Boat Rental in Koh Chang

Renting a boat in Koh Chang is not just for style points. The island’s interior is a mass of hilly jungles, and with so many secluded beaches to explore, a boat rental is the most effective way of getting around. Fast, fun, and efficient, a rental boat will not just allow you to beach hop, but to island-hop as well. Koh Chang’s neighbors Koh Kood, Koh Mak, and Koh Wai all have a unique island vibe. It’s worth exploring them with a boat rental too. With the Mu Ko Chang National Park extending across the island and out to sea, you will find some of the most vibrant coral reefs in Thailand just off the coast. These reefs are a paradise for divers and snorkeling enthusiasts. Renting a boat from Koh Chang is the best way to see them for yourself, with most rental vessels coming equipped with at least basic snorkeling gear.

Koh Chang boat rental will give you the feeling of freedom, luxury, and quality time alone with nature. But it doesn’t have to break the bank! Many people believe that this kind of experience is off-limits because of the image of high-priced yachts and luxury catamarans that ‘boat rentals’ conjures up. In the ‘Land of Smiles,’ this needn’t be the case. A small speed boat rental will cost around $250 a day, with larger, more luxurious boat rentals fetching a higher premium. Most boat rental companies in Koh Chang will allow you to either set sail yourself and take charge of the boat or provide a skipper to lend a hand. It is undoubtedly very freeing to be on the open ocean alone or with your friends and family, but a skilled skipper can take you to areas that are popular with the locals, which can make for some pretty memorable, secluded experiences.

Like many other Thai islands, Koh Chang has an abundance of boat tours that leave from the main beaches or piers. Unlike private boat rental, these tours will have a set itinerary that they must follow and are open to the public. Although these tours may give you less freedom than your private boat rental will, what they lack in privacy they make up for in affordability. Most popular boat tours in Koh Chang usually involve snorkeling down to the reef, taking in the island’s amazing views from the ocean, and various other activities like fishing or even kayaking. One of the main points that draw me to these tours is the food that they provide. A day at sea off the coast of a stunning island paradise is one thing, mix in the chance of getting a home-cooked Thai banquet on deck, and you can’t go wrong!

A boat rental is a great way to see the island of Koh Chang from another angle. When you rent a boat for a day, you could easily spend it all just cruising around the coast, cherry-picking your favorite beaches and snorkeling spots from the plethora on offer. However, there are some other exciting places to explore when you have a rental boat for the whole day. Koh Wai is a crescent shaped island about 40 minutes away from Koh Chang. It’s the perfect place to come for those who want to get away from the crowds and have a private island feeling. Koh Wai’s vibe is exceptionally laid back, with none of the touristy trimmings that take away some of the more popular islands’ magic. This back to basics day trip would see you relaxing on soft, white, sandy beaches and diving into crystal clear blue water with nobody else around. You can snorkel straight off the beach and if you run into one of the public tour groups, just hop back onboard your Koh Chang boat rental and head for a more scenic part of the island.

A boat rental in Koh Chang and an entire weekend at your disposal, there’s not much around the island that you can’t do. Given the freedom provided by the boat rental, nothing is stopping you from visiting all three of Koh Chang’s island neighbors. Koh Kood stands out for me, as it was once called “Thailand’s last unspoiled island.” Although it’s picking up in popularity, there is a real traditional feel here, with villages, lush palms, and almost no traffic. Much like Koh Chang, the island’s interior is covered in jungle-clad mountains and rewards those brave enough to take on its trails with stunning waterfalls, pools, and beautiful vistas. Checking out Klong Chao and Ao Noi beaches on your rental boat are a must-do while enjoying the quiet calm of Koh Kood.

Koh Chang is an excellent place for diving, with many diving boat rentals available for both day and liveaboard rentals. Most of the diving boats leave from Bangbao on the southern tip of the island. A great spot for all levels of divers is around Koh Rang, within the National Park. The area boasts a vast range of diving, from wrecks to rock pinnacles. With over 30 sites, there is no chance of having the same dive twice, making Koh Chang very popular with diving boat rentals.

The high season in Koh Chang is from November to February, as the cool weather and calm seas make it a perfect time to visit the island and take a rental boat for a spin. March and May are when the heat starts to rise, and few will be brave enough to face the sun for more than a few minutes at a time in this exceptionally humid period. We recommend avoiding May- October altogether for those wanting the best boat rental experience, as the seas around Koh Chang are choppy, and the chances of huge storms are high.