Our Trip to Koh Chang Island

Hello everyone. I’d like to share our trip to Koh Chang, the second largest island in Thailand. This island is located in Trat province near the Cambodian border. The distance from Bangkok to Koh Chang is approximately 350 km and from Pattaya it's about 250 km. The island is famous for its tropical forests, rich vegetation and stunning beaches. In this post I'll share the most important tourist spots on the island. We had previously visited in June and this was our second trip.

It took us about 4 hours to reach the ferry pier from Pattaya. We also took a breakfast break during the trip, which added about an hour. We could have shortened the time by eating faster. The ferries usually depart frequently, depending on availability. We were very lucky, as we managed to get on the ferry at the last moment. They even allowed us to move a little ahead in line.

Watching the loading process while boarding the ferry was quite interesting. Prices vary depending on the size of the vehicle. There is limited space for buses and large vehicles, so sometimes smaller cars have an advantage. Thanks to our small car we were able to find a spot in this busy period. However, getting on the ferry was a bit exciting. The wheels of our car were almost at the edge.

After boarding the ferry we went up to the upper deck. There are seating areas for foot passengers here and a small shop selling drinks and snacks. The journey was very calm and pleasant. We were eager to explore the beauty of Koh Chang. 🌴 We set off towards Koh Chang. The weather was quite hot, but the scenery was definitely worth it. The clear, clean water looked so beautiful that you just wanted to jump in. We were very close to the Cambodian border, with only about 100 km left. Thanks to the absence of industrial facilities here, the water was crystal clear.

We came here with our own car, but you can also rent a car if you prefer. Previously we rented a Toyota Vios for 700 baht, which is an economical and comfortable choice for a family. Also some rental places restrict traveling outside the region, but there was no such restriction with this car. This is a great advantage for those who want to travel to other areas like Koh Chang. If you don't have your own vehicle, you can also consider transfer options. Some of our friends came here with transfers. They were picked up directly from the airport and taken to Koh Chang. This method is especially useful for those traveling late at night.

We reached Koh Chang by ferry, which took about 30 minutes and then it was just a 10 minute drive to our hotel. This was our second visit to Koh Chang and this time we stayed at the central beach in White Beach. We hadn't really decided where to stay because we came to meet our friends and they chose the hotel based on their preferences. So we just stayed at the hotel where they were also staying, called Cookies.

Koh Chang has winding roads, but the hills in the center are steeper. If you're thinking about renting a motorcycle, it's best not to take the risk if you don’t have much or any driving experience. Gas prices are slightly higher here than on the mainland. One liter of gas costs about 3 baht more, so it’s better to fill up on the mainland if possible.

The room was quite spacious and airy, which is unusual for hotels in Thailand. Also the bathroom was very large and interestingly, there was a bathtub, because hotels in Thailand usually have showers. Overall, the room was clean and organized.

The hotel has a bookcrossing system, where vacationers can leave their books and pick up others. I immediately found a book and read it throughout our vacation. I really enjoy reading books on the beach.

There are several different areas on the island. Around the central beach you can find hotels, restaurants and cafes. Our hotel had two buildings: one with a mountain view and lower prices and the other with a sea view but more crowded and with heavy traffic. Traveling with a child might have been difficult between the two, so we were lucky to find a room at the last minute.

The beach here is amazing. The hotel is located by the sea and the pool opens to the sea, creating a perfect environment for relaxation. Even though our room was quite spacious and comfortable, it was said to have a sea view, but it was actually located in a building close to the beach. Breakfast is served in another building, which was a bit surprising, but it didn’t affect our comfort.

The evening atmosphere at White Beach is wonderful. As I expected, there isn't much nightlife, but there are many families, which makes the place peaceful and quiet. The beachfront restaurants offer a fantastic setting for dinner.

The hotel is also very conveniently located next to a busy street with shops, cafes and massage parlors. You can easily buy necessary items like flip-flops or swimsuits from nearby stores and there are a few places to exchange currency as well. While the exchange rate isn't always the best, there are still better spots to change money. If you're coming from Bangkok the most favorable exchange rate can be found at the airport's exchange office. I would recommend using only licensed and reliable currency exchange offices. You can also exchange money at 7-Eleven, but I noticed that there’s a price difference on the island. They add a certain rate, so the exchange rate here is not the same as in Pattaya. However, there is no such difference at Bixy, where the prices are exactly the same.

On the second day we had breakfast and set off. We reached White Sand beach, which is Koh Chang’s most popular central beach. It was the first beach we encountered after getting off the ferry. The beach is about 2 kilometers long, expanding to the sides. The sand here is quite clean and the water is very clear. Even though it’s the main beach, it’s not very crowded at the moment, so you can relax comfortably. The water was very clean and warm, which made it a delightful experience. However, we heard that there are sandflies on this beach and if you lie on the sand, they might bite you. Therefore we recommend either renting a sunbed or applying plenty of sunscreen for a comfortable rest. They didn’t bite us, so we haven’t had that experience yet, but people say it’s a possibility, so it’s best to be cautious.

Koh Chang has many other beaches. As you head inland, you can rent sunbeds starting from 40 Baht. Massage services are also available, with most massages costing around 300 Baht. There doesn’t seem to be much difference between the types of massages, with foot massages and Thai massages typically ranging from 200 to 300 Baht.

We visited a beach hotel which had a very peaceful beach. That day, we explored various beaches and hotels around Koh Chang, but of course, we didn’t go into all of them as there are so many. We visited some hotels along the road, including the ones our friends stayed at. Before coming to Koh Chang for the first time, we didn’t have much information about the hotels here. Now, we understand better how beautiful the water is here. The water’s clarity is fantastic and although there aren’t many different types of trees on this beach, there are plenty of palm trees, reflecting the island’s tropical atmosphere.

As I mentioned earlier, you can take a tour to Koh Chang. I asked our friends and they said tourists usually come here with a tour when they stay at hotels. For example, Paradise Hotel is located at Klong Prao Beach, right across from the sea, but the advantage of this hotel is that it has a water park. This allows you to go early in the morning and return the next evening. When I vacationed in Pattaya in the past, I went on a day tour like this.Resting at the hotel for one day and then visiting the nearby islands and spending time on the perfect white sandy beaches the next day. Another option is simply to relax at the hotel beach and spend the whole day there. There are also many tours organized from Pattaya to the islands, Bangkok and even Ko Samet. Samet is an island closer to Koh Chang.

The atmosphere of this island is similar to Koh Kett. Koh Kett is Thailand’s second largest island and on this island, you continuously follow the seaside roads throughout your stay. You pass one area with shops, cafes and hotels, then a gap and then you arrive at another area. This situation is consistent throughout Koh Chang. Wherever you pass by a hotel, there are usually cafes and places to shop nearby. Compared to Samet, there’s much more infrastructure here. In Samet, there were usually only a few 7-Eleven stores at the beginning, but here, there’s always something going on. There’s a constant atmosphere of beaches, restaurants and cafes. You can find small stops with cafes, restaurants, pharmacies and shops almost everywhere along the road.

We passed by a beach with a different atmosphere that had many cafes but a more peaceful and tranquil vibe. We arrived at the Resort Hotel, which is located on the next beach. The hotel has a really nice area with a beach bar, sunbeds and massage services available. There are also swings and palm trees along the beach. Right now the tide is very high. We visited in June and at that time, the tide would recede during the day and the water would only rise at night. The beach was much wider then, but now that the water level has risen, the beach has become narrower. It’s fascinating to see how the water changes as it carries and brings back sand.

After Klong Prao Beach, the road to Lonely Beach starts to twist and the road becomes steeper. On both sides there’s forest and the shops end at Klong Prao. After that, there’s another village. We traveled through the forest, but everything became calmer later on.

We then entered Nature Beach Resort at Lonely Beach, where we stayed in June. There are different room types here: the cheapest are small, standalone bungalows. We stayed in one of these bungalows in June. While its exterior wasn’t very attractive, it was quite comfortable inside, with a regular bathroom and cleanliness. This is a good option for those on a budget. There are also newer, slightly more expensive bungalows with panoramic windows, but the sea view is still distant. Despite being in the low season, the hotel was quite popular and the restaurant was also quite busy. The hotel has a relaxed atmosphere with a large library and relaxation area.

Lonely Beach is really popular among backpackers and young travelers from Europe. Just past Lonely Beach, there’s a small village where cheap rooms are rented. There’s also a sea-view pool on this beach and you can get a massage here, which creates a relaxing atmosphere. The prices for massages are quite affordable, ranging from 250 to 350 Baht for a Thai massage.

The beach is beautiful, with clean sands and is considered one of the best beaches on the island. When we visited in June, the beach was completely covered in rocks because the sand had receded during the low season, exposing large stones. It was quite surprising, but we found a solution by going to a neighboring hotel with a sandy beach. Beaches in Thailand really change with the seasons, so it's essential to keep that in mind. Currently, the beach looks amazing and it’s delightful to see.

Lonely Beach offers a very different atmosphere compared to other beaches. it feels much wilder and more natural. Although there are more people here than on, for instance, Klong Prao Beach, which was quieter with fewer people, the vibe at Lonely Beach is unique. The hotel areas are a bit less maintained, with fallen leaves and some scattered stones, which enhance the natural and laid-back atmosphere of the beach. You’ll mostly meet tourists from Europe here, so English and French are the predominant languages spoken.

This place is particularly popular with a young crowd. It’s mostly backpackers and young Europeans. The atmosphere is quite distinct from other beaches. There are plenty of trees, so there are also more leaves in the water. But overall, the water is very clean and warm. Despite the varying atmospheres, all the beaches are amazing, with crystal-clear waters.

At many beaches you might feel slight stings from plankton in the water. This happens not only on this island but on other islands as well. If you experience this, it usually fades after a while, though sensitive skin might develop itchiness. In such cases, antihistamine creams can be helpful to ease the irritation.

We also had a delightful culinary experience. The hotel restaurant’s menu was quite extensive, with American breakfasts around 200 baht. They also served various hot dishes like spaghetti, fried chicken, seafood and desserts. The food was very delicious and the presentation was great. Dining in such an authentic atmosphere adds a wonderful touch to the vacation experience.

Lastly there’s a charming village around Lonely Beach. It has small restaurants and shops. simpler but very enjoyable place. The relaxing atmosphere of this island allows you to completely unwind and escape from daily life.

We almost reached the end of the road on this side of the island, hitting a dead end and turning back. At the end of the road, on a promontory with the sea on both sides, there’s a hotel called Cliff Cage Resort. It has small two-room bungalows where some friends of ours stayed. There are also separate bungalows uphill. They told us there’s excellent snorkeling here.

The area is lush with greenery and there’s a giant swing surrounded by nature. There’s also a small café. However, there’s some seaweed in the water, so it’s not as clear. On the bright side, there are lots of fish. You can see them with a mask. The abundance of stones likely attracts the fish. The atmosphere here feels wild. You can relax to the sound of the waves and rest on the rocks.

We then started looking for a proper beach. There were backpackers from Europe, some with large suitcases, mostly young travelers. The hotels here have receptions and when guests arrive, they celebrate and drink. It’s a destination geared toward younger visitors, offering a completely different vacation style. Almost like camping, but in comfortable bungalows.

A little further from the hotel, there’s a sandy beach. The area near the hotel is rocky, but if you go further, you’ll reach a sandy beach like the ones we’re used to. The sea here is very calm and wave-free because it’s like a cove. There are other hotels in the area, but none with the same wild atmosphere as this one. Generally these hotels don’t have stairways down to the sea, which might make accessing the water challenging.

You can also rent kayaks here. Some people rented kayaks, paddled to a spot and left them there. Kayaks are quite common here. I’m not sure about the prices, but I’m sure there are some hidden beaches to discover. Living here requires some fitness, as there are so many stairs to climb. Running up them is no easy feat. I reached the bungalows, which are small but air-conditioned. They look nice, with trees and a sea view. It’s fascinating how diverse the accommodations are on Koh Chang and the crowd here is very unique.

We traveled to the very end of the road on this side of the island. Here, you’ll find Rastaman-style cafes and a few larger spots, but not many hotels. There are local cafes and small shops for basic needs like water. The road seems to end here as well. There’s asphalt, but it’s evident that the road isn’t well-maintained because it leads to an abandoned hotel no longer in operation. We want to show you this place. It’s like a local attraction.

Continuing along the road we found a hotel designed to look like a ship. The road eventually led to another dead end. This area is immersed in nature. You can hear birds and since it’s a forested area, there might even be monkeys. We saw some on the road. People often walk here, but even with headphones, you might not hear the monkeys approaching.

Koh Chang is home to many waterfalls. We saw a sign for one and all the waterfalls are marked on Google Maps. Unfortunately, we couldn’t visit any during this trip. We reached an abandoned hotel that charges 200 baht to enter (100 baht per person). The hotel is called Galaxy Grand Laguna Resort.

This used to be a large resort with a vast area. However, I’m not sure why it was abandoned. Its design resembled a cruise ship. Quite an interesting concept. The hotel had a large parking area, but I can understand why it didn’t fill up. Koh Chang offers more attractive options, like standalone bungalows with sea views, which are probably more expensive but much more appealing. And this hotel’s location on a dead-end road may not have been very desirable.

There were quite a few tourists around. They arrived by bus or motorbike. Most were European backpackers staying at the nearby Cliff Hotel. The atmosphere here is a bit quieter because it’s near the island’s end.

A few days after we returned from Koh Chang, we heard that the abandoned ship hotel had burned down. The cause of the fire is unknown. We’re not sure if entry is still permitted, but it seems people visited for the abandoned area and the wild beach. However, the beach isn’t very wild since there are quite a lot of people around.

The sand here is really beautiful, lighter in color than the previous beaches. It’s known as the white sandy beach. The sand is fantastic and the water is slowly receding.

This abandoned ship idea was quite fascinating but also unusual. The access road was challenging. The location is beautiful, but the massive ship concept might not have been very practical or appealing and the project seems to have failed. It feels as if a disaster occurred, leaving behind a lonely shipwreck. It leaves a somewhat melancholic impression.

Friends, I’m concluding the first part of my post about our Koh Chang Island trip here. In my next post I’ll continue sharing my impressions and experiences of the island. Take care.