Thailand: Sai Khao Beach (Hat Sai Khao), Ko Chang, Trat Province

In a country blessed with a plethora of beautiful islands, Ko Chang stands out as one of the loveliest. It’s also Thailand’s second largest island (after Phuket), but what makes it so appealing is its rugged aspect, and the way it rises suddenly from the sea, the usual lovely white sand Thai beaches, but backed by a solid hilly interior covered in wild jungle that seems to shelter the coast from the sea People visit Ko Chang for these pristine beaches, but also for the jungled interior with its many trails and waterfalls, birds, mammals and of course coral reefs. People also seek out Ko Chang because, despite its increasing popularity, it remains a world away from the commercial development of Pattaya, Phuket and Ko Samui – at least for the present The main beaches are scattered along the western and southern coasts of the island, with the east coast both less accessible and more suited to trekking and bird-watching than swimming and sunbathing. Some of the best coral reefs are to be found around smaller offshore islands, especially to the south and west of the main island As a general rule, the resort beaches are more developed to the north of the island, and this too is where the most sophisticated restaurants and more up-market accommodations are to be found.