Bang Bao Bay Koh

Bang Bao Bay (Ao Bang Bao) is a well protected bay at the southwest end of Koh Chang. It measures about 1 kilometer in width and in length. The quaint fishing village Baan Bang Bao is built on stakes far out into the bay and has become quite a popular attraction.
Roughly a kilometer southeast is a viewpoint, which offers a beautiful view into the bay and the village. Directly behind there is a beautiful sandy beach where there was still no accommodation in 2002. But today Bang Bao Bay has lately become a resort and recreation area with bungalows built on selected scenic sites. The beach at Bang Bao has clear waters with rocks and corals off its shores usually quite quiet. A good place to fish, snorkel and swim.

Bang Bao is the island's diving mecca and a jumping-off point for other islands in the area. Tourism has all but replaced fishing as the village's main industry, but it's still not so busy as the beaches in the north and Bang Bao retains a laid-back, breezy feel to it.
Most of the action is on a long pier stretching out into the same-named bay. The pier is lined with private houses, shops, restaurants and guesthouses. There are plans to widen the pier by 1 meter, extend it by another 250 meters and create a covered walkway, but this might not materialise for another two years.

Many seafood restaurants offer a rich selection of fresh seafood and small shops sell souvenirs or refreshments. Despite this rising commercialism, Bang Bao remains interesting - at least for a short visit. There is a photogenic collection of colourful fishing boats moored at the end of the pier, both genuine working boats and those for tourists' pleasure.
A number of restaurants specialise in freshly caught seafood, though watch your wallet as prices can be very high. Aside from eating, other activities include fishing, snorkeling and diving boat trips.

To the east of the pier area are a few lovely stretches of quiet beach. In front of the gallery at D. Jambe House is a beach the locals have recently started calling Haad Sai Noi. Keep on walking and cross a narrow bridge over a lagoon and you are at another beach, Kong Gloi. One of the area's highlights, this beach has a few huts where you can get a massage and have a snack underneath the palm trees. The beach looks over neighbouring islands and back to the pier at Bang Bao.

Bai Lan Bay

Bai Lan Bay (Ao Bai Lan) is approximately 2.5 kilometres long and is situated at the southern end of the west coast, below Kai Bae Beach. The northern part of the bay is called Haad Thanam or Lonely Beach, which because of its popularity has its own page. To the south Bai Lan Bay is separated by a headland from the remaining part of the west coast.
In the north of the bay, before Lonely Beach, the coast is rocky while at the southern part there are a few small sandy beaches.

Bai Lan is a small village in the southwest of Koh Chang between the party zone of Lonely Beach (1.5 km to the north) and the old fishermen village Bang Bao (5 km south) with seafood restaurants and souvenir and handcrafts shops or gas stations. Meanwhile an Internet-Café is located as well.

Many residents of Bai Lan are locals, taking care to develop soft tourism to protect the nature.
You will find no 'Walking Street' with Ladybars over and over, no disco or beach party, but you will find a place of friendliness in the middle of an amazing powerfull nature between the mountains and the sea.

Still no need to miss party! As the party mile of Lonely Beach is just 1.5 km away, it is easy to have fun there all night long and chill out in your quiet bungalow in Bai Lan, watching the sunrise over the sea.

Koh Chang


Koh Chang (Elephant Island) is Thailand’s second largest island and the primary destination for those visiting Koh Chang Marine National Park, which includes dozens of unspoiled islands. Located in Trat Province, about 300 kilometers East of Bangkok and not far from the Cambodian border, Koh Chang is 70% covered by unspoiled rainforest and the island’s 5000 permanent residents are only gradually becoming more involved in tourism as development has increased in the past decade.

Now serviced by an airport just 15 minutes from the ferry terminal in Trat, Koh Chang is more easily accessible than ever before. Drawn to Koh Chang’s pristine beaches and sparkling water, more well-to-do Thai and international travelers have been discovering Koh Chang and numerous luxury spas and resorts have sprung up to cater to them. Nonetheless, the island is still a dream destination for budget travelers and families, with a wide variety of affordable accommodation options and numerous gorgeous and tranquil beaches surrounded by crystal clear water. While the number of tourists has increased, particularly among middle class Thais, Koh Chang is still predominately unspoiled forests and pristine beaches. In addition to natural beauty, the island is also home to a wide range of wildlife, including native birds, snakes, deer, and even a number of elephants. As for activities, Koh Chang and the nearby islands that make up the national park are great for snorkeling, diving, camping, and jungle hiking. The majority of tourists stay at Haad Sai Khao, Haad Kai Mook, Haad Ta Nam, and Laem Bang Bao, all of which are linked by a single road running down the west coast. Access to the island is via Bangkok Airways service to Trat or buses that connect to shuttle service to the ferry docks at Laem Ngop near Trat. Once the quiet refuge of backpackers in the know, Koh Chang (Elephant Island) has grown in popularity as a tourist destination since 2000, when the Thai government hoped to develop the island as the next Phuket. Fortunately, as Koh Chang is nearly as large as Phuket, a decade of development that has seen the construction of an airport in Trat and numerous hotels and restaurants has done little to sully its appeal as an island of spectacular natural beauty. Koh Chang, the largest island in the Koh Chang Marine National Park, is a beach lover and nature enthusiasts dream come true. While recent development has led to the opening of some nightlife on the island, the primary attractions on the island are the beaches, waterfalls, and neighboring islands. However, several fishing villages, a number of naval battle sights, and some opportunities for diving and snorkeling make Koh Chang both an interesting and relaxing place to visit.