SeaTV · Thailand · Eastern Gulf · Trat Province · Koh Chang West Coast
Koh Chang West Coast — Sailing Bang Bao to Whitesands & the 5 Anchorages
The developed western shore of Koh Chang · 5 anchorages from south to north · A5 Bang Bao Pier (commercial pier · souvenirs · boat tours), A6 Lonely Beach (5-7m sand · fire shows · ⚠ loud music), A7 Kai Bae (5-7m · ⭐ Meechai elephant camp · sunset), A8 Chai Chet (5-7m · ⚠ submerged rocks · river dinghy trip to Klong Phlu Waterfall), A9 Whitesands (5-7m · ⚠ central dries 100m · big shops · hospital nearby). The provisioning & restock side of the cluster.
Photos & coordinates: see the interactive map below · charts 120 (Koh Chang) + 151 (S to Koh Kut)
The west coast of Koh Chang is the developed side — beach resorts, dive shops, supermarkets, the hospital, the Marine Park HQ, and the road network that connects everything. It is also where most charter sailors come for restock, ATM, fresh provisions, and the only proper “town” in the cluster. Five anchorages from south to north — Bang Bao → Lonely Beach → Kai Bae → Chai Chet → Whitesands — each with its own character. All 5 are exposed to NE monsoon (Nov-Mar) · best used Apr-Oct, or as quick day stops in light NE winds. Plan provisioning here at the start or end of the charter, or as a side-trip from Salak Phet if conditions are right.
️ Interactive Map — Eastern Gulf Anchorages
→ Full interactive map of the SeaTV Eastern Gulf anchorages · use the layer toggles to filter by category · pinch to zoom on mobile · charts 120 (Koh Chang) + 151 (S to Koh Kut)
⚠ Reality check — West Coast:
→ ⚠ All 5 anchorages exposed to NE monsoon (Nov-Mar peak Nov-mid Jan, 25-30 knots) · day stops only in fresh NE
→ ⚠ A5 Bang Bao Pier: shallow past the pier · mud at low tide · short visits only
→ ⚠ A6 Lonely Beach: shallow shelving + rocks · 400m off · loud music until 7-8 AM from beach parties
→ ⚠ A8 Chai Chet: submerged rocks + small islands · approach with chart open
→ ⚠ A9 Whitesands: central section dries 100m at low tide · anchor outside the dry zone
→ Hospital (Bangkok Koh Chang Hospital): +66 39 532 735 (24hr) · Pearl Beach near A9
→ Mu Ko Chang National Park HQ: +66 39 510 928 · north of A9 · permit office for the cluster
⚓ West Coast at a Glance
Anchorages
5 (A5 + A6 + A7 + A8 + A9)
All categories
Day stops · NOT NE-monsoon overnight
Best season
Apr-Oct (SW monsoon protection on E side)
Use for
Provisioning · ATM · hospital · big-shop runs
Hospital
Bangkok Koh Chang Hospital · 24hr · A9 area
Park status
Inside Mu Ko Chang National Park boundaries
Highlights
A7 Meechai elephant camp · A8 waterfall trip · A9 sunset
Distance from base
~12-15 NM W of Salak Phet (round Koh Chang S)
⛵ The Five Anchorages — South to North
A5 · Bang Bao Pier — The Commercial Pier & Boat Tours
3-4m alongside · ⚠ shallow past pier · short visits only
A5 — Bang Bao Pier is the long commercial pier on the SW corner of Koh Chang · the boat-tour hub for the entire west coast. Souvenirs, dive shops, restaurants over the water, day-trip operators heading out to Koh Rang. Useful for a quick souvenir run or a meal · not for overnight.
⚠ Anchorage:
→ 3-4m alongside the pier · short visits only (don’t impede commercial traffic).
→ ⚠ Bay shallows quickly past the pier · mud at low tide · stay in the deeper channel.
Ashore:
→ Long pier with shops both sides · negotiate prices.
→ Restaurants close around 19:00-20:00 · go early.
→ Boat tours to Koh Rang start here · useful intel for your own visit.
→ Free public access · parking fee for tourists going by road.
A6 · Lonely Beach — Beach Bars & the 7 AM Music
5-7m sand · 400m off · ⚠ shallow shelving · rocks · ⚠ loud music
A6 — Lonely Beach is the backpacker beach of Koh Chang · long sandy stretch, low-key bars, fire shows in the evening. Day-stop friendly · but the beach parties run until 7-8 AM, so anchor well off if you want to sleep.
Anchorage:
→ Anchor 5-7m sand · stay ~400m off the beach.
→ ⚠ Shallow shelving close to shore · rocks scattered in the shallows · approach in clear daylight only.
Ashore:
→ Beach bars with shaded seating · drinks & food in various price ranges.
→ Fire shows after dark · low-key, not over-touristy.
→ Paddle board rentals available.
→ ⚠ Loud music until 7-8 AM · don’t anchor here if early sleep matters · move to A7 or A8 for the night.
A7 · Kai Bae — Baby Elephants & the Best Sunsets
5-7m · ⭐ Meechai Camp · sunset views · shallow shore
A7 — Kai Bae Beach is the favourite for sunsets and the location of Meechai Elephant Camp. Clean water, calm sea, beach restaurants — and easy dinghy access from the anchorage. The sunset from Kai Bae is the one that ends up on every Koh Chang postcard.
Anchorage:
→ Anchor 5-7m · stay well off the shallow shore.
→ Bay is calm · less swell than A6.
Ashore:
→ Meechai Elephant Camp · note that this is a working camp where elephants are kept on chains · some visitors find this distressing · decide for yourself before going.
→ Beach restaurants & cafes · cheaper than A9.
→ Best sunset on the W coast · anchor in time, dinghy ashore for the show.
A8 · Chai Chet — The Quiet Bay & the Waterfall Trip
5-7m · ⚠ submerged rocks + small islands · river dinghy trip
A8 — Chai Chet is the quiet bay of the west coast · less developed than A7 or A9, family-oriented resort along the shore, infinity pool with views over the bay. Best feature: dinghy access up the river to Klong Phlu Waterfall.
⚠ Approach:
→ ⚠ Submerged rocks + small islands in the bay approach · read the chart, approach in good light.
→ Anchor 5-7m.
River trip — Klong Phlu Waterfall:
→ Dinghy up the small river at the corner of the bay.
→ Walk ~600-700m through the jungle to the waterfall.
→ Park entrance fee: 200฿ adult / 100฿ child · part of Mu Ko Chang National Park.
→ Pool below the falls is full of fish that nibble your toes · lifeguard / ranger on duty.
→ Best in Nov-Jan but flows year-round.
A9 · Whitesands — Provisioning Central & the Big Shops
5-7m · ⭐ provisioning · big shops · ⚠ central dries 100m
A9 — Whitesands Beach is the most developed beach on Koh Chang · the longest stretch of white sand, the most resorts, and the best provisioning options in the cluster. Makro, Tesco Lotus, Big C — all within taxi range. The hospital is here. The Park HQ is just to the north.
⚠ Anchorage:
→ Anchor 5-7m · stay outside the central dry zone.
→ ⚠ Central section of the bay dries 100m at low tide · either anchor at the N end or the S end of the long beach.
Ashore:
→ Big shops: Makro (wholesale), Tesco Lotus, Big C · take a taxi from the beach.
→ Bangkok Koh Chang Hospital nearby (Pearl Beach S Whitesands) · +66 39 532 735 · 24hr.
→ Mu Ko Chang National Park HQ just N of Whitesands · +66 39 510 928 · permit office.
→ Restaurants, cafes, dive shops, ATMs — all easy to find.
→ Bus terminal for connections back to Trat / Bangkok.
→ Use Whitesands as your provisioning stop at the start or end of the charter.
Provisioning & Practical
Where to provision on the W coast:
→ A9 Whitesands — Makro (wholesale, best for fresh produce + dry goods), Tesco Lotus (full supermarket), Big C (groceries + general). All within a 10-15 min taxi from the beach.
→ A5 Bang Bao — small shops on the pier · convenience-store level only.
→ A7 Kai Bae — small grocery shops & market stalls along the road.
→ ATMs: A9 Whitesands has the most · A7 Kai Bae & A6 Lonely Beach have a few · A5 Bang Bao & A8 Chai Chet less reliable.
Mu Ko Chang National Park permits:
→ The Park HQ on the W coast (just N of Whitesands) issues permits for the entire cluster including Koh Rang.
→ If you start your charter from Whitesands, pay your permits here · saves time later at A25 (Koh Rang).
Emergency & Contacts
Bangkok Koh Chang Hospital (W coast · A9 area): +66 39 532 735 · 24hr · government, English-speaking staff, very affordable
Koh Chang International Hospital (E side · Dan Mai): 1719
Mu Ko Chang National Park HQ: +66 39 510 928
Island Spirit — Phil: +66 81 813 8023 (24hr WhatsApp)
Island Spirit — Kim: +66 93 131 0844 (24hr WhatsApp)
Tourist Police: 1157 or 039 557 287
Marine Emergency & SAR: 1196
VHF Distress: Ch. 16
Continue the Eastern Gulf Charter
→ 1. Charter Base · Island Spirit Yacht Charter
→ 2. Salak Phet & Koh Chang East
→ 3. Koh Chang Outer Islands & Koh Wai
→ 5. Koh Kut · Captain Hook’s & the 9 Anchorages
→ 6. Koh Rang Marine Park · Snorkelling & Pinnacle Rocks
→ 7. Koh Chang West Coast (this page)
“The west coast is the developed side and that is exactly its function · this is where you provision before the charter and where you decompress after · A5 Bang Bao the long commercial pier with the souvenirs and the boat tour operators heading to Koh Rang and the bay that shallows fast past the pier · A6 Lonely Beach the backpacker stretch with the fire shows in the evening and the music until seven in the morning so anchor four hundred meters off if you want to sleep · A7 Kai Bae the sunset bay with the elephant camp on shore and the calmest water of the five and the postcard view · A8 Chai Chet the quiet bay with the submerged rocks at the approach and the dinghy trip up the river to Klong Phlu Waterfall and the fish that nibble your toes in the pool · A9 Whitesands the long beach with Makro and Tesco and Big C in taxi range and the hospital and the park HQ and where you start or end the charter with all your supplies in order · all five exposed to the NE monsoon so day stops only in fresh winds November through March · April through October the side flips and this becomes your shelter from southwest weather · plan accordingly · charts one twenty and one fifty one open · the W coast is not where the magic happens but it is where the magic gets resupplied.”
— SeaTV · Eastern Gulf Edition · Koh Chang West Coast
