Santhiya Tree Koh Chang Resort — a resort carved entirely from teak, hidden in gardens at the quiet end of Klong Prao Beach
Picture a resort built almost entirely from carved teak, set in shady tropical gardens between a lagoon and a quiet stretch of sand at the north end of Klong Prao Beach — Santhiya Tree Koh Chang Resort is a 5-star resort in the Santhiya group that many guests say feels like stepping into a Lanna-meets-Bali temple village. Its roughly 85 rooms split between garden villas and riverside pool suites, many with a private pool or pool access. There's a private beach and the Ayurvana Spa. From approx. THB 8,000/night. Scored 9.4 from 148 reviews.
Santhiya Tree Koh Chang sits at the northern end of Klong Prao Beach, between a lagoon and a quiet stretch of sand. What sets it apart from a typical beachfront stay is the teak: the buildings, walkways, salas and furniture are nearly all hand-carved teak, set among carefully kept tropical gardens. Guests say again and again that the overall atmosphere is what stays with them — it feels more like a wooden village in the forest than a hotel.
The roughly 85 rooms split clearly into two zones — a garden side of teak villas (Deluxe Villa, Hideaway Pool Villa, Villa Pool Access) and a riverside side of pool suites (Grand Pool Suite, Pool Suite) with a small private plunge pool on the balcony. Most rooms are spacious, with semi-open back-to-nature bathrooms and a soaking tub. Many have their own pool or pool access, which reviewers repeatedly call good value for the price.
"Slipping into the little plunge pool off the balcony first thing, with nothing but trees and birdsong around you and the faint scent of teak through the room — it's the best resort we've stayed at on Koh Chang."
The resort has a quiet private beach on Klong Prao Beach where you can swim and kayak, plus two outdoor pools — one on the beach side, one inland. The Ayurvana Spa is much praised for the skill of its therapists; many guests call it one of the best spas they've used in Thailand. The whole place leans toward calm and stillness, better suited to travellers who want to genuinely relax than to a party crowd.
On dining, the main venue is Chantara on the beach, serving Thai and international food, with a secondary restaurant and a poolside bar. The breakfast draws praise as fresh and generous. One note from some reviews: food and drink prices inside the resort run high, and eating elsewhere means a drive out, as the location is fairly secluded.
Location-wise it's at the end of Klong Prao Beach, about a 5-minute drive from Klong Prao village and roughly 15 minutes from White Sand Beach. The resort sits about 1.2 km in from the main road down a lane, with a shuttle running up to the road on a schedule. Getting there means the car ferry across to Koh Chang from the Trat side, or the resort's own speedboat transfer. It scores 9.4 from 148 Trip.com reviews — a high, steady number for a resort at this level on Koh Chang.
Honestly, the thing to accept is that the resort is set in gardens with lots of steps and wooden walkways across sloping ground. Anyone who struggles to walk or is travelling with older relatives should ask for a room near the lobby or beach. Another point: because it's a wooden resort beside gardens and water, there can be mosquitoes at times, so pack repellent. But if what you want is a beautiful carved-teak resort with a calm atmosphere, a private beach and a good spa, at a price that's fair for a pool villa of this standard, this place delivers something hard to find on Koh Chang.
A tip from following the reviews here for a while: if the budget allows, go straight for a room with a private pool or pool access — it's the real draw here and far better value than a standard room. In high season (November–February; parts of Koh Chang close in the rains), book ahead and lock in a free-cancellation rate first, then compare prices across platforms.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Beautiful teak craftsmanship and decor; a calm, garden-like atmosphere
- ✓ Warm, attentive staff; many reviews call the service exceptional
- ✓ Many rooms have a private pool, plus a private beach to swim from
- ✓ The Ayurvana Spa is skilled and consistently praised
- ! Fairly secluded — eating outside the resort means a drive
- ! Lots of steps and wooden walkways; not easy for those with limited mobility
- ! Food and drink prices inside the resort run high
- ✓ Spacious pool villas and pool suites, great for couples and honeymoons
- ✓ Shady tropical gardens, quiet and genuinely restful
- ✓ Fresh, generous breakfast
- ✓ Quiet private beach with kayaks to borrow
- ! Mosquitoes at times, as it's a wooden resort beside gardens and water — bring repellent
- ! High-season rates climb quickly — book and lock in early
- ! Set back from the main road — you'll use the shuttle or a car to get out
- 💡If you struggle to walk or are travelling with older relatives or small children — the resort sits in gardens with lots of steps and wooden walkways across sloping ground → ask for a room near the lobby or beach when you book.
- 💡If you want to head out to eat and explore every day — this resort is set back and secluded, so you'll drive out to Klong Prao village or White Sand Beach → if you want to walk to restaurants, consider a stay in the middle of White Sand Beach instead.
- 💡If it's high season (Nov–Feb) and you haven't booked — rooms with a private pool sell out fast and rates climb → book ahead with a free-cancellation rate, then compare prices across platforms.