Looking towards Wai Chaek Beach on Koh Chang
Wai chaek beach
Koh Chang, the elephant island, is the favorite island in Thailand for many visitors, mainly due to its natural attractions such as numerous waterfalls, mountain landscapes of up to 700 meters and secluded beaches, accessible via back roads.
A special beach is Hat Wai Chaek, because it is the only beach on the island that has not been developed for tourism. The road to this beach is not suitable for motorcycles and is therefore only accessible after a trek through the jungle via a route that was originally intended for road construction.
Ring road of Koh Chang
The lack of a ring road around the island has contributed to the fact that nature in the southeastern part of Koh Chang has remained untouched The area around Salak Phet Bat is beautiful.
That ring road was planned and part of it would have connected two southern bays, namely Ao Salek Phet in the east and Ao Bang Bao in the west. If that road had been completed, more traffic to the area would have been possible, which would lead to good (tourist) development. But due to lack of money, that road, and also the road to Hat Wai Check, has not been completed. Without that road, few tourists come to the southeast of the island, because they prefer to stay on the west coast where most of the beaches are located.
Jungle tour
The unfinished road is therefore hardly used, the turn to Hat Wai Chaek ends in wooded land. For the adventurous tourist there is only a trek through the jungle via an impassable path to reach the coast. Soon there is no cell phone coverage and during the journey there is no sign of life other than the sound of birds. It is really only suitable for experienced hikers, who set off with sufficient water, food and a good compass.
Finally
On the website of Thai Island Times I found a detailed report by David Luekens of his trek to Hat Wai Chaeck, supported by beautiful photos. This is the link: thaiislandtimes.substack.com/p/ko-chang-trat-hiking-the-unfinished
Isn't it also easier to reach by renting a boat with a captain?
For the advanced tractor?
We really drove there with the moped fairly easily over that path.
Haha same for me, I could have driven my scooter onto the beach. Must say that you must be able to drive a scooter reasonably well. A compass seems a bit excessive to me
Last January (2020) I was on Koh Chang for the first time. Especially the east side stole my heart. Yes, I also reached the beach on the scooter on the mentioned road. A little experience and insight with motorized 2-wheelers is required. Difficult bits, where the asphalt was washed away during the rainy season.
Too bad that road was not built, or maybe not? Because a lot of beauty has probably been preserved on the east side of the island because the average tourist does not undertake these trips on his scooter.
With 4 wheel drive it's fine, nice off road tour, and you can camp well, there is even a simple hut where you can buy some food and drinks. At the beginning of the road through the jungle, there is a barrier with a telephone number that you can call, and someone will come and open the gate for you. Have fun…
I know 3 people, including myself, who had to pay for the scooter trip with a fall. In my case, this led to a claim from the scooter rental company, who then meticulously inspected the car for scratches. The other couple (2 of them on 1 scooter) paid for it with a painful end to their holiday. I eventually succeeded (walking on the precarious corner), on the way I met a backpacker with a flat tire. Had his scooter another 4 km. push.