Koh Chang is Thailand’s third largest island, with a size of 212 square kilometres, 30 kilometres long by 14 kilometres wide and a population touching 10,000.
It is located in Mu Koh Chang Marine National Park in the far east of the Gulf Of Thailand near to the border with Cambodia.
For many years largely undiscoved, its steady development over the last decade is not on the same scale as the 2 larger Thai Islands of Koh Samui or Phuket. Instead, Koh Chang attracts the more independent minded global tourist who is looking for something a bit different. Alongside the International visitors, the island is also hugely popular with Thais themselves, who come from all over the country in their holiday time to enjoy its rugged beauty and wonderful beaches.
In our Koh Chang guide, we explore the island from top to bottom, offering you all the information needed so you can plan your trip. Our easy to follow sections detail everything from resort recommendations to what are the best beaches, from how to get here to what to do when you arrive. Throw in our tips on where to eat and where to party and we have Koh Chang covered.
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Resorts, Hotels and Bungalows – Koh Chang
Resorts, hotels and bungalows on Koh Chang number in the hundreds, with everything from luxury to boutique to simple bamboo huts, located on all of the different beaches across the island.
Luxury hotels and resorts range in price from 3,000bt to 4,000bt per night right up to 15,000bt or more for the deluxe pool villas. There are plenty of smaller mid range bungalow resorts where prices start at 1,000bt and for the backpacker, you can find guesthouse rooms as low as 250bt for shared bathroom, cold shower and fan, with 400bt to 500bt a good price for a basic bungalow.
We explore the options on each beach with our detailed recommendations on where to stay as well as our regular updates here – Best Hotels 2018, 10 Ten Luxury Resort,Top 10 Boutique, Budget Picks and keeping with the new trend, Best Hostels
We book all the Koh Chang activities, provide private transfers to and from the island and other transport options.
We can also help with your planning as you combine a Koh Chang holiday with a trip to Koh Kood, Koh Mak, Koh Wai or Cambodia.
How to Get to Koh Chang – Transfers, Fly, Bus, Minibus, Ferry
Head here for all the different ways of getting to Koh Chang whether by land, by air or by sea – the complete lowdown on private transfers, hotel to hotel share minibuses, VIP and public buses, flights to Trat Airport, ferries and island hopping.
All the information on private transfers by car (Sedan or Innova) or minibus, door to door, with ferry tickets. Transfers are available in either direction from Bangkok hotels, Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang Airport, Trat Airport, Laem Ngop Pier (Koh Mak) and Laem Sok Pier (Koh Kood).
We also specialise in transfers from Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Phnom Penh and Battambang as well the Cambodian borders.
Hotel to hotel share minibuses shuttle to and from the island daily. There are also daily services from Khao San Road including a night bus, direct links from Suvarnabhumi Airport as well as public buses and minibuses departing regularly from Bangkok at Ekamai and Morchit Bus Stations.
Bangkok Airways flies 4 times daily in each direction between Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Trat Airport (TDX) on the mainland. You use either shared minibuses or private transfers between Trat Airport and your resort on Koh Chang.
Koh Chang is served by two car ferries, the faster one Ferry Koh Chang from Ao Thammachat to Ao Sapparot, which runs from 06.30 to 19.00 and the older Centerpoint Ferry which runs from 06.00 till 19.30. Prices are 80bt for a single adult ticket on both services.
You can island hop between Koh Chang, Koh Wai, Koh Mak and Koh Kood using either a speedboat, catamaran or a slower wooden boat – 5 times daily in each direction with prices from 300bt to 900bt per adult depending on which island to which island.
Things to Do in Koh Chang – Boat Trips, Trekking, Diving, Elephants, Cooking School
You won’t be short of things to do on Koh Chang, with a wealth of activities on land and at sea, everything from snorkeling to cooking classes, diving to jungle treks, all at reasonable prices, all available daily.
Enjoy a day out on the sea snorkeling on a converted wooden fishing boat or speedboat, with trips down to the Marine Park at Koh Rang on a 4 island tour, calling in at Koh Wai and Monkey Rock. Or there are shorter days on the 3 island tour to Koh Wai and Wai Chek Beach.
We specialise in bespoke days on private boats tailor-made for just your group.
Koh Chang is the place to learn to dive on an Open Water Course or give it your first try with DSD (Discover Scuba Diving). For the qualified, there’s some terrific dive sites offshore at the Marine Park of Koh Rang and at the wrecks to the south of the island. All courses available.
Jungle trekking is a popular way to spend the day, with daily excursions to the interior of the island, featuring secret waterfalls and the highest peaks at Salak Phet and White Sand Beach. Private treks are also available as well as early morning bird watching in the Klong Prao area.
With 6 camps on the island, you can enjoy a forest trek with the elephants for 1 hour or stay for longer and get to swim and wash with them – a unique experience. We organise it all for you at Ban Kwan Chang, including transfers to and from your resort.
Learn to cook Thai food at one of the island’s cooking schools, with detailed instruction on everything from curry pastes to the actual curries (green, red, Massaman, sour), noodle dishes (Pad Thai) and even desserts (sticky rice and mango) – small classes, great locations, eat what you cook.
Koh Chang Weather
For the full guide to the climate and seasons on Koh Chang, please head here.
Beaches – Koh Chang
We take you round all the Koh Chang beaches including White Sand Beach, Lonely Beach, Klong Prao Beach and Kai Bae Beach. Our snippets give at a glance information on what to expect in each area, while out detailed guides help you explore more fully. Recommended tips for places to stay, restaurants and bars.
A tour around Koh Chang’s busiest beach, with at a glance details on what to expect and a more leisurely walk around the beach helping you find what’s where from the northern end to the southern end. We cover all the resorts and bungalows, such as KC Grande and Kacha. as well as restaurants, bars and shops.
Koh Chang’s longest beach fully covered for you with at a glance details on what to expect. We follow this with a more leisurely walk from area to area, passing the waterfall, the temple, the large resorts down on the sand, such as The Dewa, Centara Tropicana, Santhiya Tree and Emerald Cove. as well as elephant camps, all the restaurants and the odd bar along the way.
Koh Chang’s backpacker and party beach up close with at a glance details on what to expect followed by a more leisurely walk around the beach and village, helping you find out what’s where. Everything from bungalows to resorts, such as Warapura and Nest Sense as well as restaurants and of course those bars.
Perhaps Koh Chang’s most popular beaches for all the family, we give you at a glance details on what to expect, together with a more leisurely walk around the beach and the main street, helping you find out what’s where. We cover everything from the large resorts in the centre such as Awa, The Chill and Gajapuri to bungalows, restaurants and bars, not forgetting a delightful waterfall too.
Koh Chang Restaurants
Our restaurant guide goes around Koh Chang beach by beach, picking out the best spots. We cover everything from seafood to coffee shops and even the East Coast.
Koh Chang Nightlife, Bars and Party
Our complete guide to Koh Chang nightlife, beach by beach. We highlight the best bars, pubs and party venues in each area, so you can hit the right spots during your holiday.
Latest Koh Chang Hotels and Resorts Recommendations
Trat Hotels and Guesthouses
Our guide to Trat Hotels and guesthouses with snippet information, prices and chance to book. Also where to stay at Laem Sok Pier and Laem Ngop Pier.
Koh Chang Transfer Updates
Suvarnabhumi Airport to Koh Chang – Private Transfers, Flights and Bus
All the information needed on getting from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Koh Chang. Details, prices and chance to book private transfers as well as flight numbers, times to Trat Airport, bus/share minibus with Suvarnabhhumi Bupara Co or 999 Bus or our own share minibus.
Siem Reap to Koh Kood, Koh Kood to Siem Reap – Private Transfer
Our guide to getting from Siem Reap to Koh Kood or Koh Kood to Siem Reap within a day with a private transfer via Aranya Prathet/Poipet border and Laem Sok Pier. Prices, chance to book.
Read the full article here, Siem Reap to Koh Kood, Koh Kood to Siem Reap – Private Transfer
Koh Chang Blogs
Trekking up Khao Laem Salak Phet – Koh Chang Treks
A day trekking in Salak Phet up the 650m Koh Laem peak, with its breathtaking 360 degree views of Koh Chang, followed by a descent via the top tiers of Kheeri Phet Waterfall.
Read the full blog here, Trekking up Khao Laem in Salak Phet
Private Speedboat Trips off Koh Chang
A brief guide to private speedboat trips off Koh Chang. Visits to Koh Laoya, Koh Wai, Koh Klum and snorkeling at Koh Rang. Prices and itinerary suggestions.
Koh Chang Property
Small Bungalow Resort for Sale – West Coast
Located in a tranquil area away from the main street in one of Koh Chang’s most popular laid-back areas, the property consists of 4 bungalows, owner accommodation, bar, lounge area and pretty garden setting. Turnkey and available immediately. Cheap annual lease, ready for re-negotiation.
Get the full information here, Small Bungalow Resort for Sale – West Coast
New Boutique Resort for Sale – West Coast
Located on the popular west coast, brand new boutique resort for sale in Koh Chang. Property consists of 7 bungalows, swimming pool, kitchen, restaurant, owner and staff accommodation. Highly ranked on booking sites. Unique turnkey opportunity. All fixtures and fittings. Good Contract, extendable.
Get the full information here, New Boutique Resort for Sale – West Coast
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