Ko Si Chang lies off Sriracha, about 45 minutes away by boat. What separates it from other holiday islands is that people live here year round — there are schools, a market and a district office. It is not an island of resorts.
History you can still walk through
The island is tied to the Siamese court: a royal residence stood here in the reign of King Chulalongkorn, and what remains can be walked at Phra Chudathut Ratchathan, alongside the clifftop viewpoints and small beaches around the shore.
Getting around
The island's own transport is the skylab — a modified three-wheeler particular to Ko Si Chang. Hire one for the day and it will wait at each stop. The alternative is renting a motorbike, though the roads are steep and narrow in places; take a skylab if steep hills are unfamiliar.
Planning a day
- Boats leave from Ko Loi pier in Sriracha — check the last return sailing before planning the day
- The usual circuit: Phra Chudathut Ratchathan · Chong Khao Khat · Tham Phang beach · the Buddha's Footprint pavilion
- The island road runs as a loop, so the stops follow one another without backtracking
- You can stay over — there is accommodation in the village, but not much of it; book ahead on long weekends