Koh Chang is in the province of Trat. “Chang” in Thai means elephant, so it’s the island of Elephants. So you might see some. Koh Chang is a wonderful island with lots of beautiful spots and beaches. Koh Chang Island can be one of your favorite islands in Thailand, as it is not crowded and well-developed. There is a super nice vibe, and there are plenty of nice, quiet, and long beaches.
However, do not expect to see any crystal clear water here. Most of the tourists visit White Sand Beach, but the island has a lot more beautiful beaches and spots to offer. Today we’re going to tell you all you need to know about Koh Chang. We will suggest the most beautiful tourist spots, Stay tips, Restaurant recommendations, and a lot more tips. So let’s explore Koh Chang.
How to reach Koh Chang
The faster way to reach Koh Chang is by Air. Take a flight from Bangkok to Trat airport. It’s a 1 hour short flight and the prices are likely 40-50 dollars.
The cheaper way to reach Koh Chang is to take bus 999 from Ekamai East Bus Terminal to reach Koh Chang ferry pier. The bus departs at 7: 45 AM and 9 AM. It will cost around 300 Baht (8$). It will take 5 hours to reach there. There are also some VIP buses to reach Koh Chang which will cost you around 500 Bhat ($14).
After reaching the ferry pier, you can take a ferry to reach the islands which may take around 15 minutes. The ferry will cost you around 50 Baht (1.30$). Or you can take a taxi from the pier that will cost you around 100 Baht (2.80$) to reach your hotel.
Things to do on Koh Chang Island
There are a lot of amazing viewpoints on this island, but we suggest the most beautiful must-visit viewpoints here on Koh Chang. We also suggest Kai Bae Viewpoint, Klong Prao Beach, and Khlong Son Bay, which are also very beautiful viewpoints that will amaze you for sure. So let’s explore the incredible beauty of Koh Chang.
Koh Ngam
To see some beautiful beaches, you’ll have to drive through the island towards the Southeast and rent a kayak to reach the amazing island of Koh Ngam. Kayak rental will cost around 200 Baht, and the entrance fee to Koh Ngam will cost 200 Baht as well.
Getting Around in Koh Chang
The best way to get around Koh Chang is on a motorbike or scooter, which costs 200 Baht for 24 hours. You can rent them on the island all over the place, and the roads are beautiful to ride.
Its the best option because taxi price can be much more higher and scooter bike is pretty cheap and you can ride where ever you want. You can visit almost all the view points in a day.
Ban Bao Village
Ban Bao is a fishing village and the pier on the southernmost part of the island. You can get ferries here and go on tours from here to Kokud, Komac, and other islands in the southern area of this province.
It’s also home to a really quaint and very picturesque fishing community, and they’ve got all the colorful fishing boats and tour boats as well.
Klong Prayol Beach
Klong Prayol Beach will give you incredible views. The mountains from the beach look awesome. You can take a swim here and enjoy the incredible view of this beach. You will love it for sure.
If you are looking for a cheaper but comfortable stay, then you can see “Pajamas Hostel.” It’s beautiful and has a communal swimming pool and dorms as well.
They have a really good free breakfast and it’s just got this kind of Greecian Santorini type of vibe. It’s right on the beach and it’s quite cheap as well. The private room is a thousand Baht a night, but the dorms are like 400-500 Baht per night.
View Cafe
If you are exploring Koh Chang with a motorbike, then View Cafe is a must-visit viewpoint for you. You will love the view from the View Cafe viewpoint. It’s really amazing. You can have some snacks at the cafe while sitting next to the incredible view of Koh Chang.
Salak Khok Fishing Village
If you need a refreshing time, then you can try visiting Salak Khok Fishing Village. You will have to rent a kayak for 400 Baht. The kayak is suitable for 2-4 people. It’s a small boat and has a nice sitting area.
You will love the view of the Salak Khok Fishing Village area. It’s totally surrounded by nature, and the fresh air will refresh you for sure.
Ronnie’s Coconut Organic Garden
Are you a bit tired and hungry? We recommend you come to Ronnie’s Coconut Organic Garden. You can have your lunch or snacks with some organic food items. Try the coconut shake and the coconut as well. They are very friendly there, maybe Ronnie will come to take your orders. And the prices are pretty cheap. So we recommend this local organic restaurant.
White Sand Beach
This is the most popular attraction on Koh Chang Island. Most of the visitors come to this island to visit this beautiful White Sand Beach. The best part of the beach is the sunset view.
The beach is much busier in the evening and night as well. You will see some night fire shows at the beach after dinner time.
You can visit the “Himmel Bar” for a drink; it’s one of the best bars on the beach. You can have your dinner at “The Mac Resort area”; it’s the busiest dinner area and their food is delicious.
You can also enjoy some good old school band shows at the “Sabay Bar”. Just walk around and enjoy the environment and explore all the things on the beach. You will love it for sure.
Stay at White Sand Beach
If you want a Beachfront Bungalow, it starts from 4000 Baht, which is around $120. Our recommendation is “Rock Sand Bungalow”.
The pool view room starts from 1400 Baht, which is around $40.
Our recommendation for a cheaper price is Pens Bungalow or Star Beach Bungalow, which are in front of the beach and cheaper. They will cost around 650 Baht ($18). There is a mini-bar in front of it.
Pen’s Bungalow has a restaurant as well, and their food is really good at good affordable prices.
The Bad Thing about Koh Chang
If you are planning to go to Koh Chang Island, then you have to be prepared well with some mindsets.
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- Every spot is far from another. So you have to spend most of the time riding if you want to visit all the spots. It’s easier if you take a motorbike.
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- If you are using taxis, then most of the time they may overcharge you as a foreigner. Even if the charge is 20 Baht, they may charge you 100 or 150 baht, which is totally ridiculous.
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- As Koh Chang is named for the Island for Elephants but it’s a shame that the Elephants are not taken care of. You can notice by seeing their ears. The elephants are chained at their necks or legs, which is not the right way to take care of them.
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