So if you are reading this you are asking yourself – what is Koh Chang about? In short, Koh Chang has escaped arguably the worst of the development on other islands. There are very few hawkers and annoying street sellers, no go-go bars, touts are limited to a few individuals and all take no for an answer. The vibe here is very laid back, people are not in your face and Sanook and friendly does abound. Crime is pretty well unheard of and the people are very friendly and welcoming.
Koh Chang can appeal to many different types of travelers from independent do-it-myself to package tour groups. There is something for everyone from jungle treks, lounging on the beaches, a vibrant night life, great food and varying levels of accommodations from budget huts to five star establishments.
There are several different villages and each has its’ own type of feel and development. Reading through the explanations below may help you to decide where to stay.
Map to the Areas of Koh Chang:
View Areas of Koh Chang in a larger map
Klong Son: A very local village that lies between the ferry terminals and White Sands. Being the home to locals mostly it does have a couple of good resorts if you really want some peace and solitude. The valley holds many local farms and homes, an elephant camp and even a waterfall. Overlooked by most people, it can be very interesting to see how the real locals live here. Head down into the valley for some great views and sightseeing!
White Sands Beach:this is the main tourist town and has the biggest amount of shops, services, nightlife, restaurants and other amenities. If you are looking for a decent place stay, close to the crowds and fun this would be a good choice. Accommodations run from the basic to the expensive depending on your tastes. Generally speaking the biggest beach is here and most of the nightlife. At the north end the beach is very wide but runs out towards the south.
White Sands attracts a mixed crowd from singles looking for some to families who want distractions and service. Easy to find something to do, somewhere to go, different restaurant to try and don’t care want solitude but instead want some excitement. If you are looking for lots of restaurants, services, nightclubs and beach life etc.. White Sands is an excellent choice.
Chai Chet: has a lot of services for locals including one of the three gas stations in town, the local builder, but a bit farther south is VJ plaza and mall, and which are home to many funky restaurants and attractions. Lots of smaller shops and attractions are here but you might have to look a bit for them including some art galleries and retail outlets. If you like snorkeling this would be a good choice, but sandier beaches are found elsewhere. A good choice for those on a budget or wanting to stay long term.
Klong Prao: Home to the biggest Buddhist temple and the Tourist Police it is centrally located and about equidistant from White Sands to Bang Boa. As such many locals and ex-pats live in this area. A great place to look around for long-stay homes.
The islands biggest resorts are located here along the coast and the beach is excellent with a very long and sand strip cut in half by the river that offers firefly trips. Home also to elephant trekking, Klong Phu waterfall and quite a few good restaurants. It seems that a lot of people don’t know about this area so the crowds are less in high season, so is a good choice to get away from it all. Be sure to check the river area and the views from there.
Kai Bae: Used to be quite undeveloped but it has transformed itself over the last few years into a great location for tourists. The beach is in a bit of a bay and has great views and easy access to many restaurants, bars, shopping and amenities on the road. Definitely becoming more popular with families and others. There is a range of accommodation from the basic to the really upper end.
Lonely Beach: Was the first development on the island back in the 1980s and it still has the feel of a “backpackers haven” with lots of small lodges, eateries, bars and smaller shops. At one time there were few options for accommodations but that is changing to many places offering A/C, hot showers and many other amenities. You can go from basic to upper end here quite easily now. The area is hugely popular with younger people and single travelers who don’t like the more modern vibe of White Sands.
Bailan: About five minutes drive from Lonely Beach, it is very quiet here with a few developments, restaurants and places to stay that offer a lot of peace and quiet. It is not a party area at all and most places close not too late. Very laid back and offers a great amount of solitude, but with Lonely Beach just minutes away no worries!
Bang Bao: is home to the islands dive companies and has been developed quite well. There are luxury resorts going up around in the area and yet you can still get the freshest fish and other sea food here at some of the best outlets on the island. A great place to get a coffee, do some shopping for souvenirs, book a dive trip or go island hopping to the south…
East Coast: This was the first settled area and has the local government offices, Police Station and hospital but is pretty well unknown by most travelers. If you are looking for a real change and want some real solitude and quiet this would be the area to head to.
Salak Phet: Close to some magnificent waterfalls and home to local fisherman it offers some places to stay, a marina and a handful of spa resorts. If you want to get away from any crowds and seek peace and quiet this would be a great choice. The bay has some wonderful views and there is even a camping area here. The mangrove forest is here, shrimp farms and a rugged beauty all along the coast
More Information Here:
The Koh Chang Guide
Where To Stay
The Beach Guide
Essential Guides
Photo Gallery
