At a Glance
- Likely to meet: Travellers, couples and tourists
- The Beach: Not its strong point, small beach at southern end, tiny one at northern end, very tidal, rocks underfoot
- Accommodation: Large hotel, 1/2 star resorts, traveller and backpacker
From 600bt up to 5,800bt for the pool villas- Hotel/Resorts: Mercure Hideaway, Bailan Beach Resort, White House
- Bungalows: Elephant Bay, Lazy Republique, Cocoon, Vanara, Baan Sanook, Jungle Garden, Kamrai, Red Moon Hideaway, Ing Dao
- Camping: Koh Chang Camp Beach (pitches for your tent)
- Restaurants: Mainly cheap Thai, bit of western, pizza on the beach
- All Cuisines: Vanara (Italian and Thai), Cocoon (Bistro), Tamarin (Thai/Khmer), J & K (Thai), Lisca Beach (Italian), Coconut Cafe (Thai), Pah Jae (noodles), Kohchang 7 (Korean), Nanny (Issan), Song Phi Nong (Thai), Ing Dao (Seafood ,Thai)
- Coffee Shops: Bailan Cafe
- Nightlife: Very low key
- Bars: 3 Trees (sports), Saren Bar (if open)
- Other: Minimart, Pharmacy, ATMs, Ticket agent, Motorbike Rental
- Highlights: Local, easy going atmosphere, peace and quiet
- Lowlights: The beach, village is getting more cramped as it develops
At an Island Pace – Bailan Beach
Bailan Beach (or Bailan Bay) sits about 2 kms down the road from Lonely Beach. Known for its local, quiet atmosphere and laid back tourism, it boasts a brand hotel (Mercure) at the southern end, a couple of 2 star resorts and plenty of bungalows.
Alongside them, you’ll find a few cheap and cheerful restaurants, minimarts and a bit of massage. There is no nightlife – part of its attraction. On the downside, the small beaches at either end are certainly not award winners, so you need to head to either Lonely Beach or Bang Bao Beach for the proper sand and sea experience.
Northern End | Central | Southern End | Summary
At The Northern End
Coming from Lonely Beach, the road sweeps round a couple of corners before reaching the vestiges of Bailan Bay Resort, and just a few hundred metres further along, The Mangrove, both of which have closed down.
Next up, the two resorts of Lazy Republique and Cocoon, both French owned, are on the mountain-side, immediately followed by the cheap Thai diner Coconut Cafe and the rooms of Green Resort and Baan Sanook. Completing the row, Vanara offers a mix of newly refurbished and older style bungalows in a large garden behind its roadside Italian restaurant.
Opposite Cocoon, a small soi leads to the large 2 star Bailan Beach Resort, bungalows on the seafront, swimming pool and a small hotel block behind. There is a sweet little beach here, which runs northwards past the front of The Mangrove but, due to the rocks underfoot, you can only swim if the tide is up.
Incidentally, at certain times of the year when the tide retreats its furthest, Koh Chang’s coast becomes a perfect spot for the locals to harvest a specific type of clam.
You can walk right to the end of the beach and through the old Bailan Bay to reach the abandoned buildings on the little peninsula.
The Central Area
Back at the road, on the ocean side, Faye Orchid Resort, Kamrai Resort, 3 Trees Guesthouse and Jungle Garden, with its bar, bungalows and cannabis/hammock shop, run in a line to the bridge.
From the bridge, small minimarts, Pah Jae (noodle shop), a motorbike rental and a laundry are all tightly packed together as you enter the middle of the village.
The boutique resort Red Moon Hideaway sits at the top of the small street which leads down to the sea, with Fresh Cafe next door – it has a couple of rooms too but the resort has never been finished. Opposite, the old Muay Thai Boxing Club is back in use as of March 2026.
Green Cottage Resort and Ing Dao Seafood and Bungalows face the ocean at the bottom but following the curve, the ever popular Elephant Bay Resort has cheap and mid-range huts as well as a swimming pool.
At the very end, Kohchang 7 Guesthouse, seafront cabanas and a Korean restaurant on stilts over the water, finishes the accommodation off. The coastline here is rocky, with clumps of mangroves, little local fishing dinghies and no beach.
The Southern End – Bailan Beach
Across the main road from Red Moon Resort, you’ll find Tamarin, a long running Thai restaurant with a Khmer slant and another good cheap diner, J & K, whilst next door is one of Koh Chang’s many building merchants and Green Trees – a bar and seafood restaurant which is yet to open fully.
Turn in down the side of the restaurant and the street leads past the Lucky Gecko Garden and its six or so bungalows to The White House. You’ll also find other houses for rent in the garden area behind.
A mid-range resort with swimming pool, The White House is located right on the seafront and you can discreetly walk straight through it to drop down onto the beach. Let’s be honest, this is certainly not the best strand in Koh Chang but combined with the headland in the distance, it’s still makes an impressive overall panorama.
On the Beach
Next door to The White House, The Mercure Hideaway, a mixture of villas, a hotel block and various swimming pools, dominates the beach at this southern end of Bailan. Indeed, the beach was mostly created by them when they first arrived, with sand imported and rocks dredged, all to give it more of a holiday brochure feel. They also built that weirdly curving stone breakwater to keep it all in place.
At the far end, the Italian/Thai owned Lisca Beach (high season only), a chilled out bar/restaurant has now been joined by a separate camping ground at the start of the headland.
Far Southern End on the Street
Back at the road, opposite the hardware store, Saren Bar and Bailan Cafe sit either side of the inland street which leads past other local and long stay houses up to Little Bailan, a handful of new bungalows, at the top.
In the next little section heading towards Mercure Hideaway, there’s a laundry and minimart as well other good local diners including Nanny (Issan) and the very popular Song Phi Nong (Thai) on either side of the road. The police box, an ATM and Preecha Seafood restaurant (if open) are opposite the hotel entrance.
Finally, the bungalows and restaurant of Rock Inn straddle the start of the hill and you”ll spot ther track leading seawards, which brings you out at Lisca Beach as above.
Summary – Bailan Beach
All in all, Bailan Beach makes a good base for those not too fussed about lying on the beach. There’s a good range of accommodation, a few cheap diners and enough chill-out spots to relax in the evening, without any late night partying.
You can easily hop over to Lonely Beach using a songthaew or your own bike. To walk takes under 15 minutes. Or head the other way, further south to Bang Bao Beach (6 kilometres or so) and you can hang out for the day on that fabulous beach.
UPDATED 30th March 26
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