If you are like us, you will enjoy basing yourself somewhere and staying there for a little while. Working remotely while travellong often means balancing work and free time, so staying somewhere longer (even just 2 or 3 weeks instead of a few days) gives you time to work, explore, build a routine and not feel like you are constantly packing and unpacking.
We stayed on Koh Chang for three weeks, and here are the reasons we think it is a great base for remote workers and digital nomads.
Here are 10 reasons we loved Koh Chang as digital nomads
1 . Koh Chang is easily accessible from Bangkok
How to get there from Bangkok? You can fly to Trat Airport, or get on a van (like we did) and travel for around 5 or 6 hours, including a ferry ride.
It is quite fast, affordable and the van can drop you directly at your hotel, which makes everything easier. We used 12Go to book our trip from Bangkok to Koh Chang. You can also book your journey to Koh Chang the same way using the link below. We found it very reasonable and straightforward.
2 . Koh Chang is a big island and has plenty to discover
Koh Chang is the third largest island in Thailand, which means there is a lot to explore.
You have jungle, national parks, waterfalls, viewpoints, white-sand beaches… and even the east coast feels much more untouched if you want something a bit more raw. You definitely won’t get bored if you stay for a while.
3. It is easy to get around with a scooter or local taxis
Koh Chang pretty much has one main road that goes around the island, so it is very easy to navigate. You can rent a scooter (we do recommend it), or use shared taxis that go up and down the west coast.
At first, we stayed within our area and walked everywhere for about a week. It worked fine as we had everything nearby: grocery stores, cafes, restaurants, massage places and the beach. But once we started exploring more, we really got a better feel for the island.
4 . Koh Chang has so many nice cafes
There are plenty of places where you can work remotely or just enjoy a good coffee in Koh Chang.
Here are some of our favourites:
- Fig Cafe (Our favourite)
- The Mount (Cash only)
- Sylvie’s Cafe (beautiful place and scenic views)
- WARI Coffee
- Sea Almond cafe and eatery
- UnionSPACE Coworking + Coffee
- Alarm Cafe (2h Wi-Fi access per order)
5. It doesn't feel as crowded as other popular islands
If you are looking for somewhere more authentic, with local eateries, quiet beaches and a slower pace, Koh Chang is a great option.
It is a big island and not as popular as others, so it feels like you have more space. Many mornings, we had breakfast by the beach almost completely alone.
Even when swimming, there were never that many people around, even on weekends. And even at White Sand Beach, which is one of the busiest spots, you can still find plenty of space.
6. Koh Chang is a gateway to paradise islands
Koh Chang is a great base, but it is also perfect if you want to explore nearby islands.
You can easily go to Koh Mak or Koh Kood for a few days. We went to Koh Mak during our stay and had such a good time. It only took about an hour by boat from Bang Bao Pier. Our accommodation arranged everything for us, including transport to the pier, which made it really easy.
You can watch our vlog from Koh Mak by clicking here! You can also book your boat trip to Koh Mak using the 12Go link below.
7. You can find accommodation with solid Wi-Fi
We stayed at Papaya Cottage and the Wi-Fi was solid for the whole time.
Our room was basic, but we chose it mainly for the internet. We also asked for a room close to the router, which helped. We had all our calls with no issues. It is also in a really convenient location: about a 5-minute walk to the beach, close to 7-Eleven, restaurants and cafes.
Wi-Fi is generally reliable in areas like White Sand Beach and Kai Bae Beach, especially in places used to remote workers.
You can watch our vlog from Koh Chang by clicking here!
8. Work-life balance is great on Koh Chang
Working remotely from a tropical location is not the same as being on holiday. You still have deadlines and responsibilities, so finding balance is important.
Koh Chang made that really easy for us. We mostly worked during the week, then explored on weekends.
We also enjoyed slow mornings by the beach and relaxed dinners at sunset. It felt like a good balance without forcing it.
9. There is a great food variety on Koh Chang
If you are planning to stay for a while, food will matter a lot.
On Koh Chang, there is a good mix of local Thai food, vegetarian and vegan options, and Western food if you want something familiar. Everything is affordable for foreign travellers and we never felt like we were running out of options.
A couple of our favourite places were Mandalay on the Beach (amazing for sunset time!) and Apple Kitchen. Both hosts were so lovely and kind! They made our experience great every time.
10 . Koh Chang has a slower, less touristy vibe
Koh Chang has a much more relaxed feel compared to some other islands in Thailand.
Of course, there are still tourists and a small digital nomad scene, but it never feels overcrowded. for instance, you can go to the beach and still have plenty of space around you.
Final thoughts
Koh Chang is not perfect, but we really enjoyed it as a digital nomad base. If you are looking for somewhere calm, affordable and easy to settle into for a few weeks, it is a great option.
But if you need fast internet, big coworking spaces or lots of networking opportunities, places like Chiang Mai or Bangkok might be a better fit.
Meanwhile, if you have stayed on Koh Chang and found a great place to stay and work, you can join My Nomad Space for FREE and add the listing to help other remote professionals find the best places!
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