If you’re looking for an island in Thailand that is less touristy than Bangkok, Krabi, or Phuket, consider booking a stay in Koh Chang.
Sitting in the Gulf of Thailand near the Cambodian border and 300 km to the east of Bangkok, Koh Chang is an isle of over 200 square kilometres in area and Thailand’s third largest island.
Less commercialised than its sister islands of Phuket and Samui, Koh Chang, a part of Mu Ko Chang National Park, offers miles of virgin rain forests, stunning mountain ranges and a jaw-dropping coastline of picturesque bays, pristine beaches and colourful coral reefs.
With accommodation ranging from backpacker beach huts to luxurious five-star resorts and everything in between, this blog highlights my favourite places to stay in Koh Chang.
When I visit the island, I usually stay at White Sand Beach or Lonely Beach. However, other alternatives, such as those I recommend here, may be perfect for you, depending on what you are looking for.
Where to Stay in Koh Chang: 9 Best Areas
1. Ao Klong Son, quiet and local vibes
If your idea of the perfect holiday stay in Koh Chang is to get as close to nature and the local culture as possible, Ao Klong Son may be just the place to do it.
Ao Klong is situated in the north-west of Koh Chang and close to the Ao Sapparot Pier ferry terminal.
On the coast, it is a fishing community, while inland, you will find jungle and mountain trekking trails where you can get up close to the local Mangrove forest flora and fauna.
Other places of interest in Ao Klong include a Chinese shrine populated by the island’s guardians of the fishermen, and an elephant cam`p, said to be the best on Koh Chang Island.
Surprisingly, although there are just a few resort areas, Ao Klong is a popular expat destination. Several housing developments have been built, with numerous expats buying villas and letting them out via Airbnb.
Resort areas go from affordable guesthouses to luxurious five-star, complete with their own spa and swimming pool.
A number of resorts have facilities open to both residents and non-residents, such as restaurants, pools, mini golf and even disc golf.
The village is pretty much a standard Thai village, with local eateries and a couple of mini-marts where you can pick up your day-to-day basics.
Klong Son is not the place to expect your late-night disco bars or full English breakfast, but it’s for that very reason so many visitors return year on year.
The main curving bay, situated between two peninsulas, is very shallow at low tide, making it safe for younger family members. Around the beach you can also hire kayaks if you want to explore the two small islands in the mouth of the bay.
For getting around, the most popular forms of transport tend to be cycle or scooter hire, or if you prefer four wheels, you can go for open-top jeeps, both self-drive or for guided tours.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN KOH CHANG IN KLONG SON
2. White Sand Beach, where to stay in Koh Chang for the first time
From the local culture to little Europe in Thailand. Okay, maybe that’s a bit harsh, but if you need the comforts of home during your holiday stay in Koh Chang, carry on out of Klong Son, up the steep hill, and drop down the other side into White Sand Beach.
Before you descend the hill, you can enjoy panoramic views of the bay and what many consider to be the best beach resort for a stay in Koh Chang.
As different resort complexes come into view along the coast road, the 7-Eleven mini-mart marks the beginning of White Sand Beach.
It is also the area where you will find your full English and late-night karaoke and sports bars, as well as international bars and restaurants, souvenir shops, internet cafes and chemists. That said, it is still far removed from the big tourist hubs of Phuket or Samui.
On the subject of souvenir shops, the majority sell the same mementoes you can buy anywhere on the island.
If you’re seeking that special gift, look out for a shop called Peace Moon; it usually has vintage motorcycles and bicycles parked outside. They sell an extensive range of genuine, locally hand-made leather goods, from bracelets and wallets to stylish handbags and shoulder bags, and they are well worth a visit.
On the seafront, the white sand beach stretches for almost 2,5 kilometers, and is a popular stretch with those who just want to flop onto a sunbed and soak up the rays. It is also popular with surfers and windsurfers when a slight breeze gets up.
You will also find plenty of guided tours available to visit different beaches and into the interior, with jungle treks and the elephant camp being particularly popular.
Don’t miss the night market. There are several stalls selling various items and street food stalls.
Resort areas along White Sand Beach are varied and numerous and offer accommodations from bungalow garden complexes to guesthouses and plush villa resorts.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN WHITE SAND BEACH
- ($$$) KC Grande Resort Koh Chang
- ($$) Chang Buri Resort & Spa
- ($) Para Resort
3. Pearl Beach, good accommodation prices close to White Sand Beach
Located on the west coast of Koh Chang Island as you leave White Sand Beach, Pearl Beach is more of a rocky shoreline with palms down to the waterline than it is a full-on beach.
It is a popular destination for those who enjoy snorkelling and scuba diving, with a large variety of marine species living around the rocky substrate.
Resort accommodation around Pearl Beach goes from affordable, including a couple of campsites, to reasonably priced villas.
For those wanting to explore the coastal areas and the island’s interior by hire vehicle it makes for an excellent base, with all you need on a daily basis close to hand.
Heading down the main coastal road, you will pass a few small budget-priced resorts set in their own gardens.
Look out for Crazy Mojitos Bar, sitting on the hill. On the coastal side opposite, you will find Sanaes Buds, a cannabis café that cultivates its own plants on the land behind the café.
Along the beachfront’s north end, you will find a couple of friendly hippie-era laid-back bars, the Sunset Club, a bistro, and cheap eateries. While at the end of the village, you can’t miss the Big C Superstore. There are also a couple of large supermarkets and the island’s main Post Office.
As you pass through the village, numerous side roads guide you down to various boutique resorts ranging from chalets to villas. Along these streets, you will also find small bars and Thai versions of your local takeaway, selling cooked-to-order stir-fry dishes of chicken and rice or noodle soup.
If you’re staying at Pearl Beach and want to enjoy a special occasion meal before heading home, look up ‘Saffron on the Sea’ on the seafront.
It is one of Koh Chang’s most popular restaurants, with less than ten tables inside and out, and a unique ambience all its own. With attentive staff and an open kitchen, you can watch while your meal is prepared or enjoy a beer or cocktail while you listen to the waves lapping on the seashore.
Pearl Beach has an excellent selection of budget and mid-range accommodation that is considerably cheaper than many other resorts due to having a pebbly rather than sandy beach.
That said, if a sandy beach is what you want for the little ones, White Sand Beach is just a few minutes drive north.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN PEARL BEACH
- ($$) Saffron On The Sea Resort
- ($) Macura Resort
- ($) Penny’s Resort
4. Klong Prao Beach, the longest beach and a beautiful environment
Another long, curving stretch of white sand and turquoise waters, Klong Prao Beach stretches for over three kilometres down the west coast of Koh Chang.
With its forest-covered backdrop of mountains and palms that reach the shoreline, it is an area full of resort complexes that suit all pockets and is very popular with visitors.
The long, rambling beach is split into three by two large river estuaries that empty into the sea.
Two and three-star resort areas tend to be in the southern area of Klong Prao Beach, with a smaller number of more expensive resort areas in the north.
That said, you will find resorts along the entire length with leisure areas, eateries, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and a whole range of touristy, beach and souvenir shops on the main road alongside the beach.
If you want to get out and about, cycle, scooter, and car hire are available, or you can flag down the phut-phut style Songtaews, which is the only public transport that runs on the island.
While the more expensive accommodations are on the beachfront or close to, some of the economy resorts tend to be set back. To compensate for this and attract more guests, many offer a regular shuttle to ferry guests back and forth to the beach.
Although Klong Prao Beach is ideal if you just want to stretch out on your towel and forget the world, it is also very popular with explorers. Guided and self-guided tours are available to the National Park forest nature trails, the waterfalls and up the river estuaries.
In the evenings, around a kilometre up river, you can watch the area come alight as millions of fireflies come out to play. You can enjoy the spectacle by either hiring a kayak or paddleboard, or booking an organised trip.
Although evening entertainment is pretty low-key, there is some choice, from bars and restaurants in resorts, to pleasant bars and eateries along the beachfront and the village.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN KLONG PRAO BEACH
5. Kai Bae Beach, nice beach, great views, relax, and nature activities
If Klong Prao doesn’t work for your stay in Koh Chang, the next beach going down the west coast is Kai Bae Beach.
As you continue heading south down the coast road, you will see resorts on both the beach side and behind the road, before you hit the village of Kai Bae.
It is one of Koh Chang’s first resort areas when, back in the late 1970s, beachside residents began letting their spare rooms to the first hippie backpackers to arrive, seeking an alternative lifestyle.
It is a small but busy village with locals and visitors. Here you will find bars and restaurants, supermarkets, grocery stores, market stalls, coffee shops, banks, ATMs, bakeries and chemists. In fact, everything you may need for your holiday can be bought in Kai Bae.
With the village overlooking the bay, there are some excellent viewpoints out to sea for those must-have holiday snaps, especially the sunsets.
The clean, white sand beach is split into two main areas by a river estuary and shelves very slowly at low tide, making it suitable for young children.
At low tide the closest of the small offshore islands can be reached by wading out. Or you can paddle out on one of the kayaks that can be hired off the beach.
Nightlife is very quiet, with beachfront restaurants and bars available. A stroll through the village should also be considered. A small number of bars can be found where you can discover what it’s like to live like a local.
If street food is your thing, there is also a line of roadside eateries in the village where you can peruse the menus and sit at a table to enjoy your meal al fresco.
Resort complexes around Kai Bae include well-priced beachfront bungalows, economy resorts and high-end villa complexes with all mod-cons.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN KAI BAE BEACH
6. Lonely Beach, where to stay in Koh Chang for nightlife
While the name ‘Lonely Beach’ might invoke thoughts of sad people sitting on a beach trying to work out how to talk to other sad people, Lonely Beach on Koh Chang is as far from that as you can get.
Although not as in your face as the big party resorts of Phuket or Bangkok, or the European hotspots of Ibiza or Faliraki, Lonely Beach has a pleasant, fun party vibe all of its own.
Attracting visitors of all ages, it is particularly popular with the young and young-at-heart singles, couples and groups who arrive to have fun and let their hair down – in the nicest possible way.
Climbing the hill out of Kai Bae, as you reach the summit and begin the descent, you get your first glimpse of Lonely Beach and the beautiful vista out to sea.
The pristine beach itself is split into two parts, with the first few hundred metres running from the base of the mountain and a further kilometre of white sand running to the southern end.
Lonely Beach village is located to the rear and above the beach, with small roads, or sois, giving access to the rocky foreshore and the sand.
You will find everything you need around the village, including banks, ATMs, bars, cafes, national and international restaurants, and fast food joints.
Although much of the evening entertainment is to be found around the village street Soi 1, you will also find parties on the beach most evenings through high season.
Look up laid-back old-school and Reggae beach front bars such as Mimo’s, Life’s a Beach, Rude Boy and the Lonely Beach Bar, chilling their customers under a moonlit sky.
During the day, you can relax on the beach with a Mojito and a little Bob Marley, do some souvenir hunting around the village, or walk the nature trails through the National Park, always being aware of any cheeky Macaque monkeys that may get too close.
For your stay in Koh Chang, accommodation on Lonely Beach is varied, with a good selection of lower-priced economy resorts available.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN LONELY BEACH
- ($$) Nest Sense Resort
- ($) Oasis Koh Chang
- ($) Nature Beach Resort
7. Bailan Bay, quiet and cheap area close to Lonely Beach
Continuing to head south from Lonely Beach, your next resort option is the quieter area of Bailan Bay (Bailan Beach).
For many, the big letdown of Bailan Beach is it has a narrow, rocky foreshore and sea bed with just a couple of small, artificial beaches. The rest tends to be rocky, making swimming difficult and risky unless the tide is in.
That said, not everyone enjoys sand with their sandwiches or sand sticking to their newly applied sunblock. To compensate for the poor beach, many seafront resorts have good swimming pools where guests can lounge on sunbeds, swim, and enjoy a drink at the bar without a grain of sand in sight (almost).
Also, a big plus for many is that you will likely find fewer families with young children staying in the Bailan Beach area. Most guests tend to be older couples, groups and younger couples who prefer busy days exploring and quiet evenings where they can relax with a meal and drink.
For those days or nights when you might want to enjoy a little extra entertainment, a ten-minute ride north in a taxi or songthaew (public transport) will get you to Lonely Beach, or heading south 10 minutes will get you to Bang Bao.
Bailan Village is a typically small Thai Village, but more than adequate for enjoying some local or international dining.
Around the village, you will also find a supermarket, mini-marts, coffee shop, small shops and businesses, chemist, travel agent offices, scooter and cycle hire shops and ATMs.
The few available bars can be found around the beach and the village. Along the front are a couple of good restaurants with wooden decks where you can enjoy your meal or a drink under the stars.
In the village, look for long-standing Tamarin, where diners can choose from thick, juicy burgers or genuine local Thai cuisine.
All in all, for your stay in Koh Chang, the Bailan Beach resorts area offers a good selection of cheap, two and three-star accommodations with cheap diners and plenty of quiet space to relax day and night.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN KOH CHANG IN BAILAN BAY
8. Bang Bao Bay – Klong Kloi Beach, fishing village and water activities
The last resort area on Koh Chang’s west coast, Bang Bao Bay, stretches for around three kilometres and includes Sai Noi Beach and Klong Kloi Beach. It is also close to Bang Bao Pier.
It is a popular choice with day visitors wanting somewhere a little quieter than Lonely Beach or a little busier than Bailan Beach.
The sandy beaches have virtually flat waters the year round, but with a fairly steep incline into deeper waters care needs to be taken with the little ones.
It is a popular destination with young hippie backpackers and families, with plenty to do.
You can pretty much stroll the length of the bay, moving from one beach to another. Along the way you will find beachfront complexes, with others lying back amongst the palms.
Beach bars may beckon you for a drink, and you can jot down a few restaurants you might want to try in the evening.
Before the tourist euros began to arrive, Bang Bao was a fishing area, with fishermen living in traditional bamboo huts on stilts.
Bang Bao Pier is also the main (tourist) shopping area and stretches for 350 metres. Although most of the fishing industry is long gone, many stilt huts remain on the pier.
Today, they are occupied by mini-marts and shopkeepers selling souvenirs, beach-ware, clothing, snacks and drinks.
The addition of a large roof to keep the sun and rain off the visitors’ heads has given the pier more of an indoor market feel but taken some of the traditional authenticity away. Nonetheless, taking a little time out to pay them a visit makes for an interesting half-hour.
Although you will find seafood restaurants on most of the island, Bang Bao has developed something of a reputation for its seafood restaurants and you will find some of the best around the pier area.
Diving and snorkelling are also very popular around Bang Bao, and you can watch the dive boats depart and arrive throughout the day. Or, if you prefer, hire the equipment and join the party.
It is also the embarkation point for many tour boats visiting other islands.
Other points of interest include a rather dilapidated lighthouse at the end of the pier and a Chinese Temple on the main road.
Accommodation at Bang Bao includes a couple of backpacker hostels, as well as economy and high-end bungalow and villa resorts.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN BANG BAO
- ($$$) Chivapuri Beach Resort
- ($) Chaipura Resort
- ($) Freedom home
9. Salak Phet Bay, waterfalls, viewpoints, mangroves, forest, mountains, and fishing villages
Koh Chang Island’s largest bay, Salak Phet, nestles at the top of a large U-shaped gulf on the island’s southeast coast.
It is a rural community of farmers and fishermen spread along the coast and in the countryside.
Tourists are pretty thin on the ground in an area that remains stubbornly uncommercialised, and your trekking and sightseeing partners are more likely to be mainland Thai and Cambodian visitors rather than fellow Europeans.
It is an area that cries out to be explored. Both sides of the bay have their own attractions, with viewpoints offering unique photographic opportunities of the offshore islands, coastal views, rain forests and mountain landscapes.
It is a quiet, sleepy, uncommercialised area with a fishing village, some excellent seafood restaurants and local Thai eateries. The few resorts and guesthouses in the area tend to be small, personal and friendly.
There is no beach at Salak Phet, and the nearest one, Wai Chaek Beach ( Long Beach), is challenging to get to by road unless you have a determined mindset. The effort though, is well rewarded with an almost virgin white sand beach and scenery to die for.
Depending on where you are staying or visiting from, around four kilometres around the coast you will find the fishing village, which is well worth a visit. There are also a couple of large stores, mini-marts, chemists and street food stalls.
Continuing along this road (track) also puts you on the trail for the waterfalls, shrimp farms, the small marina and a very popular seafood restaurant (Salak Phet Seafood, said to be one of the best seafood restaurants in Koh Chang).
Continue past the Buddhist Temple, and you will drop down into Salak Phet waterside village.
Visit the Red Bridge in Salak Phet Mangrove Forest. It is a striking red wooden bridge that spans a serene mangrove forest, leading to a tranquil viewpoint. This picturesque structure offers stunning photo opportunities and a chance to explore the rich mangrove ecosystem.
Places of interest include:
- Salak Phet Temple
- Salak Phet Mangrove Forest
- Kiri Phet Waterfall
- Wai Chaek Beach
- Climb Khao Laem “Khao Salak Phet” / Jungle Trekking
- Fisherman’s Hut Viewpoint
Unless you are a regular trekker of Thailand’s highlands and islands and familiar with the state of many of the roads (no road signs in English), guided and accompanied trips around Salak Phet are the way to go, especially when heading for the waterfalls, forests and mountains.
Although resort complexes in the area are few, they offer good value for money and work to give you a good visitor experience during your stay in Koh Chang. Accommodation ranges from boutique resorts, guesthouses, hostels and bungalows.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN SALAK PHET BAY