Khlong Phlu Waterfall

The swimming hole is the point. It's broad, clear and deep enough to actually swim in rather than paddle around in, with jungle closing in on all sides and rocks to spread out on afterwards. Getting there means a short walk through the forest, which is half the pleasure, and it's the closest thing on Koh Chang to properly cooling off without going near the sea.

Timing matters more than anything else here. Gates open at 08:30 and close at 16:30, and the difference between arriving at nine and arriving at one is the difference between a quiet pool and a busy one. Weekends and high season bring carloads of people up from the resort strips. Go early, swim, and be gone before the crowds build.

Wear something with grip on the trail rather than flip-flops, and bring dry clothes because there's nowhere to change discreetly once you're wet. November through April is the easier stretch weather-wise, though the falls are at their fullest after rain.