By Nida Tunsuttiwong
As well as being home to the village fishing community of Bang Bao, the island of Koh Chang, located in the eastern province of Trad, has also built its reputation as a tourist destination on its impressive beaches and stunning scenery, as well as mountainous terrain and waterfalls set within rich, tropical forests. The two main roads that run along the east and west coasts of Koh Chang make it easy for visitors to explore the island on a rented motorcycle. These usually cost about 300 baht (US$10) per day and you can find rental shops along Hat Sai Khao (‘White Sand Beach’). It's also possible to take you car across to the island, if you prefer, by using the car ferry service, which charges 200 baht per car for a round trip.
Popular JauntAn impressive natural attraction that doesn’t take very long to reach by car or motorcycle is the Khlong Plu Waterfall on the island’s west coast. To reach the waterfall, head south from Hat Sai Khao in the direction of Khlong Prao Bay. Once you reach the bay, continue straight ahead and you'll soon reach the waterfall, as it is located about three kilometers away from the bay.
At the entrance to Mu Ko Chang National Park, you’ll see several local restaurants, which you might wish to check out ahead of the 700-meter walk to the waterfall. Ideally, wear some decent walking boots, which have good ankle support and high quality soles, since this route is not well paved and can be rather slippery at times. Nevertheless, if you’re reasonably fit, you should make the effort, since there’s a lot to see along the way.
Along the path you’ll see signs providing useful information about the various birds, trees and vegetation located in the area, while you’ll also come across some small water courses that flow downhill into the main waterway. The waterfall’s first level, which stands at a height of about 40 meters, is accessible year-round. There are several spots at this level where it's safe to swim as the water is pretty shallow and there are always some park officials keeping watch nearby.
If you wish to explore the second and third levels, it’s worth planning ahead since this journey can be fairly time consuming. You should also see whether or not a park guide can accompany you, as, if they can, it will be make the journey much easier. 
Than Mayom WaterfallThis waterfall is located off the road that runs along the island’s east coast. If you visit Khlong Plu Waterfall, you can use the same ticket to enter Than Mayom Waterfall, so long as it has been purchased on the same day. While it’s a much shorter walk at 200 meters, it's far more difficult to reach, particularly for folks who would prefer to not get wet.
The journey involves climbing across huge rocks, using climbing ropes provided by the park. Another section required participants to traverse another group of rocks before crossing a stream. It’s also possible to walk up by means of jumping into the water and taking a rather more direct route. The water reaches about waist height, although you should stay alert since the water can rush quite quickly at times, so proceed with caution.
While this waterfall is far smaller than Khlong Plu, it nevertheless offers some stunning spectacles due to the surrounding rocks and the trees’ rich foliage, providing an impressive landscape. It costs 40 baht for Thai adults and 20 baht for Thai children to enter Mu Ko Chang National Park, while foreigners pay 200 baht each and accompanying (foreign) children 100 baht each.
For further information, contact Mu Ko Chang National Park on Tel: +66 (0)3 955 5080.Transport Connections:
Car: From Bangkok, take Highway 3 (Sukhumvit Road) right through to Trad province. You can get a ferry to Koh Chang from Ao Thammachart (Thammachart Bay) and the journey takes about 30 minutes. Ferry services begin running at 6.30 am and finish at about 7 pm. A roundtrip ticket costs 120 baht per person and 200 baht for a car.
source: Tannetwork.tv
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