Is Koh Chang safe?
Safe, relaxed island. Steep, winding roads cause most injuries; crime is petty and the island is quiet at night.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2026-07-06.
- Homicide rate in Thailand: 4.8 per 100,000 people (2011, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Thailand: 32.2 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 191 · Ambulance 1669 · Fire 199 · Tourist police 1155.
Safety in Koh Chang at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Theft from rooms and beach bags, and rare scooter snatching. Fights are uncommon outside Lonely Beach bars. |
| At night | Quiet after midnight outside White Sand and Lonely Beach. Songthaews stop by evening, so arrange a pickup or rent a scooter. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Lonely Beach nights are lively; watch drinks and arrange your ride home before dark. |
| Other risks | Scooter crashes on steep, wet roads; Rip currents in the rainy season; Jellyfish and sea-urchin spines when snorkelling |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Scooter rentals charging for damage that was already there
- Songthaew drivers asking flat 'charter' prices for shared rides
- Dive and boat-trip touts adding fees after paying
Take care
- Steep hills between Kai Bae and Lonely Beach: sharp bends, frequent crashes
- Swimming off west-coast beaches in monsoon: rip currents
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Criticising or mocking the monarchy (lèse-majesté) carries 3–15 years in prison per count
- Vapes and e-cigarettes are illegal; fines, arrests and bribe demands happen
- Since mid-2025 cannabis is legally sold only on prescription; smoking it in public can be fined
How Koh Chang compares in Thailand
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Sukhothai | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Bangkok | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Phuket | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Chiang Mai | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Koh Samui | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Krabi | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Koh Phi Phi | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Koh Phangan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Pai | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Koh Tao | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Hua Hin | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Chiang Rai | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ayutthaya | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Koh Lanta | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Railay | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kanchanaburi | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Koh Chang | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Khao Lak | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Koh Samet | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Koh Lipe | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Khao Yai | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Khao Sok | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kata Beach | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jomtien | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Rawai | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Udon Thani | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Koh Kood | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Pattaya | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Patong | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Hat Yai | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Koh Chang safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Lonely Beach nights are lively; watch drinks and arrange your ride home before dark.
Is Koh Chang safe at night?
Quiet after midnight outside White Sand and Lonely Beach. Songthaews stop by evening, so arrange a pickup or rent a scooter.
What is the crime rate in Koh Chang?
Theft from rooms and beach bags, and rare scooter snatching. Fights are uncommon outside Lonely Beach bars. Nationally, Thailand records 4.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2011).
What number do I call in an emergency in Koh Chang?
Police 191 · Ambulance 1669 · Fire 199 · Tourist police 1155.
More about Koh Chang
Going to Koh Chang solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Tourism Authority of Thailand: Trat
- Trat Airport (Bangkok Airways)
- Bangkok Hospital Trat
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.