Salak Phet, Chek Bae and Long Beach resorts, bungalows and guesthouses are very limited in scope, so do not expect the same range of options as over on the west coast.
Whilst there are plenty of homestays targeted at Thai weekenders, there are only a couple of resorts – a solitary luxury resort, Parama Resort in Chek Bae (Jek Bae) and a more boutique style at Salak Phet Resort. You will also find some guesthouses around Salak Phet Bay and a throwback to the good old days with the backpacker huts at Long Beach Resort on Long Beach.
Prices given are for the peak Xmas period via booking sites, not the hotel websites. They are intended as guides only.
You can jump straight to each section:-
- Staying in This Part of Koh Chang
- Salak Phet Resorts and Guesthouses
- Chek Bae (Jek Bae)
- Long Beach
- Selected Others
Staying in This Part of Koh Chang
If you want to stay in this part of the island, bear in mind that there are only two beaches, either way over at Long Beach or down at Wai Chek, which itself is only accessible via a dangerous and much degraded road. Nightlife is of course non-existent and though there are a few Thai restaurants around, they close early evening.
Public taxis only run three times daily back and forth from Ao Sapparot Pier, so without your own transport, getting about can be both an organisational headache and very expensive.
What the area does offer, however, is authentic and local Koh Chang life, peace and quiet and some wonderful scenery.
Salak Phet Resorts and Guesthouses
Accommodation in Salak Phet principally consists of Thai homestays, but scattered about, you’ll also find a few surprises.
In the heart of the village, The Mangrove Hideaway, same owners as Salak Phet Resort and Seafood (and indeed Chivapuri and The Tropical on Bang Bao Beach) has a prime position on the concrete sea walkway which skirts the houses. Originally opened and lovingly designed by a French couple, the small guesthouse is marketed at Thai packages though you can get a room from 1,000bt to 1,500bt.
Meanwhile, even further into the heart of the fishing community, the tiny 800bt a night guesthouse, Baan Yemaya, sits at the end of another wooden walkway deep amongst the stilted houses. Continue over the bridge to the very end of the village and Baan Chan Lay is the last stop – an authentic Thai homestay overlooking the mangroves, with doubles and family rooms, 1,400bt to 3,200bt
One other spot is Hornbill Camp (087 128 7084) located along the back of beyond lane known as Klong Sip-Et, itself a right turn off Klong Neung Waterfall road. Here, you can pitch a tent for 200bt or rent one for 100bt, there’s bathroom facilities, charging facilities and car parking too. As to why you would want to camp out here, well it’s simply to be in the perfect spot early morning to view the island’s wonderful hornbills.
On the back road to the mangrove walkway (Red Bridge) in Salak Phet, Nanai Resort, is currently closed, with no news on when it may re-open.
Far Side of the Bay
Heading around the bay on the Salak Phet Seafood road, Diamond Hill (Salak Phet in translation) has a couple of simple ensuite rooms at 500bt or so a night. Passing by that and the various other Thai homestays, you then reach Koh Chang Marina. Aimed at Thai packages, it offers bungalows and a small pool, but only really gets (a little) busy in Thai holidays – 1,750bt a night with breakfast. Picasjo House, a real curiosity next door, has rooms by the water’s edge from 1,200bt.
Salak Phet Resort (and Seafood), perhaps the best of the Salak Phet resorts, is situated at the very far end of the bay in the area known as Baan Rong Than. It’s a mixture of simple a/c rooms at 1,400bt for a double or more elaborate cabanas over the water at 4,500bt.
Island View Resort is a German owned, older resort down the track behind Salak Phet Resort, offering rooms on the water at around 1,000bt or 1,800bt for deluxe on the hill, home to a pool too. It is also the base for Gulf Charters.
Wai Chek Beach
Years back, a never completed road was constructed with the intention of linking up Salak Phet and Bang Bao on the west coast. It has deteriorated enormously over the years but it does give access to the remote and undeveloped Wai Chek Beach and here you will find the occasional Crusoe type pitching a tent – all bungalow operations previously opened there have now closed.
Pricing Code/Per night in Baht (B): B= under 500; BB= 500 to 1,500; BBB= 1,500 to 3,000; BBBB= over 3,000;
Salak Phet Resort
Per Night: BB-BBBB+
Far end of Salak Phet bay
Popular with Thai packages, the resort offers sea view or deluxe rooms and cabins, all a/c and ensuite, built out over the water. and a small swimming pool at the rear.
Its large seafood restaurant draws locals from all over the province. You can organise boat trips, rent kayaks, but having your own transport is very useful if you want to explore.
Nanai Resort
Per Night: Currently closed (April 26)
Near the Mangrove Walkway
Hidden away on one of the interior sea inlets with only mangroves for company, this 4 room tastefully decorated guesthouse opened in 2024. It comprises just 4 rooms, two with pool view and two with garden view. There’s a decent feature length pool running length of the dining terrace, in-house restaurant run by Chef Eddy (formerly owner at the now closed The Souk), bar and lounge. Boat trips, motobike rental available. WiFi.
The Mangrove Hideaway
Per Night: BB-BBBB
Heart of Salak Phet Village
With its restaurant terrace backing onto the water inlet, this is a small two storey guesthouse with a collection of different sized room and suites, all with superb polished teak floors and complimentary wooden furniture. You can rent kayaks, take boat trips, eat locally or just laze away days by the water. Please note that the resort changed hands a good few years ago from its original French owners.
Baan Yemaya
Per Night: BB
In Salak Phet village
Over the water at the end of a small walkway lined with local houses, this long running guesthouse comprises just two a/c rooms with bathroom, alongside a restaurant/cafe (not always open) and nice terrace area. Very relaxing and away from it. Friendly host (Air), can organise local trips to Wai Chek Beach.
Island View
Per Night: BB-BBB
Far End of Salak Phet
At the far end of Salak Phet bay, German owned and one of the oldest Salak Phet resorts with 9 a/c rooms at the end of a wooden jetty or appartments on the hillside above, together with a swimming pool. Restaurant on site, motorbike rental. Aom’s Bakery is next door and you can walk to Salak Phet Seafood or Sang Arun, local minimarts in minutes.
Chek Bae (Jek Bae) Resorts and Bungalows
The village of Chek Bae, also spelt on signs as Jek Bae, is located over on the other side of the bay to Salak Phet.
Home to a handful of older resorts that cater to the Thai weekenders at Rommai Chailay, Ban Mae Resort (1,300bt a night) and Honeymoon Beach, it is also, in stark contrast, the location for Parama Resort.
Parama Resort, which sits about midway, is an upmarket getaway of luxury rooms, spa, ocean-front restaurant and swimming pool. Superior doubles start at 4,000bt but prices go right up to 12,500bt for the top floor suites with the best views. Its offshoot Parama 2 has closed down as has the never finished folly of swimming pool, slides and Easter Island style statues, which sat between the two accommodation sites.
You can kayak in the bay, but no one takes a dip, so for a beach, guests are ferried across to the tiny strip of white sand (prepare for sandflies) on the island in the middle, Koh Si Khao or offered the little strand at Honeymoon Beach (see below) at the very end of the road.
Also seaside in this stretch, a new chic little homestay is taking shape to replace the old Baan SuanNgaChang.
Far End
At the far end down by the ocean, Journey’s End is an tiny English run homestay from 550bt for a fan bungalow – restaurant, boat trips, very peaceful.
Beyond it, you’ll find a collection of bungalows which were previously for long term rent but the operation has now seemingly wound down. Take the rutted track instead and you emerge out at Honeymoon Beach Resort – just three large old Thai bungalows, restaurant on site, a charming little beach (Ao Karang) and a fine spot for a dip.
Parama Resort
Per Night: BBBB++
On the water, Chek Bae
Luxury resort by the water, with just 18 superior and deluxe rooms or suites. Lots of high end wood finishes, swimming pool, vast fish ponds, spa, shuttle boat to the beach on Koh Sai Khao in Salak Phet bay. Restaurant with daily changing menu, wine and spirit selection. All activities can be organised, luxurious but remote.
Journey’s End
Per Night: B – BB
On the water, Chek Bae
English owned homestay of 6 simple bungalows which are laid out at the back of a grassy area by the sea. Family room too, can pitch a tent. WiFi, breakfast, restaurant and bar on site. Boat trips organised on their own vessel at 1,000bt per person. Friendly chatty host, homestay style hang-out.
Long Beach Bungalows
Off the Chek Bae road that skirts the bay, a decent enough repaved road with its magnificent views the whole way, takes you far far down to the south east corner of Koh Chang at Long Beach.
Like Wai Chek Beach, this is a remote, wild spot but it does have backpacker accommodation in the shape of Long Beach (Treehouse) Bungalows. Rooms are cheap, 350bt to 700bt, but if you do stay here, there are no shops whatsoever, so you are very cut-off. Electricity is about 6 hours a night, fan only.
Day-trippers from the west side head here during the day, though safe to say, it is far further than they envisaged when setting off, a 100km round trip of coming from down the west coast at Lonely Beach.
Tantawan Resort, which sits beyond Long Beach overlooking Koh Ngam is open to allcomers, but only with a minimum of 2 rooms booked and has no WiFi, only data.
Long Beach Bungalows
Per Night: B-BB
On the water, Long Beach
Rudimentary old style Thai beach bungalows, all thatch and wood, arranged in rows up the hillside, shared bathroom, great restaurant, cable wifi (charging points for your phone), generator electricity for 6 hours a night. It’s fun and backpacker but remember you will be hanging out with just those staying there. There are no shops so bring all you need with you for a few days or you can make a run on a motorbike back to Chek Bae for supplies. Phone Bookings only on 087 979 4572 or 092 850 2972.
To get there, use the east coast songthaew taxi from Ao Sapparot Pier in the mornings at 09.00 or 11.00 at 150bt per person or in the afternoon, you need to charter a private songthaew, guide price at 1,000bt.
Tantawan Resort
Per Night: BBBB
On the water, Long Beach
Small boutique style resort tucked away behind Long Beach amongst the mangroves, with large bungalows on stilts overlooking Koh Ngam, the tiny offshore island. Restaurant. Very remote but brings in Thai weekenders direct from the mainland by speedboat.
Note there is no WiFi, so data on your phone is the only way to connect to the internet. Phone bookings only (085 699 5444), normally required as a minimum 2 rooms . Kayaks and boat trips to Koh Ngam.
Other Salak Phet Resorts, Chek Bae Bungalows
Here are a selection of other resorts and guesthouses in this area.
Koh Chang Marina
Per Night: BB
Around the bay in Salak Phet, practical a/c bungalows, motel style building and a restaurant on one side of the road, with the marina, coffee shop and small swimming pool on the other. It’s never busy other than on Thai holidays when they also provide a boat trip package. Can walk to Salak Phet Seafood.
Picasjo House
Per Night: BB
Next door to Koh Chang Marina, this guesthouse within an artist’s home has six nicely designed rooms with their own tiny pier overlooking the bay. Breakfast is available or the marina has a restaurant. Free kayaks but as always here, it would be best with your own motorbike to explore. A peaceful spot.
Baan Chan Lay
Per Night: BB-BBB
At the very end of Salak Phet village in the mangroves, this guesthouse has a selection of rooms from standard to deluxe and quadruple (all a/c and private bathroom) set within a traditional local house. Breakfast and other meals served on the terrace. Lounge area. Kayaks, bicycles, boat trips. Low tide will see the water disappear. A peaceful spot. WiFi.
Ban Mae Resort
Per Night: B – BBB
18 a/c bungalows set around a lagoon or on the sea front in Chek Bae. Kayaks and boat trips are available, restaurant on site but there is no beach. Popular with weekenders.
UPDATED April 26
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