Beaches
Bang Bao is located at the extreme south-west of the island is more known for its pier than its beaches. Nevertheless, there are 2 beaches, Sai Noi Beach and Klong Kloi Beach, more known and longer. Both are very quiet with a few businesses around and a hippies' vibe with peaceful pubs and cheap restaurants and bungalows like Sea You Place, Tree House Cottages, Tranquility Bay Residence, Tropical Beach Resort, and Koh Chang Boat Chalet to name a few of them.
They are the safest beaches too, there is almost no wave even during the rainy season, Bang Bao Bay is very calm.
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Traditional bamboo tattoo by King is also located in Klong Kloi village and he is one of the tattooists I can recommend on Koh Chang, especially if you are looking for a bamboo tattooist.
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There is also a good place where you can snorkel and see lots of fish, it's just nearby Cliff Cottage, Nirvana Resort.
Bang Bao was in the past a fishermen's village with stilts houses. Nowadays the fishermen's village is more like an indoor souvenirs gallery on a pier. There are still stilt houses but most of them are now shops selling clothes, all kinds of souvenirs you can find anywhere else and some snacks and drinks. In the past, those shops were more expensive than the others you can find on the island but it seems they understood that if they want to sell they needed to decrease their prices.
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There are a few very good and fresh seafood restaurants right on the pier with a nice view of the bay. Avoid early in the morning and the end of the afternoon when tours and snorkelling/diving boats are leaving or coming back because the pier will be full of people. Between it will be very quiet.
It's also possible to stay overnight on the pier and rent a room. Bang Bao Paradise or Buddha View Guesthouse for example.
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But my favourite is The Buddhaview which is a very nice guesthouse, restaurant and lounge bar. They serve food and drinks all day long and they have nice small rooms. Sunset views from the deck are fabulous.
Most of the tour and transfer boats going to the other islands or snorkelling and diving boats are moored at Bang Bao pier. Diving schools also have their main office at the pier. Boonsiri High-Speed Ferry is also now going from Trat to Bang Bao pier and from Bang Bao to Koh Mak and Koh Kood (more details: https://boonsiriferry.com/en/allroute). It's faster than wooden boats, cheaper, and more comfortable than speed boats.
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If you walk up to the end of the pier, you can see typical fishing boats drying their last catch. You will not miss the lighthouse, it's in a better condition outside than inside but the entrance door is now closed to visitors.
In the evening, you can get stunning sunset pictures.
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The pier is not very wide so the best time to visit it is when the tour boats have left and before they come back otherwise it may get a bit busy, especially during the high season. In high season it's quite easy to catch a taxi to go or to come from Bang Bao. In the low season, this is more difficult and they will over-charge you.
Where to stay?
There are good small resorts in this area like Bhuvarin Resort which is one of my favourites, located on the small peninsula. There are also Cliff Cottage, Nirvana Resort, Klong Kloi Cottage, Tranquility Bay Residence, and Sea You Place for example. Those resorts have nothing to do with the ones from the other beaches like White Sand beach, Kai Bae, or Lonely beach, they are more peaceful and very relaxing.
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Best deals in Bang Bao:
Copyright:
Please note this map is copyright 2001-13 White Sand Publications Co. Ltd. and may not be reproduced or published either in print or electronically without the express written permission of White Sand Publications Co. Ltd.
Best deals in Salak Phet!
Salak Phet bay is located in the south-east part of the island. It's known for its mangrove, fishermen's village and small marina.
Like there isn't a lot of tourists going there, taxis may over-charge you. The best way is to book a car with a driver for the full day, you will be sure to get your way back.
There are 2 waterfalls with free entrance and one of them is the tallest on the island.
There are few good restaurants and a couple of resorts if you want to spend more time in this quiet place.
Best deals in Salak Phet:
Copyright:
Please note this map is copyright 2001-13 White Sand Publications Co. Ltd. and may not be reproduced or published either in print or electronically without the express written permission of White Sand Publications Co. Ltd.
Bailan is the quietest area of the west coast of Koh Chang, between Lonely Beach and Bang Bao. It's a perfect location for people who want to be close to the noisy parties of Lonely Beach but want to sleep in peace in a relaxing area or for people who want to be close to Bang Bao diving centres.
In both cases, you will need a scooter.
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The beach is quite small but extremely quiet. It's is an artificial sandy beach, the sand has been added and you can see it at low tide with more rocks than sand. The sandy part starts in front of Mercure Hideaway Resort to the south end, called Lisca Beach, which is the name of a very nice beach bar-restaurant.
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The centre of the village is as quiet as the beach and there aren't so many activities than other areas.
There are a few good bars and restaurants, a Thai cooking school, a herbal sauna and a Thai Boxing camp.
At the south end of the beach, there is Treetop Adventure Park which is one of the attractions you can't miss, an eco-friendly park with zip lines, rope paths, swings, on top of trees. A lot of exercises but you will have a lot of fun.
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Where to stay?
There are good places to stay like Mercure Hideaway Resort with its beachfront, big swimming pool, rooms, pool-villas, and Spa.
Faye Orchid Garden Resort (ex Kwaimaipar Orchid Resort) and Harley Moon Hideaway are also nice boutique resorts with a pool as well as Elephant Bay Resort.
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Cheaper, there are Lazy Republic, Tarzan Island Resort and Restaurant with live music in the evening, Bailan Bay Resort, Rock Inn, Bailan Beach Resort, Jungle Garden, Happy Turtle, St Tropez Resort, Green Cottage, Vanalee Resort, Bailan Hut, Lucky Gecko Garden, White House, and Kohchang 7 Guesthouse.
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You won't find one 7/11 or Tesco Lotus supermarket but on the main road, there are small shops selling the basics you need.
If you want to buy good quality and comfortable hammocks, go to Hammock Hut, in front of Jungle Garden. They are selling different sizes and colours of hammocks, all made in a small village in the north of Thailand.
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Best deals in Bailan:
Copyright:
Please note this map is copyright 2001-13 White Sand Publications Co. Ltd. and may not be reproduced or published either in print or electronically without the express written permission of White Sand Publications Co. Ltd.
