Koh Chang Guide for Independent Travelers

Koh Chang, ('Elephant Island' in Thai) is the third largest island in Thailand and part of the Mu Ko Chang National Park.

Compared to over developed islands such as Phuket and Samui, Koh Chang offers a more peaceful and laid-back atmosphere, making it an ideal destination for travelers seeking to avoid the crowds. With a good range of accommodations, excellent restaurants, and numerous bars, Koh Chang provides a perfect balance of relaxation and adventure.

The 2024-25 high season was the busiest ever and the island, along with nearby Koh Mak and Koh Kood has seen a noticeable rise in the number of visitors. Change is coming, but at a relatively slow, manageable pace

Plan Your Holiday on Koh Chang

You're almost certainly coming here for a beach holiday. So, here's a brief run down of the island's main beaches.  These are all on the west coast, with White Sand beach in the north and Lonely beach in the south.  In between, you have Klong Prao  - the longest beach on the island and Kai Bae beach.

Bear in mind that each beach has a different atmosphere. So there isn't necessarily a 'best beach on Koh Chang'. Everyone will have their own opinions about that. :-)

There are other, quieter, beach areas on the island and you'll learn more about them in the Island Guide below which covers all corners of the island, not just the main beaches.

Where to Stay?

I've mentioned a few places to stay above. But I've also written some handy guides on accommodation on Koh Chang which cover different types of places.

If you want to avoid reading through the hundreds of reviews on this site then just go to this extensive rundown of the best accommodation on Koh Chang. This covers everything from 5 star resorts and pool villas to guesthouses and simple beach huts.

You'll find all types of accommodation on the island. For visitors on a tight budget there are some great hostels.

Or for those of you who want to avoid the larger resorts but enjoy some home comforts, Koh Chang has a growing number of boutique resorts. Take a look at some of the best boutique stays.

Airbnb rentals were taking off on Koh Chang before coronavirus and they are sure to be even more popular now. Expect more space than a hotel room and better value for money. Plus privacy and all the comforts of home. So, I've also got some picks of the best Airbnbs on the island.

Transport to Koh Chang

Having decided on a holiday on the island and checked out a few hotels, all that remains is to figure out how to get to Koh Chang from Bangkok or elsewhere. Whether you plan on travelling by bus, plane or private car or minibus, you'll find all the information you need in the Transport section.

By road

In brief, if you are on a budget then there are regular bus services from Ekamai Bus Station, Bangkok to the mainland ferry piers. Or you can book tickets for a shared minibus that would pick you up from your hotel in Bangkok or Pattaya and drop you off at your hotel on Koh Chang.

Private transfers by car or van are also easy to arrange for couples, groups or families who want to get here with the minimum of hassle.

By plane

If you plan on flying, Bangkok Airways has 3 or 4 flights a day to Trat Airport, from where Koh Chang is a short minibus and ferry ride away. As you'll see from the guide, passengers can easily take a minibus direct from Trat Airport to their hotel on Koh Chang.

There's also a useful page on getting around Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, which is the entry point to Thailand for most western tourists. Learn the layout of the airport and the best place to exchange money, how to get into the city centre or direct to Koh Chang etc.

By boat

As Koh Chang is an island, with no bridge or airport, you'll have to take a boat to get here. The boats to Koh Chang are all large car ferries. These run from 06:00 - 19:30 daily throughout the year and depart from two piers on the mainland.

Detailed timetables and information can be found on this bus and boat timetable page.

From Cambodia

An ever increasing number of people are combining Koh Chang with a trip to Cambodia, either to Angkor Wat or the islands in the south. Fortunately, getting to Koh Chang from Siem Reap or Phnom Penh is relatively simple nowadays. You'll find more on this in the transport section.

What to Do on Koh Chang

For many people a holiday is just about lazing in the sunshine and enjoying sunset cocktails. But there's plenty to do away from the pool and beach.

There are numerous activities to keep you occupied when you aren't sunning yourself. Including jungle trekking, snorkeling trips, jungle trekking, cooking classes, ATV riding, treetop adventure park, massage, scuba diving courses and elephant trekking.

And if you want to explore the interior of the island, grab a scooter and head off to discover various waterfalls which can easily be reached on foot.  Or take a tough trek to the top of one of the mountains.

Afterwards, you may well need and inexpensive Thai massage to soothe your aching limbs.

We've lived on the island since 2003 and in addition to running this site also have a small guesthouse, 'Baan Rim Nam' on Klong Prao beach which we rebuilt during covid.

I also post updates and snippets of info, photos and random ramblings on Facebook,com/iamkohchang

Message me if you need any specific information you can't find on the site.