Flora of Koh Chang was commissioned as part of The Retreat’s commitment to understanding and preserving the island’s botanical heritage. Building on the legacy of Johannes Schmidt—whose early expedition on Koh Chang marked one of Thailand’s first flora studies—this work documents fifty native plant species that define the island today. By looking beyond the shoreline and into the depth of its rainforest, we hope to honor Schmidt’s pioneering spirit and contribute to the continued protection of Koh Chang’s remarkable ecolog
In 2023, a conversation about Koh Chang’s overlooked botanical richness led to a collaboration between The Retreat Koh Chang and Preecha Kreecha, whose long-standing friendship with our founder connected us to botanist Manop Phuphat of the Forest Herbarium, DNP. Guided by a shared belief that the island’s exceptional rainforest should be more widely known, we set out to create a work that distills its complexity into something approachable and meaningful.
This publication reflects that journey—an effort to make Koh Chang’s natural heritage visible, valued, and understood, while continuing the legacy of Johannes Schmidt and advancing the recognition of Thai flora on a broader stage.
At The Retreat Koh Chang, we look to nature as our teacher. Our two-year ecological study—conducted with a team of biologists—is already underway, helping us better understand the island’s flora, fauna, and cultural landscape while shaping experiences grounded in local ways of life.
Working alongside conservation foundations, our biologists help shape experiences that inspire curiosity and mindful engagement with native species. Their ongoing fieldwork informs our efforts to catalogue local flora and fauna and restore biodiversity through native planting.
Each room includes Flora of Koh Chang, our publication featuring fifty of the island’s most common native plants and an introduction to its early botanical expeditions. Guests are welcome to take it along on their hikes for a deeper connection to the rainforest.
Through science, culture, and community, we invite guests to experience Koh Chang with new eyes.
Brief History … story of the land….
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