Klong Prao Beach lies just beyond White Sand Beach if you’re coming from the ferry. It’s the longest beach on Koh Chang, extending nearly 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) along the coast. Due to its length, the beach is divided into several distinct sections, each offering something different.
Beach Overview
Klong Prao Beach is situated in one of the largest lowland areas on Koh Chang. Much of this flatland, however, is taken up by the floodplains of two rivers, which spread beautifully across the landscape, creating ponds and channels in some spots.
Because of this network of freshwater, which expands significantly during the monsoon season, the island’s main road runs closer to the mountains, curving widely around the floodplain. As a result, much of the area’s social and cultural life has developed along this curved route.
Klong Prao Beach is naturally divided into three sections by two rivers. The first originates from Klong Plu Waterfall. The second is unnamed on maps, so we’ll call it the Second River for now. Picture yourself standing in the middle of the beach, facing the sea—this is how Klong Prao looks.
North Side
This section begins at Chai Chet Resort (look for the large road sign) and ends where the Klong Prao River meets the sea, near Klong Prao Resort. There’s also a lagoon near Chai Chet Resort, so if you’re picking a spot on the beach, it’s better to move towards the center. Several resorts line the beachfront here, and the main road runs fairly close to the shore.
One thing to note: “Chai Chet Beach” is a local term used to refer to the area around Chai Chet Resort, but it’s not an official name.
Center
This section lies between the mouths of the two rivers and is the least developed part of the beach. The main road curves widely around this area, staying about half a mile (800 meters) away from the sea.
Here, you’ll find freshwater ponds connected by canals, overgrown areas, and open land. A few bungalow resorts are located right along the shore, and there are plenty of paths and trails for walking or motorbiking.
South Side
This section stretches from the Second River and Blue Lagoon Ko Chang bungalows to the pass leading towards Kai Bae. It’s the most densely populated part of Klong Prao Beach, featuring very shallow waters.
The beachfront is mainly occupied by upscale hotels, while guesthouses and bungalow resorts are set farther back. Despite being highly urbanized, this area is the center of activity along Klong Prao Beach, even though the beach itself here isn’t the best for swimming.
Swimming
Klong Prao Beach is generally shallow, and even at high tide, it might be hard to reach deeper waters. However, it’s perfect for wading waist-deep about 65 feet (20 meters) from the shore.
This beach is ideal for children at any time—its shallow, warm waters are great for little ones. During the high season, the tide comes in during the first half of the day and goes out by evening, making it perfect for beach walks, dinner, and watching the sunset.
At low tide, the sea recedes far, and while you can eventually reach deeper waters, it’s quite a long walk. Strolling along the shore is much easier and more enjoyable, and Klong Prao is perfect for that.
Closer to Chai Chet, the water is slightly deeper, making it the best spot for swimming on Klong Prao. I personally checked the depth—about 100 feet (30 meters) from the shore during high tide, the water was up to my neck, making it perfect for a comfortable swim.
On the left side of Klong Prao, the water gets much shallower. I tried walking out to reach deeper waters, but even after several dozen meters, I was still far from it.
In the central and left sections, there are sharp rocks in the water and large stones near the tree-lined shore. In some spots near the bungalows, stones are piled up. During high tide, the water reaches close to the trees, leaving very little sandy beach.
On the right side, the water also comes close, but there’s still a decent stretch of sand left for relaxing.
Sunbeds and Shade
Across the entire stretch of Klong Prao Beach, there isn’t much shade, as most of the surrounding land is privately owned, and the trees that could provide shade are often on private property. Whether resorts will let you relax under their trees without asking you to leave likely depends on the specific place—I didn’t test it myself.
Keep in mind, this is the west coast, so you’ll only have natural shade until about 1 PM, before the sun moves overhead.
It can also be hard to tell if you’re on private land, as there’s often no clear boundary between private and public areas.
On the right side of Klong Prao, there are signs marking private property, and well-maintained lawns make it obvious where private territory begins. Near Klong Prao Resort, there’s no shade along the shore at all.
In the central section, you’ll find many undeveloped plots and a few bungalow resorts nestled in the forest. Here, no one really minds if you set up under the trees, but the beach can be quite dirty in some areas.
At the far left end of Klong Prao, development becomes denser, and competition for beach space increases. While some shade can be found, it’s still not plentiful. This area also has many bamboo-style beach cafés that set up chairs right on the sand.
Beach Photos
North side
Center
South side
Amenities
In general, the infrastructure around Klong Prao Beach is concentrated at the right and left ends, while the central section mostly follows the main road.
South Side: This area features a hill and an elevated section with commercial buildings, guesthouses, and resorts. You’ll find 7-Eleven convenience stores, cafés, and two local mini-malls—Coconut Plaza and Island View Plaza—offering a small “walking street” experience. Along the road, there are various shops, stalls, services, and ATMs.
There’s even a full-service gas station. A little closer to White Sand Beach, you’ll find larger supermarkets like Lotus’s and Big C. Overall, the right side of Klong Prao is quite lively.
Central Side: This part is mostly about the road. The detour around the floodplain stretches for nearly 3 miles (5 km), with much of it passing through wild, undeveloped landscapes with open plots and water. After you pass the turn off for the national park, construction becomes denser, especially after the second bridge.
Buildings here are all lined along the road and don’t extend towards the mountains or the floodplain. Most are commercial—services, markets, banks, and a Buddhist temple located roughly in the middle of the stretch. After the temple, you’ll find larger stores, a police station, a tennis court, and an elephant camp—this is where Klong Prao starts to feel more lively.
North Side: The left section continues from the central area, with pharmacies, cafés, restaurants, bars, and 7-Elevens, all within walking distance, indicating that this is a residential area.
Development here spreads about 650-820 feet (200-250 meters) on either side of the road, forming a well-established neighborhood with its own infrastructure. You’ll also find quirky gas stations—somewhere between full-service stations and the bottled gas stands—featuring barrels with hand pumps.
Attractions in this area include Klong Plu Waterfall in the national park, two elephant camps, Wat Klong Prao Buddhist temple, and the floodplain with mangroves, where you can go kayaking.
Accommodation
As with the rest of Klong Prao, there’s a wide variety of accommodation options here, though most are concentrated on one side of the beach. On the right side, two standout choices are:
- Chai Chet Resort
- Koh Chang Paradise Hill
Both are beachfront properties with well-maintained, lush green grounds.
Just to the left, standing on its own, is Klong Prao Resort, which occupies a large area. Many consider this the best part of the beach, and perhaps that’s why the resort has such high ratings. The beach here is always clean and uncrowded, though it lacks shade, making it most comfortable for hotel guests who have access to amenities.
In the central part of Klong Prao, you’ll find a relatively undeveloped area with tropical forest, scattered palm trees, open plots, and ponds. Along the shore, there are a few simple bungalow resorts, including KP Hut. These bungalows are sturdier and elevated on stilts, which are particularly popular with foreign visitors. The only downside is that, for some reason, they can’t be booked in advance.
A bit inland, by the river, is the budget-friendly Blue Lagoon Ko Chang. It has a unique atmosphere and is worth visiting, even just to grab a bite to eat.
Further along the left end of Klong Prao, you’ll find a mix of resorts and hotels. Two standout options are:
- The Emerald Cove
- The Dewa
Both have high ratings, are located right on the beachfront, and, along with a few other resorts, occupy most of the left side of Klong Prao.
Behind the main road, on the mountain side, you’ll occasionally see signs for rental homes. However, to be honest, the houses here aren’t particularly appealing.
How to Find the Beach
You can easily access the right side of Klong Prao by following the signs for Coconut Resort and Chai Chet Resort—just follow the road, and you’ll reach the beach. You can also walk through any of the resorts; while some have signs saying “no entry,” people still often pass through.
Another access point to Klong Prao is just past the resorts, where you’ll see a sign for Klong Prao Beach and a restaurant called Nong Bua Seafood.
It’s hard to miss thanks to the huge sign with bright orange letters. The only downside is that you’ll need to walk past a small, unpleasant-smelling stream. Once you reach the beach, I recommend moving away from the stream—either to the left or, better yet, to the right.
In the central section, there’s only one concrete road that starts just before Wat Klong Prao temple and leads almost to the sea. There are a few smaller concrete roads, but they usually end at private properties with gates. Some gates are open, and you can continue along hidden paths to reach the shore, either on foot or by scooter.
The left side is a bit of a maze of private properties, but the easiest way to reach the beach is to turn off the main road opposite the 7-Eleven and go through the Grand Cabana Hotel. If security turns you away, try another path toward the sea—one of them is bound to work.
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