16 Best Things to Do in Koh Chang: Beaches, Waterfalls & Island Activities
Koh Chang: jungle mountains, waterfalls and long west coast beaches
Koh Chang is Thailand's third-largest island. It sits in the Gulf of Thailand near the Cambodian border, in Trat province. Most of the island is protected as Mu Ko Chang National Park. That means jungle-covered mountains, waterfalls you can swim in and a string of beaches down the west coast. The east coast is quieter, with fishing villages built on stilts and mangrove forests.
Here are 16 of the best things to do on Koh Chang, each with prices in baht and a map link.
- Halal food is very limited on Koh Chang. Unlike Krabi or Phuket, Koh Chang has no well-known Muslim community or halal restaurant scene. HalalBooking's listing for Annika Koh Chang says there's no halal food provision in the property or nearby places. Muslim travellers should plan for seafood, vegetarian dishes or self-catering. Confirm with each restaurant.
- Waterfall fees vary slightly by source. Thai Holiday Guide and Byklo list ฿200 for foreign adults and ฿100 for children at Klong Plu. Bucketlistly says the ฿200 ticket also covers Than Mayom on the same day, since both are in the same park. Thai Holiday Guide doesn't mention this, so keep your ticket.
- Opening hours differ. Bucketlistly lists Than Mayom as open from 9am. Thai Holiday Guide says 8am. Both say it closes at 4:30pm.
- Dive prices weren't available in baht. The listings I found price diving only in US dollars, so I've left dive prices out.
- Outer islands close in the rainy season. Thai Holiday Guide says most resorts on Koh Wai, Koh Mak and Koh Kood close or cut hours from May to October.
1Relax on White Sand Beach
White Sand Beach (Hat Sai Khao) is Koh Chang's main beach, at the north end of the west coast. It has the most hotels, restaurants and bars. The water slopes gently near the shore, then drops off further out. Songthaews run here from the ferry pier, so it's an easy first stop.
Price: Free
2Watch the Sunset at Klong Prao Beach
Klong Prao is the island's longest beach at about 3.3 km. It's quieter than White Sand Beach, with shallow, clear water and mountain views. A tidal estuary splits the beach. You can kayak along it. Watch the sunset from Laem Chaiyachet cape at the north end.
Price: Free
3Kayak From Kai Bae Beach
Kai Bae is a white sand beach tucked behind a cliff. You can rent a kayak and paddle to a small nearby island in 10 to 20 minutes. Avoid going out when the sea is choppy.
Price: About ฿100 per hour for a kayak
4Stop at Kai Bae Viewpoint
This clifftop viewpoint sits on the main road above Kai Bae Beach. It looks out over the Gulf of Thailand and the small islands offshore. There's a national park café on site. You may also spot eagles. Late afternoon is the best time to visit.
Price: Not listed. Parking is available.
5Experience Lonely Beach
Lonely Beach is the furthest south of the main west coast beaches. It's the island's backpacker hub and stays lively after dark. It's a good place for budget stays and evening drinks.
Price: Free
6Swim at Klong Plu Waterfall
Klong Plu is Koh Chang's most popular waterfall. It's about 3.3 km inland from Klong Prao, inside the national park. Bucketlistly describes a rocky walk of about 600 m to a plunge pool where small fish nibble your feet.
Go in the morning. The falls are strongest from May to October. September has the most water.
Price: ฿200 adult, ฿100 child
Hours: 8am to 4:30pm
7See the Royal Rocks at Than Mayom Waterfall
Than Mayom is on the quieter east coast. It has four tiers and a swimming pool at the base. Kings Rama V and Rama VII carved their royal monograms into the boulders. You can reach them by rope.
Fill up your scooter on the west coast first, because services are scarce in the east.
Price: ฿200 adult, ฿100 child
Hours: About 8am or 9am to 4:30pm
8Find Quiet Klong Nonsi Waterfall
Klong Nonsi is a smaller, quieter waterfall north of the west coast beaches. Byklo says it's reached by paved road with a short track. It's a good choice if Klong Plu feels too busy.
Price: Not listed
9Snorkel Around Koh Rang
Snorkelling trips are the most popular day out on Koh Chang. Most full-day boats leave from Bang Bao pier and visit the small islands around Koh Rang Marine Park, often finishing at Koh Wai. I Am Koh Chang lists these prices.
| Boat type | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Mr. Khai (small group) | ฿700 |
| Budget wooden boat | ฿800 to ฿900 |
| Speedboat | ฿800 to ฿1,100 |
| Thai Fun big cruise (about 10 hours) | ฿1,500 |
| Private wooden boat | ฿6,000 to ฿10,000 per boat |
| Marine park fee (Koh Rang trips) | ฿200 adult, ฿100 child |
Trips include hotel transfers, lunch and a mask and snorkel. Fins cost about ฿100 extra at Bang Bao. Go on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
10Spend a Day on Koh Wai
Koh Wai is a simple, quiet island off the south coast. A reef starts about 40 m off its north beach, so you can snorkel straight from the sand.
A wooden boat from Bang Bao takes about 45 minutes. A speedboat takes about 20. There's no landing fee. Basic bungalows start from around ฿400 a night if you want to stay over.
Price: Boat fare varies. No landing fee.
11Walk Bang Bao Pier
Bang Bao is a fishing village built on a long wooden pier at the island's southwest tip. The pier is lined with seafood restaurants, souvenir shops and dive centres. It's worth a stroll even if you're not taking a boat.
Price: Free
12Walk the Salak Phet Mangrove Boardwalk
Salak Phet's mangrove forest is on the east coast. A wooden boardwalk leads through the trees to an ocean viewpoint over the southern bay. The walk takes about 10 minutes.
Go in the morning for calm water and reflections. Watch your step, as some planks are broken or loose.
Price: ฿10 motorbike or ฿20 car parking
Hours: Open 24 hours
13Kayak the Mangroves at Salak Khok
Salak Khok is a quiet fishing village on the east coast, with houses on wooden stilts. You can rent a kayak and paddle through the mangrove bay. Late afternoon is a good time, when the fishing boats return. Cafés and restaurants overlook the water.
Price: About ฿100 per hour for a kayak
14Visit Ghost Ship Beach
Ghost Ship Beach is a remote beach at the island's southern tip. It's named after an abandoned resort built in the shape of a ship. You can relax on wooden sunbeds, but you can't go inside the structure.
The road narrows in places, so drive carefully. Don't combine it with Salak Phet on the same day. The roads don't connect directly.
Price: ฿100
Hours: 8am to 5pm
15Zipline at Treetop Adventure Park
Treetop Adventure Park moved to Lonely Beach in 2024. It has 30 obstacles across two courses, including ziplines, rope bridges and a Tarzan swing. Blue is for beginners and red is more challenging. Allow about 1.5 hours.
Price: ฿900 if you get there yourself, ฿1,050 with hotel transfer
Sessions: 9am, 12pm, 1pm and 3pm
Rules: Children must be over 10 and 140 cm tall. Adults have a 100 kg weight limit.
16Dive the HTMS Chang Wreck
Koh Chang's dive scene is smaller and calmer than Koh Tao's, with fewer boats at each site. The highlight is the HTMS Chang, a former Thai navy ship sunk as an artificial reef. Operators offer try-dives for beginners, fun dives and PADI Open Water courses.
Price: Contact dive shops for baht prices
Koh Chang activities at a glance
| Activity | Area | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Sand Beach | North-west | Free | First-timers |
| Klong Prao Beach | West | Free | Sunsets, families |
| Kai Bae kayaking | West | ฿100 per hour | Light adventure |
| Kai Bae Viewpoint | West | Not listed | Views |
| Lonely Beach | South-west | Free | Nightlife |
| Klong Plu Waterfall | West, inland | ฿200 adult | Swimming |
| Than Mayom Waterfall | East | ฿200 adult | History, nature |
| Klong Nonsi Waterfall | North-west | Not listed | Quiet nature |
| Koh Rang snorkelling | Offshore | ฿700 to ฿1,500 + ฿200 fee | Snorkellers |
| Koh Wai | Offshore | Boat fare only | Beach snorkelling |
| Bang Bao Pier | South-west | Free | Seafood, shopping |
| Salak Phet mangroves | East | ฿10 to ฿20 parking | Morning walks |
| Salak Khok kayaking | East | ฿100 per hour | Calm paddling |
| Ghost Ship Beach | South | ฿100 | Quiet beach time |
| Treetop Adventure Park | Lonely Beach | ฿900 to ฿1,050 | Families, thrill-seekers |
| HTMS Chang wreck dive | Offshore | Contact dive shops | Divers |
Tips for Malaysian travellers
- Plan your meals. Halal food is very limited on Koh Chang. Stick to seafood or vegetarian dishes. Ask how food is prepared.
- Getting there: Fly from Malaysia to Bangkok, then fly or take a bus to Trat. The ferry from the mainland costs about ฿80 per person, according to Bucketlistly.
- Rent a scooter only if you're experienced. Byklo lists 125cc scooters from about ฿150 a day. The southwest roads have steep climbs, so use a bike with good brakes.
- Carry cash for park fees, parking and boat trips.
- Best time to visit: November to April for calm seas and island trips. Waterfalls are fullest from May to October.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Expecting halal restaurants like in Krabi or Phuket.
- Riding a scooter on the steep southern roads without experience.
- Throwing away your waterfall ticket when it may cover both Klong Plu and Than Mayom.
- Visiting Koh Wai or Koh Mak in the rainy season without checking that resorts are open.
- Booking snorkelling on a weekend or public holiday, when boats are busiest.
Sourced from Thai Holiday Guide Things to Do in Koh Chang, Bucketlistly Koh Chang Best Things to Do, Byklo Koh Chang Waterfalls and Viewpoints (2026), I Am Koh Chang Snorkelling Trips, I Am Koh Chang Treetop Adventure Park and HalalBooking Annika Koh Chang. Prices checked in October 2026 and may change.