Bang Bao Cliff View Resort — cliff-top bungalows over Bang Bao Bay, wide sea views at a very easy price
Picture this: small wooden bungalows scattered across a green hillside, looking down on a rocky cove and the open sea — no bar music, no crowds, just the wind and the waves. Bang Bao Cliff View Resort is a simple bungalow resort clinging to the cliff west of Bang Bao pier, at the southern tip of Koh Chang. Its pitch is refreshingly straightforward: sea views from the cliff, lovely sunrises and sunsets, and real peace and quiet away from the bustle, at a very easy price. But understand going in that this is a genuinely basic place — not a beachfront resort with full facilities. Rooms from approx. ฿700/night.
What people remember about Bang Bao Cliff View Resort is its clifftop location. The resort isn't on a sandy beach — it clings to a green hillside west of Bang Bao pier, looking down on a rocky cove and the open sea. Small wooden bungalows are spread along the slope, many facing straight out to the water. Real guest reviews agree on one thing: the view here is the real deal, especially at sunrise and sunset. Many say they could sit on their balcony watching the sea, morning and evening, without getting bored — an atmosphere that's hard to find at a busy beachfront resort.
Rooms are simple bungalows, with both fan and air-conditioned options. The basic rooms come with a bed, mosquito net, fan and a balcony to sit out on, while the higher categories add air-conditioning, a fridge and a TV. The rooms are reasonably spacious and functional, but understand that the décor and fittings are genuinely basic, not modern design rooms. The most common comment is that the beds are on the firm side — some sleep fine, others find them too hard. If a soft mattress matters to you, set your expectations accordingly.
"We opened the balcony door in the morning to a wide-open sea, so quiet you only heard the waves, with no one to bother you. A view like this at this price is great value — you just have to accept the rooms are basic."
The heart of the common area is the clifftop restaurant and bar, the best viewpoint on the property. Real reviews praise the food, especially the pizza, which many say is better than expected, and the breakfast, which is served flexibly whenever you want it rather than on a fixed schedule. The vibe is relaxed — a good spot to nurse a drink and watch the sunset. One limitation worth knowing: Wi-Fi is strong mainly around the restaurant, while the signal is weak in the bungalows, so anyone working online should plan around it.
The location is both the charm and the catch. Bang Bao is a fishing village at the southern tip of Koh Chang, with an old wooden pier, seafood restaurants and boats out to the surrounding islands for snorkelling. The resort sits roughly 1.5–2km from Bang Bao pier and 2.5–3km from the nearest sandy beach. The entrance is a steep hill that takes some effort up and down — if you have heavy luggage or can't manage the climb, rent a motorbike or arrange a transfer. This isn't a place where you walk straight onto the sand, but it's ideal if you want quiet and a sea view from up high.
To be straight with you: Bang Bao Cliff View is a basic stay with fairly mixed reviews. The fans rate the view, the quiet, the food and the value very highly. The disappointed mention firm beds, dated rooms and inconsistent cleanliness, insects and mosquitoes in some rooms, patchy housekeeping during stays, and the remote location with its steep climb. There are several resort dogs — some guests find them friendly, others say they bark a noisy welcome. The honest summary: this place sells the view and the atmosphere, not comfort or polish.
On price, it sits at the easy end. A basic fan bungalow starts around ฿700/night in normal periods, rising to roughly ฿1,100–1,500 for an air-conditioned room depending on the season and the view. Peak season (year-end to Songkran) costs more, while the rainy low season is cheaper and very quiet at times. The score from real guest reviews is around 7.0, which captures its character honestly: high marks for view and value, dragged down by room condition and convenience — know what you're booking and you won't be disappointed.
Bottom line: Bang Bao Cliff View Resort suits backpackers and couples who want a sea view from a cliff, real peace and quiet, and a light price — and are willing to trade basic rooms and a hilly location for it. Anyone who wants to sit and watch the sea, eat pizza at sunset and isn't fussed about comfort will like it. But if you want a beachfront resort, to walk into the sea from your room, a pool, or modern rooms in good condition — a stay on Klong Prao or Kai Bae will serve you far better.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Beautiful sea views from the cliff, especially at sunrise and sunset
- ✓ Quiet and private, well away from the bustle
- ✓ Good food, especially the pizza; flexible breakfast service
- ✓ Excellent value for the view and atmosphere you get
- ! Basic rooms with firm beds and simple fittings
- ! Remote location; the entrance is a steep hill to walk up and down
- ! Wi-Fi is strong mainly around the restaurant; weak in the rooms
- ✓ Clifftop setting with wide sea views — an atmosphere unlike anywhere else
- ✓ Friendly staff and flexible meal service
- ✓ Reasonably spacious bungalows with a balcony to enjoy the view
- ✓ Good for couples wanting quiet and privacy
- ! Rooms and facilities are dated; cleanliness is inconsistent at times
- ! Mosquitoes and insects in some rooms, especially in the rainy season
- ! Far from the sandy beach and village restaurants — you'll want transport
- 💡If you want a beachfront resort, to walk into the sea from your room, or a pool — this place sits on a cliff, not the beach, and has no pool → for easy swimming, choose a stay on Klong Prao or Kai Bae instead.
- 💡If room condition and a soft mattress matter to you — rooms are basic and beds are on the firm side → if you sleep poorly, set expectations or step up a tier.
- 💡If you have no transport and heavy luggage — the entrance is a steep hill and it's far from the pier/beach → rent a motorbike or arrange a transfer in advance, and pack mosquito repellent.