Koh Chang, Thailand

Koh Chang is Thailand's third-largest island, spanning the Gulf of Thailand near the Cambodian border with a resident population of around 5,000. Spanning 217 square kilometers, over 80 percent of its territory forms part of Mu Koh Chang National Park. Rainforest-covered mountains rise to 744 meters at Khao Salak Phet, feeding interior waterfalls including Klong Plu and Than Mayom. Sandy beaches line the western coast, while the eastern shore features mangrove forests and stilt fishing villages. Travelers hike jungle trails, kayak through estuaries, and dive around surrounding offshore islets.