Where to Stay on Koh Chang: A Beach-by-Beach Guide

Koh Chang is a big island, and almost all of its sandy beaches are on the west coast, strung out from north to south: from White Sand Beach, the closest to the ferry pier, down to the fishing village of Bang Bao near the southern tip. The beaches are only a few kilometres apart, yet they feel very different. One is as busy as a walking street; another is so quiet that all you hear is the waves.

This guide is written by a team that works on the island. We have tried to describe the good and the not-so-good of each beach plainly, so you can choose a place to stay that fits the way you travel, whether you come as a family, as a couple or for the parties. (And yes, we are a resort on Kai Bae Beach. We say so up front, and our beach is not right for everyone.)

The short version: which beach suits whom

Travel times are approximate figures from several sources and depend on traffic and the vehicle. The road over the hill from the pier, and the stretch between Kai Bae and Lonely Beach, are steep with hairpin bends. If you are not a confident scooter rider, take a songthaew (shared taxi) or a transfer.

Before you choose: what to know about the pier

Today the ferry runs on one route only: from Ao Thammachat pier (Laem Ngop, on the Trat mainland) to Ao Sapparod pier on Koh Chang. The crossing takes about 30 minutes, and boats leave from 06:30 to 18:30. Centrepoint pier (Dan Kao on the island side), which many websites still mention, has been out of service since 2024, so plan with Ao Sapparod as your starting point.

From the pier the road climbs over the hill to the west coast, then follows the shore south past the beaches one after another. The further from the pier, the longer the ride and the higher the songthaew fare. Most songthaews at the pier wait until they are full before leaving.

1. White Sand Beach: the most convenient, and the busiest

Photo: Nick Steemans · CC BY 3.0

White Sand Beach (Hat Sai Khao) is the first beach you reach after crossing the hill from the pier, and the most developed part of the island. The sand runs for about 2 kilometres. Behind it is a road lined with convenience stores, ATMs, pharmacies, massage shops, tour desks, rental shops and restaurants of almost every cuisine. After dark there are street-food stalls, beach bars, live music and nightclubs.

The good

• Closest to the pier, about 10–20 minutes
• Places to stay at every price, from bungalows to luxury resorts
• You can walk to eat and go out; you can easily manage without a vehicle
• The most to do in the evening on the island

The limits

• The most crowded, especially in high season
• The road behind the beach is busy, and parts of the beach get narrow at high tide
• The southern end has a strip of beer bars, which may not be the atmosphere a family is looking for

Best for: first-time visitors on a short stay who do not want to drive and want plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from.

2. Klong Prao Beach: long, quiet, made for real rest

Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0

Next to the south is Klong Prao, the longest stretch of sand on the island (more than 3 kilometres), split into sections by canals that run into the sea. This area has the island's densest cluster of large resorts, many with wide gardens and pools. The mood is calm, and most guests are families and adults who have come to rest.

The good

• A long, wide beach: you can walk a long way without feeling crowded
• In the middle of the west coast, so White Sand Beach to the north and Kai Bae, Lonely Beach and Bang Bao to the south are all easy to reach
• Close to Klong Plu waterfall, the most visited waterfall on the island (the entrance is about 3 kilometres from the coast road)
• Activities such as Thai cooking schools and a night market

The limits

• Almost no nightlife; for a night out you need a ride to another beach
• Restaurants are spread along the road rather than gathered in one walkable strip like White Sand Beach
• Most resorts are mid-range to upmarket; budget choices are fewer

Best for: families and couples who want a long beach and quiet evenings without being far from conveniences.

3. Kai Bae Beach: the balance between quiet and convenient

Kai Bae is a smaller bay than Klong Prao, about 2.5 kilometres long, with several small islands as its permanent view. The water is usually shallow and fairly calm in the dry season, which suits children and kayaking. The village road has a good mix of restaurants, from Thai food and seafood to Italian and Mexican, plus cafés, massage shops and enough bars for an evening out, without the noise of White Sand Beach or Lonely Beach.

Kai Bae is also a departure point for speedboats to other islands (mostly in high season) and a handy base for snorkelling around the nearby islets. At low tide in the calm months (around March and April) a sandbar appears and you can walk across to Koh Man Nai, the island just offshore.

The good

• Fairly shallow, calm water in the dry season: good for families with children and for kayaking
• Sunset views with the little islands in front
• Just enough restaurants and bars; you do not need a ride for every meal
• Halfway between Klong Prao and Lonely Beach, with easier access to Bang Bao and the boat piers than the northern beaches
• Places to stay at every level, from bungalows to upmarket resorts

The limits

• Some parts of the beach, the middle especially, are rockier and narrow at high tide; check where a property sits on the beach before you book
• The village road is narrow, with traffic passing all day
• If you want full-on nightlife, Lonely Beach or White Sand Beach will suit you better

Where SYLVAN sits: SYLVAN Koh Chang is a beachfront resort on Kai Bae Beach, about 17 kilometres from Ao Sapparod pier. The resort has two zones, the beach zone and the clifftop zone, linked by the resort's own funicular. There are 9 room types, from rooms for couples to family rooms for 3–4 people and pool villas, a beachfront pool and a clifftop pool with a slide, a Kid's Club, Rainforest Spa and Sylvie Café. From the resort, Koh Man Nai is about 600 metres away and Koh Yuak, a snorkelling spot, about 3 kilometres. If you are wondering which room would suit you, read on in our guide to choosing a room at SYLVAN.

Best for: couples and families who want calm sea, good views and restaurants nearby, without staying in the busiest part of the island.

4. Lonely Beach (Hat Tha Nam): the backpacker and party hub

Photo: Minnullins · Public domain

The name "Lonely" could hardly be further from the truth: this is the liveliest part of the island after dark. Its official name is Hat Tha Nam. The beach itself is fairly small but pretty, and the village behind it is full of guesthouses, budget bungalows, inexpensive restaurants and bars that stay open late, clustered along Soi 1 and Soi 2. If you want something quieter, Bailan Beach next door is far more laid-back.

The good

• The widest choice of budget places to stay
• The liveliest nightlife on the island, and easy to meet other travellers
• A pretty beach with good sunsets

The limits

• Music and parties until late: not for early sleepers or families with small children
• Many places that use the name "Lonely Beach" are in the village, not on the sand
• Waves and currents can be strong, especially in the rainy season; check the sea before you swim
• The road in and out is a steep climb

Best for: backpackers, solo travellers and anyone who has come for the nights.

5. Bang Bao: a fishing village and the gateway to the outer islands

Photo: kallerna · CC BY-SA 4.0

Bang Bao is almost at the southern end of the west coast. It began as a fishing village of houses on stilts along a long wooden pier reaching into the sea. Today both sides of the pier are lined with seafood restaurants, souvenir shops and dive shops. It is the main departure point for snorkelling and diving trips in Mu Ko Chang National Park, around Koh Rang for example, and for boats to Koh Wai, Koh Mak and Koh Kood. (For what lives under the water here, see marine life around Koh Chang.)

What you need to know: Bang Bao village itself has no beach for swimming. To get in the sea you go to Klong Kloi Beach (some call it Bang Bao Beach), about 2 kilometres away. It gets plenty of day visitors, but the evenings are quiet and easy-going.

The good

• Closest to the piers for diving and for trips to other islands
• Seafood restaurants on the pier and a village atmosphere all its own
• The quietest evenings of these five areas

The limits

• Furthest from the ferry pier, about 50–60 minutes
• No swimming beach in the village; you have to travel to Klong Kloi Beach
• Hardly any nightlife, and the pier is busy with day-trippers during the day

Best for: divers, people planning to go on to Koh Mak or Koh Kood, and those who prefer a village atmosphere to a resort beach.

How the season affects your choice

• November–February (cool season, high season): the best weather and a calm sea on the west coast. Every beach works, but places fill fast and prices are at their highest, especially from Christmas to New Year. Book ahead.
• March–May (hot season): hot, but the sea is at its clearest: good for snorkelling and diving, which makes Bang Bao and Kai Bae especially appealing.
• June–October (rainy season, green season): heavy rain in bursts and bigger waves on the west coast; take extra care at beaches such as Lonely Beach. The upside: waterfalls at full flow, a quiet island and the lowest prices. Some small places close for these months, and some speedboat routes run in high season only.

For the month-by-month detail, read When is the best time to visit Koh Chang.

Making the choice easier

• First visit, short stay, not driving: White Sand Beach
• Family, wanting a long beach and quiet: Klong Prao or Kai Bae
• Couple, wanting sunset views and restaurants nearby: Kai Bae
• Tight budget, wanting nightlife: Lonely Beach
• Here to dive or to go on to other islands: Bang Bao (with Klong Kloi as your swimming beach)

If you still cannot decide, staying in the middle of the west coast (Klong Prao or Kai Bae) puts both the northern and the southern beaches about the same distance away.

SYLVAN Koh Chang: where we are

SYLVAN Koh Chang · 79 Moo 4, Koh Chang, Trat 23170

• Kai Bae Beach, on the west coast of the island, about 17 km from Ao Sapparod pier
• Klong Plu waterfall ~6 km · Bang Bao bay ~8 km · Koh Man Nai ~600 m · Koh Yuak (snorkelling) ~3 km
• Check-in 15:00 · Check-out 12:00 · breakfast included in every room rate
• Getting here and transfers: Location and how to get here
• Rooms and rates: see the rooms and pool villas at SYLVAN on Kai Bae Beach

Frequently asked questions

It is my first time on Koh Chang. Which beach should I stay at? If you want the most convenience and are not renting a vehicle, White Sand Beach is the easiest: it is close to the pier and everything is within walking distance. If you want more quiet but still have restaurants nearby, Kai Bae or Klong Prao are good choices.

Which beach is best for families with small children? Klong Prao and Kai Bae. Both are calm, and in the dry season the water is fairly shallow and still. Lonely Beach is less suitable because of the evening party noise and the waves, which can be strong.

Which beach has the most nightlife? Lonely Beach is the island's main party area, followed by White Sand Beach with its bars, live music and clubs. Kai Bae has a modest number of bars and some live music. Klong Prao and Bang Bao are fairly quiet.

How long does it take from the pier to each beach? From Ao Sapparod pier, roughly: White Sand Beach 10–20 minutes, Klong Prao and Kai Bae 25–30 minutes, Lonely Beach about 35–40 minutes, Bang Bao about 50–60 minutes, depending on traffic and the vehicle.

Is Centrepoint pier still open? No. Centrepoint pier has been out of service since 2024. The ferry now runs only between Ao Thammachat and Ao Sapparod.

Is the east coast of Koh Chang worth staying on? The east coast has no white-sand beaches like the west, but it is quieter and more local, with waterfalls and mangrove forest. It works better as a day trip by car or scooter than as a base for a beach holiday.