Where should I stay on Koh Tao for a diving course?

Sairee Beach. Most dive schools are based there, many bundle accommodation with courses, and being able to roll from bed to briefing to boat is exactly the convenience you want mid-course.

Which part of Koh Tao is best for non-divers?

Chalok and the southern bays for calm swimming and an easy pace, or an east-coast cove like Tanote if snorkelling is your thing — some of the island's best reef sits within fin-kick of the beach.

Is Koh Tao good for families?

Yes, with the right base. Chalok Baan Kao and Shark Bay offer sheltered, shallow water and a quieter scene than Sairee. Just note the island is hilly and taxis are pricey, so pick a bay you're happy to mostly stay in.

Do I need a scooter on Koh Tao?

Not if you stay on the west side — Sairee and Mae Haad connect by an easy flat walk. For the east and south coasts you'll want wheels or boat rides, but be honest about your riding: Koh Tao's hills are steep and its roads unforgiving for beginners.

Where to Stay on Koh Chang: The West Coast Explained

A mountain with beaches around the edge

Koh Chang is mostly jungle-covered mountain. The interior is a national park with waterfalls and no roads through it, so life happens on a narrow coastal strip, and the one road that serves it climbs and drops steeply between each bay.

That has two consequences. First, the beaches feel further apart than the map suggests. Second, the hills are genuinely steep — steep enough that hired scooters are a real cause of injury here. If you are not confident on two wheels, pick a beach you can live on and use the shared songthaews instead.

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Quick guide

Which beach

White Sand Beach — busiest, most choice, closest to the pier
Klong Prao — wide and spread out, resorts, good for families
Kai Bae — mid-range, smaller, the best sunsets
Lonely Beach — backpackers, bars, music until late
Bang Bao — pier village, seafood and boat trips, no beach
East coast and far south — very quiet, you need transport

North to middle: White Sand, Klong Prao, Kai Bae

White Sand Beach (Hat Sai Khao) is the first bay after the pier and the busiest: the longest strip of hotels, bars and restaurants, and the shortest transfer from the ferry. It is convenient and social, and it is not where you go for quiet.

Klong Prao is the wide middle bay, with resorts spread thinly along a long beach and a river mouth to kayak up. It suits couples and families who want space. Kai Bae, just south, is the mid-range compromise: smaller, cheaper, with little islands offshore that make the sunsets.

Good to know

Before you book

The hills between the beaches are steep. Take scooter hire seriously, or use songthaews.
Shared songthaews run along the west coast road and are cheap; after dark they cost much more.
Klong Plu waterfall is the easiest of the island's waterfalls to reach and is worth a morning.
Ferries run from the Trat mainland piers and take about half an hour.

South: Lonely Beach and Bang Bao

Lonely Beach (Hat Tha Nam) is the young, cheap, late-night end of the island — hostels, beach bars and music, with a swimming beach that has a strong shore break. If you are here to meet people, this is the address. If you are here to sleep, it is not.

Bang Bao at the southern end is not a beach at all but a fishing village built along a wooden pier over the water, now lined with seafood restaurants and dive shops. Most boat trips to the outer islands leave from here. Beyond it, the far south-east has remote bays reached by rough road — beautiful, and a long way from everything.

Frequently asked questions

Which beach is best on Koh Chang for a first visit?

Klong Prao or Kai Bae. Both have swimming, restaurants within reach and a calmer feel than White Sand Beach, without being isolated.

Is Koh Chang good for families?

Yes, particularly Klong Prao, which has space, long sand and resorts built for it. Lonely Beach is the one to avoid.

Do you need a scooter on Koh Chang?

It helps, but the hills are steep and accidents are common. Shared songthaews cover the west coast road and are a sensible alternative.

How do you get to Koh Chang?

By bus or minivan to Trat, then a car ferry from one of the mainland piers. The crossing takes around thirty minutes.

Where to stay on Koh Chang