Koh Chang เกาะช้าง
Koh Chang is known for a west-coast hotel strip and a Trat car ferry. It fits a November to February week that is not Phuket, not a first-week add-on after Samui.
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg (CC BY 4.0)
Overview
Koh Chang is the large Trat island, not a Gulf or Andaman stop. The public path is a flight or bus to Trat, then a car ferry from Center Point or a nearby pier. White Sand Beach is the north default, Klong Prao is quieter, and Lonely Beach is the south-west nightlife pocket. A 2026 songthaew from the pier is 100 to 200 THB if you agree first.
Do not stack Chang with Phuket on a first trip. November to February is the useful window. Hills are steep, so rent a scooter only if you already ride. Than Mayom waterfall is an east-coast park day at about 200 THB.
Top attractions in Koh Chang
1 White Sand Beach หาดทรายขาว
White Sand Beach is the north stay default. A songthaew from the pier is 100 to 200 THB. Agree the fare first.
2 Klong Prao คลองพร้าว
Klong Prao is the mid-west hotel sand, quieter than White Sand, on the same songthaew line.
3 Lonely Beach หาดลอนลี่
Lonely Beach is the south-west nightlife pocket, with drinks from about 80 THB. Sleep here only if that evening is the trip.
4 Than Mayom waterfall น้ำตกธารมะยม
Than Mayom is the east-coast park day at about 200 THB. Give it half a day from the west coast.
5 Center Point pier ท่าเรือเซ็นเตอร์พอยท์
Center Point is the car-ferry pier from the mainland. Trat plus the 80 to 150 THB boat is the public path.
6 Kai Bae viewpoint จุดชมวิวไก่แบ๊ะ
Kai Bae is the free west-coast view. Scooter only if you already ride. The hills are steep.
Koh Chang attractions ranked by how much they change a first stay.
Neighbourhoods / Beaches
Beaches
- White Sand Beach: First nights and groceries on the north strip.
- Klong Prao: Mid-west hotels on the same songthaew line.
- Kai Bae: A west-coast viewpoint if you already ride.
- Lonely Beach: The south-west nightlife pocket only if that evening is the trip.
- East-coast coves: Need a planned car, not a late songthaew.
Getting around
Ferries take cars. If you did not bring one, songthaews run the west coast by day and thin out after dark. A late Grab is not a Bangkok-density service. Book the first night near the sand you will actually use.
Where to stay
Food & Markets
City plates live on the Koh Chang food guide. Ticketed markets sit on Attractions.
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- Koh Chang or Koh Kood?
- Chang if you want groceries, songthaews, and a west-coast strip. Kood if you want fewer roads and a booked transfer. They are not the same island and not a same-day hop.
- Do you need a scooter?
- Only if you already ride. The hills are steep and sandy after rain. Songthaews and a booked car cover White Sand to Klong Prao.