Kai Bae Beach, Koh Chang
The verdict
- Best for: Travellers who want the island's best sunset and a bit of everything, an easygoing mix of food, bars and budgets without the noise of Lonely Beach or the quiet of Klong Prao.
- Best spot: A lounger or a table at one of the sunset bars in the late afternoon, with the offshore islets in front of you as the light drops.
- Know this: The sand narrows and turns rockier at low tide and the islets tempt a swim out, so check the water and the tide before you go in. For a wider beach go north to Klong Prao.
Published 26 February 2026. Last reviewed 6 April 2026
Kai Bae is the beach you come to for the evening. It sits on the west coast road south of Klong Prao, the last easy strip before the road climbs toward Lonely Beach and the far south, and its single great asset is the sunset. The little islets scattered just offshore catch the last light and break up the horizon in a way the long open beaches to the north cannot, and the sunset bars along the sand make settling in to watch it simple. Arrive by late afternoon, take a lounger or a table, and you have the best sundown on the island in front of you.
By day Kai Bae is the easygoing middle ground. It has a good spread of food, bars and rooms for every budget, a mixed crowd that runs from backpacker to family, and enough going on without the late night volume of Lonely Beach next door. The beach itself is prettier and more varied than the long strips, soft sand giving way to rock and the islands sitting close offshore, which makes it a fine place to wander as much as to swim. As a base it strikes a nice balance, lively enough for company, calm enough to sleep.
The honest note is the tide. Kai Bae narrows and turns rockier at low water in places, so the swimming is less of a sure thing than on White Sand or Klong Prao, and the islets, tempting as they look, sit across channels that carry current. Check the tide and the water before you go in, and wear water shoes. If you want a wide, reliable swimming beach, Klong Prao to the north is the safer call. But for the best sunset on Koh Chang and an easy, balanced base with a bit of everything, Kai Bae is hard to beat.
Clubs near this beach
Kai Bae is a run of sunset bars and resort decks rather than a single club. We describe the setting factually and route enquiries through our directory; we never invent venues, minimum spends or amenities.
Sunset bars on the sand
The draw here is the run of sunset bars along the beach, with loungers, daybeds and tables set for the evening light over the islets, the classic Kai Bae sundowner. Their names, menus, daybed charges and any minimum spend are set by the venues and to be confirmed.
Resort beach decks
Resorts along the beach run their own decks and restaurants on or just behind the sand, comfortable for a full day with the sunset to finish. Day access, passes and whether non guests are welcome vary by property and are independent and to be confirmed.
Kai Bae lies on the west coast road south of Klong Prao, still on the easy stretch before the road climbs toward Lonely Beach and the far south. You reach the island by car ferry from the piers near Laem Ngop in Trat province, roughly five to six hours from Bangkok, then the short crossing. From the ferry the shared songthaew pickups run down the coast road for a small fare and stop at Kai Bae, and a hired scooter makes the evening run for the sunset and the trips further south simple. Conditions are typical and never guaranteed.
The beach is close to the road, so access is straightforward, with informal parking along the front and at the bars and resorts. Time your arrival for the late afternoon if the sunset is the plan, since the best loungers fill before the light. Bring reef safe sun protection, insect repellent for the evenings, water shoes for the rockier low tide stretches and any kayak paddle out to the islets, and a little cash for the smaller bars. Check the tide before you swim and confirm any minimum spend before you settle onto a sunset daybed.
Reserve a sunset day at Kai Bae Beach
Tell us your date and party and we will point you to the right sunset bars and daybeds along Kai Bae and the wider Koh Chang west coast, with the offshore islets and the island's best evening light the beach is known for. No charge to enquire.
Common questions
Is Kai Bae the best sunset on Koh Chang?
Most travellers think so. The little islets scattered just offshore catch the light and break up the horizon, which gives Kai Bae the prettiest sundown on the island. The sunset bars along the sand make it easy to settle in with a drink, so arrive by late afternoon and take a lounger or a table before the light goes.
Can you swim at Kai Bae Beach?
You can in the dry season, when the water is usually calm and clear, but the sand narrows and turns rockier at low tide in places and the offshore islets tempt a paddle out, so check the water and the tide first. The green season brings rougher, cloudier seas. Conditions are typical and never guaranteed and there are few or no lifeguards.
How do you get to Kai Bae Beach?
Kai Bae sits on the west coast road south of Klong Prao, reached by the same shared songthaew pickups that run from the ferry, or by your own scooter or car. It is one of the easier south coast beaches to reach, still on the main strip of road before it climbs toward Lonely Beach and the far south.
Is Kai Bae a party beach or a quiet one?
It is the relaxed middle ground, livelier than Klong Prao but far calmer than Lonely Beach next door. There are sunset bars, a good spread of food and places to stay for every budget, and a mixed crowd from backpacker to family. For late nightlife you go south to Lonely, for quiet you go north.
Can you visit the islets off Kai Bae?
The small islands just offshore are close enough to reach by kayak in calm conditions, and some can be walked to at the lowest tides, but the channels carry current and the rocks are sharp, so go only when the sea is settled and the tide is right. Wear water shoes and do not attempt it in poor conditions.
