Sailing In Thailand
Ko Chang and it's undiscovered archipelago
In keeping with our SeaScape "one step ahead of the crowds" philosophy - this season we'll be sailing new grounds in Thailand! Ko Chang - so named for it's shape of a sleeping elephant - was scarcely on the backpacker map of the world a decade ago. It truly was a sleepy, secret hideaway of gorgeous little islands - with all the tropical attractions but none of the tourist masses ! It's about where Phuket was, 30 years ago.
Times are a-changin' quickly; and Ko Chang is beginning to grow. Luxury resorts are making an appearance; tour boats are starting to multiply. Luckily, the governmental powers-that-be were smart enough to create a national Marine Park around many of the little islands - allowing current villages to stay but no further development permitted.
Ko Chang itself has beautiful white sand beaches on it's western coast; traditional fishing villages on the east. You can still find both the lowkey 30-dollar-a-day backpacker huts amongst the beautifully designed spa resorts, with all that decadent pampering the Thais excel at ! For the intrepid, there are elephant treks and canopy swinging; waterfalls and jungle hikes; temples and traditional villages.
Just below Ko Chang, the little marine park islands are THE place for snorkelling and diving; thanks to the preservation order, the coral is alive and thriving, as are a multitude of colourful tropical fish. Quiet, tranquil, anchorages we can have entirely to ourselves at night.
Further south, Ko Mak and Ko Kut have their own unique, and totally Thai character. The gorgeous beaches go without saying! - there's lots more of cultural interest too. Rivers to explore, waterfalls to hike - and let's not forget sunset cocktails at Cap'n Hook's !
