Annika Koh Chang Resort – Klong Prao Beach

Scorecard:

Overall Rating: 8.7 / 10
A large, tropical garden resort set inland behind Klong Prao Beach. No sea views and not walk-out beachfront, but beautifully landscaped grounds, a big lagoon pool, spa and very comfortable rooms. Regular shuttle to the beach at sister resort The Dewa, plus strong value for a full-facility 3 star property.

Location: 8.3 / 10 – Inland on the main Klong Prao road, around 600 m from the beach; peaceful, green and handy for songthaews and local restaurants, but you’ll shuttle or walk for sand and sea.
Rooms: 8.8 / 10 – 60+ Thai-style rooms and villas in low-rise buildings around gardens and ponds. Renovated during Covid, now fresher and more modern than the old Ramayana days.
Facilities: 9.0 / 10 – Large free-form pool, Sita Spa, fitness room, kids’ pool, two restaurants, pool bar, shuttle to beach club and good Wi-Fi.
Beach / Sea Access: 7.9 / 10 – No direct beachfront; complimentary shuttle to The Dewa’s beach area and simple “beach club” set-up, but last shuttle back mid-afternoon which some guests find too early.
Breakfast / Food: 8.6 / 10 – Well-reviewed breakfast buffet and decent Thai/Western menus at the garden restaurant and pool bar.
Service: 8.9 / 10 – Long-running, professional team; repeated praise for friendly, helpful staff and good housekeeping.
Value for Money: 9.0 / 10 – Big-resort facilities and lush grounds at prices often lower than beachfront neighbours; very strong if you don’t need to sleep right by the sea.

What We Liked

Beautiful tropical gardens, ponds and landscaping makes it feel like a small village in the jungle
Large free-form pool with plenty of loungers and shade
Sita Spa and fitness room on site, easy to add a bit of wellness
Rooms renovated and rebranded from Ramayana to Annika with fresher interiors, better bathrooms
Complimentary shuttle to The Dewa’s beach area so you still get proper sand time

What Could Be Better

No sea or beach views; you’re very much in a garden resort
Beach shuttle only at fixed times; last one back is earlier than many guests would like
Private “Annika beach” area has some sandflies, common on this part of Klong Prao
Inland location means a short walk or taxi for most evening dining options

Best For

Couples who like resort facilities and gardens more than absolute beachfront
Families wanting a big pool, spa and generous rooms at sensible prices
Travellers happy to shuttle or scooter to the beach rather than be right on it

Summary:
Annika Koh Chang is the re-imagined Ramayana resort, same big garden plot and lagoon pool, but refreshed rooms and branding. You’re not on the sand, but you are in one of Klong Prao’s most attractive tropical gardens, with a spa, big pool and shuttle to a proper beach. If you value space, greenery and facilities over a sea view from your balcony, it’s an excellent choice.

Check prices & available rooms

Annika Koh Chang Resort – Full Review

Overview

Annika Koh Chang (formerly Ramayana Koh Chang Resort & Spa) is a substantial, low-rise resort set back from Klong Prao Beach in a large, lush garden. Think ponds, bridges, lawns and mature trees rather than lines of concrete rooms by the road. The resort leans into a vaguely “epic Asia” theme in its design. A nod to the Ramayana inspiration in its previous life but after renovations and a rebrand it feels more like a clean, tropical garden resort than a gimmicky theme hotel.

You are not coming here for instant sea views or to pad barefoot out of your room onto sand. You are coming for generous rooms, a big pool, lots of greenery and a grown-up “resort bubble” atmosphere, plus the fact that you can hop a shuttle down to The Dewa’s beach area whenever you want some sea and sand. For many guests that trade-off works very nicely, especially at the rates Annika typically charges.

Location – Inland on the Klong Prao Road

Annika sits on the inland side of the main west-coast road in the central part of Klong Prao:

Roughly 600 m from the nearest point on Klong Prao Beach as the crow flies
Easy to flag songthaews north to White Sand or south to Kai Bae and Lonely Beach
Short walk or quick ride to local restaurants, convenience stores and massage shops along the main road
10 minutes by vehicle to Klong Plu Waterfall and the elephant camps inland

Because the resort is set well back inside its own grounds, once you’re past reception you barely notice the road it feels quiet and secluded. The downside is the beach: it’s simply not realistically walkable in flip-flops in the heat for most people, so you depend on the free shuttle or your own wheels.

Atmosphere

The overall vibe at Annika is relaxed, tropical-resort comfortable and slightly upmarket without being intimidating. You’ll see:

Couples and families around the big pool and children’s section
Older European guests reading on their terraces or in shady corners
Occasional small groups or package guests, especially in high season

Because everything is spread out through the gardens, even when the resort’s fairly full it doesn’t feel crowded. Noise levels are low; there’s a pool bar and background music but no thumping nightlife. It’s the sort of place you come back to after a day out and immediately feel like you’re in your own green bubble again.

Rooms – Tropical Hotel-Style with Recent Refresh

Annika offers a mix of room categories, all in low-rise blocks or villa-style units scattered through the gardens. The exact names vary by booking site, but common categories include: :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}

Deluxe Rooms: Mainstay rooms in two-storey blocks with balconies overlooking the gardens or pool.
Grand Deluxe / Garden Rooms: Slightly larger, with more seating and often better positions within the grounds.
Villas: Individual or semi-detached units closer to the pool or ponds, with a bit more privacy.

In-room you can expect:

Air-conditioning and usually a ceiling fan
Comfortable king or twin beds
Flat-screen TV, minibar and tea/coffee set
In-room safe and decent wardrobe space
Private terrace or balcony with seating
Renovated bathrooms with hot showers, some with bathtubs
Good Wi-Fi coverage

Recent guest reviews highlight the rooms as “clean, spacious and very comfortable”, especially after the Covid-era renovation and rebrand. It’s still classic Thai-resort décor: tiled floors, wooden furniture, warm colour palette. Rather than ultra-minimal chic. But in its price bracket, Annika now feels fresher than many similarly-aged Klong Prao properties.

Facilities

Facilities are where Annika still feels like a proper resort rather than just a big guesthouse.

Large Swimming Pool: A free-form lagoon pool set among palms and lawns, with built-in Jacuzzi sections and plenty of sunloungers; there’s also a small kids’ pool.
Sita Spa & Fitness: On-site spa offering Thai and oil massages, body scrubs and basic wellness treatments, plus a small gym/fitness room with cardio and weights.
Restaurants & Bars: Two on-site restaurants (one open-air garden restaurant; one more casual outlet) plus a pool bar. Menus mix Thai standards with tourist-friendly Western dishes.
Shuttle to The Dewa Beach: Scheduled complimentary shuttle down to the beach area at sister resort The Dewa, where guests can use sunloungers and a simple beach bar/restaurant.
Tour Desk, Transfers & Parking: Standard tour booking service, airport transfers and free on-site parking.

It’s a well-rounded set-up for a mid-range resort with enough to justify lazy “resort days” on site if you don’t fancy going anywhere.

Beach & Swimming

The big caveat with Annika is that you can’t see or quickly walk to the sea from your room. Instead:

You either take the free shuttle to The Dewa’s beach area (fixed times, last one back around late afternoon), or
You rent a scooter / take a taxi and make your own way to various spots on Klong Prao or Kai Bae.

Once you’re on the sand, Klong Prao is one of the best all-round beaches on the island. Long, gently shelving, with usually calm water in high season and good sunsets. Just don’t choose Annika expecting a “wake up and step onto the sand” experience.

How Annika Compares to Other Klong Prao Resorts

Santhiya Tree Resort: Directly beachfront with private pool villas and heavy Thai-luxe styling; significantly more upmarket and expensive. Annika is more affordable and garden-focused.
Koh Chang Paradise Resort / Klong Prao Resort: Both are beachfront, with older but decent bungalows and villas. Annika trades sand for a quieter, greener inland setting and a more cohesive “resort bubble”.
Paradise Hill / Bhu Tarn: These inland Klong Prao resorts also link to beachfront partners but are more compact; Annika has bigger gardens and more of a classic “tropical resort” layout.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Lovely landscaped grounds with ponds, lawns and tropical planting
Large pool and decent spa/fitness facilities
Refreshed rooms that are clean, comfortable and well sized
Free shuttle to sister beach area
Good overall value compared to many beachfront resorts

Cons

No sea views or direct beach access
Relying on fixed-time shuttle is a bit restrictive for beach lovers
Theme elements and décor might feel a touch old-school for minimalism fans
Sandflies at the private beach area can be annoying in some seasons :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}

Who Should Stay at Annika?

Great choice for:

Couples and families wanting a comfortable, full-facility resort in a garden setting
Travellers who like the idea of a quiet inland base with flexible access to different beaches
Guests who prioritise pool, spa and greenery over seeing the sea from bed

Probably not ideal for:

People who absolutely must stay directly on the beach
Honeymooners wanting super-private pool villas and ocean views
Travellers who dislike shuttles and want everything on the doorstep

Value for Money

Annika usually prices itself a tier or two below the high-end beachfront resorts, while offering big grounds, a serious pool, spa and decent rooms. That makes it strong value for anyone happy with an inland location. Reviews consistently highlight the feeling of getting “resort-level” comfort and atmosphere at a lower price than you might expect. {index=23}

Final Thoughts

Annika Koh Chang is a smart choice if you like the idea of coming “home” each day to a quiet, tropical garden with a big pool and comfortable room, and you’re fine with jumping in a shuttle or on a scooter for your beach time. It’s not dramatic or ultra-luxurious, but it is very pleasant, very green and very easy to live in for a week or more which is exactly what many visitors want.