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Things to Do in Koh Chang

Reefs off Koh Rang, a jungle swimming hole, a stilted fishing pier and a sunset over four islands

By Mac Kiley · 9 min read · Updated Oct 27, 2026

The best thing to do on Koh Chang is take a boat from Bang Bao to the reefs around Koh Rang, with a last stop at Koh Wai. Back on the island, swim in the pool under Khlong Phlu Waterfall before the crowds arrive, watch the sun go down over four small islands from Kai Bae Viewpoint, and spend an afternoon on the quiet east coast, where a boardwalk runs through the mangroves at Salak Phet.

Add a kayak to Koh Ngam, a seafood dinner over the water at Bang Bao and a night or two on Koh Mak, and four or five nights fills itself. Below are nineteen things to do, ranked, with prices and hours, the boat days, the waterfalls and viewpoints, what still works in the rains, with kids and at night, and what to skip.

Arriving in Koh Chang

Where to stay in Koh Chang

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Key Facts

The snorkeling day is the best day, from about November to April

Full-day trips leave Bang Bao at about 09:30 and cost about ฿800–900 on the big boats or ฿800–1,100 by speedboat, with hotel pickup and lunch. The ฿200 park fee for Koh Rang (฿100 for children) usually isn't included, so bring cash.

The national park charges ฿200 at the big waterfalls

Mu Ko Chang National Park charges ฿200 for adults and ฿100 for children aged 3 to 14 at Khlong Phlu and Than Mayom, and on the snorkeling trips to Koh Rang. Several smaller falls, the mangrove boardwalks and the viewpoints are free.

A scooter opens up the island, if you can ride hills

Rentals cost about ฿200–300 a day. The hairpins between Kai Bae and Lonely Beach are the steepest on the road, and the road along the south coast between Bang Bao and Salak Phet was never finished, so the east coast is a separate drive around the north.

Plan by coast

The west coast has the beaches, Khlong Phlu, Kai Bae Viewpoint and Bang Bao. The east coast has Than Mayom, the mangroves, Wat Salak Phet, Koh Ngam and Long Beach, and it's an hour or more from the ferry pier, so give it a whole day.

Much of it is free

The beaches, Kai Bae Viewpoint, Bang Bao pier, the Salak Phet mangrove boardwalk and the night market cost nothing. The boats, the park waterfalls and the dive trips are where the money goes.

July brings over a meter of rain

The Trat weather station, which covers Koh Chang, averages 1,024 mm in July on 25 rain days, against 28 mm in December. From June to September the snorkeling boats mostly stop and many west-coast businesses close.

The 19 Best Things to Do in Koh Chang

Ranked by how much I'd prioritize each one on a first visit of four nights. The boat day comes first because it's the best day you'll have, and the island sights follow in the order I'd fit them around it.

The 19 Best Things to Do in Koh Chang — numbered by rank. 1 A snorkeling day to Koh Rang and Koh Wai · 2 Khlong Phlu Waterfall · 3 Sunset at Kai Bae Viewpoint · 4 Bang Bao pier and fishing village · 5 Klong Kloi Beach · 6 The mangroves at Salak Phet and Salak Khok · 7 Kayak to Koh Ngam · 8 Than Mayom Waterfall · 9 Wat Salak Phet · 11 Diving the HTMS Chang and the reefs · 12 Kayak to Koh Man Nai · 13 Wai Chaek Beach by longtail · 14 Lonely Beach at night · 15 The night market at White Sand Beach · 16 Long Beach and the east coast drive · 17 Tree Top Adventure Park · 19 A Thai massage after the hills
  1. 1. A snorkeling day to Koh Rang and Koh Wai, Mu Ko Chang National Park, south of Koh Chang

    The best day out

    Koh Rang, in the middle of the marine park, has the clearest water and the best reefs in this part of the Gulf, and the standard day trip spends most of its time there. The boat leaves Bang Bao at about 09:30, takes about 75 minutes to reach the Koh Rang area, and stops at three reefs for about 45 minutes each, with lunch on board. The last stop is Koh Wai, a small island with a long wooden pier and reefs close to the sand, and you're back at Bang Bao at about 17:00.

    The big wooden boats cost about ฿800–900 and the speedboats about ฿800–1,100, both with hotel pickup. The speedboats are faster but have no toilet or shower. The ฿200 park fee for adults and ฿100 for children is collected in cash, usually on Bang Bao pier, and most trips don't include it. I'd bring my own mask, because the boat ones are often worn, and rent fins on the pier for about ฿100.

    Getting there
    Hotel pickup from 08:00 to 08:30, or meet the boat at Bang Bao.
    When to go
    About November to April, on a calm day. Avoid weekends and long holidays if you can.
    Koh Rang
    Koh Rang

    4.6(145)

  2. 2. Khlong Phlu Waterfall, Inland from Klong Prao, west coast

    A jungle swim

    The island's main waterfall, also spelled Klong Plu, drops into a broad, deep, cold pool that you can properly swim in, with jungle on every side and small fish that nibble your feet. The walk from the ticket booth is about 600 m on a marked trail. It's inside the national park, so entry is ฿200 for adults and ฿100 for children, and alcohol isn't allowed.

    Timing is everything here. The gate opens at 08:30, and by early afternoon carloads of day-trippers have come up from the resort strips, so I'd be swimming by nine and gone before eleven. Wear shoes with grip and bring dry clothes, because there's nowhere private to change.

    Getting there
    A short ride inland from Klong Prao village. Songthaews drop at the turn-off.
    When to go
    First thing, and the falls are fullest after the rains.
    Khlong Phlu Waterfall
    Khlong Phlu Waterfall

    4.4(3,077)Daily 08:30–16:30

  3. 3. Sunset at Kai Bae Viewpoint, The headland between Kai Bae and Lonely Beach

    The island's best view

    A pull-off on the hill road above Kai Bae, looking straight out over four small islands, Koh Yuak, Koh Man Noi, Koh Pli and Koh Man Nok, with nothing between them and the horizon. There's no gate and no fee, a small café, and a troop of monkeys that knows exactly what a plastic bag means, so keep snacks zipped away.

    Midday flattens the view. Come for the last hour of light, and in high season arrive about twenty minutes before sunset if you want a space at the railing and somewhere to park.

    Getting there
    Just off the west-coast road, a few minutes south of Kai Bae.
    When to go
    The last hour before sunset.
    Kai Bae Viewpoint
    Kai Bae Viewpoint

    4.7(2,952)Open 24 hours daily

  4. 4. Bang Bao pier and fishing village, The southwest tip

    Seafood over the water

    A fishing village built on stilts along a long pier, lined with seafood restaurants, souvenir shops and dive schools, and the place the snorkeling boats and the Koh Mak and Koh Kood catamarans leave from. There's a lighthouse at Bang Bao too, which you can look at but not climb.

    I'd come in the late afternoon, walk the pier, and stay for dinner over the water. It's busy in the high season and very quiet in the low one.

    Getting there
    At the end of the west-coast road, 45 minutes to an hour from the ferry pier.
    When to go
    Late afternoon and dinner.
    Bang Bao Pier
    Bang Bao Pier

    4.3(5,446)Open 24 hours daily

  5. 5. Klong Kloi Beach, Just east of Bang Bao

    The prettiest beach and calm water

    The southernmost beach on Koh Chang, also called Bang Bao Beach, a bay of soft white sand with beach bars, massage huts and paddleboards. It's sheltered from the southwest winds that bring waves and rip currents to the rest of the west coast, so it stays calm when the other beaches are rough, even in the rainy season.

    Cars stop at the footbridge over the canal. Walk a couple of hundred meters along the sand and it gets much quieter. The monkeys here can open a scooter seat, so leave nothing in it, and book your ride back before dinner, because taxis are scarce at night.

    Getting there
    About 1 km past the Bang Bao turn-off.
    When to go
    Any time, and it's the swim I'd pick on a windy day.
  6. 6. The mangroves at Salak Phet and Salak Khok, The east coast

    The quietest afternoon

    The east coast is where the mangroves are. At Salak Phet a red wooden boardwalk of about 500 m loops through the forest, free to walk, with ฿10 parking for a scooter and ฿20 for a car. Go early or late, when it's cooler. At Salak Khok, the next bay north, there's a longer boardwalk of about 860 m and a boat station.

    The Salak Khok boats take you through the waterways in about 40 minutes, for about ฿800 a boat for up to four people, and you can paddle the bay yourself by kayak. The station runs from 08:00 to 16:00.

    Getting there
    By scooter or car around the north of the island and down the east-coast road.
    When to go
    Morning or late afternoon.
    Salak Khok Boat Tour
    Salak Khok Boat Tour

    4.5(762)Daily 08:00–16:00

  7. 7. Kayak to Koh Ngam, Off the southeast corner

    A sandbar island by paddle

    Two small hills joined by a narrow sandbar, with a beach on either side, about ten minutes by kayak from the shore opposite on Koh Chang's east coast. It's the one island here you can reach under your own steam, for a swim and a little snorkeling.

    The island's resort has been closed since 2019, so it's a day trip only. It's under the national park, which charges an entry fee, so bring cash for that and the kayak. There are toilets, and monkeys.

    Getting there
    Rent a kayak on the east coast opposite the island.
    When to go
    A calm morning, November to April.
    Koh Ngam
    Koh Ngam

    4.8(100)

  8. 8. Than Mayom Waterfall, The east coast

    A waterfall on the east-coast day

    The east coast's big waterfall is a series of falls on the Khlong Mayom stream. The lowest tier is a short stroll from the parking area, and the upper ones take more effort. It's run by the national park, open from 09:00 to 16:30, and the same ฿200 adult fee applies.

    I'd fit it into the east-coast day with the mangroves and Wat Salak Phet rather than make a special trip, and go in or just after the rainy season, when the falls run fullest.

    Getting there
    On the east-coast road.
    When to go
    Morning, in or just after the rainy season.
    Than Mayom Waterfall
    Than Mayom Waterfall

    4.2(715)Daily 09:00–16:30

  9. 9. Wat Salak Phet, Salak Phet, southeast coast

    The island's historic temple

    Koh Chang's most historic temple, linked to King Rama V, who visited more than a century ago, in a quiet complex near the fishing village at Salak Phet. A ฿20 entry fee is posted but isn't always collected.

    It's an easy stop on the way to the mangrove boardwalk. Cover your shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off before any indoor shrine.

    Getting there
    On the east-coast road, near the Salak Phet mangroves.
    When to go
    Daytime, with the mangroves.
    Wat Salak Phet
    Wat Salak Phet

    4.5(779)Open 24 hours daily

  10. 10. A night or two on Koh Mak, South of Koh Chang

    Somewhere even quieter

    Koh Mak is small, flat and quiet, with long empty beaches and bungalows rather than resorts, and it's better as a stay than as a stop on a tour. Boonsiri's catamaran leaves Bang Bao at 09:00 and 13:00 and reaches Ao Nid pier about an hour later for ฿550.

    You'll need a scooter or a bicycle there, because there's no real public transport. The same boat goes on to Koh Kood, so Koh Mak works as a break between the two.

    Getting there
    Boonsiri's catamaran from Bang Bao.
    When to go
    November to April. From June to September there's one sailing a day, at 13:00.
  11. 11. Diving the HTMS Chang and the reefs, Off the south coast and the marine park

    Divers

    Koh Chang has the country's biggest wreck dive, the HTMS Chang, a former landing ship about 100 m long that was scuttled in 2012. Its deck sits at about 23 m and the deepest point at 30 m, so you need an Advanced Open Water certificate. Beginners can start with a Discover Scuba session.

    BB Divers and Thai Ocean Academy both run PADI courses and fun dives from Bang Bao, open from 08:00 to 18:00. The park fee is ฿200 on dives in the marine park, paid on top of the dive price.

    Getting there
    The dive shops are at Bang Bao and pick up along the west coast.
    When to go
    November to May, when visibility is best.
  12. 12. Kayak to Koh Man Nai, Off Kai Bae Beach

    A cheap half day on the water

    The little island you see from Kai Bae Viewpoint is a paddle away. Kayaks rent at the north end of Kai Bae Beach for about ฿100 an hour or ฿300 for four hours, with life vests, and the crossing takes about 30 minutes.

    There's nothing on the island but sand and trees, so take water, snacks and a dry bag. I'd go in the morning, when the sea is flattest.

    Getting there
    From the north end of Kai Bae Beach.
    When to go
    A calm morning, November to April.
    Kai Bae Beach
    Kai Bae Beach

    4.5(1,349)Daily 05:00–18:00

  13. 13. Wai Chaek Beach by longtail, The south coast

    A beach with nobody on it

    A half-moon of sand in a sheltered bay on the south coast, with a hidden lagoon at one end and nothing built on it. Getting there is the point and the problem. The land track is steep and loose with a river crossing, so I'd take a longtail from Bang Bao pier or kayak round from Klong Kloi instead.

    Bring all your food and water, and come as the tide drops, because at high tide much of the sand goes under.

    Getting there
    Longtail from Bang Bao, or kayak from Klong Kloi.
    When to go
    November to April, when the sea is calm and the river is low.
    Wai Chaek Beach
    Wai Chaek Beach

    4.3(322)Open 24 hours daily

  14. 14. Lonely Beach at night, Southwest coast

    Beach bars and fire shows

    Lonely Beach is where Koh Chang's nightlife lives. It's quiet by day and loud at night, when the beach bars put on music and fire shows. Beautiful Bar on the sand opens from 09:30 until midnight, so it works for a late breakfast as well as the last drink.

    The crowd is young and international. My Koh Chang nightlife list has the bars beach by beach.

    Getting there
    About forty minutes from the ferry pier. Don't ride the hairpins home after drinking.
    When to go
    After dark.
    Beautiful Bar
    Beautiful Bar

    4.7(586)$$$$Daily 09:30–00:00

  15. 15. The night market at White Sand Beach, White Sand Beach, northwest coast

    The cheapest dinner

    Grilled meat, noodles, fruit and snacks from stalls behind the beach strip, every night from 17:30 to 23:00. It fills up properly at about 19:00, when every stall is cooking.

    Bring small notes. White Sand Beach is the busiest strip on the island, with bars and restaurants on the sand after you've eaten.

    Getting there
    Ten minutes from the ferry pier, on the main road.
    When to go
    From about 19:00.
    Night Food Market
    Night Food Market

    4.2(656)Daily 17:30–23:00

  16. 16. Long Beach and the east coast drive, The southeast tip

    A day with your own wheels

    Long Beach, Hat Sai Yao in Thai, is at the end of the east-coast road, about an hour from the ferry pier, and few people make the drive, so you'll have most of it to yourself. There are a few simple bungalows and very little else.

    I'd make it the last stop of an east-coast day, after Than Mayom, the mangroves and Wat Salak Phet. Bring water and snacks, because songthaews rarely come this far.

    Getting there
    By scooter or car around the north of the island.
    When to go
    November to April, when the sea on this side is calm.
    Long Beach
    Long Beach

    4.2(1,376)Open 24 hours daily

  17. 17. Tree Top Adventure Park, Near Lonely Beach

    Older kids and a dull day

    Zip lines, a Tarzan swing, tightrope walks and raised obstacles strung through the rainforest canopy, with safety gear and guidance provided. It suits older children and adults, and it's a good use of a gray afternoon.

    It's open from 09:00 to 16:30. Wear closed shoes, and check the price on its website before you go.

    Getting there
    Inland from Lonely Beach.
    When to go
    Morning, before the heat.
    Tree Top Adventure Park Koh Chang
    Tree Top Adventure Park Koh Chang

    4.5(310)Daily 09:00–16:30

  18. 18. On to Koh Kood, 50 km south

    The best beaches in reach

    If you have a week, split it with Koh Kood, which has the best beaches and waterfalls of the three islands. Boonsiri's catamaran leaves Bang Bao at 09:00 and 13:00, calls at Koh Mak and reaches Ao Salad pier in about an hour and a half for ฿900.

    My Koh Kood travel guide has the beaches and waterfalls, and the Koh Chang to Koh Kood guide has every boat.

    Getting there
    Boonsiri's catamaran from Bang Bao, or the high-season speedboat from Kai Bae.
    When to go
    November to April for the full timetable.
  19. 19. A Thai massage after the hills, White Sand Beach and along the west coast

    The end of a scooter day

    Every beach has massage shops, and a long one is the best thing to do after a day on the island's hills. Star Massage on the main road at White Sand Beach opens from 10:00 to 22:00, so you can book it for the evening.

    My Koh Chang spas list has the rest, from beach huts to resort spas.

    Getting there
    Walk in, or ask your hotel to book.
    When to go
    Late afternoon or evening.
    Star Massage
    Star Massage

    4.8(624)Daily 10:00–22:00

Koh Chang Attractions, Hours and Prices at a Glance

PlaceOpenCostGo
Snorkeling day to Koh Rang and Koh WaiAbout Nov–AprAbout ฿800–900 big boat, ฿800–1,100 speedboatA calm weekday
Koh Rang park feeWith the trip฿200 adult, ฿100 child, cashPay on Bang Bao pier
Khlong Phlu Waterfall08:30–16:30 daily฿200 adult, ฿100 child08:30
Than Mayom Waterfall09:00–16:30 daily฿200 adult, ฿100 childMorning
Kai Bae ViewpointAlways openFreeBefore sunset
White Buddha Viewpoint06:00–17:00 dailyFreeMorning
Salak Phet mangrove boardwalkDaylightFree, parking ฿10 scooter, ฿20 carEarly or late
Salak Khok boat tour08:00–16:00 dailyAbout ฿800 a boat for up to fourMorning
Wat Salak PhetDaytime฿20, not always collectedWith the mangroves
Kayak rental, Kai BaeDaytimeAbout ฿100 an hour, ฿300 for four hoursCalm morning
BB Divers and Thai Ocean Academy08:00–18:00 dailyDive price plus ฿200 park feeNov–May
Tree Top Adventure Park09:00–16:30 dailyCheck the websiteMorning
Night Food Market, White Sand Beach17:30–23:00 dailyStreet-food pricesFrom 19:00
Beautiful Bar, Lonely Beach09:30–00:00 dailyMid-rangeAfter dark
Star Massage, White Sand Beach10:00–22:00 dailyWalk inEvening
Boonsiri catamaran to Koh MakBang Bao 09:00 and 13:00฿550Morning boat
Scooter rentalDailyAbout ฿200–300 a dayIf you ride hills well

Hours come from each place's Google listing in our records and can change on Thai public holidays and in the low season. Park fees are the national park's posted rates. Boat and tour prices are typical and vary by operator.

Boat Days From Koh Chang, and When They Run

One boat day covers the best of the sea around Koh Chang, and I'd book it for the first calm morning of the stay rather than the last day, because wind and cloud can cancel it. The standard trip is the snorkeling day from Bang Bao, three reef stops around Koh Rang and the small islands near it, lunch on board, and a last stop at Koh Wai. Half-day speedboats also run to Koh Wai and Koh Laoya, a cluster of small white-sand islands off the south coast, and they're the quieter choice in the busiest weeks.

The park fee is the detail that catches people out. The ฿200 adult fee is charged for the Koh Rang area, usually on the pier and in cash, and it's rarely in the ticket price. Koh Wai, Koh Mak and Koh Kood are outside the park. The boats run from about November to April and mostly stop in the rains, when the sea is rough on this side of the island. For Koh Mak and Koh Kood, take Boonsiri's catamaran from Bang Bao and stay a night, because the islands are too good for a stop of an hour.

Koh Chang's Waterfalls

The island is steep rainforest, and the streams that run off it make plenty of waterfalls. Two are run by the national park and charge the ฿200 fee. Khlong Phlu, inland from Klong Prao, has the best swimming pool, about 600 m along a marked trail, and it's the one to do if you do one. Than Mayom on the east coast is a series of falls, with the lowest tier a short stroll from the parking area, open from 09:00 to 16:30.

The smaller falls are free and much quieter. Kai Bae Waterfall is about a 30-minute walk from the main road above Kai Bae, a modest fall with pools. Khlong Nonsi, about 1 km off the east-coast road north of the park headquarters, has a rocky stream bed and very few visitors. All of them run fullest in and just after the rainy season and thin out by March and April, and the paths get slippery after rain, so wear shoes with grip.

The Best Viewpoints on Koh Chang

Kai Bae Viewpoint is the one everyone goes to, and rightly, for the sunset over four small islands, free and right off the road. Rasta View, a small cliff-top café near Klong Kloi a few minutes from Bang Bao, is the south coast's sunset spot, and one of the guides I read calls its view the best on the island.

On the way in from the ferry, the roadside viewpoint on the hill above White Sand Beach looks out over the bays and the Gulf. On the east side, the White Buddha Viewpoint above Salak Phet has a large white Buddha statue, still unfinished, and views over the treetops to the sea. It's open from 06:00 to 17:00, and the road up is steep.

Bang Bao

Bang Bao is two places, and it helps to know which you mean. The village is the fishing pier on stilts at Koh Chang's southwest tip, with its restaurants, shops, dive schools and boats. Bang Bao Beach, which most people call Klong Kloi, is the bay of sand just east of it. Koh Kood has a Bang Bao Bay of its own, which is a different place.

I'd give Bang Bao a late afternoon and an evening, the pier, a swim at Klong Kloi and a sunset at Rasta View, and sleep there only if the boats are the point of the trip. It's 45 minutes to an hour from the ferry pier, at the end of the west-coast road.

Arriving in Koh Chang

Top-Ranked Hotels in Koh Chang

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What to Do on Koh Chang When It Rains

Koh Chang is one of the wettest places in Thailand from May to October. The Trat weather station averages 420 mm in May, 777 mm in June, 1,024 mm in July on 25 rain days, 970 mm in August and 816 mm in September, and from June to September the snorkeling boats mostly stop and many west-coast bars and bungalows close. Boonsiri keeps one sailing a day to Koh Mak and Koh Kood, at 13:00 from Bang Bao.

Plan the island, not the sea. The waterfalls are at their fullest, though a June visitor found Khlong Phlu's main pool closed to swimmers and only the pool downstream open. Klong Kloi is sheltered from the southwest winds and stays calm when the other beaches are rough. The mangroves, Wat Salak Phet, Tree Top Adventure Park, a long massage and a cooking class all work between showers. May and October are the shoulder, at 420 mm and 338 mm, green and discounted, and a fair bet for a short trip.

Things to Do in Koh Chang With Kids

Koh Chang works well with children who like water and jungle. Base yourselves on Klong Prao, the long, quiet beach my travel guide picks for families, and use Klong Kloi on a windy day, when it's the calmest water on the west coast. Khlong Phlu's short trail and big pool suit most ages, and children aged 3 to 14 pay ฿100.

Tree Top Adventure Park is the hit for older kids. The snorkeling day is long, from about 08:00 to 18:00 door to door, and it suits children who swim well. Keep food out of sight at Kai Bae Viewpoint and Klong Kloi, where the monkeys are bold. The best beaches in Thailand for families guide compares Koh Chang with the other family beaches.

Things to Do in Koh Chang at Night

Nights on Koh Chang are quiet outside two strips. White Sand Beach has the night market from 17:30, then bars and restaurants on the sand, and Lonely Beach has the beach bars, music and fire shows that run late. Kai Bae has a small walking street of bars in between.

One local guide lists Muay Thai fights at White Sand Beach on Wednesday and Saturday and at Kai Bae on Friday, from about 20:00, so check the posters when you arrive. Everywhere else, the evening is a seafood dinner at Bang Bao or a sunset and an early night. My Koh Chang nightlife list has the bars by beach.

What to Skip

Skip the elephant camps. Koh Chang has several that sell rides, and some bring elephants onto Kai Bae Beach and into the sea for photos. Don't ride, bathe or pay to pose with them. The same goes for any animal show.

Don't book the snorkeling day from June to September, or in the shoulder months without a spare day, and don't board without ฿200 in cash for the park. Don't ride the track to Wai Chaek unless you're confident off-road, and if you're not already a confident rider, don't learn on Koh Chang's hairpins. Use songthaews or hire a driver for the east coast instead.

How Many Days, and Where to Stay

Four nights covers it. One day for the boat, one for Khlong Phlu, Kai Bae and a lazy beach afternoon, one for the east coast with Than Mayom, the mangroves, Wat Salak Phet and Koh Ngam, and one for Bang Bao and Klong Kloi. With a week, move to Koh Mak or Koh Kood for the second half.

Stay on Klong Prao or Kai Bae for the middle of the island and the shortest rides to everything, on White Sand Beach for the most restaurants within a walk, or on Lonely Beach for the cheapest rooms and the bars. My Koh Chang travel guide has every beach north to south, the hotels and the buses and ferries from Bangkok.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Things to Do in Koh Chang.

Plenty for four or five nights. There's a snorkeling day to Koh Rang and Koh Wai, Khlong Phlu and Than Mayom waterfalls, Kai Bae Viewpoint at sunset, Bang Bao's stilted pier, the east-coast mangroves and Wat Salak Phet, kayaking to Koh Ngam, diving and the beach bars at Lonely Beach. It's a nature island more than a party island.

The snorkeling day from Bang Bao, with three reef stops around Koh Rang and a last stop at Koh Wai. It costs about ฿800–1,100 with pickup and lunch, plus ฿200 in cash for the park, and runs from about November to April.

Yes. The west-coast beaches are good for swimming from November to April. Lonely Beach is better at its sandy north end, and Klong Kloi near Bang Bao is the most sheltered, staying calm when the rest of the coast has waves and rip currents in the rainy season.

Not on a paved road. The road runs down the west coast to Bang Bao and down the east coast to Long Beach, but the stretch along the south coast between Bang Bao and Salak Phet was never finished, and what's there is a steep, loose track. To reach the east coast from the west, you go back around the north of the island.

Khlong Phlu and Than Mayom are in the national park and cost ฿200 for adults and ฿100 for children aged 3 to 14. Several smaller falls, including Kai Bae Waterfall and Khlong Nonsi, are free.

The beaches, Kai Bae Viewpoint at sunset, Bang Bao pier, the Salak Phet mangrove boardwalk, the night market at White Sand Beach, and the smaller waterfalls such as Khlong Nonsi.

Go to the waterfalls, which are fullest in the rains, swim at Klong Kloi, which is sheltered, walk the mangroves at Salak Phet, visit Wat Salak Phet, take a cooking class or book a long massage. Treat the snorkeling boats as stopped from June to September.

I'd skip them. The camps on Koh Chang sell rides, and some bring elephants onto Kai Bae Beach and into the sea for photos. Don't ride, bathe or pose with elephants.

Lonely Beach, with beach bars, music and fire shows that run late. White Sand Beach has the night market and bars on the sand, and Kai Bae has a small walking street. Elsewhere the island is quiet after dinner.

Where to stay in Koh Chang

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Mac Kiley

Written by

Mac Kiley

I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled the country from there. The guides are my own opinions, written the way I'd explain them to a friend planning a trip.

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