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’s located about 320km out from Bangkok near to the border with Cambodia – the far east of the Gulf Of Thailand. The island and surrounding area is designated as the Mu Koh Chang Marine National Park.
After laying low for many years, 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.
At A Glance
- Koh Chang’s accommodation covers the board – luxury and boutique resorts, hotels in all sizes, family villas, pool villas, 3 star resorts, bungalows, cheap rooms and hostels. Whatever your budget, you’ll find something that suits.
- You access the island via two car ferries. Private transfers are the ideal way of getting to the departure piers but you can fly, jump on a share minibus, cheap bus or island hop too.
- The best beaches are on the west coast – White Sand Beach the most developed, Klong Prao with its large resorts, Lonely Beach with its travellers and parties. Kai Bae a bit of everything. Plenty of other great spots too and don’t forget the more local east coast.
- Koh Chang offers a broad range of activities including diving, snorkeling, visiting the waterfalls, cooking classes, sailing and trekking, massage, yoga and volunteering.
- As for restaurants, you can eat around the globe – some great Thai diners and seafood of course but also Mexican, Mediterranean, Italian, Indian, Korean and vegetarian. Great cafes and bakeries also.
- For the night owls, Koh Chang does have a vibrant nightlife scene – parties, bars, live music and even a couple of small clubs.
- Offshore, you can visit various islands on day trips or even in a kayak.
- As to those important holiday FAQs, Koh Chang is a very well developed island, with a public and a small private hospital, police stations, banks, 4G/5G internet, great mobile coverage, 7-11s and superstores.
