Journey’s End Homestay – Chek Bae

Scorecard:

Overall Rating: 8.8 / 10
A laid-back, English-run homestay in a big garden by the sea, tucked away in Chek Bae on the south-east coast. Simple bungalows, great hospitality, proper sunsets and one of the island’s few genuine “hideaways”.

Location: 8.7 / 10 – In the tiny hamlet of Chek Bae on the eastern side of Salakphet Bay; beautifully scenic, properly off the beaten track.
Rooms: 8.0 / 10 – A handful of simple fan and A/C bungalows, plus tents for campers; rustic but comfortable and well kept.
Facilities: 8.1 / 10 – Restaurant/bar by the sea, big garden, kayaks, boat trips for snorkelling/fishing/island hopping; no pool and no spa but that’s kind of the point.
Beach / Waterfront: 8.5 / 10 – Grassy garden running down to a natural shoreline with views across the bay and mountains, great sunsets and a very “end of the lane” feel.
Breakfast / Food: 9.1 / 10 – Consistently praised simple Thai and European dishes; lots of repeat guests rave about the food.
Service: 9.4 / 10 – Owner Nicky and her team get glowing reviews for warm, genuine hospitality. Guests often say it feels like visiting friends.
Value for Money: 9.0 / 10 – Very fair prices for a true hideaway with good food and atmosphere; especially strong value for longer stays or campers.

What We Liked

Beautiful, quiet location in a large garden right by the sea
Friendly, homely atmosphere, you’re very much a guest, not a room number
Great sunsets over the bay and mountains
Good, honest food and cold beers in the little bar by the water
Kayaks and “Fin’s Trip” boat tours for snorkelling, fishing and island hopping

What Could Be Better

Very remote, so there’s nothing much else around, and taxis here aren’t cheap
Simple bungalows, not luxury villas; a few creature comforts are deliberately absent
No pool; swimming is in the sea or on boat trips
Limited air-con capacity (only some bungalows) and tents obviously more basic

Best For

Independent travellers who want to properly get away from it all
Couples, friends and solo guests who value atmosphere and people over polished facilities
Anyone who thinks “no 7-Eleven, no problem” rather than “where’s the nearest Starbucks?”

Summary:
Journey’s End is one of Koh Chang’s few true hideaways: a friendly homestay in a garden by the sea at the far end of a quiet lane, with simple bungalows, good food, sunsets and boat trips. If you want sand, spas and big pools, look elsewhere; if you want peace, conversation and a cold beer at the water’s edge, it’s spot on.

See prices & available rooms

Journey’s End Homestay – Full Review

Overview

Journey’s End is exactly what the name suggests. Drive along the south-east coast, turn into a narrow lane, keep going until the road more or less runs out, and there it is: a big, grassy garden with a few bungalows and a small bar sitting right by the water in Salakphet Bay.

It’s English-run, small, and deliberately simple. Guests come here to decompress for a few days (or weeks): read, snooze in a hammock, paddle a kayak, do a boat trip, and watch the sun set behind the mountains in the middle of the island.

Location – Chek Bae / Salakphet Bay

Journey’s End is in Chek Bae (Jek Bae), a tiny hamlet on the eastern side of Salakphet Bay. It’s one of the least visited corners of Koh Chang:

Beautiful views across the bay to the central mountains and mangroves.
Very little development, just a few local houses and small resorts, that’s about it.
Far from the west-coast beaches and main tourist infrastructure which is both the selling point and the main drawback.

If you want to disappear for a bit, it’s ideal. If you want to nip out for a different bar every night or grab a latte, you’re on the wrong side of the island.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere is laid-back and personal more like staying with friends than being in a hotel. The garden has a scattering of chairs, hammocks and shady spots, and the little bar/restaurant by the sea becomes the social hub in the evenings.

Guests often describe it as “holistic” or “healing” in feel. But without the incense-and-crystals performance. It’s more about the sound of the water, a good book, decent tunes, the odd bit of meditation and friendly conversation with other guests and the owner.

Rooms – Simple Bungalows & Camping

Journey’s End has just a handful of bungalows:

A mix of fan and air-conditioned units, all simple concrete/wood constructions with private bathrooms.
Each has a small terrace with chairs, looking over the garden towards the water.

On top of that, there are tents for hire, so very budget-minded guests can camp in the garden.

What’s Good

Rooms are basic but clean and comfortable.
There are only a few, so it never feels crowded or noisy.
Being in a big garden rather than a tight row of bungalows makes it feel spacious and green.

What to Keep in Mind

This is not a boutique villa resort: no fancy décor, no flat-screen TVs, no spa baths.
Fan bungalows and tents are, obviously, hot in high season afternoons, you’ll need to plan your day around the shade and the breeze.
Expect geckos, frogs and jungle noises; it’s part of the charm, not a pest-control failure.

Facilities

For a little homestay, there’s more to do here than you might think:

Restaurant & Bar: Simple Thai and European dishes, cold beers and a few cocktails; feedback is consistently positive about the food.
Kayaks: Available for guests to paddle around the bay. A great way to explore the coastline quietly.
Boat Trips – “Fin’s Trip”: Owner-run snorkelling, fishing and island-hopping trips that can be arranged for guests and non-guests are one of the homestay’s big selling points.
Garden & Chill-Out Space: Large grassy garden with trees and seating, rolling gently down to the sea.

There’s no pool, no gym and no spa. The sea, the sun and the boat are the “facilities”.

Waterfront & Views

Rather than a wide, sandy beach, Journey’s End has a grassy garden leading to a narrow natural shoreline. It’s very much about the view:

Open outlook across Salakphet Bay to the mountains.
Beautiful sunsets as the sun dips behind the ridge in the centre of the island.
Soft evening light on the water while you sit with a beer at the edge of the garden.

For proper beaches and swimming, you’ll do that via boat trips or scooter rides to other parts of the island. Here, the water’s edge is more about atmosphere than sun-lounger lines.

How It Compares to Other East-Coast Places

Sunrise / Serenity / Amber Sands (Dan Khao): These have more polished rooms, pools and direct sandy beaches, but also feel more like conventional resorts. Journey’s End is smaller, simpler and more “homestay by the sea”.
Parama Koh Chang: A 4-star boutique resort further north in Salakphet Bay with a big pool, spa and private island. Great if you want facilities; Journey’s End is for people who prefer a beer, a book and a hammock.
The Spa Koh Chang: A wellness/detox retreat inland nearer the mangroves. For structured programmes and yoga retreats, that’s the place; if you want relaxed evenings and fishing trips, this is.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Genuine hideaway feel at the edge of a quiet bay
Warm, personal hospitality and plenty of return guests
Good, home-style food and a small but welcoming bar
Kayaks and excellent value boat trips run in-house
Very fair pricing for the setting and experience

Cons

Remote , you can’t just hail a cheap taxi or walk to a cluster of restaurants
Basic accommodation, which is fine if you know what you’re booking, disappointing if you arrive expecting a boutique spa
No pool or “resort” facilities
Limited A/C bungalows; tents and fan rooms require you to embrace heat management

Who Should Stay Here?

Perfect for:

Back-again Koh Chang visitors looking for somewhere properly quiet
Couples and solo travellers who enjoy simple living, good company and sea views
People who want to unplug and don’t mind being a long way from the nearest 7-Eleven

Not ideal for:

First-time visitors who want the “classic” west-coast beach resort experience
Families who need pools, kids’ clubs and lots of structured entertainment
Travellers uncomfortable with basic bungalows, insects and general island rusticity

Value for Money

As long as you’re actively choosing this kind of place: small, simple and remote then Journey’s End offers excellent value. You get a front-row seat on Salakphet Bay, home-cooked food, friendly hosts and space to unwind, all at rates that are lower than many far less memorable mid-range resorts on the busier side of the island.

Final Thoughts

Journey’s End won’t suit everyone, and that’s precisely why the people it does suit love it. If you like the idea of staying at the far end of a quiet lane, with a handful of bungalows, a garden, a bar and a boat and not much else then this little homestay is one of Koh Chang’s best kept open secrets.