5 Best Sights in Koh Chang, The Gulf Coast Beaches

Its mix of pebbles and sand makes Kai Bae less popular than nearby strands, but this beach provides the best, and safest, swimming on Koh Chang. Quiet and relaxed, still enjoying a sleepy feel, Kai Bae has only a few restaurants and resorts. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: solitude; swimming.

Khlong Phrao is an arc of golden sand leading down to placid waters. Scattered around the beach are a few high-end resorts and restaurants. The shallow waters discourage boaters, but also don't invite much swimming. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: walking.

With numerous resorts and some great restaurants, Koh Chang's busiest beach is ideal for those seeking a bustling atmosphere. The beach remains free from deck chair vendors, but a few hawkers wander through during the day. Especially during the rainy season, between June and October, severe riptides can occur, and swimming can be unsafe for extended periods. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: partiers.

Koh Chang's hangout for the backpacker set has murky, sometimes rough water that's not ideal for swimming, but the vibe is cool. Though the beach itself is strewn with rocks, the hammock-lined bars draw patrons seeking a bit of spiritual enlightenment, cheap drinks, or both. Despite its name, beautiful Lonely Beach can get crowded. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: partiers.

This 52-island marine national park covers all of Koh Chang. It's mostly mountainous, and there are only a few beaches, the best of them along the western shore of the island. Haad Sai Khao (White Sand Beach) is the farthest north and the most developed. A few miles south is the more serene Haad Khlong Phrao, a long, curving stretch of pale golden sand. Nearby Haad Kai Bae is a mix of sand and pebbles. Still farther south is Haad Ta Nam (Lonely Beach), which is perhaps the most picturesque of all. But it's also the smallest one and therefore more crowded. In the southwest corner of the island is the fishing village Bang Bao, with restaurants, dive shops, and cheap bungalows. The east coast is beautiful, but it's mostly rugged rain forest, and beaches are in short supply.