Thailand is a magical place that will always have a special place in my heart. In 2011, I traveled to Asia for the first time with my now husband and his family and we got to explore several beautiful areas of Thailand.

Our trip to Thailand lasted for 3 weeks and, within that time, we visited Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Koh Chang. In this 3-part blog series, I’m breaking down each place we stayed and our favorite things we did in each place. This week, I’ve described our wonderful stay in Bangkok and in Chiang Mai. Today, I’m going to walk you through what we got up to during our trip to the beautiful island of Koh Chang.

Koh Chang

If I had to choose one word to describe Koh Chang it would be PARADISE. Clear, blue waters, white sand, delicious fresh fruit, and stunning wildlife. Very romantic!

We hired a private van to drive us from Bangkok to Koh Chang, which provided quite the road trip view! And, with the size of our group, it was very reasonably priced.

We drove on to a ferry boat that brought us directly to the island. As you can tell, we were pretty damn excited!

We stayed in an all-inclusive resort in Koh Chang with a private pool and complimentary breakfast every morning, located right on the beach. We were in absolute heaven!

Here are a few things to do in Koh Chang:

Go Snorkeling

This was BY FAR the best travel experience I’ve had so far in my life. EVER. We woke up at dawn one morning and made our way towards the docks for a snorkeling adventure. The water was bright blue and every boat was as colorful and beautiful as the next.

We rode on the boat for quite a while and took in the indescribably jaw-dropping views of Koh Chang. It was definitely one of those mornings where you just feel grateful to be alive.

After an hour or so, we all put on our snorkels and hopped into the water. I’d never snorkeled before this experience, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. As I peered into the water, I was surrounded by rainbow colored fish swimming in unison just a few inches away from me. It was beyond words. It was pure magic. I was smiling from ear-to-ear the whole morning.

Once we tired ourselves out from snorkeling, the boat dropped us off on a small island. David and I just laid there in the sun feeling like kings and soaking in the warmth. We were living in a dream.

It was a perfect day.

Embrace The Nightlife

There are many bars and restaurants in Koh Chang to enjoy, some of them even located right on the beach. Some had fire dancers, some had live music, all of them just as fun as the next. Explore Koh Chang lists a few places you can choose from to party the night away.

Try New Foods

Thai food is delicious and there are so many dishes to try that aren’t as readily available in Westernized countries. Whenever I travel, I make it my mission to try new things and that especially applies to food. Be brave! Try everything. Food is an integral part of any culture and tasting local food gives you a better sense of their way of life.

Rambutan for breakfast!

I absolutely fell in love with taro buns while I was in Thailand!

Relax

Unlike the other areas of Thailand, where I encourage people to do as many activities as they can, I think it’s important to take time in Koh Chang to relax and let go of all your little stresses. Koh Chang is a place to slow down and take in the sights.

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I would encourage absolutely anyone to take a trip to Koh Chang and see its beauty for yourself! Be sure to also check out my posts on things to do in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Happy traveling!