Mu Ko Chang National Park

Mu Ko Chang National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติหมู่เกาะช้าง) is a marine national park covering 650 km² of the Gulf of Thailand, of which approximately 70% is offshore. Established on 31 December 1982, it protects 52 islands — including Ko Chang, Ko Kut, Ko Mak, Ko Wai, and Ko Rang — along with their surrounding coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove forests, and the rainforest-covered mountains of the larger islands. The park office is located at Laem Ngop on the mainland coast of Trat Province.

The park's centrepiece is Ko Chang (เกาะช้าง, "Elephant Island"), the third-largest island in Thailand, whose mountainous spine reaches 744 m at Khao Salak Phet. The archipelago's islands vary dramatically in size and development: Ko Chang has become a major tourist destination with hundreds of resorts and restaurants; Ko Kut and Ko Mak offer quieter, more upscale escapes; and tiny Ko Wai and Ko Rang are virtually undeveloped, serving primarily as snorkelling and dive destinations. On land, the park protects evergreen rainforest with wildlife including macaques, civet cats, wild boar, deer, monitor lizards, and a diverse range of bird species.

The climate is tropical monsoon with a pronounced wet season. The best time to visit is the cool, dry season from November to February, when seas are calm, visibility for diving is at its peak, and all ferry services are running. March–May is hot but dry. The rainy season (June–October) brings rough seas, reduced ferry schedules, and many small island resorts close. The annual rainfall on Ko Chang exceeds 4,000 mm, making it one of the wettest places in Thailand.

By Plane

The nearest airport is Trat Airport (TDX IATA), served by Bangkok Airways from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). From the airport, minibuses go to the ferry piers at Laem Ngop or Laem Sok.

By Car / Road

Buses from Bangkok's Ekamai and Mo Chit terminals to Trat (5–8 hr, around 250 baht) connect to songthaews for the ferry piers. Government Bus 999 from Ekamai goes directly to Laem Ngop (268 baht). By car, take Highway 3 (Bang Na–Trat) for approximately 315 km from Bangkok.

Ferries and speedboats depart from Laem Ngop (for Ko Chang), Laem Sok (for Ko Kut and Ko Mak), and Bang Bao on Ko Chang (for inter-island services, high season only).

Within the national park, the only way to move between islands is by boat — ferry, speedboat, or chartered longtail. Larger islands have their own internal transport: songthaews on Ko Chang, motorbike and bicycle rentals on Ko Mak and Ko Kut. Many day-trip tours operate from Ko Chang to the smaller islands (Ko Wai, Ko Rang) and include snorkelling stops.

• Ko Chang — the park's largest island, with rainforest-covered mountains, numerous waterfalls (Klong Plu, Klong Nonsi, Than Mayom), and a string of west-coast beaches from White Sand to Lonely Beach.

• Ko Chang Naval Battle Monument — on the east side of Ko Chang and at Laem Ngop on the mainland, commemorating the 1941 Franco-Thai naval battle.

• Bang Bao Fishing Village — a stilted village at the southern tip of Ko Chang, built over the water.

• Ko Wai — a tiny island with Ao Yai beach and the most accessible coral reefs for snorkelling.

• Ko Rang — an uninhabited island surrounded by the best dive sites in the park, including hard coral gardens and the possibility of seeing turtles and reef sharks.

• Ko Kut waterfalls — Klong Chao, Huang Num Keaw, and Klong Yai Ki waterfalls on the park's second-largest island.

• Mangrove forests — around Salak Phet on Ko Chang and the estuary on Ko Kut, vital nursery grounds for marine life.

• Snorkelling — the park's coral reefs are the main draw. Popular snorkelling sites include the bays around Ko Wai, Ko Rang, and the western drop-off at Ko Chang. Equipment rental is widely available.

• Scuba diving — the Mu Ko Chang archipelago has several excellent dive sites. The wreck of HTMS Chang (sunk as an artificial reef off Ko Chang) is a highlight. Ko Rang National Marine Park has the best visibility and coral health. Several dive shops operate on Ko Chang, Ko Kut, and Ko Mak.

• Jungle trekking — hike to waterfalls and viewpoints on Ko Chang and Ko Kut. Khao Salak Phet (744 m) on Ko Chang is the highest peak in the park.

• Sea kayaking — paddle through mangrove estuaries on Ko Chang (Salak Phet) and Ko Kut (Klong Chao estuary).

• Wildlife watching — birds, macaques, and monitor lizards are commonly seen. The waters host sea turtles, dolphins, and occasional whale sharks.

Dining options are concentrated on the inhabited islands rather than within the park itself. Each island has its own food scene, from Ko Chang's wide range of Thai and international restaurants to Ko Kut's resort dining and Ko Mak's small beachfront eateries. For day trips to the smaller islands, bring your own food or arrange a lunch stop through your tour operator.

Bars and cafés are found on the main tourist islands (Ko Chang, Ko Kut, Ko Mak). On the smaller islands — Ko Wai and Ko Rang — only basic drinks are available from bungalow operations. There is no drinking water on the uninhabited islands; bring bottled water.

• On Ko Chang — the widest range, from budget bungalows (300–600 baht) to luxury resorts (3,000–8,000 baht+).
• On Ko Mak — mid-range beachfront bungalows (1,000–5,000 baht) and a few budget options.
• On Ko Kut — mainly mid-range to upscale resorts (1,500–30,000 baht+).
• On Ko Wai — basic solar-powered bungalows (400–1,200 baht).
• On Ko Rang — no accommodation; visited only by day boats.
• Camping — camping is not generally permitted on the park's beaches. Check with the park office at Laem Ngop for any designated camping areas.

There are no visitor centres or park-run shops on the islands. Souvenirs, snacks, and supplies are available through the resorts and the fishing villages on Ko Chang, Ko Mak, and Ko Kut. The park entrance fee (200 baht for foreigners, 40 baht for Thais) is collected at the park office at Laem Ngop or at certain access points on Ko Chang.

• Laem Ngop — the mainland gateway, with the Ko Chang Naval Battle Memorial and Ban Nam Chiao's hat-weaving village.
• Trat town (30–45 min) — provincial capital with night markets, historic shophouses, temples, and the Trat National Museum.
• Koh Kong, Cambodia (2 hr via Hat Lek border crossing) — the neighbouring Cambodian province with mangroves, waterfalls, and the Cardamom Mountains.
• Ko Samet (3 hr by road and ferry) — a popular island east of Rayong, accessible from the mainland pier at Ban Phe.