🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
The Koh Chang ferry docks at a pier on the north side of the island. Once you're ashore, the songthaews (shared pickup taxis) run down the west coast heading south, passing the main beaches in order: White Sand → Klong Prao → Kai Bae → Lonely Beach → Bang Bao. Sai Daeng sits on the opposite side, so you have to cross over to the east. Most people stay on the west coast, since it faces the sunset and the water is clearer. Let's go through them one by one.
White Sand Beach — The Liveliest, Packed With Restaurants
White Sand Beach (Hat Sai Khao) is the most developed and busiest beach on the island. The sand is fine and white, the strip runs about 2.5 km, and the water is clear enough to swim. The beachfront is lined with hotels, restaurants, bars, ATMs and convenience stores — everything within walking distance. By day it has a family feel; come evening it turns into a seaside strip of food and drinks.
- Best for — first-time visitors to Koh Chang who want convenience and easy access to food and supplies on foot
- Pros — plenty of restaurants, a lively vibe, a long beach you can swim at, and places to stay at every level from guesthouses to upscale resorts
- Good to know — this is the most crowded and noisiest beach on the island, so if you're really after peace and quiet, it may not be the one
Want more out of Trat? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Klong Prao — A Long, Quiet Beach, Great for Families
Klong Prao is the widest stretch of beach on Koh Chang. The white-sand strip runs more than 3 km, with two canals cutting across it down to the sea. The shallows extend nearly 200 metres out, so small kids can paddle comfortably, and the atmosphere is noticeably quieter than White Sand. The resorts here tend to be large and fairly upmarket, and there's barely any nightlife — making it ideal for people who genuinely want to relax. Klong Plu Waterfall is also close by, just a short drive away.
- Best for — families with young children, couples who want quiet, and anyone after a large beachfront resort
- Pros — long beach, shallow water, peaceful, and close to Klong Plu Waterfall
- Good to know — restaurants and shops are spread out, so you can't walk to everything the way you can at White Sand; it helps to have a car or rent a motorbike
Kai Bae — A Bit of Everything, With Gorgeous Sunsets
Kai Bae is the beach that mixes everything in just the right balance — it draws tourists, backpackers and families alike. There's a wide choice of restaurants, and the nightlife runs to a few bars without getting too rowdy. The beach itself has both white sand and pretty rock formations; both ends are good for swimming, while the middle gets a bit rocky. Its real standout, though, is being the beach many people rate as having the best sunset on the island. At low tide a sandbar appears, letting you walk out toward the little islands just off the shore.
- Best for — people who still can't decide which style they want and would rather have a middle-ground beach that has it all
- Pros — well balanced, plenty of restaurants, beautiful sunsets, and speedboats running island tours
- Good to know — the middle of the beach is rocky, so stick to the ends if you want to swim
Sunset-watching tip
If you come at low tide in the evening, Kai Bae reveals a long sandbar stretching out from the shore — walk out and shoot photos in the soft light for some lovely shots. Check the day's tide times before you head out.
Lonely Beach — Party Scene on a Budget
Lonely Beach is the island's hub for backpackers and the party crowd. The beach itself is small but the sand is lovely and the water clear, and it's surrounded by cheap bungalows, reggae bars, tattoo shops and budget eateries. At night it has the most going on of any beach on the island, with a vibe a bit like a smaller Khao San Road. If your accommodation budget is low and you'd rather put your money toward food and drinks, this beach delivers.
- Best for — backpackers, younger travellers, the party crowd, and anyone on a budget
- Pros — cheap places to stay, a buzzing atmosphere, and easy to meet fellow travellers
- Good to know — bar music runs loud into the early hours, so it's not ideal with young kids or if you want an early night; the current off the beach is strong in places, so check the warning flags before going in
Sai Daeng — The Quiet, Natural East Coast
Sai Daeng Beach (Hat Sai Daeng) sits on the east side of the island, the opposite side from the famous beaches. It's very quiet and natural here, with reddish-brown sand as the name suggests — not the fine white sand of the west coast. The surroundings are a small community with just a handful of boutique resorts and almost no shops to walk to. It suits people who genuinely want to escape the bustle and are happy just staying put.
- Best for — people who want maximum peace, to get away from tourists, and to get a feel for local life
- Pros — genuinely quiet, few crowds, lots of nature, and affordable places to stay
- Good to know — there are very few amenities, you'll need your own vehicle, and the sand isn't the white sand many people expect
How to Pick the Right Beach for Your Trip
Here's the simple version — just choose based on your own trip style, no overthinking needed.
First visit, want convenience
Go for White Sand Beach — easy to find food and supplies on foot, with everything within walking distance.
Family with young kids
Go for Klong Prao — long beach, shallow water, quiet, with big beachfront resorts.
Can't decide, want the middle ground
Go for Kai Bae — it has every style covered, plus the best sunset on the island.
Tight budget, party crowd
Go for Lonely Beach — cheap stays, plenty of bars, and a buzzing scene into the early hours.
Want real peace and quiet
Go for Sai Daeng on the east coast — few crowds and lots of nature, but you'll need a vehicle.
Straight talk
Every west-coast beach sits along the same road, so you can hop a songthaew or rent a motorbike and drive between them. You don't have to stay at one beach and stay stuck there the whole trip. Choose the beach you sleep at to match your style, then drive over to eat and explore the others.
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