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Trekking on Koh Chang

A jungle walk on the wild side.

The majority of visitors get as far as the beach and a snorkelling trip and possibly an elephant ride but that's it as far as activities go.  One reason for the lack of trekkers is that it isn't something that you can easily do on your own without a guide.  Many people like to go hill walking but here are usually plenty of marked trails in National Parks.  In Thailand many of the major parks have marked trails which are well signposted and easy to follow.  However, on KC the National Park staff are more interested in taking 200 baht of foreign tourists wanting to walk 400 metres to see a waterfall than they are in providing any useful services such as marked trails.

Therefore, you need a guide.  Most guides are locals who know the areas and will happily take people up into the jungle when they have free time.  However, there are very few licensed tour guides doing trekking work and even fewer who speak enough English and also know enough about the flora and fauna that you will see to be able to actually guide you, rather than you just playing 'Follow the leader' up a hill. 

Meet Your Guide

“Welcome to the Jungle!” My name is Tan. I hope you are enjoying your holiday on Koh Chang and can find some time to let me show you the real highlight of Koh Chang – the tropical rainforest.

I have been a fully qualified tour guide, licensed by the Tourist Authority of Thailand, for over 10 years. I started out in Chiang Mai where I studied Tourism & Hotel management at university and worked as a trekking guide. I then had the chance to move to Australia to study Film & TV production and study English. Having lived there for over 6 years I decided it was time to return home to work in the south of Thailand.

I spent 3 years, right up until the Tsunami hit, working as a guide in Phuket, Trang & Krabi area. The hotel I worked for was destroyed but I survived and decided to move somewhere a little safer to find my next job. I chose Koh Chang and immediately fell in love with the island.

I have been living here since 2005 and have spent a long time planning and making my own, unique trekking routes which suit people of all ages and levels of fitness.

Please come and join me for a trek to find out more about the plants and animals that live in the National Park and to see parts of Koh Chang that are still unaffected by tourism.

About the Four Trekking programs

1). Klong Son Trek

This was the first trekking route mapped out by Tan.  You'll head through fruit plantations and up to the top of Khao Chedi, around 500 metres above sea level.  You'll have lunch on the top and then descend via a different route to a small river and waterfall where you'll be able to cool off and swim before you return home.  

2). Klong Son Trek + Elephant Trek.

Finish you day with an elephant ride at the nearby Baan Kwan Chang elephant camp.  After the trek, you will walk down to the camp where you can take a ride and feed the elephants before returning to your hotel.

3). Khao Jom Trek

Khao Jom is the 630 metre peak that towers over White Sand Beach. This trek will take you to the summit. The terrain, heat and humidity combine to make this trek challenging. In all you will be walking for approximately 6 hours and will be left with a very memorable day out.

The trek begins by walking through the flat fruit fields and rubber plantations in Klong Son valley before you start to climb up to Khao Chedi, and then descent into a valley before heading up to the summit of Khao Jom. On the way up you may see monkeys and also wild boar traps laid by local hunters plus numerous species of lizard, spider and forest plants that inhabit this area.

Once you reach the top you will be rewarded with breathtaking views across the jungle clad hills and valleys of Koh Chang. Directly below is White Sand beach and to the south Klong Prao and Kai Bae beaches stretch into the distance. You may even see flying below you some of the rare Hornbills and Eagles that live in this area. Then, having rested and eaten lunch on the summit, it is then time to start heading down.

After a hot day in the jungle, the final stop on the descent is at a water hole in the jungle where you can relax and swim in a cool mountain stream before you head back to your hotel.

** I did the Khao Jom trek in July 2008, in the rainy season, this isn't a trek for anyone wanting an easy stroll in the jungle.  It's a long day that will leave you feeling totally shattered - but with a great feeling of achievement when you look back at where you've walked. Photos and story **

4). Half Day Family Trek

If you are travelling with young children, or are looking for a gentle introduction to the jungle, this trek is for you.

The half day trek starts at 9.00am in Klong Prao village. We’ll follow a track inland, on the way you will also see some of the plants that only live in the jungle and we will also pass through fruit and rubber tree plantations, where we can also see how the trees are tapped and rubber is produced.

There are no steep climbs on this trek and most of the terrain is flat, but you will get some great views of the inland mountains. During the trek we will also stop to cool down and swim at a waterhole in the river. So don’t forget your swimsuit!

We’ll finish the trek at around 12.00pm at Chang Chutiman elephant camp, where you can feed the elephants before you are taken back to your hotel.

Group Size

The minimum is two people, maximum is 6 people.  No large groups. You will be picked up from your hotel between 8:30 - 9:00 am and will get back to your hotel between 4:30 - 6:00 pm if you are on a full day trek.

Schedule & Price from 1 Oct 2008 - 31 May 2009

Day

Trek

Price

Monday & Friday

Klong Son Trek

900 Baht

Tuesday & Saturday

Klong Son Trek + Elephant Trek

1,300 Baht

Wednesday & Sunday

Khao Jom Trek

1,000 Baht

Thursday

Half Day Family Trek

600 Baht

Price include transportation from & to your hotel, lunch, fruit, water, backpack (* Half day trek - lunch not included )

How to book

When you're on Koh Chang you can call Tan direct at: 089.645.2019 to book. (His mobile will probably be switched off whilst he is trekking, so evenings are the best time to reach him).  Please tell him that you got his phone number from this site.

If you want to book in advance you can do so by email - see below the photos.  No advance payment is required, you will be asked to pay Tan on the day of your trek.  But you'll need to contact Tan when you are on Koh Chang to confirm your booking.

Photos

These were taken by a couple of Tan's customers in 2007-08

Heading up the hill . . .

Through the jungle . . .

If you make it to the top of Khao Jom, you'll get this view

Taking a shortcut to the swimming hole . . .

Now you're in the jungle . . .

Cooling off at a larger pool. . .

Tan will carry your lunch, drinking water and fruit with him . . .

You'll learn a bit about the flora and fauna in a jungle.

Heading down . . .

Optional elephant trek at the end of the day . . .

Email bookings / Enquiry

Your Name

Email

Date of Trek 

     

 

Type of Trek

Trek Trek + Elephant Trek
Khao Jom Trek Family Trek  

Number of adults:

Number of children

Your Questions / Comments

 

 

 

Disclaimer: By following any of what's written here you're putting your faith in one person's thoughts on an entire island.  These may not coincide with your own.  However, if you're looking for an antidote to all those hotel booking sites that crop up in your Google searches or sites supported by advertisers, then you've come to the right place.  If you've found this site useful and want to say 'Thanks' either seek out Lisa the Vet when you're on KC and make a donation to her foundation that takes cares of all the sick & injured animals on the island; or stick some good chocolate or a  bottle of cheap wine in your suitcase for me.  Thanks.