Koh Chang: Thailand’s Best Kept Island Secret — A Complete Guide to the Kingdom’s Wildest Escape

While Phuket gets the postcards and Koh Samui gets the resorts, Koh Chang quietly holds the jungle, the waterfalls, and the Thailand that most tourists flew straight past.
For families seeking safe beaches with real nature, European and American travelers who have done the Thai island circuit and want something different, adventure travelers prioritizing jungle over nightlife, budget backpackers comparing Southeast Asia island options, and couples looking for authentic Thai island experience without Koh Samui’s price tag and commercial intensity.

Thailand’s Forgotten Giant

Koh Chang is Thailand’s second largest island and one of its most overlooked, a fact that both defines its appeal and explains the perplexity of every traveler who visits and immediately wonders why nobody told them sooner. Sitting in the Gulf of Thailand off the coast of Trat Province, just 310 kilometers east of Bangkok and a short ferry crossing from the mainland, Koh Chang — the name translates as Elephant Island, referencing the island’s silhouette from the sea rather than any resident population — is a mountainous, jungle-covered landmass where over 70 percent of the total area remains virgin rainforest under the protection of the Mu Ko Chang National Park designation. This is not a minor distinction — it means that while the western coastline holds the beaches, the resorts, and the restaurants, the interior of the island is an unbroken tropical rainforest of the kind that Phuket, Koh Samui, and Koh Phangan lost to development decades ago, and that Koh Chang has managed to retain because its National Park status prevents the encroachment that destroyed comparable ecosystems across the rest of the Thai island tourism landscape. For European travelers arriving from cities where “nature” is a park with managed paths, the experience of walking into Koh Chang’s interior within 30 minutes of your beach guesthouse and finding yourself inside a genuine tropical rainforest with waterfalls, wildlife, and the specific silence of undisturbed vegetation is one that reframes the entire meaning of the phrase “island holiday.”

Why Koh Chang Matters

The Geography That Protects It

Koh Chang’s position in eastern Thailand near the Cambodian border has historically kept it off the primary tourist circuit that runs between Bangkok and the southern Gulf islands, and this geographical marginalization has functioned as accidental conservation. The island is large — 429 square kilometers, making it considerably bigger than Koh Phangan — but the population and tourist infrastructure are concentrated along the 15-kilometer west coast road, while the eastern and interior portions of the island remain effectively wilderness. The mountain spine running through the island’s center peaks at over 740 meters and creates the orographic rainfall patterns that sustain the rainforest and feed the six accessible waterfalls within the national park system. This combination of large land area, active national park protection, limited road access to the interior, and geographical distance from the main southern island circuit has preserved an ecological integrity that makes Koh Chang a category apart from every other easily accessible Thai island.

Silk Road of the Gulf: The Island’s History

Unlike the Silk Road cities of Central Asia or the ancient kingdoms of the Middle East, Koh Chang’s historical significance is maritime and strategic rather than architectural — the island sat at the intersection of Thai, Cambodian, and Vietnamese maritime trade routes for centuries, and its deep-water channels made it a staging point for fishing fleets and trading vessels operating the Gulf of Thailand’s eastern corridor. The island’s most historically significant event for Western visitors is the Battle of Koh Chang in January 1941, when French naval vessels engaged Thai warships in a short but decisive battle during the Franco-Thai War — a piece of early Second World War history in Southeast Asia that most Western educational curricula omit entirely and that the island’s history adds specific context to. There is a memorial at Than Mayom Waterfall on the eastern coast that most travelers who stick to the western beaches never find, and visiting it adds a dimension to the island that purely recreational tourism cannot access.​

Who Comes to Koh Chang and Why

The traveler profile at Koh Chang is meaningfully different from the Thai island mainstream, and understanding this is useful before booking. The island draws European and Scandinavian families who return annually for the combination of safe, calm beaches with genuine jungle access that no other easily accessible Thai island delivers at the same price point. It draws Bangkok expats and Thai domestic travelers who want the country’s nature without the five-hour bus journey south. It draws a backpacker contingent at Lonely Beach who have specifically chosen Koh Chang over Koh Phangan for a quieter, more nature-focused experience. And it draws adventure travelers from across the region for the jungle trekking, kayaking, and snorkeling circuit. What it does not significantly draw — and this is both a current reality and a warning that this reality could change — is the mass international luxury tourism market that has overwhelmed Phuket and is progressively saturating Koh Samui.

Major Attractions Deep-Dive

White Sand Beach — The Island’s Social Hub

White Sand Beach (Hat Sai Khao) is the first beach you encounter traveling south from the ferry pier along the island’s west coast road, and it is the commercial and social center of Koh Chang tourism — the longest stretch of developed beachfront on the island at approximately 2 kilometers, the highest density of accommodation, restaurants, bars, and tour operators, and the most consistent swimming conditions on the island during dry season. For travelers arriving with a comparison point — Koh Samui’s Chaweng Beach, Phuket’s Kata or Karon — White Sand Beach will feel refreshingly quiet: the infrastructure exists, the services are complete, but the commercialization has not reached the level of aggressive touting, beach vendor saturation, and resort-wall frontage that makes Thailand’s more famous beaches feel like walking through a corridor rather than a beach. The sand is genuinely white and fine, the water is calm and swimmable during the November–April dry season, gradual depth gradients make it one of the safest family swimming beaches in the Gulf of Thailand, and the west-facing orientation delivers sunset views that the east-coast beaches of Thailand’s southern islands consistently miss. Practically: sunloungers rent for 50–100 THB ($1.40–$2.75 / €1.27–€2.50) per day from beach vendors, the northern end of the beach is quieter and less developed than the central section, and the bar strip on the main road behind the beach operates until late but is set back far enough from the beachfront accommodation that light sleepers at properly positioned guesthouses are not significantly affected.

Kai Bae Beach and Viewpoint — The Sweet Spot

Kai Bae Beach sits approximately 6 kilometers south of White Sand Beach and is the choice that experienced Koh Chang travelers most consistently recommend when asked which beach delivers the best overall combination of qualities. At approximately 800 meters long with soft golden sand, natural palm shade, calm shallow water ideal for children and non-swimmers, views over offshore islands including Koh Man Nai (reachable by kayak in under 30 minutes), and a relaxed atmosphere that is neither the party-facing energy of White Sand nor the committed backpacker aesthetic of Lonely Beach, Kai Bae functions as the island’s balanced middle ground. The beach faces west, producing the sunsets that have made Kai Bae Viewpoint — a hillside lookout point above the beach accessible by motorbike on a steep road or on foot in approximately 20–30 minutes — one of the most photographed locations on the island. From the viewpoint, the entire southern coastline spreads below in a composition of forested hills, turquoise water, scattered offshore islands, and fishing boats that manages to look simultaneously like a travel poster and completely unpretentious about it. The timing is non-negotiable: arrive at the viewpoint 45–60 minutes before sunset, watch the light shift from gold to deep amber to rose, and understand completely why experienced travelers return to Kai Bae year after year rather than sampling the island’s other options.​

Mu Ko Chang National Park — Jungle, Waterfalls, and the Real Island

The Mu Ko Chang National Park covers the majority of Koh Chang’s land area plus 42 surrounding islands, encompassing rainforest, mangroves, coral reefs, and a waterfall system that is the single most compelling reason to visit the island beyond its beaches. The park is not a designated visitor attraction with ticketed entry in the conventional sense — it is the island itself, and its boundaries define the limit of what cannot be commercially developed rather than the edge of a managed nature zone. Six waterfalls are accessible within the main island’s park area, each with distinct character: Klong Plu Waterfall is the most visited and most photogenic, a 25-meter cascade into a large natural plunge pool where fish swim visibly in water clear enough to drink, reached by a well-maintained 600-meter jungle trail from the car park with information signs identifying the flora and fauna along the route. Entry is 200 THB ($5.50 / €5.00) for foreigners and the pool is swimmable — one of the most genuinely beautiful freshwater swimming experiences accessible within a 30-minute drive of a beach resort anywhere in Southeast Asia. Klong Nonsi Waterfall is the quiet alternative — smaller, less visited, multiple tiers with small dipping pools, reachable via a short trail that sees fewer visitors per day than Klong Plu sees per hour. Kai Bae Waterfall has a 20-meter drop into a deep swimming pool, is accessed through a small resort that charges 40 THB ($1.10 / €1.00) for path access, and involves approximately 20 minutes of jungle walking on a trail that requires attention — slippery in places, unmarked in sections, and entirely worth the modest navigation effort. The jungle trekking experience at Koh Chang operates at several levels of commitment: the introductory waterfall trails are manageable for fit adults and older children; the full coast-to-coast trek across the island available through guided operators covers approximately 10 kilometers of genuine rainforest terrain crossing the mountain spine from west coast to east coast with wildlife sighting potential including hornbills, monitor lizards, and occasionally wild boar. Guided coast-to-coast trekking tours run approximately $25–$45 / €22–€40 per person including transport and a guide who knows the unmarked interior trails — independent navigation of the interior is not recommended for travelers without jungle experience and a GPS device.

Bang Bao Village and the Southern Coast

Bang Bao is Koh Chang’s southern tip village, built on stilts over the water in the traditional fishing village style that has largely disappeared from Thailand’s more developed islands, functioning today as the primary departure point for island-hopping and snorkeling day trips and as a photogenic destination in its own right despite having traded most of its original fishing village character for souvenir shops and tour operator offices. The pier extending from the village into the bay delivers a viewpoint over calm, clear water with the forested hills of the island’s interior rising immediately behind — a landscape composition that explains why Bang Bao has retained its tourist relevance even after its practical authenticity has been diluted. Day trips departing from Bang Bao pier cover the marine national park islands of Koh Wai (the most popular snorkeling destination in the Mu Ko Chang archipelago, with coral reefs in reasonable health and water clarity good enough to see reef fish without equipment in the shallows), Koh Mak (a larger, quieter island approximately 30 kilometers south that offers a full day-trip or overnight extension), and the HTMS Chang shipwreck — a decommissioned Thai navy vessel intentionally sunk as an artificial reef in 2012, now colonized by coral and the most serious dive site in the Koh Chang marine area.

Secondary Attractions and Experiences

Kayaking, Snorkeling, and Water Activities

Kayaking is the water activity most naturally suited to Koh Chang’s geography — the calm bays, offshore islands, and mangrove channels of the southern coast create a kayaking environment where independent paddlers can reach small beaches and coves that motorized day boats cannot access, and the specific experience of paddling through a mangrove channel on a still morning with egrets overhead and the jungle wall on both sides is one that no organized tour can replicate with the same quality of silence. Kayak rental runs 200–400 THB ($5.50–$11 / €5.00–€10) per half-day from beach operators along the west coast, with Klong Prao and Kai Bae having the calmest conditions and the most interesting nearby paddling destinations. Snorkeling quality at Koh Chang itself is honestly rated as moderate — the reefs immediately off the west coast beaches have been affected by run-off and anchor damage over the years, and travelers whose primary purpose is coral reef snorkeling will find Koh Wai’s reefs and the clearer waters around the outer archipelago islands considerably more rewarding than anything accessible from the main beaches by swimming.

Klong Prao Beach and the Mangrove Bridge

Klong Prao Beach is the longest beach on Koh Chang at approximately 3 kilometers, the most resort-oriented stretch of sand on the island, and home to a floating bridge over the Klong Prao estuary — a mangrove channel crossing that produces one of Koh Chang’s most specific and most underrated photographic experiences when the tide is right and the light is low. The beach itself attracts a generally older traveler demographic with its large four-star beachfront resorts, quieter daytime atmosphere, and the specific combination of beach access with mangrove ecosystem access that positions it as the best beach for nature-oriented travelers who want comfort rather than budget accommodation.

Local Transportation Deep-Dive

Getting around Koh Chang requires independent transport or organized tour logistics — there is no public bus service on the island, and the 15-kilometer west coast road that connects the ferry pier to Bang Bao in the south is the single artery along which all the beaches, guesthouses, restaurants, and activity operators are distributed. Songthaews (shared pickup truck taxis operating on the main road) are the cheapest option at 50–100 THB ($1.38–$2.75 / €1.25–€2.50) per person per journey between beaches, flagged down from the roadside and willing to stop anywhere along the route, but schedules are irregular and availability drops sharply after 6 PM. Motorbike rental at 200–300 THB ($5.50–$8.25 / €5.00–€7.50) per day is the dominant transport choice for independent travelers and provides access to the waterfall trails, the Kai Bae Viewpoint road, and the quieter southern sections that songthaews serve infrequently — the main road is well-maintained and the traffic volume is manageable, but the viewpoint access road is steep and requires rider confidence. Private taxis negotiated with drivers at the main beach areas run approximately 200–400 THB ($5.50–$11 / €5.00–€10) for transfers between the main beach zones. For travelers arriving as families or groups of three or more, the private taxi cost per person compares favorably to songthaews once time and convenience are factored in. There is no ride-hailing app operating reliably on Koh Chang as of early 2026 — arrange taxis through your accommodation.​

Seasonal Events and Festivals

Koh Chang’s festival calendar reflects its dual identity as a Thai local community island and a tourism destination, and the most culturally meaningful events are not staged for tourists but are simply occasions when the island’s Thai and local fishing communities celebrate in public. Songkran (Thai New Year, April 13–15) is celebrated with the same enthusiastic water-throwing culture found across Thailand — the main road at White Sand Beach becomes a full-scale water festival for three days that is simultaneously chaotic, drenching, and one of the most spontaneously joyful experiences available in Thai island travel. Loy Krathong (November full moon) is the lantern and float festival where small decorated baskets are released on water to honor the water spirits — Koh Chang’s beaches at dusk during Loy Krathong, with dozens of floating candle baskets drifting on the dark water against the illuminated beach bars, produce exactly the visual that travel photographers come to Thailand to capture. The dry season opening (November) is the practical “festival” most travelers should plan around — the island transitions from the green-season empty quiet to its operational peak within a two-week window, accommodation fills rapidly for December and the Christmas–New Year period, and prices for beachfront accommodation rise by 30–60% in the December–February window relative to shoulder season.​​

Food and Dining

Thai Island Food Culture at Koh Chang

Koh Chang’s food scene is anchored in the specific combination of fresh Gulf of Thailand seafood, Thai market cooking, and the international food range that any island with significant European visitor numbers develops over time. The key distinction worth making before eating here: local restaurants serving working Thais and budget travelers operate at the 60–150 THB ($1.65–$4.13 / €1.50–€3.75) per dish price range for genuine Thai food including tom yum goong (spicy prawn soup with lemongrass and galangal), pad thai (stir-fried rice noodles), larb gai (spiced minced chicken), khao pad (fried rice with your choice of protein), and the fresh grilled seafood that is the island’s best argument against every other food choice; tourist-facing beachfront restaurants serving the same dishes with a sunset view charge 200–500 THB ($5.50–$13.75 / €5.00–€12.50) per dish. A full day of eating at local restaurants — breakfast, lunch, and dinner including fresh seafood — fits comfortably within $12–$20 / €11–€18 per person, making Koh Chang one of the most affordable fresh seafood dining environments available to European or American travelers anywhere in the world.

Where to Eat

The Bang Bao pier restaurant strip delivers the most scenic seafood dining on the island — fresh catches sold by weight from tanks at the pier entrance, cooked to your specification by the attached restaurants, with the over-water setting adding atmospheric value to a price point that is higher than inland options but still reasonable by European comparison at 300–600 THB ($8.25–$16.50 / €7.50–€15) per main dish. White Sand Beach night market (operating seasonal evenings along the main road) is the best value freshly cooked Thai food on the island — stalls selling grilled corn, pad thai, fresh fruit, satay, and the specific category of Thai snack food that hotel restaurant menus never include, all at 40–80 THB ($1.10–$2.20 / €1.00–€2.00) per item. The restaurant at Klong Prao Beach’s larger resort properties — particularly the Amari, KC Grande, and Siam Beach Resort — serve decent Thai and international menus, but at prices calibrated for resort guests rather than independent travelers. The honest advice for food in Koh Chang is consistent with food advice for any Thai island: walk away from the beach, find the restaurant where Thai families are eating, and order whatever is on the table in front of them.

Shopping and Souvenirs

Koh Chang’s shopping is modest by Thai island standards, which is partly a reflection of the island’s scale and partly a reflection of its national park character — there is no equivalent of the Chatuchak-style market culture found in Phuket or the artisan market scene of Chiang Mai. The trading along White Sand Beach and in the small commercial strips at Kai Bae and Klong Prao sells the standard Thai beach market inventory — beach wraps (200–500 THB / $5.50–$13.75 / €5.00–€12.50), elephant-print clothing, hammocks, sarongs, sunglasses, and the silver jewelry pieces that appear at every Thai beach from Pattaya to Ko Lipe. The most meaningful souvenirs from Koh Chang are consumable rather than decorative: locally produced coconut products (oil, snacks, coconut-based sweets) from the small shops near Klong Prao, dried seafood from the fishing village stalls in the southern section of the island, and the botanical products derived from jungle plants that a small number of wellness-oriented guesthouses on the island produce in small batches for direct sale.​

Photography Guide

Best Shots, Timing, and Practical Notes

Kai Bae Viewpoint is the definitive Koh Chang photograph and should be visited 45–60 minutes before sunset when the light is at its most golden, the offshore islands are visible in the haze, and the composition of forested hillside, turquoise bay, and darkening sky creates a depth that flat-light midday photography cannot replicate. Klong Plu Waterfall photographs best in the mid-morning (9–11 AM) window before the tour group day-trip buses arrive around noon — arriving at 8:30 AM opening gives you the pool and the cascade largely to yourself with the specific quality of early jungle light filtering through the tree canopy above the falls. Bang Bao pier photographs best in the late afternoon (3–5 PM) when the pier extends into the light rather than against it and the fishing boat reflections in the bay are at their most distinct. Mangrove kayaking photography requires either a waterproof camera or a dry bag — the combination of water-level paddling height and the tunnel-like canopy creates intimate compositions impossible to achieve from any other position on the island. On drone regulations: Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority requires drone registration and prior permission for flights over national parks — Mu Ko Chang National Park coverage of most of the island means drone operation across the vast majority of Koh Chang without authorization is a legal violation and fines have been applied to tourists. Register through the CAAT portal or avoid drone use entirely.

White Sand Beach accommodation spans budget guesthouses at $25–$45 / €22–€40 per night through mid-range beachfront hotels at $60–$120 / €54–€108 — the concentration of options here is the highest on the island, the location is the most logistically convenient for day trips and tours, but the noise from the beach road bar strip on weekends should be factored into booking decisions for light sleepers. Klong Prao Beach is the resort zone for travelers who want larger pools, more manicured grounds, and the specific comfort of knowing the resort handles everything — the Amari Koh Chang, KC Grande Resort, and Centara Tropicana operate at $80–$200 / €72–€180 per night and consistently receive strong reviews for the combination of beachfront position, pool quality, and Thai cooking in the on-site restaurants. Kai Bae Beach is the practical family recommendation: mid-range bungalows and small hotels at $20–$80 / €18–€72 per night, calm swimming water, good restaurant access, and the viewpoint within 30 minutes walking. Lonely Beach is strictly for budget-conscious backpackers comfortable with thin walls, reggae bars, and the specific economy of a beach that operates at the $8–$35 / €7–€31 per night level without apology — it delivers exactly what it promises and nothing more.

Itinerary Suggestions

3-Day Family Beach and Jungle

Day 1 arrives at White Sand Beach via the ferry from Ao Thammachat pier, checks in, and spends the afternoon swimming and orientating with a sunset beach walk and dinner at a White Sand beachfront restaurant from the local-priced strip rather than the resort terrace. Day 2 is the waterfall and jungle day: morning tuk-tuk to Klong Plu Waterfall for the jungle trail and plunge pool swim (arrive by 9 AM before tour groups), return to the beach for lunch, afternoon kayaking from Kai Bae toward Koh Man Nai, and the Kai Bae Viewpoint for sunset. Day 3 is the southern coast: morning snorkeling or island-hopping day trip from Bang Bao pier to Koh Wai (book the previous evening through any tour operator for approximately 800–1,200 THB / $22–$33 / €20–€30 per person including equipment), afternoon free on Bang Bao pier for lunch and shopping, evening return for a final beach dinner.

5-Day Adventure and Beach Combination

Days 1–3 mirror the family itinerary above. Day 4 adds the guided coast-to-coast jungle trek departing at 7 AM for the 10-kilometer crossing with a wildlife guide — the full-day experience includes lunch, transport back from the east coast arrival point, and the specific satisfaction of having physically crossed an island on foot through rainforest that most island visitors never enter. Day 5 is a deliberate slow day: morning at the quieter Klong Nonsi Waterfall which sees a fraction of Klong Plu’s visitor numbers, afternoon on whichever beach proved most personally rewarding, and a final evening seafood dinner at Bang Bao pier before an early morning ferry departure.​

7-Day Island Deep-Dive

Seven days at Koh Chang allows the addition of an overnight trip to Koh Mak (a smaller, quieter island 30 kilometers south with no cars, no convenience stores, and a beach quality that several long-term Thailand travelers rate above anything on Koh Chang itself), a PADI open water diving course at one of the HTMS Chang wreck dive operators based at Bang Bao, a Thai cooking class (available through several guesthouses at 600–1,200 THB / $16.50–$33 / €15–€30 per person for a 3-hour session), and the specific luxury of having enough time in each beach zone to understand its distinct character rather than experiencing the island as a checklist.

Koh Chang vs Koh Samui: An Honest Assessment

This is the comparison that most travelers planning a Gulf of Thailand island visit specifically search for, and the answer depends entirely on what you are actually looking for rather than which island is objectively better.

Koh Samui has a more developed infrastructure, better dive infrastructure, more high-end resort options, a more internationally recognized dining scene, and the Big Buddha. Koh Chang has the jungle, the waterfalls, the calmer family beaches, the dramatically lower prices, and the specific quality of a destination that has not yet fully traded its natural character for commercial development. For European families comparing a tropical island vacation to comparable options in the Mediterranean or Caribbean, Koh Chang delivers a combination of beach quality, nature access, and cost efficiency that the Med and Caribbean cannot match. For experienced Thailand travelers who have done Samui and Phangan and want something genuinely different, Koh Chang is not a compromise — it is a conscious upgrade in natural value.

Day Trips and Regional Context

Koh Mak — 30 kilometers south of Koh Chang — is the logical day-trip extension and the island that most Koh Chang regulars describe as the hidden gem within the hidden gem: no cars, an economy of bicycle transport, beaches of the quality that Koh Chang’s west coast delivered before development, and ferry connections from Bang Bao running daily during the dry season. Koh Wai is the snorkeling and coral reef destination of the archipelago — a small, largely undeveloped island 20 kilometers from Koh Chang where the coral reefs are in better condition than anything accessible from Koh Chang’s main beaches. Trat — the mainland provincial capital accessible by the same ferry and road combination used to reach Koh Chang — offers a genuine Thai market town experience for travelers who want urban cultural context: the covered market, the colonial-era shophouses, and the general indifference to tourism of a working Thai town make a half-day stopover worthwhile for travelers spending a week at Koh Chang. Cambodia’s Koh Kong Province sits just across the border and is accessible via the Hat Lek border crossing 90 kilometers from Trat — a multi-day extension adding the Cardamom Mountains and the Cambodian coast to a Koh Chang base is one of the most logistically underrated regional itineraries in Southeast Asian travel.​

Language and Communication

Thai is the official language and the written script will be completely opaque to most Western visitors, but Koh Chang’s tourism infrastructure operates in English at all significant traveler touchpoints — guesthouses, tour operators, beachfront restaurants, and activity providers communicate effectively in English. Away from the main tourist beaches, basic Thai phrases produce the disproportionate warmth that minimal linguistic effort reliably generates across Southeast Asia: sawasdee krab/ka (hello, male/female), khob khun krab/ka (thank you, male/female), tao rai? (how much?), and the all-purpose mai pen rai (no worries / never mind) will cover every practical and social interaction you encounter. Google Translate’s Thai package handles menu photography well and the spoken translation has improved to a functional standard for simple transactions. The specific communication consideration on Koh Chang that other Thai islands share: negotiating prices for songthaews, taxis, and at markets works better in Thai numbers than in English — learning the numbers 1–10 before arrival is a practical investment that pays back immediately.​

Health and Safety Details

Vaccinations and Health Preparation

Standard vaccinations recommended for Thailand by the US CDC and UK NHS — hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tetanus, and rabies for travelers with significant outdoor activity exposure — apply to Koh Chang without specific additions. Dengue fever is present on Koh Chang year-round and peaks during the rainy season (May–October) — DEET-based repellent applied consistently during dawn and dusk hours is the effective prevention measure, and the jungle trekking environment makes this more rather than less relevant for Koh Chang travelers compared to more developed Thai islands. Tap water is not drinkable — bottled water is universally available at 10–20 THB ($0.28–$0.55 / €0.25–€0.50) per liter. The hospital nearest to Koh Chang with meaningful capability is in Trat on the mainland — the island has a small clinic at Bang Bao capable of basic care and a government health center near White Sand Beach, but anything requiring serious medical attention requires the ferry crossing to the mainland and the 30-minute drive to Trat.​

Water and Outdoor Safety

The sea conditions on Koh Chang’s west coast are calm and safe for swimming during the November–April dry season with the consistent exception of red flag days when offshore weather systems increase swell — follow beach flag warnings as seriously as you would on any European Atlantic coast. During the rainy season (May–October), sea conditions can deteriorate rapidly and the Kai Bae and Lonely Beach areas see the most significant surf, while the more sheltered Klong Prao and White Sand areas retain swimmable conditions more consistently. Jungle trekking safety: the coast-to-coast trail and the less-maintained waterfall trails involve genuine physical hazard — slippery rocks, unmarked paths, and Thailand’s full complement of venomous reptiles and invertebrates (wearing closed shoes rather than sandals is a specific and meaningful recommendation, not boilerplate). Organized trekking with a licensed guide eliminates the navigation and safety risks of independent interior trail walking and the additional cost is a genuine value exchange rather than a commercial convenience.

Sustainability and Ethics

Koh Chang’s National Park designation provides structural protection for the island’s interior that comparable Thai islands lost before conservation frameworks were applied, but the west coast tourist corridor is under the same development pressure that has overwhelmed Phuket and is progressing through Koh Lanta — resort sprawl, beach vendor density, and the infrastructure investment that visitor volume demands are gradually compressing the quality of the natural environment that draws visitors in the first place. The coral reefs immediately offshore from the main beaches have already shown the degradation pattern associated with anchor damage, run-off, and high-density recreational use — the reefs around the outer archipelago islands (Koh Wai, Koh Mak) remain in better condition specifically because they receive fewer daily visits. Sustainable choices at Koh Chang: use reef-safe sunscreen before entering the water (standard sunscreen’s benzophenone compounds cause measurable coral bleaching and are banned in several marine protected areas globally), stay at locally owned guesthouses rather than large resort chains (the economic multiplier for the local community is substantially higher), take organized tours from operators who use the official park entrance fees rather than bypassing them, and buy seafood at local market restaurants rather than resort dining (supporting the island’s fishing community economy directly rather than through a commercial intermediary).

Practical Information

Getting There

The journey from Bangkok to Koh Chang requires two legs: Bangkok to Trat followed by Trat to Koh Chang by ferry. The most popular option is the combined bus-and-ferry ticket: departures from Khao San Road or Ekkamai/Morchit Bus Terminal to Ao Thammachat ferry pier in a single ticketed journey costing approximately 350–600 THB ($9.60–$16.50 / €8.75–€15) for the complete journey, with total travel time of 5–6 hours including the 30-minute ferry crossing. The minivan-and-ferry combination from Bangkok’s Khao San Road area runs the same route for similar prices with faster road sections and slightly less comfort than the air-conditioned bus. The fastest option is the Bangkok Airways flight from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Trat Airport (TDX) — approximately one hour in the air, $55–$110 / €50–€100 one-way depending on season and booking window — followed by taxi or minivan to the ferry pier and a 30-minute crossing. The ferry crossing itself — Ao Thammachat pier to Koh Chang — runs frequent daily departures (every 30–45 minutes during peak hours) at 80 THB ($2.20 / €2.00) for foot passengers and 200–400 THB ($5.50–$11 / €5.00–€10) for vehicle transport.​

Climate and Best Times

The dry season (November through April) is the optimal window: 25–32°C / 77–90°F daytime temperatures, minimal rainfall, calm seas on the west coast, clear visibility for snorkeling and underwater photography, and the full operational range of tour and activity options. November and December are peak transition months — fresh post-rain landscapes, warm temperatures, and the start of the tourist season before Christmas prices kick in. January and February are the peak season peak: most reliable weather, highest accommodation prices, and the maximum visitor density (still modest by Phuket or Samui standards). March and April turn hot (35–38°C / 95–100°F) before the May monsoon onset and sea conditions begin to deteriorate on the outer island snorkeling circuits. The rainy season (May–October) brings dramatically lower accommodation prices (30–50% reductions widespread), genuinely lush and green jungle conditions, fewer tourists, and the specific atmosphere of an island operating at its natural pace — the tradeoff is unpredictable sea conditions, some waterfall trail closures during heavy rain, and the possibility of extended overcast periods.

FAQ

How do I get to Koh Chang from Bangkok? 
The most practical option for most travelers is the combined bus-and-ferry ticket from Khao San Road or Ekkamai, costing 350–600 THB ($9.60–$16.50 / €8.75–€15) total with 5–6 hours travel time. Flying Bangkok Airways to Trat saves approximately 3 hours but costs $55–$110 / €50–€100 for the flight alone.
Which beach is best for families? 
Kai Bae Beach is the consistent family recommendation — calm shallow water, good swimming conditions, family-friendly mid-range accommodation at accessible prices, and the Kai Bae Viewpoint accessible from the same base. White Sand Beach is also fine for families but noisier on weekends.
Is Koh Chang or Koh Samui better? 
Koh Chang for nature, jungle, family-friendly beaches, authentic Thai island atmosphere, and budget value. Koh Samui for luxury resorts, better dive infrastructure, more developed nightlife, and a larger island circuit. If you have done Samui before, Koh Chang will feel like a genuinely different Thailand.
What is the best thing to do in Koh Chang? 
The most consistently transformative experience is the coast-to-coast jungle trek across the island — it contextualizes the entire island geography and puts the beach experience in a natural setting that purely beach-based visitors never access. For families, the Klong Plu Waterfall jungle swim is the single best value-per-experience activity on the island.​
Is the snorkeling good? 
Moderate from the main beaches but good to excellent on the day trips to Koh Wai and the outer archipelago islands. If snorkeling is your primary purpose, budget for the Bang Bao pier day trip rather than expecting the in-shore reefs to deliver.
When is the best time to visit? 
November through April for reliable weather and calm seas. November–December is the sweet spot: post-rain freshness, lower prices than January peak, and the full activity calendar operational.​​
How many days do I need? 
Three days covers the beaches, one waterfall, and a day trip. Five days allows the jungle trek, multiple beach zones, and the outer islands. Seven days is the ideal length for travelers who want to actually understand the island rather than sample it.
Is Koh Chang safe for solo female travelers? 
Yes — Koh Chang has a well-established safety reputation among solo female travelers, crime against tourists is rare, and the main beach areas operate with the standard Thai island visibility and community oversight.​
What is Mu Ko Chang National Park? 
The national park covers over 70% of Koh Chang’s land area plus 42 surrounding islands, protecting the rainforest, waterfalls, mangroves, and coral reefs that make the island ecologically significant beyond its beaches. Entry is included within site-specific fees at the waterfalls (200 THB / $5.50 / €5.00 at Klong Plu) rather than as a single park admission charge.
How does Koh Chang compare to other Thai islands? 
More nature than any comparable Thai island at its accessibility level. Quieter and cheaper than Koh Samui. More developed than Koh Lanta but with better jungle access. More accessible from Bangkok than Koh Tao or Koh Phangan. The closest comparison outside Thailand is Palawan in the Philippines — both are large, jungle-covered islands where the interior matches the coast as a reason to visit.

The Island That Didn’t Sell Its Jungle

Koh Chang made a choice — or rather, the national park designation that protects 70% of it made a choice on its behalf — that the majority of Thailand’s tourist islands did not make, and the result is an island where the forest still comes down to the beach road, where a 30-minute walk uphill from your guesthouse puts you inside a rainforest canopy that took centuries to build, and where the waterfalls run not because they are maintained for tourist viewing but because the watershed that feeds them has not been cleared for resort foundations. This is not a pristine wilderness — the west coast beach road is lined with guesthouses, the tour operator boards outside each restaurant offer the same day trips, and the night market at White Sand Beach sells the same elephant-print trousers available at every Thai beach from Pattaya to Ko Lipe. But the line between the developed and the wild on Koh Chang runs so close to the beach that you can step across it in minutes, and the specific experience of doing so — walking from a sunlounger into a forest that feels genuinely indifferent to your presence — is the thing that makes this island distinct from the Thai island mainstream and the reason the travelers who find it tend to return rather than move on. The bus from Bangkok leaves at 8 AM. The ferry takes 30 minutes. The jungle starts where the road ends.