Koh Chang is a large, mountainous island in the eastern Gulf of Thailand, near the Cambodian border in Trat province, about 310 km from Bangkok. Most of its steep, jungle-covered interior belongs to the Mu Ko Chang National Park, and development is confined to a coastal road and a string of west-coast beaches.
It is quieter and harder to reach than Phuket or Samui, with no airport of its own, and despite sitting in the Gulf it runs on the same monsoon calendar as the Andaman coast rather than the flipped pattern of the Samui islands. The main beaches line the west side, from developed White Sand Beach in the north to the stilted fishing pier at Bang Bao in the south.
Getting there
There is no airport on Koh Chang. The trip from Bangkok combines road, or a flight to Trat, with a short vehicle ferry from the Laem Ngop piers on the mainland.
From Bangkok
Bus or minivan + ferry
6–7hBuses and minivans run from Bangkok's Ekkamai and Mo Chit terminals to the Laem Ngop piers near Trat, where car ferries cross to the island in 30–45 minutes. Combined bus-and-ferry tickets are sold as a single booking.
Check schedules on 12Go →Flight + ferry
~4h door to doorBangkok Airways flies from Suvarnabhumi to Trat in about an hour, several times daily. The airport is a 20–30 minute drive from the piers, and shared transfers meet flights.
Check schedules on 12Go →Self-drive
4.5–5hKoh Chang is a realistic self-drive destination: the motorway runs most of the way to Trat and the ferries carry cars.
Trat's small airport has no international routes, so all connections run through Bangkok.
Airport transfer · Ferries land at Ao Sapparot on the island's northeast. Shared songthaews meet each boat and cross the steep headland roads to the west-coast beaches, taking 20–45 minutes depending on how far south you stay.
Weather by season
Koh Chang follows the southwest-monsoon calendar of the Andaman coast, not the flipped pattern of Koh Samui, and its mountains wring more rain out of the monsoon than almost any other Thai coast. The dry season runs November to April; June through September is very wet.
Year-round climate
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Conditions by month
Seasonal averages for Koh Chang. Tap through to the monthly weather guide for detail.
High season
Nov–AprDry, calm, and clear, with every beach, boat trip, and dive operator running. December to February is the peak.
Hot & turning
Apr–MayThe hottest months, with the first storms arriving in May. Seas begin to pick up but the island remains fully open.
Monsoon
Jun–OctVery heavy rain, with mid-year monthly totals among the highest on any Thai coast. Seas turn rough and some west-coast businesses close, though the short, sheltered ferry crossing runs year-round and the waterfalls are at their fullest.
Where to stay
Where to stay
Where to stay on Koh Chang
The beaches run down the west coast, getting quieter as you go south. Tap an area to see where it is and a few hotels at each price level.
White Sand Beach
Northwest, nearest the piersBest for: The most developed beach with the most services
The island's longest-established beach, closest to the ferry piers, with the widest choice of hotels, restaurants, minimarts, and ATMs. The sand is good and the strip behind it is busy by Koh Chang standards, though modest next to a Phuket or Samui beach town.
On the map
- Hat Sai Khao village
Hotels to shortlist
KC Grande Resort & Spa Splurge
Large resort at the quieter north end.
Kacha Resort & Spa Mid-range
Beachfront in the middle of the strip.
Cheaper guesthouses cluster at the rocky southern end of the beach.
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Getting around
One main road serves the island, running down the west coast and around the southeast, with a gap in the far south, so it is not possible to drive a complete loop. The stretches between the piers and White Sand Beach and between Kai Bae and Lonely Beach climb steep hairpin hills that are notorious for scooter accidents.
Shared songthaews run along the west-coast road and can be chartered for longer trips. There is no ride-hailing coverage to speak of. Scooters and cars rent at every beach; ride within your ability given the hills, and expect thin mobile coverage on the east side.
Things to do
- The west-coast beaches. From busy White Sand Beach to the bungalow coves past Lonely Beach, each beach down the coast is a step quieter than the last.
- Klong Plu Waterfall. The island's best-known waterfall, a short jungle walk from Klong Prao, with a swimmable plunge pool that is fullest in and after the rainy season.
- Snorkelling & diving. Day boats from Bang Bao run to the Koh Rang islets in the marine park, the clearest water in the area, and dive operators visit the wreck of the HTMS Chang off the southwest coast.
- Bang Bao pier. The stilted village over the southern bay, worth a wander for the seafood restaurants and the working boats.
- Kayaking & the east coast. Sea kayaks rent on most beaches, and the mangrove-lined east side around Salak Khok stays calm and sees few visitors.
Local character & practical notes
Koh Chang developed late: paved roads and mains electricity only reached the west coast in the 1990s, and the island skipped the high-rise phase of Phuket and Samui. Development remains low-rise, and fishing villages at Bang Bao, Salak Khok, and Salak Phet still work the southern bays.
Most of the interior is protected national park, so jungle comes down to the road in places and wildlife, including macaques, hornbills, and monitor lizards, is a normal sight. National-park fees apply at the waterfalls.
ATMs and minimarts are common along the west coast, but the island is more cash-oriented than the bigger destinations, and many smaller bungalow operations do not take cards.