How do I get to Koh Chang from Bangkok in 2026?

Take a bus or minivan from Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal to Trat (4-5 hours), then a 30-minute ferry to Koh Chang. Alternatively, fly from Bangkok to Trat airport (1 hour flight).

Is Koh Chang open year-round?

Yes, but the best weather is November to April. The rainy season (May to October) brings heavy rainfall but also lush jungle scenery and significantly lower prices.

Is Koh Chang good for diving?

The diving around Koh Chang and the nearby Koh Rang National Park is excellent - good visibility, healthy coral, and minimal crowds compared to the Andaman sites.

Koh Chang Travel Guide 2026: Thailand's Second Largest Island

Koh Chang is covered in dense jungle, fringed by excellent beaches, and still remarkably uncrowded by Thai island standards - a gem for 2026.

Most people arrive on Koh Chang expecting Koh Samui with more jungle, and leave surprised that it is genuinely something different. The second-largest island in Thailand has 70% jungle interior, waterfalls you can actually reach without a four-wheel drive, a national park with offshore islands that see a fraction of the diving traffic of the Andaman sites, and a coastline long enough that even in peak season the southern beaches are uncrowded. White Sand Beach on the north-west has the infrastructure — the hotels, the beach bars, the restaurants — but 20 minutes south, the beaches thin out and the coconut palms take over. For travellers who want the Gulf coast experience without the Koh Samui price point, and with more nature in the frame, Koh Chang makes a genuinely strong case.

Best Beaches in Koh Chang 2026

White Sand Beach (Haad Sai Khao) on the north-west coast is the island's most developed and most beautiful strip - a kilometre of fine white sand lined with palm trees, beach bars, and a good selection of hotels across all price ranges. Klong Prao Beach further south is more relaxed, with a lagoon and estuary adding scenic variety. Lonely Beach (Haad Tha Nam) is where backpackers and independent travellers congregate - a lively, bohemian atmosphere with hammock bars and affordable bungalows. Book a Koh Chang island boat tour to visit the southern beaches and mangrove kayaking areas inaccessible by road.

Things to Do in Koh Chang 2026

The interior of Koh Chang is a protected national park with excellent hiking trails leading to Klong Plu Waterfall - a 25-metre cascade surrounded by jungle. Elephant sanctuaries on the island offer ethical encounters with rescued elephants - book an ethical elephant sanctuary visit on Koh Chang with operators verified for genuine welfare standards. Snorkelling day trips to the offshore islands of Koh Rang and Koh Wai offer outstanding visibility in waters rarely visited by international tourists. Book a Koh Chang snorkelling island-hopping tour covering these pristine outer islands.

Where to Stay in Koh Chang 2026

Koh Chang's luxury accommodation scene has matured significantly - Centara Grand Beach Resort on White Sand Beach is the island's most established luxury property. Santhiya Koh Chang Resort on the quieter southern section of Klong Prao offers a more intimate boutique experience. Arrange your Koh Chang ferry transfer from Trat - the ferry crossing from Ao Thammachat or Centrepoint Pier takes 30 minutes.