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Quick and Short Travel Tips |
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Three Ways of Traveling at Koh Si Chang |
 Most people who visited Chonburi would not miss visiting the islands in this province. Following are some popular islands in Chonburi.
Koh Si Chang is an island with long history and wonderful place of King Rama V. Near this island are another two islands called Koh Kham Yai and Koh Kang Kao.
Not far from Pattaya beach are Koh Lan, Koh Krok and Koh Sak. The three islands are perfect getaway with beautiful beaches and marine world for those who do not have much time. You can conveniently visit the islands within one day.
In the naval area, Sattahip district, tourists can only get to Koh Kham, because other nearby islands are reserved to be turtle’s egg-laying spot.
There are no accommodations on most of these islands, with an exception of Koh Si Chang, Koh Lan, and Koh Kang Kao. Therefore, most tourists choose to visit Chonburi’s island within one day.
Koh Si Chang
Location: The west of Chonburi, approximately 12 kilometers away from Siracha district.
How to get there: From Ekkamai Bus Terminal in Bangkok, get off at the entrance to Koh Loi on Sukhumvit Road. Then continue with tricycle or motorcycle to Charin Port, and find a boat to Koh Si Chang there. The boat service starts from 07.00 am to 08.00 pm, and the journey takes around 45 minutes. If you bring the car, you can park it at the port where car-caretaking service is available.
The passenger boat leaves Charin Port to Koh Si Chang every 1-hour.
From Siracha to Koh Si Chang: The first boat leave at 07.00 am, the last at 08.00 pm.
From Koh Si Chang to Siracha: The first boat leaves at 06.00 am, the last at 06.00 pm.
The journey takes around 30 minutes, and boat fare is 35 Baht.
Koh Si Chang was registered as a district on July 4th, 1994, but it has been a familiar tourist attraction much earlier than that. Covering an area of 8 square kilometers, this island also has 8 minor islands, namely Koh Kham Yai, Koh Kham Noi, Koh Prong, Koh Ran Dokmai, Koh Sapan Yeu, Koh Kang Kao, Koh Yai Tao, and Koh Tai Ta Meun.
 Most areas of Koh Si Chang are high hills, pine trees, and sandy beaches. It has no streams or rivers to product freshwater at all. Thus Koh Si Chang islands all recognize the value of freshwater, which they need to buy from Siracha district. The highest point of Koh Si Chang is at Khao Phrachunlachomklao, a hill located in the north of the island. This hill is approximately 192 meters above sea level, and undoubtedly serves as the best scenery spot of Koh Si Chang.
On weekend there will be a lot of tourists from everywhere, especially Bangkok. Because the island is very close to the city and the transportation is very easy. The boat from Charin Port will come to Tewawong Port (or Tha Lang) where tourists could find all the information concerning traveling at Koh Si Chang. From this spot, ones could get to other parts of the island by Skylab (taxi-motor tricycle) or taxi-motorcycle easily. Touring around the island by a Skylab (4 to 5 persons) within one-day costs 250 Baht. Despite the fact that Koh Si Chang is one of the most outstanding attractions in Chonburi, 70 per cent of islanders here still make a living by catching fish, trading, wage earning, and working for the government. So we can always see simple and traditional lifestyles of islanders here.
There are three types of traveling at Koh Si Chang; historical tour, temple tour, and nature tour.
Koh Si Chang used to be a resort and sanatorium for many kings in Chakkri Dynasty, King Rama IV, King Rama V, and King Rama VI.
Most historical attractions are located in the east of the island at Chutatucha Rachathan Museum. This museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday (09.00am to 04.30pm). inside this area are many interesting ancient buildings, such as Pong Sri Building, a rounded single-floor domed building, Wattana Building, a rectangular yellow building in western style, etc.
If you are interested in temple tour, do not miss Wat Chutatisatham that is located on Khao Kyasira. This temple is the location of Khao Yai Shrine and is very respected by Si Chang people, especially the Chinese.
 Approximately 15 minutes away from Khao Yai Shrine is Chedi Liam and Phra Buddhabard, or the square-based pagoda and Buddha footprint. These two sacred objects were brought from Wat Phuttakya in India since King Rama V. This spot is also a beautiful view spot of Koh Si Chang.
Wat Assadang Nimit is located within the area of old palace. Its white pagoda could be seen even from the boat before reaching the island. From this pagoda, there is a small path to Khao Noi view spot where you can see the panorama of the whole Koh Si Chang.
As for the nature tour, there is a beach suitable for swimming and kayaking in the west of the island, named Haad Tham Phang. The white sandy beach is not very wide, but has plenty of beach chairs and food stalls, as well as bathrooms and restrooms. The north of this beach is Laem Chakkapong, a cape where tourists love to come fishing and watching sunset. In the northeast of the island are Chong Khao Khad and Laem Mahawachirawut, two scenery spots where local people often visit and relax in the evening.
Accommodations
There are many rates of hotels and bungalows around the island, as well as restaurants and food stalls along the road. |
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5 Popular Islands in Chonburi
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Koh Si Chang
Most areas of Koh Si Chang are high hills, pine trees, and sandy beaches. It has no streams or rivers to product freshwater at all. Thus Koh Si Chang islands all recognize the value of freshwater, which they need to buy from Siracha district. |
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Koh Kang Kao
This island might not sound very familiar to many tourists, although it is located only 2 kilometers away from Koh Si Chang. In fact, Koh Kang Kao is a very quiet island.
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Koh Lan, Beauty of the Beaches
Koh Lan tends to be a more appealing choice, because of the beauty of the beaches and the underwater world. Moreover, the overall atmosphere of Koh Lan also proves to be much peaceful, whereas the transportation to the island is convenient.
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Koh Kham, the Beauty of the Marine World
Koh Kham is Sattahip district is under management and organization of coastal defense naval force. So here tourists need to travel in eco-tourism style, according to the regulations of the Navy. Interesting activities are watching coral reefs from glass-bottom boat, diving, and trekking around the island.
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Sightseeing in Chonburi
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Angsila
Angsila is the first seaside resort in Thailand. It is charming with wonderful scenery, friendly ambiance of local people, and the famous products of the village, sculpted rocks. There is a famous fisherman village and a grand market where you can buy fresh seafood. |
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Khao Sam Muk
Khao Sam Muk is a famous attraction that is paired with Haad Bang Saen for a long time. On the top of the hill are Khao Sam Muk Shrine and a spectacular view spot.
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Bang Saen
Bang Saen is one of the most famous and popular attractions near the city, so on every holiday the beach will be crowded with tourists, especially Thai families.
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Laem Taen
Laem Taen is a cape where you can watch school of dolphins that immigrate to this area in could season. Today Laem Taen serves as a seaside public park for tourists and local people to rest, watch beautiful scenery, and have a meal.
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Nong Mon Market
Nong Mon Market is the largest local products market and the most visited local market of Chonburi. On both side of the road are more than a hundred stalls selling dry seafood, desserts, fruits, and preserved food.
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Marine Science Institution
Marine Science Institution is a part of Burapa University. Established in 1969, it was originally an animal museum and a sea animal-breeding center. But in 1980, this museum got a financial support from Japanese government, and was elevated to be a Marine Science Institution and Museum.
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Koh Loi
Koh Loi is a small island close to the mainland in Siracha district. In the past it used to be only a harbor for large vessels, but today as there is a concrete bridge leading to the island, the place is set up again as a public park. |
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Pattaya Walking Street
The best-known beach of Chonburi, maybe even the most famous one of Thailand, is Pattaya. This long beach of Pattaya could be divided into three parts, North Pattaya, Mid Pattaya, and South Pattaya.
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Khao Thap Phraya Beauty Spot
This view pot is very spectacular beacus it yields the scenery of the whole Pattaya downtown; high buildings, houses of local people, tourists boats in the bay, and most wonderfully, the glowing streets of Pattaya at dusk.
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Bang Sa Re
Bang Sa Re Beach is a beautiful beach of red-brown color. It is very suitable for swimming, picnicking, and fishing, as the place is serene and private.
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Haad Dong Tan
Haad Dong Tan is a true place for relaxation, because cars are allowed to pass and park here only before 10.00am and after 05.00pm, so the place is exceptionally free from any pollution. |
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Haad Jomtien
Haad Jomtien is a beach connected to Haad Dong Tan, just you walk a bit further you will find Haad Jomtien shortly. This beach is approximately 6 kilometers long; it is quite a favorite beach that, together with Pattaya, has won the heart of visitors for long time since the early period of tourism.
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Haad Nang Ram
Haad Nang Ram is a beach within the military area, so it is pretty quiet place. The 200 meters long white sandy beach is shady with rows of pine trees and is very nice for a swim. |
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Haad Nang Rong
It is a beach located just a bit further from Haad Nang Ram. This beach is equally beautiful and quiet as Haad Nang Ram, but it is open for tourists only on Saturday and Sunday.
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Haad Toey Ngam or Haad Nawigayothin
Its clean white sandy beach has gentle slope and is pretty good for swimming and picnicking. Nearby is a museum that displays many objects about the Navy Forces, naval arms, naval uniforms, and models of naval battle settings, for instance. |
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Sea Turtle Conservation Center
Sea turtle Conservation Center is originally His Majesty’s Project. It is the location of researching institution and turtle breeding farms and nursery ponds. |
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Samae San, The Charming Fisherman Village
Koh Samae San is a large island near the land. In old days it used to be the location of Samae San community, however, today they all have gone to live on the land by the order of Navy Force.
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