🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Klong Prao sits on the west coast of Koh Chang, wedged between White Sand Beach to the north and Kai Bae Beach to the south. The thing people mention most is how long it is — it's the longest beach on the island, so you can walk along the sand for a kilometre or more. The sand slopes gently into the sea and the water stays shallow far out, so kids can paddle without worry. And because the beach is so long, people spread out and it never feels packed the way the shorter beaches do.
The other thing that sets Klong Prao apart from the other beaches is the Klong Prao river mouth, which flows into the sea right through the middle and splits the beach into a north and a south zone. Around the river mouth there's mangrove forest, fishermen's houses, and riverside restaurants up on wooden stilts — a shaded, leafy feel that's a nice change from sitting right on the open shore.
What the beach is like, and who it suits
Klong Prao suits people who actually came to relax, not to party. Most of the crowd here is families with kids and couples after some quiet. The south end of the beach (the Centara–Santhiya stretch) is about the quietest part of the entire west coast.
- Sand and water — fine, pale-brown sand and a beach that slopes softly into the sea. The water stays shallow far out at low tide; once the tide comes in it's good for swimming, and kids can splash about safely.
- Shade — big trees grow along several sections of the beach, giving you shade to sit under without hauling your own gear.
- Length — a long walkable shoreline. Early morning or evening it's great for a run or a stroll with the camera.
- North vs south zone — the north zone is near Klong Prao village with more shops and food; the south zone is quieter, for people who really want calm.
About the tides
When the tide is well out, the water retreats far enough that you have to walk a way to reach it. If you're set on swimming, check that day's tide table first so you catch the right window. Around the change of seasons (late rainy into early dry) jellyfish sometimes gather briefly near the river mouth where fresh water meets the sea — keep an eye on the resort warning signs.
Want more out of Koh Chang? 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.
Where to stay on Klong Prao beachfront
Because the beach is so long, Klong Prao has stays for every budget, from five-star beachfront resorts down to backpacker bungalows. Most are right on the sand or a 2–3 minute walk from it. These are the ones people talk about most and that are actually open for booking.
Centara Koh Chang Tropicana
A big resort on a wide plot of land, right on the south end of the beach. Pool, kids' activities — good for families who want a full-service resort.
Santhiya Tree Koh Chang Resort
Leafy Thai-style wooden design with high review scores. Good for couples and anyone who wants a calm atmosphere.
Barali Beach Resort
A tropical beachfront resort with a seaside pool and a beach bar. Rates start around ฿4,000+ per night.
Koh Chang Paradise Resort & Spa
Bungalows and villas right on the sand in the middle of Klong Prao Beach. An all-rounder that works for both couples and families.
The Splash Koh Chang
Has water slides — good for families with young kids who love splashing around in the pool.
Aana Resort (riverside)
Sits on the river rather than right on the beach, so you take a boat or paddle a kayak to reach the sand — the trade-off for quiet and river views.
Straight talk about low season
During the monsoon (roughly May–Oct), some smaller stays and shops on Koh Chang close for a long stretch — especially the beachfront bungalows and some of the riverside restaurants. If you're going in the rainy season, call or message your stay first to confirm it's actually open so you don't turn up to a closed door. The big resorts stay open year-round.
Where to eat around Klong Prao
Klong Prao's signature is the riverside seafood restaurants right at the Klong Prao river mouth — wooden houses built on stilts over the water, where you sit and eat in the cool breeze. In the village itself there are made-to-order Thai spots, cafés, bakeries, and Western restaurants too.
Iyara Seafood
An old wooden seafood restaurant on stilts over the river at the north end of Klong Prao Beach. A long-running, well-known spot with a great riverside setting — some evenings they take diners out to watch fireflies for free.
Phu Talay
Another riverside seafood place at the Klong Prao river mouth — same wooden-house-over-the-water style, with a Thai seafood menu and an easy, relaxed feel. Some evenings they run a firefly tour for diners.
Kati Culinary
A well-reviewed Thai restaurant with solid cooking. Good for a nicer dinner around Klong Prao.
Jae Eiew Seafood
A local favourite. Friendly prices, no fancy setting — just fresh seafood with bold flavours.
Sam Sao
A breakfast spot with good curries and rice-and-curry plates. A good way to start the day before heading out.
Crust
A bakery in Klong Prao village with bread and coffee. Handy for grabbing something to take down to the beach.
Exploring around Klong Prao
Klong Prao sits right in the middle of the island, so it's not far to drive to the other beaches and sights. The nearest and most popular is Klong Plu Waterfall, the main waterfall on Koh Chang.
- Klong Plu Waterfall — the entrance is in the Klong Prao area, with about a 1.5 km walk in. It's a big waterfall with a pool you can swim in; the flow runs strong in the rainy season. There's a made-to-order food stall near the falls to rest at.
- White Sand Beach — just a short drive north. A livelier beach with more shops and bars — good for an evening of eating and strolling.
- Kai Bae Beach — drive south for another lovely sunset spot, with little islands offshore in the foreground.
- Island snorkelling trips — there are tours out to Koh Wai and Koh Rang for snorkelling, leaving by boat from the south of the island.
Honest note: check the weather before island snorkelling
The snorkelling trips around Koh Chang (Koh Wai, Koh Rang and so on) are genuinely beautiful on a clear day, but in the monsoon the waves get rough and many operators cancel sailings. If you come in the rainy season, don't set your hopes too high — check with the tour shop day by day, and on a choppy day don't push it.
Watching the sunset at Klong Prao
Because the beach faces west, the sun sets straight into the sea in the evening — you don't have to go anywhere, just find a spot on the sand in front of your stay. Sunset on Koh Chang lands around 6:00–6:30 pm (shifting with the season). Several beach bars set their tables facing the sea so you can sip a drink while the sky changes colour.
- In front of your own resort — most beachfront stays have chairs facing the sea, so you can just sit and wait for the sun to drop.
- Beach bars in the north zone — small bars on the sand to chill at; on a clear evening you'll watch the sun sink right down to the horizon.
- The river mouth at dusk — the evening light hitting the mangroves and fishing boats makes for a different kind of photo.
Getting to Klong Prao and around the island
From Bangkok, take a bus to Trat, get off at the pier (Ao Thammachat or Centre Point/Ao Sapparot), and catch a ferry across to Koh Chang in about 30–45 minutes — the fare is a hundred baht or so per person. Ferries run frequently from morning to evening. Once you're on the island, take a songthaew along the west-coast road to Klong Prao.
- Songthaew — these run along the main west-coast road; fares are around 50–100 THB depending on distance. Chartering a private one costs much more.
- Motorbike rental — plenty of shops rent them, starting around a few hundred THB a day. Convenient, but watch the roads.
- Travel time — allow for the bus to Trat and the ferry wait. Leave Bangkok in the morning and you'll reach Klong Prao by mid-afternoon.
Honest note: Koh Chang's roads are steep and full of hairpins
The road around Koh Chang climbs and drops steeply with plenty of hairpin bends, especially the Kai Bae–Lonely Beach stretch and the Bailan–Bang Bao junction stretch. Some sections are only 2–3 metres wide with no guardrail. If you ride a motorbike yourself you need to be experienced and wear a helmet — on steep descents use a low gear to hold the bike back, don't just grab the front brake. When it rains the road gets slippery, so go even slower. If you're not confident on hilly roads, the songthaew is safer.
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