Cliff Cottage — a Bang Bao clifftop eco resort with sunset views and snorkelling out front
Picture this: a little wooden bungalow perched on a green cliff above Bang Bao bay; in the evening you walk down to the clifftop restaurant and watch the sun sink slowly into the sea, then wake up, grab a mask and fins, and snorkel straight off the front of the resort — Cliff Cottage is a small eco resort at the southern tip of Koh Chang, Trat, in the Bang Bao area · the selling points are plain and honest: sunset views over the sea, a quiet setting away from the crowds, and an on-site PADI dive centre (BBdivers) · there are several room types to choose from, from the budget Castaway room up to sea-view bungalows and a family room · rooms start at around ฿700/night, scored 8.2 from 222 reviews, and it ranks #10 of 138 specialty stays on Koh Chang on Tripadvisor.
Who Cliff Cottage is for — to put it as briefly as possible, Cliff Cottage is a small eco resort for people who want to escape the bustle of the white-sand beaches on the west coast of Koh Chang and get back to nature, the sea and real quiet · it is not a beachfront resort with an infinity pool and a lavish breakfast buffet — it is an eco-style stay perched on a cliff above Bang Bao bay at the southern tip of the island, in an old fishing-village area that still keeps its original feel · the resort itself has plenty of character, decorated in natural tones with bright, colourful artwork and a relaxed, easygoing vibe · real reviews agree on the same picture: the people who fit here are travellers who love diving, couples after a sunset view, backpackers, and anyone looking for a quiet stay surrounded by nature on a budget — rather than families wanting full comforts or anyone who wants to step straight onto a sandy beach from their room · another group that comes away impressed is animal lovers, because the resort is pet-friendly and has several resident cats and dogs the team helps look after · it is a place that sells "atmosphere and experience" more than luxury, and if you set your expectations right from the start, plenty of people say they fell for it and came back again.
Location and getting there — Cliff Cottage sits at 108 Moo 1, Bang Bao, at the southern tip of Koh Chang, on a cliff just before you reach Bang Bao pier · once you've taken the ferry from Laem Ngop and landed on the island, you take a shared songthaew (shared taxi) south to Bang Bao, around 15 kilometres from the ferry pier · the resort is about 1.5 kilometres from the village and Bang Bao pier, with a sign marking the turn-off into the lane before you reach the pier · if you're dropped in the middle of the village, it's roughly a 15-minute walk in to the resort · the key thing to be clear on is that this is not a beachfront stay — it's a cliff above a rocky bay, and the nearest sandy beach is Klong Koi beach, about a 10-minute walk from the village · the charm of Bang Bao is that it's far quieter and more natural than White Sand Beach or Kai Bae, which suits people who want to be away from the crowds · one thing to note: without a motorbike or your own transport, getting to other beaches or restaurants outside the area means relying on songthaews, which don't run very often, so plan ahead or rent a motorbike.
"We sat watching the sunset from the clifftop restaurant and completely lost track of time, then grabbed a mask in the morning and snorkelled right off the front of the resort. The staff were so friendly, the food was great and you could order most of the day — one visit and we already wanted to come back."
Room types and decor — Cliff Cottage has several styles of accommodation spread across the cliffside, so you can choose by budget and style · starting with the Castaway room, the most budget option, with a fan and shared bathroom — good for backpackers and divers who only use the room to sleep · stepping up is the Garden Room, a ground-level room with air-con and an en-suite bathroom; some look out over the bay, and some come with a patio to sit out on · the highlight is the Cliff Top Bungalow, a bungalow on the cliff facing west out to sea, with full sea and sunset views — it's the room reviews talk about most · there are also glamping tents on the cliff that only open in the dry season, for those who want to sleep close to nature with a bit of style, and The Boathouse, a family room that sleeps around 5, with a living area and a small kitchen · the overall decor is simple eco style, using natural materials, with bright, colourful artwork on the walls and around the rooms · to be honest, the rooms aren't large or luxurious — several reviews say they're fairly small and basic, but clean and with a charm of their own · if the view matters to you, ask specifically for a Cliff Top Bungalow or a sea-facing room at the time of booking, because not every room gets the same sunset view.
Facilities, pool and water activities — small as it is, Cliff Cottage has features you won't find at stays in the same price range · the number-one highlight is the on-site PADI 5-star BBdivers dive centre, offering dive courses (PADI), scuba diving, snorkelling and freediving — which makes this a popular base for divers coming to Koh Chang · out front there are free kayaks and snorkelling, so you can get straight into the sea from the restaurant · there's a small splash pool to cool off in (again, it's a small pool for a dip, not a full swimming pool) · there's a viewpoint on the hill you can walk up to for the sunset · and there's free high-speed Wi-Fi that many reviews say is more reliable than expected for a stay of this kind · overall the facilities lean toward sea activities and relaxing in nature rather than luxury, which fits the resort's eco character.
Food and the clifftop restaurant — the thing praised in almost every review is the resort restaurant set right on the cliff edge looking out to sea · it serves both Thai and Western food, with the cooking praised as tasty and good value, and it's open to order for most of the day, which is very handy given the resort sits some way from the restaurants in the village · many reviews say the best time of day is catching the sunset with a happy-hour drink as the sky changes colour · the restaurant feels easygoing and informal, in keeping with the relaxed style of the place · because the resort is fairly far from the village and other restaurants, most guests here eat mainly at the resort — and fortunately the kitchen does well enough that it never feels repetitive · breakfast is available, but check the details on whether it's included in the room rate, as it varies by promotion · if you'd like to head out for fresh seafood at Bang Bao pier you can, but allow for the roughly 1.5-kilometre trip.
Service — service is another point consistently praised in real reviews · the staff and team are described as friendly, kind and helpful, making it feel more like staying at a friend's place than a hotel · many praise the BBdivers team as professional and good on safety, which gives beginners the confidence to give diving a try · the overall feel of the resort is relaxed and unhurried, well suited to a genuine break · but in the interest of honesty: because it's a small, nature-focused resort, the service isn't the kind you get at a big hotel with staff on hand around the clock — at some points you may have to wait or sort things out yourself · anyone expecting luxury-resort service may need to adjust their expectations, while people who like this easygoing style tend to love it here.
What real reviews say (the good and the not-so-good) — pulling together Booking.com, Agoda and Tripadvisor, the picture is fairly consistent · On the praise side: sea and sunset views so good that many say they "never disappoint", a chilled and quiet atmosphere away from the crowds, snorkelling and kayaking right off the front of the resort, tasty good-value food open most of the day, kind and friendly staff, reliable Wi-Fi, and an eco concept that's pet-friendly · On the watch-out side: the most-mentioned point is that the accommodation is basic and the rooms are fairly small, especially the budget Castaway room with its fan and shared bathroom · next is cleanliness at certain times — there are reviews that found an unclean bathroom and water issues when the island was short of water (a problem across all of Koh Chang in some seasons, not just here) · and the clifftop location, not on a sandy beach, means walking or taking transport to other beaches · most of these gripes are things you can manage by choosing the right room type and setting expectations right, rather than dealbreakers that stop people coming back — as you can tell from the many reviews from repeat guests.
"A lovely little resort, eco-friendly, with a gorgeous bay view · the only gripe is the rooms are fairly small and basic. If you come to dive and watch the sunset it's brilliant value — next time I'll book the clifftop bungalow instead."
Price and value — Cliff Cottage starts at around ฿700/night for a budget room like the Castaway (fan/shared bathroom) at normal rates — close to the starting price on Agoda of around USD 20–24 a night · the Garden Room with air-con and an en-suite bathroom steps up to about ฿1,000–1,500/night, and the clifftop sea-view bungalow (Cliff Top Bungalow) sits higher than that depending on size and view · prices in high season (November–April) and on long weekends climb and fill up fast · compared with typical sea-view stays on Koh Chang, Cliff Cottage feels very good value among eco/diver stays, especially once you factor in the on-site dive centre, free kayaks and snorkelling, the sunset views and a restaurant that does well · if you're planning a Koh Chang trip to dive and relax in nature in peace, the money you spend feels well returned — but if you want a big swimming pool, sand outside your door and luxury, this same price will stretch further at some beachfront resorts.
Good to know before you book — a few things make for a smoother stay · One, be clear that this is a clifftop eco resort, not a beachfront stay — the charm is the view, the diving and the quiet; if you want to step onto sand from your room, choose a stay on the white-sand side · Two, if a sunset view matters, ask specifically for a Cliff Top Bungalow or a sea-facing room at the time of booking · Three, the glamping tents only open in the dry season, so check the timing if you have your heart set on a tent · Four, getting around the island is fairly limited — we'd suggest renting a motorbike or asking the resort about pier transfers in advance · Five, the accommodation is basic, so set your expectations around atmosphere and experience above all · Six, if you come at a time the island may have water issues (usually late dry season), be prepared and feel free to ask about the situation ahead · Seven, it's a pet-friendly resort with animals on the grounds, so anyone with allergies or who isn't comfortable around them should bear that in mind.
The bottom line — from all the real reviews, Cliff Cottage is the best fit for divers, couples and travellers who want sunset views over the sea and quiet surrounded by nature on a budget · the on-site PADI dive centre, free kayaks and snorkelling out front, a clifftop restaurant that does well, and an animal-friendly eco concept give it real character and value in its own way · if you're after a beachfront resort with white sand, a big swimming pool, a spacious luxury room and 5-star hotel service, this may not be the answer, and you should consider a stay on the White Sand or Kai Bae side instead · but for a trip where you want to escape the crowds, be by the sea, dive, and watch a sunset that many say "never disappoints" — Cliff Cottage matches that need with real charm, and it's why it keeps drawing repeat guests back year after year.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Gorgeous Bang Bao bay and sunset views
- ✓ Free snorkelling and kayaking out front, with an on-site PADI dive centre
- ✓ Tasty, good-value food open most of the day
- ✓ Kind, friendly staff and a quiet atmosphere
- ! Rooms are fairly small and basic, especially the Castaway room
- ! On a clifftop, not on a sandy beach — you have to travel to other beaches
- ! Getting around the island is limited; renting a motorbike is advisable
- ✓ Good value among eco and diver stays
- ✓ Chilled atmosphere away from the crowds, good for relaxing in nature
- ✓ Pet-friendly, with cats and dogs the resort looks after
- ✓ Reliable Wi-Fi that works better than expected for a stay of this kind
- ! Cleanliness can be inconsistent at times, with water issues when the island is short of water
- ! The pool is a small one for a dip, not a full swimming pool
- ! Service isn't 24 hours like a big hotel
- 💡If you want sand outside your room and a big swimming pool — this place is on a cliff above a rocky bay with only a small pool for a dip → consider a stay on the White Sand or Kai Bae side instead.
- 💡If you expect a spacious luxury room and 5-star service — the accommodation is basic eco style, the rooms are small and service isn't 24 hours → set your expectations around atmosphere, diving and the view, or choose a luxury resort on the island instead.
- 💡If you're not comfortable around pets or you're allergic to animal fur — the resort is pet-friendly with resident cats and dogs on the grounds → consider a stay that doesn't allow pets instead.