Aana Resort & Spa — Riverside Plunge-Pool Villas Tucked Into the Klong Prao Estuary
Picture this: a timber villa standing on the still, clear water of the Klong Prao river, a small private plunge pool spilling out toward the green garden and the hills behind, and in the evening a short boat ride across to a quiet private beach — Aana Resort & Spa is a boutique resort that chose to hide along the Klong Prao estuary rather than fight for a beachfront plot like everyone else. The key thing to understand before booking: this is not a beachfront resort. The private beach is on the other side of the river, reached by a boat shuttle or a free kayak in about 3 minutes. What you get instead is a quiet riverside setting, private plunge-pool villas at a reachable price, and an evening firefly boat tour. Rooms from approx. ฿2,800/night.
First, the thing that matters most for your decision: Aana Resort & Spa is not a beachfront resort. It sits on the Klong Prao river estuary — villas and gardens on one bank, and on the opposite bank a private beach where the resort lays out loungers, umbrellas and a bar. You cross over one of two ways: the resort's boat shuttle, about a 3-minute hop, or one of the free kayaks. If you expect to walk straight from your room onto the sand, this isn't it — but if a short boat ride is fine by you, you get a riverside atmosphere that ordinary beachfront resorts simply can't offer.
What sets Aana apart on Koh Chang is its position on the water, wrapped in trees. Many of the villas are raised timber pavilions looking out over still river water with a wall of green hills behind — it feels more like staying in the forest than by the sea. Real guest reviews mention again and again waking to a thin mist drifting over the water, so quiet you can hear birds and the river. For a lot of people that atmosphere is the single reason they chose this place.
"We paddled a kayak straight out from the villa, down the river through the mangroves and out to the private beach. So quiet it felt like having our own island — I've never had that at a beachfront resort."
Rooms come in several styles, from a Grand Deluxe of around 43 sqm in the main building up to multiple villa types, many with a private plunge pool — Garden View, River View, a Hill Villa set up the slope overlooking river and mountains, and a Top View Villa at the highest point. The point reviewers agree on is that the plunge-pool villas here are far better value than the pool villas at beachfront resorts that charge several times more. Rooms are done in contemporary Thai style with a balcony, a daybed, and bathrooms that have been refreshed in many of the units.
Communal areas include two outdoor pools, a riverside spa, and a restaurant on the water where breakfast earns praise for its view and calm. The kitchen leans on Thai dishes and a BBQ night on select evenings. The resort's signature is its evening firefly tour — a boat trip up the river to watch fireflies blink along the lamphu trees, an activity that's genuinely hard to find elsewhere on the island and one couples and families remember fondly. Kayaks and waterside gear are free to borrow; snorkeling trips and airport transfers can be arranged at the tour desk.
Now the honest part: Aana is an older resort and some reviews reflect the wear. Guests mention loose wooden planks near the pool, dated bathrooms in some of the older villas, and mosquitoes in the wet season that mean packing repellent. The grounds also climb the slope with plenty of steps and ramps, which makes it awkward for older travelers or anyone who struggles with stairs. Opinions on the in-house food split two ways — some enjoy it, others find the choice limited — but the upside is that Klong Prao village, with its seafood and local eateries, is a short drive away.
The location is on the Klong Prao estuary, mid-way down the west coast of Koh Chang. It's about 5–10 minutes to Klong Prao village and restaurants, around 10 minutes to Kai Bae Beach, 15 minutes to Klong Plu Waterfall, and roughly 25–30 minutes from the ferry pier. The overall score sits at about 8.6 from real guest reviews, with TripAdvisor placing it mid-table among Koh Chang hotels — numbers that match the character exactly: strong on atmosphere and plunge-pool value, pulled down a little by condition and the in-resort walking.
Bottom line: Aana Resort & Spa suits travelers who want a riverside private plunge-pool villa at a reachable price and value a quiet natural setting over the convenience of walking onto the beach. Couples after a romantic riverside stay, or families who want the kids to kayak and watch fireflies, will love it. But if you're set on lounging on the sand all day, stepping straight from your room to the sea, or traveling with older relatives who find stairs hard — a beachfront resort on Klong Prao or Kai Bae will serve you better.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Quiet riverside atmosphere among the trees, unlike a typical beachfront resort
- ✓ Private plunge-pool villas at strong value compared with pool villas elsewhere
- ✓ Friendly, relaxed and helpful staff
- ✓ Free kayaks and the firefly tour are memorable activities
- ! Not on the beach — a roughly 3-minute boat ride to the private beach
- ! Some older villas show wear; a few bathrooms feel dated
- ! Plenty of steps around the grounds, awkward for older guests
- ✓ Riverside-and-beach setting feels very private
- ✓ River and mountain views from many villas are lovely and calm
- ✓ Riverside breakfast with a good view; Thai dishes and BBQ night well liked
- ✓ Suits couples and families who enjoy nature and waterside activities
- ! Mosquitoes in the wet season — bring repellent
- ! Limited in-resort dining choice; opinions on the restaurant are split
- ! You'll drive out to the village for restaurants and convenience stores
- 💡If you want to walk straight from your room onto the sand — this resort is on the river and the private beach is across the water, a roughly 3-minute boat ride or kayak away → if you need true beachfront, pick a resort on Klong Prao or Kai Bae instead.
- 💡If you're traveling with older relatives or anyone who struggles with stairs — the resort climbs the slope with plenty of steps and ramps → ask for a ground-level room or one near the communal areas before booking.
- 💡If you're coming in the wet season (May–Oct) — the riverside-forest setting means mosquitoes → bring repellent, and check that the boat and beach service are running fully during that period.