Koh Chang

Thailand's second-largest island, combining rainforest-clad mountains with white-sand beaches and island-hopping to Koh Kood and Koh Mak for snorkeling — a laid-back island escape in eastern Thailand, east of Bangkok.

Koh Chang lies in Trat Province in eastern Thailand, near the Cambodian border. Covering about 217 km², it is Thailand's second-largest island. More than 70% of it is mountainous rainforest, and it is part of Mu Ko Chang National Marine Park. November to April is the dry season, when the sea is calm and conditions are best; from May to October the southwest monsoon brings big waves and heavy rain to the west coast, but there are fewer visitors and accommodation is cheaper. The island divides into three areas: the west coast, with (from north to south) White Sand Beach, Klong Prao, Kai Bae and Lonely Beach, is the main accommodation and beach area; the south has Bang Bao fishing village and Klong Kloi Beach, and island-hopping boats depart from Bang Bao; the east coast is more untouched, with Salak Phet fishing village, mangroves and Than Mayom Waterfall. For outlying islands, you can snorkel Koh Rang on a day trip or stay on Koh Wai, Koh Mak or Koh Kood. Getting there: from Bangkok, drive or take a bus to Laem Ngop pier in Trat Province (about 5–6 hours), or fly to Trat Airport (about 1 hour); car ferries from the pier reach the island in about 30–45 minutes. There is no public transport on the island; get around by songthaew (shared pickup taxi) or rented motorbike. Stay 3–5 days. The west coast road is steep with many sharp bends, so inexperienced riders should not rent a motorbike.

Top sights

• White Sand Beach (Hat Sai Khao) – The longest and liveliest beach on Koh Chang, with hotels, restaurants, bars and night markets concentrated here. It is the most convenient…
• Bang Bao Fishing Village – An old fishing village built on a wooden pier on stilts over the sea. Seafood restaurants and small shops line the pier, and it is the main…
• Mu Ko Chang National Park Island Hopping (Koh Rang) – A four-island day trip departing from Bang Bao. The coral reefs around Koh Rang are intact and full of fish, making it the best snorkeling…
• Klong Prao Beach – A broad beach on the middle stretch of the west coast with many resorts and fewer crowds than White Sand Beach. It suits families, and at l…
• Kai Bae Beach – A small bay on the southern stretch of the west coast, facing several islets. The water is shallow and calm, and at low tide you can wade o…
• Kai Bae Viewpoint – A viewpoint on the mountain road south of Kai Bae Beach, overlooking the bay and the islets. It is Koh Chang's most classic postcard view.
• Lonely Beach (Hat Tha Nam) – A backpacker hub that is quiet by day and lively by night, with beach parties and bars, plus plenty of budget bungalows and hostels.
• Klong Kloi Beach – A quiet bay east of Bang Bao, with a graceful curve of sand, few visitors and a handful of beach bars. It suits travelers who want peace an…
• Long Beach (Hat Sai Yao) – A remote beach at the southeastern tip of Koh Chang, reached only by a steep dirt road. Its sand is pristine and visitors are few, making i…
• Salak Phet Fishing Village & Mangroves – A traditional stilt-house fishing village on Koh Chang's southeastern coast, with seafood restaurants and a mangrove boardwalk. It feels mo…
• Salak Kok Mangrove Kayaking – A mangrove bay on the east coast, run by the community with kayak and longtail boat tours through the mangrove channels, where you can spot…
• Khlong Phlu Waterfall – Koh Chang's most famous waterfall, with three tiers and a large plunge pool at the base for swimming. It is about a 15-minute walk from the…
• Than Mayom Waterfall – A multi-tiered waterfall in the East Coast national park, with inscriptions carved into the rock by Kings Rama V, VI and VII during their v…
• Khlong Chao Luem Waterfall – A small waterfall beside Khlong Son village near White Sand Beach. It is within walking distance, has a swimmable pool and few visitors, an…
• Koh Wai – A small island south of Koh Chang with no roads, only simple wooden bungalows, and coral you can see just by snorkeling off the shore. It i…
• Koh Mak – A flat island of coconut groves with little large-scale development, ideal for cycling around. It is a stopover for island-hopping or onwar…
• Ko Chang Naval Battle Memorial – A memorial near Laem Ngop pier to the 1941 Thai-French naval battle off Koh Chang, with ship models and exhibits. It is worth a stop before…

Where to eat

• Kati Culinary Thai Restaurant – A well-regarded Thai restaurant on the main road of Klong Prao Beach that makes its curry pastes in-house from a family…
• Phu Talay Estuary Seafood Restaurant – A blue-and-white wooden seafood restaurant at the estuary on Klong Prao, known for stir-fried scallops, fish-sauce frie…
• Salak Phet Seafood Restaurant – A large seafood restaurant built over Salak Phet Bay at the southeastern tip of Koh Chang; seafood is kept in cages bes…
• Blues Blues Art Kitchen – An artist's home-and-studio courtyard restaurant in Ban Khlong Son at Koh Chang's northern tip, run by a couple; cheap…

Itineraries

• Thailand Eastern Seaboard, Koh Chang & Koh Kood – Travel along the eastern coast through Pattaya, Koh Samet, and Chanthaburi, then island-hop from Koh Chang and Koh Mak…