The spirit of Thailand is especially perceptible at Koh Chang (Elephant Island). Here you will find jungle-covered peaks and stunning harbors scattered along the west coast. The coastline is mostly pebbled, but there are also sandy beaches. Today Koh Chang is teeming with tourists. Especially they are attracted to the cities of the western part of the island, characterized by decent infrastructure. Do you want to spend a holiday on the beaches of Elephant Island? Take a look at our rating of the best recreation areas of Koh Chang.
If you want to rest with family and children comfortably, but the White Sand seems to be too crowded, and Klong Prao is too quiet and far from the road with infrastructure, then Kai Bae beach is the choice for you, because it combines family hotels with proximity to civilization.
The beach got its name thanks to the beautiful white sand, which is replaced by shingle and rocks only at its southern top end. The oldest on Koh Chang island, the three-kilometer White Sand beach still remembers the times, when there were few tourists, and instead of luxury hotels, there were only plain bungalow-houses, rented by local Thais for the weekend.
South of Pearl Beach there is the quietest sandy beach of the island - Klong Prao, which got its name from a river that flows into the sea. Located in the bay, Klong Prao, unlike the White Sand, abounds for the most part in luxury hotels with luxurious territory, and young families with children love to choose them for rest. For a stormy nightlife, it’s better to go to White Sand: there are no disco bars and fire shows on Klong Prao.
The beach got its name in those "ancient" times, when it was still difficult to reach it along steep hills. Now, thanks to the paved road, this is the most youth and party beach on the island. It is very short, compared to other beaches (Lonley is only 600 meters long, while White Sand and Klong Prao are 3 kilometers long), Lonley is available for swimming not along its entire length: the rocky southern part is suitable only for fishing or diving. At the end of the beach, the rocks turn into cliffs, so tourists use the north side to swim in the sea and relax on the beach.
In those days, when there were no tourists on Koh Chang, the island was mainly populated by Thai farmers. The inheritance of land within the family conducted according to patriarchal orders: sons got fertile land on the inner part of the island, while the rest of the children, who were not lucky to be born girls, were forced to be content with scanty sand strips by the sea, where nothing could be grown. Over time, when Koh Chang began to gain the fame of a tourist destination, land by the sea went up in price sharply. And now the heirs of those farmers are living in style in their luxurious villas, built on the money, earned from the rental, drinking cocktails, happy and pleased with such a turn of fate.
Klong Son Beach is the first in succession from the pier at the northern top end of the island. It is located in the same-name bay. For a long time, the beach did not have a specific name, but now it is owned by the owner of Siam Royal View, who prefers to call it Chang Noi Beach, along its entire length.
On Pearl Beach you will not be able to find pearls, scattered in the sand - on the contrary, it is rocky and shingly, and there is no sand at all. On the short strip between White Sand Beach and Chai Chet Hotel you will not find a lot of tourists or rich infrastructure - but this place is attractive with this. Here it is possible to seclude and forget about crowds, without leaving the bosom of civilization.
Klong Kloi beach is a secluded place in the bay on the south coast of the island. It takes its name from the Thai word "klong", or "channel", which flows along the beach, and then divides it into two parts. Mangroves grow on both coasts, creating an enchanting tropical scenery.
Tourists unanimously acknowledge, that there is no better place, than Koh Chang, for a quiet rest with lying in the sea under palm trees There are no historical sights, water attractions or aquaparks, there are no club districts with a wild nightlife. But if you, coming here for a long time, get tired of calm, the very road to Long Beach will make you feel the spirit of adventure.
This beach, located north of Klong Prao, is often indicated on the map as part of it. However, Chai Chet should not be attributed to its southern neighbor: a freshwater rivulet separates the beach from Klong Prao, which leads directly to Klong Plu Waterfall.
Another cozy corner on Koh Chang island, that cannot be ignored is Hat Sai Noi Beach, hidden in the jungle on the way between Bang Bao fishing village and Klong Kloi Beach.
Koh Chang Island has long been on the list of popular tourist destinations. Hotels and shops are everywhere - even in the most remote corners of the island, such as Long Beach. But if you still want to visit the last beach, unaffected by infrastructure, then you have a direct road to the south coastline, to Wai Chek beach.