Mood · Koh ChangGreen · vast · remote · Cambodia route
Koh Chang
Eighty per cent national park, ten km of beach and an almost empty east coast.
Koh Chang is Thailand's third largest island and 80% protected national park. The west coast has ten kilometres of beach; the east coast is barely developed. It's half an hour's ferry from the mainland. The name means Elephant Island: gibbons, elephants and colourful birds are the real residents. Koh Chang is what Koh Samui was in the nineties: large, green and not quite discovered yet.
Country
Thailand
Region
Trat Province, Gulf of Thailand
Currency
Thai Baht (THB)
Language
Thai (English spoken on west coast)
Time zone
7 hours ahead of Amsterdam
Best time
Nov, Apr (dry season)
Getting there
Bus/minibus to Trat, ferry (30 mins)
Per day
€40, €100 p.p.
Safety
Very safe
Who it suits
- Travellers who find Koh Samui too crowded and commercial: Koh Chang is larger but quieter
- Jungle lovers: eighty per cent of the island is national park with rainforest, waterfalls and gibbons
- Families: Koh Chang offers a broad range for all budgets and calm waters on the western beaches
- Those wanting to visit Cambodia too: Koh Chang lies 40 km from the Cambodian border
Less suited if…
- Seeking the liveliest nightlife: Koh Chang has bars but no club scene like Koh Samui
- Divers after tropical coral: the coral here is more modest than at the gulf islands
- Travelling during the rainy season (May, October): the west coast can get rough
Mood · Koh ChangBang Bao on stilts above the water. The island's finest morning.
Don't miss
Highlights
The things to plan your day around.
Mood · Koh ChangKlong Prao Waterfall
One of the island's finest waterfalls: impressive year-round
Mood · Koh ChangKoh Chang Elephant Sanctuary
Ethical elephant camp: walking and bathing with elephants, no riding
Mood · Koh ChangSnorkelling and Diving
Coral reefs on the south coast: calmer waters than the north coast
Mood · Koh ChangKayaking Through the Mangroves
Jungle kayak through the mangrove forests of the east coast
Mood · Koh ChangDay Trip to Cambodia (Koh Kong)
Border corridor for travellers combining Thailand and Cambodia
💡 Local tip
Hire a scooter on day one and ride straight to Bang Bao at the southern tip. The road there (35 km, 35 mins) cuts through the national park. You'll see few cars, plenty of green and, in clear weather, the islands on the horizon too. It's the best overview of what the island is.
Mood · Koh ChangEat
Where to actually eat
No tourist traps.
Mood · Koh ChangSeafood Restaurants, White Sand Beach
Tables in the sand: eat with your feet in the water
← swipe for more →
⚠️ Avoid this mistake
Don't stay only at White Sand Beach: that's the busiest and most commercial spot on the island. Koh Chang's real value lies in the waterfalls, the national park and the quiet beaches. If you don't scooter, you'll miss the island.
Eighty per cent national park. The jungle starts behind the hotel gate.
See
What you really must see on Koh Chang
Mood · Koh ChangBang Bao Fishing Village
The most photogenic village on the island: on stilts above the water
Mood · Koh ChangFull Island Circuit by Scooter
The entire coastline by scooter: rainforest, beaches and viewpoints
Mood · Koh ChangWalks in the National Park
Trekking through the rainforest: gibbons, monkeys and restorative silence
Mood · Koh ChangWhite Sand Beach at Night
The island's most vibrant kilometre after dark
↗️ Worth the detour
Koh Chang's east coast is barely developed and has mangrove forests explored by kayak. Fewer than 5% of island visitors go there. Book a kayak-mangrove tour through your accommodation.
Discover
Everything on the map
Filter by what you're after.
Mood · Koh ChangKoh Chang lies 40 km from Cambodia. Most travellers don't know that.
Out and about
Best day trips
Out of the city within an hour.
Mood · Koh KoodKoh Kood
~1 hour by speedboat~40 km · The quietest and most beautiful island in the Gulf of Thailand
Koh Kood is Koh Chang's prettier but smaller neighbour: fewer visitors, cleaner water and a quieter feel. Day trips are available from Koh Chang (speedboat, 1 hour). For more than one night, stay on Koh Kood: it has a few small resorts and guesthouses. More beautiful than Koh Chang for those who value beach quality over nature quantity.
View day trips (opens in a new tab)
Mood · Koh Kong (Cambodia)Koh Kong (Cambodia)
~1.5 hours (30 mins drive + 30 mins border + bus)~40 km via Hat Lek · Cambodian border town with mangroves and eco-resort
The Hat Lek, Cham Yeam border crossing is 30 km from the ferry port. From the border, a bus or tuk-tuk runs to Koh Kong (Cambodia) (15 mins). Koh Kong is a small town with mangroves, eco-lodges and a river that forms the border. Mainly used as a transit point to Sihanoukville or Phnom Penh. Cambodia visa on arrival: USD 30.
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Mood · Trat: the mainlandTrat: the mainland
~1 hour (ferry + songthaew)~20 km + 6 km ferry · Quiet provincial capital with good restaurants and cash machines
Trat is the nearest mainland town (30 mins ferry + 20 mins bus). Useful for cash machines, pharmacy, bus and train tickets and a good night market. Not touristy: Trat is an ordinary Thai provincial town. Eat the province's best pad kra pao (basil chicken) here.
View day trips (opens in a new tab)Practical
Everything you need to know
Weather & best time
Koh Chang has a pronounced dry season (Nov, Apr) and an active rainy season (May, Oct). During the rainy season the west coast can get rough and there are fewer visitors. Warmest months are Mar, May (up to 36°C); coolest in December (24-30°C).
Jan
☀️
22-30°
Apr
🌤️
26-35°
Jul
🌧️
24-31°
Oct
🌦️
24-31°
What does a day cost?
Budget
€30 /dag
Hostel at Lonely Beach, local restaurants, bike or songthaew, national park walks.
Mid-range
€75 /dag
Hotel at Klong Prao Beach, scooter, waterfall, Bang Bao, snorkelling.
Luxury
€150+ /dag
Boutique resort, elephant sanctuary, private dive tour, seafood restaurant evening.
Good to know
Visa
Visa on arrival (NL: 30 days free)
Payment
Cash (THB); ATMs along west coast
Plug
Type A/B/C · 220V
Transport
Scooter (essential) or songthaew
Tap water
Do not drink
Cambodia
Hat Lek border 30 km away; visa on arrival USD 30
Mood · Koh ChangKlong Prao Waterfall runs all year round. That matches the low visitor numbers.
Sleep
Pick your neighbourhood, not the stars
By travel style: book through our partners.
Hotels Klong Prao Beach
The quietest beach with the best value for money
Hotels White Sand Beach
Central location on Koh Chang's liveliest beach
Budget Hostels Koh Chang
Budget options along the west coast: Lonely Beach is the budget neighbourhood
Before you go
Sorted before you set off
Worth booking ahead.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is Koh Chang better than Koh Samui?
They're quite different. Koh Samui is larger, more commercial and has an international airport. Koh Chang is less touristy, has more national park land and lies closer to the mainland. If you're after peace, nature and fewer crowds, choose Koh Chang. If you want luxury resorts and nightlife, choose Koh Samui. Koh Chang is the right island if you enjoy walking through rainforest and then eating on the beach.
How do I get to Koh Chang?
Fly to Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) and take a bus or minibus to Trat (3-4 hours). From Trat take the ferry to Koh Chang (30 mins). Alternatives: an overnight bus from Bangkok to Trat (6 hours, sleeper bus) or flights to Trat via Bangkok Airways. The ferry runs continuously during the day.
Do I need a scooter?
Yes, a scooter is virtually essential for exploring the island. The island is large (30 km long), the beaches are far apart and there is hardly any public transport. Songtheauws run along the west coast (20-40 THB) but not to the east coast or the national park. Hire a scooter (200-300 THB/day) on arrival.
What is the best base?
White Sand Beach (Hat Sai Khao) is the busiest and most central beach, good if you want everything close by. Klong Prao Beach is quieter with better value. Kai Bae Beach is the quietest of the three. Lonely Beach is the liveliest spot. For families: Klong Prao. For nightlife: White Sand. For nature: Kai Bae or a villa in the national park.
Can I go to Cambodia from Koh Chang?
Yes. The Hat Lek/Cham Yeam border crossing is 30 km from the ferry port. Visa on arrival for Cambodia (USD 30). From the Cambodian border it's 1-2 hours to Koh Kong (Cambodia); from Koh Kong there are buses and flights to Phnom Penh. This makes Koh Chang a logical stop on a Thailand, Cambodia combination route.
Wayloha editorial team · Editorial
Updated June 2026
Mu Ko Chang National Park · TAT Trat Province · Hat Lek, Cham Yeam Border Control · Ban Kwan Chang Elephant Camp · Lonely Planet Thailand 2024
Koh Chang calls
Thailand's third largest island. Eighty per cent national park. Still half as busy as the famous islands. That's changing.
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