Why Koh Chang Is Worth Visiting for Beaches Nature and Adventure

Welcome to Koh Chang. It is the second-largest island in Thailand after Phuket, but it is much less explored. It can be visited on its own or as part of a tour of the Trat Islands. After spending time there, I understand why it deserves a place in a Thailand itinerary.

Koh Chang feels different from many Thai islands because it is so mountainous and much of it is uninhabitable. That has helped keep large areas of rainforest intact, so wildlife still lives there. During my time on the island, I saw lizards, monkeys, bugs and even snakes. Being there can make you feel alone and at one with nature, and there is even a frog species named after the island: the Koh Chang frog.

Koh Chang Has a Wild, Mountainous Landscape

The island’s natural feel is the first thing that stood out to me. Because the mountains cover so much of the island, large areas remain difficult to inhabit, and the rainforest is still remarkably intact. Some parts reminded me of Khao Sok National Park, Thailand’s biggest and oldest rainforest.

That combination of mountains, jungle and wildlife is what makes Koh Chang feel different from more built-up islands. I never felt as if I was simply moving between resorts; the landscape was always part of the experience.

Koh Chang Feels Less Developed and More Natural

Another reason I rate Koh Chang is its lower level of tourist development. Compared with Phuket and Krabi, it felt much more like a quiet island escape. Even White Sand Beach, which is supposed to be one of the busiest beaches here, felt fairly quiet to me.

There are bamboo huts and wooden shacks, but not the rows of major hotels that line some other Thai beaches. You are never completely alone, but Koh Chang has a much more chilled, desert-island feel. That was exactly what I wanted from it.

Getting to Koh Chang from Bangkok Is Easy

The transfer from Bangkok is straightforward. You can take a bus or minivan towards the island, and some services will pick you up from a Bangkok hotel and drop you near your accommodation on Koh Chang. That makes the journey simple rather than something you have to piece together yourself.

It is also easy to reach from Bangkok’s airports before continuing towards the Trat Islands. For an island that feels this wild once you arrive, I was surprised by how manageable the journey was.

The HTMS Chang Is One of Thailand’s Best Dive Sites

In 2012, the HTMS Chang was artificially sunk off the coast of Koh Chang. It had originally been a US warship that served in both World War II and the Korean War. It was later donated to the Thai Navy, where it served for more than 50 years, and now rests about 30 metres below the surface.

To explore the wreck, you need both the PADI Open Water and PADI Advanced Open Water certifications because you have to go beyond the 18-metre limit of the basic course. I did this dive a few years ago and honestly found it one of the best dive sites I have ever done. Floating above a huge sunken warship felt eerie, and large groups of fish and barracuda were living inside the wreck.

Koh Chang’s Waterfalls Add a Real Adventure

Koh Chang is home to several waterfalls, including Khlong Plu Waterfall. It sits at the northern end of the island and is a beautiful place to cool off. I visited during the dry season, so I was told the flow is much heavier at other times of year, but it was still a great stop.

You need a songthaew to get to the trail, and entrance cost me 200 Thai Baht. From there, it was about a 20-minute hike through the jungle. If you feel like risking it, you can jump from the cliff edge into the water, but be careful of the fish because they do bite. It is a memorable way to spend half a day on Koh Chang.

Thai Tourists Know Koh Chang Is Worth Visiting

I noticed more Thai tourists on Koh Chang than I usually see in Phuket or Krabi. To me, that is a good sign. When local people choose an island for their own trips, it suggests there is more to the place than an international tourist scene.

Many long-term expats I met also spoke highly of Koh Chang. People who know Thailand well seem to like the island, and that made me even more confident that it deserves a place on a Thailand itinerary.

Bang Bao Pier Is More Than a Boat Departure Point

Bang Bao Pier is where many of the island’s dive and snorkelling boats leave in the morning, but it is much more than a departure point. The wooden shopping area has interesting items that felt more distinctive than the same old souvenirs found in many Thai markets. I even found a shop at the end that made custom sandals; they were reasonably priced and very comfortable.

Bang Bao is also one of the best places to eat seafood on Koh Chang because the boats bring in a fresh supply. Even if seafood is not your thing, it is worth coming here for a coffee or a beer and watching the boats move in and out of the harbour.

Koh Chang Nightlife Has the Right Kind of Vibe

Koh Chang’s smaller tourist footprint, beautiful beaches and mix of Thai visitors, expats and travellers give its nightlife a character I really enjoyed. I have never had much interest in the full-moon parties on Koh Phangan, and the sleazy atmosphere around Bangla Road and Khao San Road has never been my thing.

On Koh Chang, the nightlife felt more like my kind of vibe. There are plenty of reggae and cannabis-friendly bars and cafés, but one of the early places to do that before legalisation was Rasta View, which has one of the best views on the island over Bang Bao Pier. Lonely Beach is my favourite for a few wooden beach shacks, good music and cheap beer. The nights are not as in-your-face as in some other places, and it is a great place to watch the sun go down with a drink in hand.

So where does Koh Chang rank in my list of favourite Thai islands? Near the top. If I had to rank it, I would put it at number two, just after Koh Lipe. I have visited Koh Chang a few times, including during the pandemic, so I do not think I always got a full feel for it. This week, though, I realised just how good it is: big, beautiful and still slightly unexplored, even as it becomes more popular. Koh Lipe remains my number one because its best snorkelling sites are right off the coast, but Koh Chang is a close second. It is not perfect, but its mountains, beaches, rainforest, wreck dive and relaxed atmosphere make it one of the best islands to visit in Thailand.