Pattaya is 147 km southeast of Bangkok and faces the Gulf of Thailand. The only place of note between Bangkok and Pattaya is a small marina in a housing development in the Bang Pakong River.
The coast southeast from Pattaya to the Cambodian border has many relatively undeveloped islands.
For the moment there is only one really safe year-round haven for yachts along this coast, Ocean Marina just south of Pattaya. There is also a good natural harbour at Sattahip, but this is used by the Royal Thai Navy and is out of bounds.
As a result, there are still not many yachts or motor cruisers plying the coast, but Ocean Marina Yacht Club has recently become active and organizes many cruising flotillas to the islands to the south. The voyage from Pattaya to Koh Kut near the Cambodian border will certainly not lead to crowded anchorages. This trip is well worth the effort, with lots of splendid unspoiled islands to visit.
Koh Chang national park, a group of more than 50 islands near the Cambodian border, is about 200 miles, by land and sea, to the southeast of Bangkok. It is famous for beautiful coral, waterfalls and beaches.
The biggest and northernmost island, Koh Chang (30 km long, 18 km wide), is the second largest in Thailand after Phuket and is also the most tourist developed.
The highest point is Khao Jom Peasat at 744 metres above sea level. The only flat land fringes the ocean on a very narrow strip so it is unlikely an airstrip will ever be built on the island, giving it a good chance of escaping the haphazard development of other Thai islands.
The waters surrounding the islands have a good variety of hard and soft corals. The group is bounded to the south by Koh Kut which is close to the Cambodian border.
The nearest city is Trat, served by highways to Bangkok and an airport. It is the capital of Thailand’s most southeastern province, adjoining the Cambodian border. Ferries operate from Laem Ngop to the main islands in the group.
Koh Chang has long sandy beaches, mostly on the west coast, and is still covered with mountainous rain forest for more than 60 percent of its area.
Koh Mak, the major island between Koh Chang and Koh Kut is covered with coconut groves and has a good beach on the northwest bay.
‹‹ Back to Thailand Section ...While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this book is accurate, the charts of anchorages are based on personal experience and satellite imagery and are intended as a guide only. They should not be used for navigation. Please refer to Official Hydrographic Charts of the respective countries.
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