Hat Khlong Phrao-Laem Chaiyachet

Khlong Phrao is Koh Chang’s longest beach at roughly 3.3 kilometres, split partway along by a small tidal estuary into a northern stretch — often called Chai Chet — and a longer southern stretch. At the northern tip, past Chai Chet, the sand gives way to the rocky headland of Laem Chaiyachet, which juts into the Gulf of Thailand and marks the boundary with Hat Sai Khao (White Sand Beach) further north. This is the Gulf coast, not the Andaman side of Thailand, so the water here is generally calmer than the surf found on the west-coast islands.

The two halves of the beach feel different. South of the estuary, Khlong Phrao is wide, sandy, and largely undeveloped compared with Koh Chang’s busier strips at White Sand or Kai Bae — there’s genuine room to spread out even in high season. North of the estuary, the Chai Chet stretch runs up against the cape itself, where a scatter of resorts and a seafront walkway lead out to the rocky point. The headland’s main draw is the view: south back along the sweep of Klong Prao and Kai Bae bay, and north along the coastline toward White Sand Beach.

The estuary is the other reason to linger here. It’s shallow and calm enough for a casual kayak paddle inland through the mangroves that line its banks, and in the high season the same mangroves draw a small local reputation for fireflies after dark. Beach-side restaurants along the sandy stretches serve straightforward seafood, and the pace along this beach is slower than the more built-up parts of the island.

Insider Tip: Time a visit to the headland for late afternoon — the view back along Klong Prao and Kai Bae bay works best in the hour before sunset, and it’s a five-minute walk from the Chai Chet resorts rather than a special trip.

Watch out: Laem Chaiyachet’s shoreline is rocky, not sandy, and it isn’t a swimming spot — head back to the main beach south of the estuary for safe swimming, and keep to sturdy sandals if you’re exploring the headland itself.

Khlong Phrao sits on the western side of Koh Chang, within easy reach of Hat Sai Khao, the island’s busiest beach immediately to the north past the cape.