower tiers.
This waterfall doesn’t have any official opening hours. But it is only possible to visit in daylight.
The entrance / parking fee for foreigners is 40 Baht per person.
Klong Nonsi Waterfall
This is a very pleasant waterfall on the east coast of the island.
Take the signposted concrete road around the back of the government offices in Dan Mai. This ends at a parking area by the river. Cross the river and follow a path into the jungle. There are four levels that are easily accessible. Swimming is possible in pools at a couple of levels.
This waterfall doesn’t have any official opening hours. But obviously it is only advisable to visit in daylight.
There is no entrance fee at this waterfall.
Khiri Phet Waterfall
This is a small waterfall in the southeast of Koh Chang. A paved roads leads to a parking area near a river. Follow the path over the river and then head upstream. There is a well worn, but narrow, trail.
After around 15 minutes the trail goes down to the riverbank and onto a rocky outcrop by in the river. There are a couple of pools here where swimming is possible. Around 100 metres upstream from here is another larger pool.
This waterfall doesn’t have any official opening hours. But obviously it is only advisable to visit in daylight.
There is no entrance fee at this waterfall.
And if you want an adventure . . . Klong Neung Waterfall
This is the tallest waterfall in Mu Ko Chang National Park. It is also the least visited.
Klong Neung is located in the southeast of the island. A paved road leads to a small car park. From here there is a trail through the brush that leads down to the river about 50 metres away.
There isn’t a trail to the waterfall. Instead you will have to scramble up the riverbed. This requires getting wet and also climbing up and around several large boulders. So it requires more effort than the other waterfalls listed here and shouldn’t be attempted by young children or anyone who isn’t reasonably fit.
After around 20 minutes of scrambling you will reach the waterfall. There is a very narrow gorge where it is possible to swim. unfortunately it isn’t easy to get a clear picture of the entire height of the waterfall. It is over 100 metres tall.
This waterfall doesn’t have any official opening hours. But obviously it is only advisable to visit in daylight.
There is no entrance fee at this waterfall.
Mangrove Forests
Mangroves can be found in numerous places on the island. The two largest mangrove forests on Koh Chang are in the south east of the island. They both have walkways where visitors can see the mangroves up close.
Salakphet Mangrove Walkway (The Red Bridge)
This walkway is accessed by following a signposted paved road from Salakphet temple. (Just follow signs in English for ‘The red bridge’)
The road skirts around fish ponds before ending at a small car park and coffeeshop, where the walkway also starts.
The red painted boardwalk leads around 800 metres though a sea of mangroves to the head of the bay where there is a larger viewing deck. There are information signs set up but these are only in Thai language.
After around 400 metres the walkway opens into an area of more recently planted mangroves. These are shorter than the older trees and so the view is one of a sea of mangroves laid out before you.
It is very picturesque. With the red walkways contrasting with blue sky and a multitude of shades of green from the mangroves and hills.
There is no entrance fee for this attraction.
Salakkok Mangrove Walkway
A few kilometres north of Salakphet lies Salakkok. This is a small fishing community built in a mangrove lined bay. There are two ways to experience the mangroves here. One is to rent a kayak from Salakkok Seafood restaurant and paddle through the canals in the mangroves out into the bay. The other is on a concrete walkway.
This was the first mangrove walkway built on the island. It is a 900 metre loop which starts and finished opposite Salakphet temple.
The walkway is made of concrete and meanders through mature mangrove trees. For most of the way you are in shade, as the trees tower high above you. But at the midpoint of the walk is a four floor viewing platform. This has great views across the tops of the trees.
There is no entrance fee for this attraction.
Trekking
There are various treks available for visitors. Licensed local guides will take hikers up one of several peaks in the national park. Full day treks up Khao Laem (often called Mount Salakphet) and Khao Jom (above White Sand beach) are the most popular.
Treks can be booked at any tour agent on the island. Please note that due to the heat and humidity jungle trekking in Thailand is much harder than hill walking in Europe or the USA, for example.
More details of jungle trekking on Koh Chang.
Diving and Snorkelling
Koh Rang is the centre for diving and snorkeling trips on Koh Chang. It is here that visitors are guaranteed crystal clear seas and many tropical fish and living coral.
This island lies within the marine national park and is situated about 20km south of Koh Chang. Many small islands, for example, Koh Rung, Koh Kra, Koh Thian, Thong Lang, Koh Yak, Koh Sam Pee Nong, Koh Mapruen and Koh Tun are dotted around the north and west of Koh Rang.
These islands are home to a wide diversity of underwater life. This includes many types of hard and soft corals.
Park rangers are stationed at the National Park Protection Unit on Koh Rang. They are responsible for monitoring the health of the underwater flora and fauna.
Koh Rang island also has three picturesque white sand beaches. There aren’t any resorts on the island. However there is a small shops and restaurant at the national park office. In addition there are a handful of bungalows, run by the park rangers, that can be rented.