Which is better Phuket or Koh Chang? Phuket or Koh Chang: choosing between two pearls of Thailand Phuket or Koh Chang is better

Where is it better to relax, on Samui or Phuket, Koh Chang or Krabi?

In recent years, Thailand has become an increasingly popular tourist destination. This is facilitated by the unusually beautiful nature and rich history, an excellent climate that allows you to relax on the beach all year round, and a rapidly developing tourism infrastructure. Thailand is a big country and the choice of holiday destinations is also quite large. Where it is better to relax in Thailand, everyone decides for themselves - a matter of personal taste and preference. But in order to choose the right place to relax, you need to know well about all its pros, cons and features.

Holidays in Phuket

Phuket attracts with its amazing nature and beautiful beaches. It is located on the Adamant coast of Thailand. The tourism infrastructure here is well developed and people come here often and in large numbers to relax. A large number of hotels of different levels - from multi-storey five-star giants to small guesthouses providing vacationers with bungalows made of bamboo mats - allows you to choose a vacation for every taste and budget. In addition to beach holidays and traditional water activities, diving and snorkeling, Phuket offers a rich excursion program. Multi-day trips to the distant Similan Islands are very popular, where there are very beautiful and colorful corals, and the water temperature allows you to be underwater without a wetsuit.

The nightlife on this island is almost as active as in Pattaya, the country's famous entertainment center. Holidays in Phuket also have some disadvantages: it is a rather noisy place where many tourists gather, and the prices here are not low.

Holidays on Koh Samui

Koh Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand. It is suitable for those who want to take a break from the hustle and bustle. There is less entertainment here than in Phuket, but it is very quiet here, the beaches are clean and the water is clear. This is a great place for a relaxing holiday with family or friends. Children often stay on the island to relax for several months - prices here, although not very low, are much cheaper than vacations in Pattaya or Phuket.

The most attractive things about Koh Samui are the clean sandy beaches and crystal clear water, the opportunity to relax on the nearby islands (there are 132 of them nearby), which can be reached by rented boat. They also offer a variety of excursions on Samui - for several hours, for one or two days. If you are satisfied with this prospect, the best holiday for you is on Koh Samui.

Recently, people often come to Koh Samui for wedding ceremonies. And if until recently there was nowhere to get married according to the Orthodox rite, then in the summer of 2013, not far from the famous “Grandmother and Grandfather” stones, an Orthodox church was built. Now a wedding on Samui can take place not only according to the Thai rite, you can also get married in a new temple.

Holidays in Krabi

Krabi is an entire province consisting of many islands. The entire province is named after the largest of them. The local beaches are distinguished by very fine and white sand, which shimmers and sparkles in the sun. Combined with the bright turquoise sea, blue sky and dense greenery, it makes a very impressive impression. More than one film and commercial have been shot on the beaches of Krabi – the local landscapes are very picturesque. There is plenty to do in Krabi for scuba diving enthusiasts - there are many colorful coral reefs, underwater caves and beautiful lagoons between the islands.

Half of the island is occupied by mountains, so in addition to beach holidays and diving, people come here for rock climbing. There is also nightlife here. Not as active and varied as in Phuket, but also quite intense. This island is included in the list of the best holiday destinations in Thailand.

Koh Chang Archipelago

Koh Chang is an archipelago of more than 50 islands that stretch along the eastern border of Thailand (near the border with Cambodia). The largest of the islands, Koh Chang, was opened to tourists just 10 years ago and boasts untouched nature. Most of the island is occupied by mountains and covered with jungle. Almost all beaches are concentrated on the east coast. The island has impenetrable jungles and rubber plantations, tropical fruit gardens, mountain rivers and lakes, waterfalls and quiet creeks, fishing villages with their traditional way of life and fashionable hotels with many vacationers. All this fits on a small island.

On Chang you can stay in multi-storey 4 and 5 star hotels and in simple bungalows. You can relax on a vast party beach with a whole bunch of entertainment, or move to a small, secluded, uncrowded beach, or go to a desert island for the whole day. In the fishing villages located on the southern side, you can taste freshly caught seafood - they are prepared simply amazingly.

Where is better, Phuket or Koh Samui, Krabi or Koh Chang

Each of the islands of Thailand provides wonderful recreational opportunities. On any of them you can find a fashionable hotel or a modest bungalow, spend time on the beach or on excursions. But for lovers of active nightlife, a holiday in Phuket or Krabi is more suitable. For those who prefer a quiet, relaxing holiday away from the hustle and bustle, Koh Chang and Samui are more suitable, although there are quiet areas in Krabi.

For lovers of various excursions, Phuket will be more interesting - it is the largest of the islands with a fairly extensive excursion program. For fans of diving and snorkeling, a holiday on Koh Chang or Samui is more interesting, although there is something to do on the other islands. Choose the best place to vacation in Thailand based on your interests and preferences, buy trips and enjoy!

People ask different things about the island, from general questions like “Is Phuket an island or not?” to specific ones, for example, “Which beach is better: Kata and Karon?” The article contains ten frequently asked questions about Phuket on the RuNet. Of course, an honest and comprehensive answer was given to each of them.

Is Phuket an island or not?

Phuket is an island, and the largest in Thailand. Unlike the country's other large islands (Samui, Chang and others), Phuket is connected to the mainland by a bridge, so you don't have to take a ferry to get there.

Is Phuket a city or an island?

Both. To distinguish the island from its administrative center, the latter is called Phuket Town. However, visiting tourists rarely visit it: most hotels are not built in the city, but near the busiest beaches, on the other side of the island. People usually come to Phuket Town for shopping and sightseeing.

How is "Phuket" translated and what does it mean?

This is not known for certain, but apparently the name comes from the Malay word “bukit” (bhu ket), which means “hill”, “mountain”. You can also hear another version about the origin of the name: the Thais believe that “Phuket” is formed from “phu” (mountain) and “ket” (colored glass). Both options are similar in one thing - the name of the island is associated with its mountainous landscape.

What is around Phuket - sea or ocean?

The island is located in the Andaman Sea, facing the Indian Ocean. This distinguishes it from other popular resorts in Thailand: the cities of Pattaya, Hua Hin, the Chang Islands, Koh Samui, whose shores are washed by the waters of the Gulf of Thailand in the South China Sea. This explains the behavior of the sea off the coast of different resorts: the Gulf of Thailand is calmer, so large waves off the coast are rare; in Phuket, on the contrary, high waves roll in often. But the peak of their appearance occurs in the low season (from May to October), when there are few tourists on the island.

Bangkok or Phuket? Where to go?

Ideally, you need to see both places. This is quite possible: buy a ticket to Bangkok, spend a couple of days there, then go to the island. Dozens of flights from seven airlines depart from Bangkok to Phuket every day. You can also get to the resort by bus, but it is tiring, because it will take 12-14 hours. You can return to Bangkok the day before the end of your vacation, have a nice walk in it one last time, and fly home the next day. This plan will allow you to appreciate the unique flavor of Bangkok and sunbathe on the beaches of Phuket.

Which is better: Phuket or Koh Chang?

The islands are noticeably different from each other: Phuket is much larger and more civilized, Koh Chang is less busy, and its infrastructure is much less developed than in Phuket. The beaches here and there are equally good, but in Phuket they are more crowded. In terms of variety of entertainment and number of attractions, Chang, of course, cannot be compared with Phuket: the island is more suitable for a relaxing holiday with the family in the lap of nature. Phuket, on the other hand, is more versatile; it will appeal to partygoers, supporters of active recreation, and those who just want to sunbathe on a secluded beach.

Which is better: Khao Lak or Phuket?

The resorts are different, comparing them with each other is like choosing between a pear and a strawberry - both are delicious, but each in its own way. Khao Lak is a quiet resort that has not yet been occupied by mass tourism. For those who value privacy, a leisurely pace of life, and a calm atmosphere, Khao Lak is ideal. Those who cannot do without the benefits of civilization on vacation (shopping and entertainment centers, for example), who want unbridled fun and noisy parties, for whom it is important to have organized excursions with a Russian-speaking guide, will like Phuket more than Khao Lak. People come to Khao Lak for the deserted beaches and picturesque nature in the nearby National Parks; they come to Phuket for a carefree holiday on an equipped beach and tireless excursions mixed with shopping.

Which is better: Vietnam or Phuket?

If we compare Phuket with the popular Vietnamese resorts of Nha Trang, Mui Ne and Phu Quoc, the comparison will be in favor of the first: the beaches in Phuket are definitely better than in Nha Trang or Mui Ne. Phu Quoc loses in terms of infrastructure and level of comfort: Phuket is a much more developed island, where it is much more convenient to live. The advantage of Vietnam is that prices for housing and food are lower than in Phuket. It will also appeal to those who are uncomfortable with the unbridled atmosphere of Thai resorts, the abundance of prostitutes and transvestites - Vietnam has socialist morality.

Which is better: Kata or Karon in Phuket?

Both beaches are similar in many ways: spacious, crowded, with developed infrastructure, restaurants near the shore and water attractions near the water. The sand, the behavior of the sea and the water in it differ slightly. Kata has a slightly more relaxed atmosphere, which families with children like. In general, the best way to compare these beaches is to visit both. This is not difficult: they are located next door and connected to each other by a road along which buses and taxis travel.

Is it worth going to Phuket alone or not?

If doubts relate to security issues, then they are unfounded: traveling alone to Thailand does not pose any particular threats. Of course, you need to maintain sanity and prudence so as not to become a victim of petty scammers, but in general, situations that are dangerous for girls (attacks or sexual harassment) rarely happen in Phuket, so you shouldn’t refuse a trip just because of concerns about safety.

If the question implies an interesting pastime, then there is also nothing to worry about: there are a lot of tourists on the island, and a significant part of them are Russian-speaking vacationers, so meeting someone for the sake of a joint vacation will not be difficult.

Should you go to Phuket in September or not?

September is the rainiest month in Phuket, with twice as much rainfall as November and ten times as much as January. There are high waves at sea at this time. Surfers are happy to see them, but such conditions are not suitable for swimming. Red flags are often hung on the beach in September - a warning that swimming is prohibited. The only advantage of traveling in September is the low prices for accommodation, which is not surprising: there are very few tourists on the island at this moment and hotels are ready to offer discounts. In general, it is better to postpone your autumn trip to Phuket until November.

Author's note: e if questions such as “Is Phuket a city or an island?” answer is quite easy, then with questions like “Which is better: Vietnam or Phuket?” more difficult: personal opinion about resorts and countries is always subjective, it is not a fact that the reader’s impression of the places described will be the same as the author of the article. So you need to understand that there are no objective answers to such questions.

Phuket or Chang? This question was spinning in my head right up to the departure - I already had tickets in my hands, but doubts still did not leave me, my soul was calling to my beloved, and most importantly proven, Phuket. What if the sea on Chang is far away, what if there are jellyfish in the water and mosquitoes on the island, what if no one can understand my broken English, and in 10 days we will die of boredom? If anyone is now asking the same puzzles, this article will be useful.


Sea
If the sea on Chang cannot be compared with anything, then it is beautiful: clear water, so clear that you can see fish swimming past you and you won’t touch anyone swimming with your elbow, because there are many times fewer vacationers on Chang than on its giant brother. For a holiday with kids - just the thing.

However, on the Mountain Island (Phuket) I liked the sea more than on the Elephant Island (Chang): here you have a scooter, a banana, and a parachute

and on Chang it is shallow, there are no waves, there are no water activities - good, but a bit boring, and until a couple of days before our arrival (according to other tourists), the section of the sea on our Klong Prao beach was also dotted with jellyfish (we arrived at the end of the rainy season, this happens during this period).
In addition, there are corals on our beach, so you need to swim carefully so as not to get hurt. We were unable to avoid the sharp pebbles; after each one cut ourselves, we preferred to walk along the shore a little further to swim; in other places there was much less coral.
One day, in windy weather, waves arose. But if there are always waves on the Karon beach in Phuket and you get a real buzz from them when you are rocked on the waves,

then on Chang the waves brought a lot of debris, chips, leaves... That day we hurried to finish the sea procedures early and retreat to the pool. The next day there was calm again. But grandpa had his eye on such a chic hairstyle in seafood
Beaches
I have never seen so many beautiful and original beaches as on Chang. Each beach is amazing in its own way - different sand, different vegetation, different lengths of the coastline, swings everywhere on the shore - perfect for photo shoots. On one of the islands of the archipelago we were on an island where there is no beach - the entire coast is strewn with corals. On Chang itself, what we liked most was Lonely beach - “Lonely Beach”, it is located in the distance and there are only a few hotels on it, so there are even fewer people than everywhere else. It is very beautiful there, simply magical.

Natural world
In terms of natural world, Changa will give Phuket a head start. Of course: 80% of the island’s territory is jungle; the Koh Chang archipelago itself consists of 54 islands and is considered a national protected area. That’s why there are beautiful waterfalls, palm groves, and lakes with clean fresh water.


I will never forget this music from the voices of nature, which woke us up on Chang in the mornings - the shimmer of wonderful birds, which were broken by the crowing of roosters and nothing else - no extraneous sounds that interfered with the reunification with the natural world. It was as if nature itself was saying: “Why are you sleeping, stupid, the world has already woken up a long time ago!” I woke up, looked at the palm tree waving its leaves at me through the window, mentally said hello to the coconuts hanging on another palm tree, thanked fate and smiled the blissful smile of the happiest of people.


Will you see as many shells in urbanized Phuket as in Chang? On the latter, each beach is a whole storehouse of shells of different shapes, colors and sizes. Here is such a “bouquet” (in the hands of my grandmother - we went together) nature itself sculpted:

Chickens walking under the supervision of mother hens on the temple grounds, monkeys watching tourists from the tops of palm trees, or sitting on roofs and wires along the roads - this is all Chang. Here the monkeys are full-fledged local residents, who are happy to be fed and photographed by tourists. We couldn’t resist doing this either. You see, even a monkey is decorated with motherhood:

Excursions
Of course, there are more excursions and entertainment in Phuket. There is no Tiger Kingdom on Koh Chang, no water park, no zoo, no chic evening shows... But, you see, the best excursions in this tropical country are still trips to the islands, so in this regard, Koh Chang will not disappoint.

When we went to Phi Phi in November 2013, I was shocked to find myself among the limestone monoliths growing from the sea surface, seeing a Viking cave, plunging into the azure water in Maya Bay... But on Chang, others, no less beautiful and amazing islands.


If on Phi Phi we tried to take photos so that the heavenly landscapes would not be complemented by someone’s majestic torso

then on the islands of the Koh Chang Marine Reserve you could even sit down or lie down - no one would bother you, because there was no one in the area except a dozen or two more tourists like you. And when we went fishing on Chang, there were only five of us on the ship. Individual service!

You won’t find snorkeling like this here on the islands of the Koh Chang archipelago, where you don’t even need masks:
All the local marine life probably flocked to our bread. We didn't see any fish!

Another plus in terms of excursions in Chang is that it is several times cheaper here than in Phuket: fishing - only 700 baht per person

excursion to 5 islands - 1200 baht per person, meals, snorkels, snorkeling masks - all included.

In popular Phuket, for this money you can only go to one nearby island, like Coral or Racha, where it’s also nice, but crowded.

Nutrition
Phuket has food for every taste and budget. There it was not difficult to order European dishes - julienne, cream soup, cocktails, porridge, anything you like. Every cafe has Russian translation and even Russian waiters. On Chang, food is more difficult: translation into Russian is not available everywhere; European cuisine is often only indicated on the sign. But in general, we didn’t go hungry here either. We ate delicious rice in pineapple, tender lasagna, tom yam, carbonara pasta...

Some menu problems were more than compensated for by the low price; judge for yourself - the three of us could eat at least a thousand in Phuket. Here the average price was 500-700 rubles, despite the fact that my husband always ordered meat.

Infrastructure
There will be people who want to take you for a ride (in a tuk-tuk), both on one island and on the other, it is equally expensive - from 200-300 baht and more, depending on the distance. But if you suddenly want to visit a massage parlor, like us, at 10 pm, then you are unlikely to be able to do this on Chang. Life stops here early - at 22-23 it is already dark and quiet. In Phukta, as you know, life is humming at least until midnight.

Once we arrived in Phuket at 21:00, by the time we checked in it was already 22:00. We argued with my husband that we would not find a working exchanger, my husband won the bet - almost in despair, we found an open Exchange at about 23:00 in the evening. If we had been on Chang, we would have been hungry that day - there are few exchangers here, they work from 10 am until about 7 pm. That is, if you are going on an excursion to Chang, do not hope that early in the morning you will be able to exchange your hard-earned money for baht somewhere.

Hotels
In Phuket, there are practically no hotels on the first line, standing right on the seashore - I left my room and there it was, the sea! But on Chang, almost all hotels are on the first line. Beauty!

There are restaurants with live music and evening fire shows on the beach.
Therefore, if the first days on Chang, I endlessly compared it with Phuket, called it a village, then by the end of the trip the island charmed me and made me fall in love with its original and inimitable beauty.


On the morning of departure, we threw coins into the sea to return to this wonderful world of nature, which so hospitably received us, treating us to a hefty portion of ultraviolet light, fruit cocktails and smiles.


Returning to the hotel on the day of departure from the beach, I cried quite sincerely, as if I was parting with someone dear and loved. And ahead of us lay a long road to the city of angels and skyscrapers - Bangkok, a million-plus city. Thanks Chang!


What do you think - which is better Chang or Phuket?

And the surrounding islands. I will try to compare seaside vacation spots to give those “undecided” more information about the intended vacation spot.
Ko Lan (aka coral island) vs. Samet, Koh Chang:
- Koh Lan is certainly convenient because you can get there from Pattaya quickly and cheaply, but the sea on Koh Lan is not as clean and gentle as on the other islands listed above. On almost every beach there are jet skis, speedboats, various boats and ships, which makes the sea not so clean. There are no such stunning, picturesque landscapes. There is also no privacy possible for Chang and Samet - even the small beaches are quite crowded. The vegetation on the island is very pathetic compared to Koh Chang, the jungle island. The sand is not so fine and white.
- On Koh Lana (at least on the small beaches, we haven’t been to the big public one) lunch and drinks are quite expensive - you can count the number of restaurants/eateries on one hand, everyone agrees to keep their prices down. For example, a bottle of local beer is 100 or 120 baht no matter where you go. On Samet and Chang there is no such disgrace; there is quite a large selection of restaurants with good, including European, cuisine.
- I don’t know exactly how it is on Koh Lan with corals and fish (I didn’t have to snorkel there), but I can assume with great confidence that the underwater world there is not as beautiful as on Chang or Samet. Still, the proximity to Pattaya should have a serious impact.
No, of course, a trip to Koh Lan will not replace your stay on Samet or Koh Chang; from there you will not bring so many impressions and amazing photographs. In any case, I don’t dare call this place a “bounty”, although it can be considered as a good alternative to the beaches in Pattaya.

Ko Chang vs. Samet:
- about the road: it takes much longer to get to Koh Chang from Pattaya. The trip from hotel to hotel took us exactly 7 hours by minibus! And a minibus is the fastest way to get by land from Pattaya to Koh Chang. It costs 550-600 baht per person one way (you can buy two ways at once with an open date at any travel agency). I can assume that if you get there by public transport, it will take the whole day from early morning until evening with many transfers. You will be taken to Samet in an hour and a half by minibus and about 45 minutes by boat - incomparably faster. By the way, the minibus from Pattaya to Chang goes through the same Ban Phe (there is a pier from which ferries depart for Samet), which means these 2 trips can be combined. That’s what we did - you take one way from Pattaya to Samet, and from there in Ban Phe you buy a tourist minibus to Chang (200 or 300 baht per person). From Chang, then for 550 baht you take a minibus to Pattaya. From Bangkok, by the way, it is easier and cheaper to get to Chang - a government bus runs for only 200 per person.
- Koh Chang is much larger in size and you won’t be able to walk from beach to beach, as you can, in general, do on Samet. However, on Samet, a taxi is much more expensive (200 or 250 baht to get from Malibu to the neighboring beach was paid and it’s hopeless to bargain with it). But if you live on some HatSaiKao, then there is no particular need to go to other beaches, everything you need is on this one.
- as for the jungle and beaches, Koh Chang is certainly more picturesque - this is a place where you can take hundreds of varied, amazingly beautiful photographs. There is no such a wide variety of landscapes on Samet, and the jungle is more similar not to the dense tropical jungle like on Chang, but to our forest near Moscow - it was not at all interesting to walk along the dusty road, although perhaps there are more picturesque places on this island where We didn't have a chance to visit. Koh Chang also has several waterfalls. For access to the two most beautiful ones (Khlong Phlu and Than Mayom) you will have to pay 400 baht per person for each waterfall.
- about the benefits of civilization: Koh Chang today is more developed than Samet, at least as regards the main most popular beaches White Sand Beach and Klong Prao - the island has good roads, rental of virtually any vehicle on every corner, offices of all major banks Thailand, travel agencies, spa centers, 7eleven and other chain stores, hotels of different price levels and comfort, a greater variety of bars and restaurants. Koh Samet is much less developed in this regard. The roads there are no better than our country roads - huge potholes (apparently that's why taxis are so expensive on Samet).
- about how to spend time: On Samet you will get bored in 2-3 days, on Koh Chang you can safely go for a week, you will hardly be bored - 1) there are all-day excursions to the islands of the Koh Chang archipelago for diving/snorkeling, 2) an excursion to the jungle (although it is not available at all travel agencies), 3) motor boats and canoes to the nearest islands (Kai Bae beach), 3) various waterfalls and viewpoints, 4) excursion to the elephant village and elephant riding, 5) sightseeing excursion to the east coast of the island (this includes a visit to the temple, fruit and rubber plantations, training in elephant management, mangrove forests, viewpoints, and something else) and it seems there is even quad biking in the jungle. There are only 2 excursions on Samet - 1) around the island on a motor boat with snorkeling and feeding the fish (3-hour excursion) 2) snorkeling on the nearby islands (pick up at 11, return at 16).
- about accommodation: on Koh Chang, hotels with hot water and air conditioning seemed cheaper than similar ones on Samet. As for the bungalow, I couldn’t find a decent one on Samet (with hot water and no terrible smells) for 600 baht. On Chang we rented the first bungalow on Kai Bae for the night for 700 baht including breakfast! It was a clean, beautiful, cozy bungalow with fan and hot water next to the sea. I couldn’t find anything similar on Samet on the beaches of Malibu, HatSaiKao and AoPhai. However, I’m not sure that something similar can be rented on Koh Chang’s White Sand Beach for 700 baht due to its popularity and proximity to the pier. Kai Bae, in comparison, is more picturesque, less populated, slightly less expensive, but also less civilized. In general, the further the beach on Chang is from the main pier, the cheaper the hotels and bungalows there are. And a lot depends on the location of the hotel itself on the beach. For example, we lived for several days at the end of White Sand Beach in the Paloma Cliff Beach Resort hotel, an amazing room with hot water, air conditioning, refrigerator, TV and good breakfast for 2000 baht by the pool (the same one not overlooking the pool cost 1700 baht). I couldn’t find the same quality for the same price in the middle and beginning of white sand beach. And apparently it’s all because the first-line hotels there go straight to the beach. And Cliffa does not have its own beach - the hotel is actually on a cliff.
- about the beaches: on Koh Chang (we swam on white sand and kai bae) they are more scenic (especially kai bae) than on Samet - driftwood, bizarrely shaped trees, swings, beautiful bungalows, small islands on the horizon, jungle thickets and green mountains in the haze - more opportunities for creative shots. On Chang, the beaches are also shallower - you can walk several hundred meters into the sea. The water is very clear, clean and calm (at least in season) - an ideal place for a sea holiday with a child.
To summarize, I would say that Samet is, first of all, beautiful beaches and the sea. There is no point in wasting time on the road to Koh Chang if the beach and sea are all you are interested in. Koh Chang has the same beaches and the same sea, plus a very picturesque jungle and a little more civilization on the main beaches. Personally, we liked Chang better. In general, if you have time and money, I recommend visiting both there, especially since Samet is on the road to Chang if you come from Pattaya.

Ko Chang vs. Phuket:
I’m comparing Koh Chang with Phuket, because... only Koh Chang both in appearance and development resembles Phuket, where we spent a wonderful 12 days in May last year. We spent 5 days on Chang in April 2007. It is very difficult for me to say which of the islands I liked better and where I would like to return with great pleasure. Probably, if we were talking about free 3-5 days, then I would choose Koh Chang, if for more days - Phuket. These islands are indeed quite similar in appearance, but there are still differences:
- in Phuket (more precisely, next to it) there are limestone sculptures (limestones) with caves that are incomparably beautiful. Excursions there are sold at all travel agencies and are inexpensive. There is no such beauty on Chang.
- Phuket is livelier, more civilized than Chang (especially regarding Patong Beach), and the choice of excursions in Phuket is much larger. In Phuket there is a super excursion to the Koh Lak National Reserve - a trip to a real, untouched jungle, I highly recommend it! There are also all sorts of delights that are not on Chang: a show of crocodiles, monkeys, a garden of butterflies and orchids, a small primitive zoo, a very beautiful temple with the ashes of Buddha, a luxurious show Fantasia (we liked it better than even the Bangkog Siam Niramit, in any case it was definitely done more difficult technically), etc. Thus, in Phuket, a person will not get bored during a month of vacation - the vacation can be made very diverse and eventful during this time. 12 days seemed very little to us.
- water sports are also more developed in Phuket
- it’s much easier to find a secluded holiday on Chang, Phuket is now much more crowded with tourists
- the sea on the west coast of Phuket seemed to me less calm (large and medium waves), more suitable for surfers. Koh Chang is on the bay and the sea is calmer there. But here I could be wrong, since I was in Phuket in the first half of May, at the end of the season. So if your holiday falls during the high season (winter months), then the sea on the west coast of Phuket can be quite peaceful and gentle.
- It’s hard for me to say where it’s easier to get from Bangkok. Chang is much closer to Pattaya and Bangkok, but it can hardly be said that getting there is easier when it comes to ground transport. It takes one night to travel from Bangkok to Phuket - in principle, it’s not a bad thing, but buses go to Chang only during the day (for example, it took us 7 hours from a hotel in Pattaya to a hotel in Chang by minibus). Days in Thailand are too valuable to waste on the road. In addition, there are direct flights from Moscow to Phuket (if you have already seen everything in Bangkok).
- snorkeling (snorkeling) in Phuket, Chang and Samet seemed about the same to me and did not evoke much admiration for us after the beauty of the Red Sea of ​​Egypt. Gentlemen, are there any places in Thailand where you can enjoy the beauty of the underwater world, comparable to the beauty of the Red Sea, with only a snorkel and mask? I would be very grateful to someone who would suggest it to me. I concluded for myself that the corals in the Adaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand are quite beautiful, certainly worth attention, but the fish are small, trivial and uninteresting, incomparable with the wealth of underwater life of the Red Sea, where you can easily see barracudas, octopuses, and moray eels , and healthy Napoleons, and much more.
- on Chang, unlike Phuket, there are very shallow beaches
- on Samet and Chang there is a great opportunity to dine under the stars on the beach, taking a table closer to the sea. The tables of some hotels are so close to the water that with the tide the sea begins to envelop your feet more and more in warm sea water over and over again - a thrill! In addition, on the beaches of these islands there are many bars and restaurants with ottomans - you can lie down while enjoying music, delicious food, views of the starry sky and the sound of the sea. I have not noticed such romance in Phuket. We were on the beaches of Kamala, Patong and Karon and Kata. But maybe I was just out of season and because of the waves on the beach at that time there were no restaurants/cafes, or did they only realize this this year? Here I would be grateful to someone who would refute me and say that the same wonderful evenings can be spent in Phuket. Write!

Pattaya vs other Thailand:
- Pattaya is, without exaggeration, a dirty, crime-ridden city, smelling of garbage dumps and sewers. This “resort” cannot be compared with other places in Thailand where we had a chance to relax. I urge everyone who takes tours to Pattaya to look at least for a couple of days at the islands remote from Pattaya - Samet or Koh Chang, and also take an excursion to Kwoi to see the real Thailand. In the vicinity of Pattaya there are several beautiful park complexes that are worth visiting. I would especially like to mention Nong Nooch, next to it (15 minutes by car) is the Chinese monastery-museum Wat Yansangwararam, the Temple of Truth (next to the dolphin show - do not waste time there under any circumstances! It’s terribly primitive!), 3 kingdom park, tiger zoo, Mini Siam is also not bad.

And finally, which beaches would I recommend staying on if you don’t want to get bored in the evening:
- on Samet HatSaiKao or AoPhai or adjacent to it (at worst Malibu)
- on Koh Chang White Sand Beach, Klong Prao or Kai Bae
- in Phuket Patong

I wouldn't mind discussing what's written here with other people. After all, this comparison is based on my not very extensive experience of being on these islands. Surely someone has a different experience and will be able to add something to this “report” or object to something. Write, I will be glad to hear your opinions!

Yuri
[email protected]

Phuket or Koh Chang? If you have asked this question, it means you are serious about planning your vacation and want to get the most pleasure for your money.

Unfortunately, there is no definite answer to this question, since all the pros and cons of a particular resort are subjective.

For example, for single men the presence of bars with available girls is a definite plus, but for married couples with children it is rather a minus. You also need to keep in mind that Phuket is a huge island, 50 km long, and because of this it is heterogeneous - there are party places, and there are almost wild ones. Also on the island of Koh Chang.

The best answer to the question of what is better than Phuket or Koh Chang would be an objective review of these two islands, without embellishment and desire to recommend one or the other. We will analyze them according to several parameters (sea, accommodation, entertainment, food, shopping, attractions, etc.), and you yourself will conclude that Koh Chang or Phuket is more suitable for you.

Where is the best sea - Koh Chang or Phuket?

Koh Chang is located in Thailand on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand, and Phuket is on the Andaman Sea, which is part of the ocean. The water is traditionally clearer in the latter, but here you have to take the beach into account. For example, the water may be littered with all sorts of human waste (bags, wrappers), while the water throughout Koh Chang is devoid of this. On the other hand, on Koh Chang Island the water is not as clear as on the uncrowded beaches of Phuket (Yanui, Nai Yang, Nai Thon). But opacity does not mean dirt, since Koh Chang is part of the National Marine Reserve and even motorized water activities (skis, motorcycles) are not often seen there.

If it is important for you that the sea can be seen many meters deep, then it is better to choose the uncrowded beaches of Phuket (especially Yanui). But in general, the water on these two islands is equally clean (with the exception of Patong, Rawai and the entire east coast of Phuket).

Select beaches - Phuket or Koh Chang islands

But on Koh Chang there are no shopping centers or large hypermarkets at all, only small souvenir shops, tents with clothes and shoes, and several mini-Lotus stores, which are similar in assortment to 7/11 (only they sell vegetables and fruits there). So you can’t even dream about purchasing the latest iPhones here.

Where is transport better developed in Phuket or Koh Chang?

The question here is ambiguous. In Phuket, transport is well developed and there are many routes, but not all beaches can be reached by inexpensive city buses. There are tuk-tuks, but the cost of a trip to the neighboring beach is at least 200-300 baht.

There is also a city songthaew with fixed tariffs. They have only one route (since there is only one road), but you can get to any beach (except for the east coast, but there are almost no tourists there and rarely anyone goes there).

Restaurants and food

On every corner in the literal sense of the word, so you definitely won’t go hungry anywhere.

There are plenty of bars and restaurants on Koh Chang where you can eat delicious and varied food. Many are located in hotels right on the seashore. In Phuket it’s different - the choice is much larger, but on the coast there are almost none (behind the sunbeds and sand the road immediately begins and only after it are places of gluttony).

Koh Chang food prices are generally lower.

Sights of Phuket and Koh Chang

If we consider Koh Chang and Phuket in terms of attractions, then the second has an order of magnitude more of them, especially for ancient temples and observation decks. Strictly speaking, there are no temple complexes at all on Koh Chang (where there are several buildings, a chapel, a pagoda on the territory). There you can only see a few lonely temples next to the road (without any pagodas or chapels). Lookouts too - once, twice, and I’ve missed the mark. And they don’t provide such a panoramic view of the island. In fact, on Chang you can only go to a couple of waterfalls, to neighboring islands, and to a village and a market on stilts. Phuket is another matter, where there are several dozen large temple complexes that are 100-200-300 years old (not only Buddhist, but also Chinese). And about a hundred temples built 30-50 years ago. Plus, there are about a dozen observation decks with stunning views, waterfalls and National Parks.

Summarizing

A brief review cannot fully cover the topic of whether Koh Chang or Phuket is better. Place of residence plays a big role here. For example, as mentioned above, Phuket is more intended for entertainment, and Koh Chang is more for relaxation and a leisurely beach holiday. But if you stay on Koh Chang at White Sand Beach, you'll be in a pretty lively place with bars with girls and music and a fairly large selection of hotels. While on the beaches of Phuket Nai Yang and Yanui there are few hotels (and all of them are expensive), there are no bars, there are very few people during the day, and after sunset, life generally stops and you won’t see people on the coast. So we advise you to study in detail this or that beach in Phuket or Chang and then make a conclusion for yourself what is best for you.