Koh Chang Travel Guide | Koh Chang Jungle Trekking |

Jungle Trekking

Handcrafted by Ian on October 3, 2010 No Comment

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Surprisingly, few people bother making the effort to head into Koh Chang’s interior on a trek. But if you need some exercise whilst on holiday it’s definitely worth doing. Whilst there are no signposted routes, there are guided treks available to suit everyone from families with young children to people wanting a serious test of their stamina.

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. Even in Thailand many of the major parks have marked trails which are well signposted and easy to follow. Hikers can select trails of varying length and difficulty to suit their own requirements.

However, on Koh Chang 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. There is an argument that having trails will disturb the wildlife, but as there are paved roads through many parks which are home to a far more diverse and interesting range of animals than Koh Chang, this argument falls flat.

Therefore, you’ll need a guide if you want to go into the jungle on Koh Chang. 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.

There are a couple of good trekking guides on Koh Chang, but the one that I recommend is a guy called ‘Tan’ who runs Tan Trekking. Tan has worked as a licensed tour and trekking guide for over a decade in Koh Chang, Krabi and Chiang Mai. He also spent six years living in Australia, so you won’t have any communication problems . . . providing you can speak English or Thai.

(If you are staying nearer the south of Koh Chang, ‘Jungleman Raht‘, a Koh Chang native, leads treks into the hills in the south of the island near Bangbao. Also Toon, another local based in Pearl beach, runs a good website for trekking – KohChangTrekking.info on Koh Chang and offers a variety of treks including ones across the island and also birdwatching treks for any avid twitchers. Contact them direct via their websites for bookings or more info.)

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1. Klong Son Trek with optional Elephant 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. On the way back you will walk past Baan Kwan Chang elephant camp where you finish the day with an elephant trek. ( If you do not with to ride the elephant you can relax at the camp & feed the elephants instead.)

2. Klong Prao Trek (New for 2009/10)

This new trek is great for anyone staying in the Klong Prao or Kai Bae areas – no need for a long ride in a pick up truck to get to the trekking area. You will start close to Klong Prao village, head insland through grassland and fruit and rubber plantations before starting to climb to the top of a 500 metre peak from where you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views over Klong Prao and Kai Bae beaches. After lunch you’ll head down the opposite side of the mountain stopping to swim in a water hole and then head back to the village.

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 6-7 hours and will be left feeling extremely tired but with a good sense of achievement.

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. )

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. You’ll follow a track inland, on the way you will see some of the plants that only live in the jungle and will also pass through fruit and rubber plantations, where you’ll 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 you will also stop to cool down and swim at a waterhole in the river. The trek ends at around 12:00 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 around 6-8 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.

Children

Apart from the half day trek, the treks are only suitable for physically fit children aged 14 or older. If they are ‘big boned’ then it is best to leave them by the pool or in front of the TV for a day, rather than force march them up a hill in heat and humidity.

Schedule & Price from 1 Oct 2010 – 31 May 2011

Day	Trek	Price
Monday & Friday	1. Klong Son Trek (+ Elephant Trek)	900 Baht or 1,300 Baht
Tuesday & Saturday	2. Klong Prao Trek	900 Baht
Wednesday & Sunday	3. Khao Jom Trek	1,000 Baht
Thursday	4. Half Day Family Trek	600 Baht

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

As group size is small , it is worth booking in advance. You can make a provisional booking online and then confirm by phone, direct with Tan, once you are on Koh Chang.