Koh Chang

Is Koh Chang worth visiting?

You want jungle, waterfalls and a calm sea, without a flight or an airport queue. Koh Chang is worth it. The car rolls onto the ferry at Ao Thammachat, and the green hills rise ahead of you. Your first morning is a swim in the deep pool below Klong Plu waterfall. Your afternoon is a long west-coast beach and a calm dry-season sea. It is greener and wilder than Koh Samui or Phuket, and less polished, with fewer five-star brands. For nature this close to Bangkok, our call is simple: go.

The island rewards a slow pace. Afternoons are for the beach and the pool. A private boat opens up the small islands to the south, where the water is clearest.

Be honest about what it is not. Koh Chang has no famous fine-dining scene, no large malls and few designer hotels. If those matter most, Phuket or Koh Samui suit you better.

It is also the big island closest to Bangkok by road, so a long weekend works without a flight.

Koh Chang also works as a gateway. Our call: spend three nights on Koh Chang, then move south to Koh Kood for a quieter finish.

Who is Koh Chang best for?

Koh Chang suits families, couples and groups who like to drive from Bangkok, plus island-hoppers heading to Koh Kood and Koh Mak. It suits nature lovers more than nightlife lovers. Families with older children enjoy the waterfalls and kayaking. Couples choose the quiet southern bays for sunsets and privacy.

Thai families come at weekends, so the island feels local and relaxed.

Divers and snorkellers like the reefs around the southern islands. Wellness guests enjoy the calm and the forest walks. It is less suited to you if you want shopping, a busy nightlife scene or many restaurant choices within walking distance.

Which beach on Koh Chang should you choose?

Choose Klong Prao or Kai Bae for the best mix of beach, resorts and calm water. White Sand Beach is the busiest and most developed. Lonely Beach is lively and young. Bang Bao, Klong Kloi and Long Beach in the south are the quietest. Almost every good beach is on the west coast.

White Sand Beach (Hat Sai Khao). The longest and busiest beach in the north-west, with many hotels, restaurants and bars. The sand is pale and the sea is gentle in the dry season. It suits you if you want choice and convenience.

Klong Prao. A long, wide beach in the middle of the west coast, with a river mouth and views of small islands. It has the island's best-known resorts and is calm and family-friendly. Our first choice for most stays.

Kai Bae. A smaller bay south of Klong Prao with islands close offshore. The beach is narrower, but the views are lovely. Good for couples who want a quieter base near restaurants.

Lonely Beach (Hat Tha Nam). A sandy bay with a young crowd and simple bars. It is livelier at night. Visit for an evening rather than stay.

Bailan. A small, rocky bay with a few boutique places and a calm, artistic feel. Swimming is better at nearby beaches.

Bang Bao. A fishing village built on a long wooden pier, with shops and seafood restaurants on stilts. The pier is also where many island boats leave. It is a place to visit, not a swimming beach.

Klong Kloi. A quiet beach east of Bang Bao with soft sand and shallow water. It feels hidden and peaceful. Good for a lazy afternoon.

Long Beach (Hat Yao). A remote beach in the far south-east, reached by a rough road or by boat. It is often almost empty and very beautiful.

The east coast and Salak Phet. The east side has few beaches but green mangroves, fishing villages and a deep bay at Salak Phet. It is the quiet, local side of the island.

Which one is right for you? For families, Klong Prao or Kai Bae. For couples who want peace, Klong Kloi or a quiet southern bay. For walking out to bars and restaurants, White Sand Beach. We match the beach to who is coming.

The beaches change with the season. In the rainy season, some beaches have strong waves and currents. Always swim where your resort says it is safe and watch for red flags.

Beach life here is simple and relaxed. Sunbeds, fresh coconuts and a swim are the rhythm of most days. For more privacy, a private boat can drop you on a quiet beach on one of the small islands for a picnic. It collects you in the afternoon.

Where should you stay on Koh Chang?

Stay on Klong Prao for the best resorts, or in a private pool villa for space. Koh Chang has few international five-star brands, so choose carefully. We can name three resorts with confidence, each confirmed on its own official site. They are Santhiya Koh Chang Resort, The Dewa Koh Chang and The Aiyapura Koh Chang.

Santhiya Koh Chang Resort. A large resort on Klong Prao Beach with Thai-style buildings, gardens and pools. Its official site showed it open and taking bookings in October 2026.

The Dewa Koh Chang. A villa resort on Klong Prao Beach. The resort lists 17 villas of 60 m², plus larger Grand Villas of 120 m² with a private jacuzzi. It suits couples and small families.

The Aiyapura Koh Chang. A beachfront resort on Klongson Bay in the north, a quieter beach than Klong Prao. Good for families who want space.

A private pool villa. For groups and families, a villa often beats a hotel. Picture a 5-bedroom villa above the sea on the west coast, with a pool, staff and a chef. Ask Tanner for photos and a written quote; we do not publish villa names.

Book the best rooms early for December, January and Chinese New Year.

What should you expect at a Koh Chang resort? Good rooms, large pools, beachfront dining and friendly Thai service. Do not expect the polish of a top Phuket or Samui brand in every detail. What you get instead is a warm welcome, big rooms and the jungle behind the beach.

For a large party, Tanner can book several villas close together, with a shared chef and one driver team. It keeps everyone near each other while giving each family its own space.

What can you do on Koh Chang?

On Koh Chang, swim at Klong Plu and Than Mayom waterfalls and walk the jungle with a guide. Kayak the Salak Phet mangroves and visit Bang Bao fishing village. A private boat day to the southern islands is the highlight we suggest. A cooking class or a spa day fills the slower afternoons.

Klong Plu waterfall. The best-known waterfall, a short walk from the west-coast road, with a deep pool for swimming. It sits inside the national park, so the park fee applies. Go in the morning.

Than Mayom waterfall. On the quieter east coast, with royal inscriptions on the rocks nearby. The walk is longer and the setting is peaceful.

Jungle walks. Always go with a licensed local guide. The forest is dense, and trails are easy to lose. Note that the long-distance royal trail is closed every year from 1 June to 31 October, the Royal Gazette notice shows.

Kayaking at Salak Phet. Paddle through the mangrove channels in the calm south-east bay.

Bang Bao village. Walk the long pier of shops and seafood restaurants built over the water. Have lunch with a view of the boats.

Snorkelling and diving. The best reefs are around the small islands to the south. Clear water comes in the dry season.

Cooking and spa. Learn to cook Thai curries at your resort, or book a long massage after a day outdoors. Both suit a rainy afternoon.

We arrange a private driver and guide for each outing. Our luxury chauffeur service covers the drive from Bangkok and every island day.

Elephants. Some camps on the island offer elephant visits. We only recommend experiences where you watch, feed or walk with elephants, without riding. Ask Tanner which options meet that standard before you go.

Viewpoints. The island's ring road climbs over steep hills between the beaches. Stop on the way back from the south for the late-afternoon light.

A rainy-day plan. If the weather turns, book a long spa treatment, a cooking class or a slow lunch at Bang Bao. Rain often clears by the afternoon.

Seafood at Salak Phet. The fishing villages on the east coast serve some of the freshest seafood on the island, in simple restaurants on stilts over the bay. Go for a long lunch after the kayak trip. Our guide helps you order the catch of the day.

Which islands can you visit from Koh Chang?

From Koh Chang, a private speedboat reaches Koh Wai, Koh Rang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood. Koh Rang has the clearest water for snorkelling. Some islands in the park are closed: the Royal Gazette lists Ko Thian, Ko Kra and Ko Thonglang as closed indefinitely. Plan the route with a captain who knows the rules.

Koh Wai. A small island close to the south of Koh Chang, with calm water and simple beach cafés. Good for a swim and lunch.

Koh Rang. A group of small protected islands with coral and fish. The best snorkelling stop on a day out.

Koh Mak. A flat, quiet island with coconut groves and soft beaches. It is easy to explore by bicycle. Read our Koh Mak guide.

Koh Kood. A larger, wilder island further south, with waterfalls, clear bays and Soneva Kiri. Add two or three nights there. Read our Koh Kood guide.

National park rules apply on every trip. Boats moor only at buoys, never on coral, and go slowly near reefs and beaches. Drones need the park's permission. Our private island day charter includes the boat, crew, lunch and snorkel gear.

A private boat day usually leaves after breakfast and returns before sunset.

How far can you go in a day? Koh Mak and Koh Kood take longer. For a relaxed day, choose two stops. For Koh Kood, it is better to stay a night or two rather than rush there and back.

Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and a light shirt for the boat. National parks ban sunscreen with certain chemicals that harm coral, and the Department of National Parks can fine visitors who break the rule.

Is Koh Chang expensive?

At the top end, yes. The best villas and resorts charge premium prices, especially in December and January. Meals, transfers and most hotels cost less than on Phuket or Koh Samui. So the same spend buys a bigger villa, a private boat and more time on the water. Tanner gives a written quote for your dates, group and style.

Fresh seafood on the Bang Bao pier is excellent and fairly priced. Park fees of ฿200 per foreign adult add a little to each outing, and we include them in the quote.

Where should you spend? We suggest you put the spend into a great villa, a private boat day and a good driver. Let lunch be seafood by the water. That mix gives the best experience on this island. Tanner can suggest where a higher spend makes a real difference and where it does not.

What is Koh Chang like at night?

Koh Chang is calm at night. Evenings centre on beach bars at White Sand Beach and Lonely Beach, seafood dinners and quiet resort terraces. Fire shows on the sand are common at White Sand Beach. There are no large clubs. Plan a sunset drink, a long dinner and an early night.

For a special evening, we set a table on the sand or book a sunset cruise with drinks.

If you want a livelier night, Lonely Beach has music and a young crowd, and White Sand Beach has bars along the sand. Both are casual. For a more polished night out, Pattaya and Bangkok are the closer choices on the mainland.

Who visits Koh Chang?

Koh Chang draws a mix of visitors from Europe, Russia and Asia, plus many Thai families from Bangkok. The island is mixed, relaxed and family-friendly. Different beaches have different crowds, so the right beach and resort matter more than nationality. We match the stay to your group.

Weekends and Thai public holidays bring many Thai families, which gives the island a lively, local feel. Weekdays in the green season are the quietest time of year.

When is the best time to visit Koh Chang?

The best time to visit Koh Chang is November to April, the dry season. The sea is calm, the skies are clear and all boats run. From May to October, the south-west monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas to Trat. Some island boats stop or reduce their trips in that season.

December to February is cool and very popular, so book early. March and April are hot and calm, good for snorkelling. Showers can last for days at a time, so keep plans flexible.

For rain figures by region and month, see our Thailand weather guide.

Plan around holidays as well as weather. The Christmas and New Year weeks, Chinese New Year and Thai long weekends are the busiest periods.

November is a lovely month to visit, as the rains have just ended and the island is green and fresh. April is the hottest month, with calm seas and long, bright days.

How do you get from Bangkok to Koh Chang?

Drive to Ao Thammachat pier in Trat with a private chauffeur, then take the car ferry across. Or fly from Bangkok to Trat in about one hour on Bangkok Airways and drive to the pier. The Centrepoint ferry has been suspended since July 2024, so Ao Thammachat is the main pier.

Private car all the way. The simplest door-to-door choice. Your driver takes the car onto the ferry, so you stay in comfort and arrive at your resort without changing vehicles.

Fly and drive. Bangkok Airways flies Suvarnabhumi to Trat (TDX). Our driver meets you at Trat, drives to the pier and crosses with you on the ferry.

Ferry times. Car ferries run from early morning to early evening. Times change, so check on the day. A late flight or a long lunch can mean a missed last ferry, so we plan the day around it.

Private speedboat. After the last ferry, a pre-booked private boat can still take you across. It also links Koh Chang with Koh Mak and Koh Kood.

Our Bangkok to Koh Chang route guide compares every option in detail.

Coming from abroad? If you land late, rest one night in Bangkok and travel the next morning. One planner handles the car, the ferry, the villa and the boat days. Our Thai team plans the day around the last ferry, so you cross in daylight.

Getting around the island is easy with a private driver. The ring road does not go all the way round the island, and some sections are steep and winding. Our drivers know the road well and plan each day around it.

Chanthaburi, on the drive from Bangkok, makes a good stop. The town is known for its gem market and its old riverside quarter.

How should you plan 3 to 5 days on Koh Chang?

Plan three days for beaches and one outing, or five days to add an island day and a jungle morning. The drive or flight takes most of the first day. So three nights gives you two full days, and five nights gives you four. The example plans below show what we can arrange, not fixed tours.

Example plan: three nights. Day 1: the car rolls off the ferry, you check in on Klong Prao, and you watch the sun set over the sea. Day 2: a swim at Klong Plu waterfall before the heat, then seafood on the Bang Bao pier and a long spa afternoon. Day 3: a private boat to Koh Wai and Koh Rang, where the water is the clearest for snorkelling. Day 4: drive or fly home.

Five nights. Add a kayak morning at Salak Phet and a quiet beach day at Klong Kloi. Then take a boat south to Koh Kood for two more nights before you fly home from Trat.

Seven nights. Combine four nights on Koh Chang with three on Koh Kood. Use the private boat to link the islands and visit Koh Wai and Koh Rang on the way. It is one of the most relaxing island routes in Thailand, and it starts with a simple drive from Bangkok.

Whatever the length, keep one day free. The island's charm is its slow pace. The best moments often come without a plan: a long swim, a nap in the shade, a sunset you did not expect. Tanner builds the plan, and you decide how much of it to use.