Koh Chang

Our description of the island — "endless white-sand beaches, jungle waterfalls and an authentic atmosphere" — describes a destination for anyone looking for less tourism and more space.

What makes Koh Chang special

This is a mountainous, forested island, most of it a reserve. The main road circles the beaches and the small centres, and the interior remains jungle with waterfalls.

The beaches along the west coast differ in character: busier and more developed in the north, quieter the further south you go.

Who it suits

For anyone who has already been to Thailand and wants something different, and for anyone coming through Bangkok who does not want a domestic flight south.

Less suitable for a short first trip in which you want to tick off the classics: for that, Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui are more efficient.

How to fit it in

Koh Chang combines naturally with Bangkok at the start or end of the route, and less naturally with the southern islands. Anyone building a route that includes both needs to take the transfers into account.

Where to sleep

This is the most significant decision on Koh Chang. Distances are measured in minutes of driving on the road around the coast, so the area where you choose your hotel is the area where you spend most of your time.

North: more restaurants, shops and traffic. South: quiet, fewer options and the feeling of a small place. There is no one right choice here, only a fit with what you are looking for.

What to expect from the island

Fewer organised attractions, more beaches, waterfalls and short drives. Anyone coming expecting water parks and shows will be disappointed; anyone coming for sea and forest will not.

It is also a destination that rewards a longer stay in one place. Three nights on Koh Chang give much more than three nights spread between two islands, because here the experience is the pace and not the list.

How to choose an area on the island

The beaches are arranged in a chain along the west coast, and they get quieter the further south you go. The north is livelier and has more restaurants and shops.

The only way between the beaches is one mountain road, and the drive between the ends takes time. It is worth choosing an area that suits most of your days rather than planning to move every day.

Want us to put it together for you?

Tell us when you plan to fly, with whom, and how much time you have, and we will come back with an itinerary, hotels and attractions that fit exactly that — in Hebrew.