The Retreat Koh Chang, an SLH Hotel

Forty hillside villas descend through Koh Chang's jungle toward Kai Bae Beach at The Retreat, a Small Luxury Hotels member rated 9.7 from 284 reviews — one of the highest scores on the island. Each villa pairs a private terrace with garden or pool views and direct access to the spa's outdoor relaxation sala.

The full-service spa anchors the property, offering Thai and couples' massage alongside a foot bath pavilion set beneath the tree canopy. Water sports run directly off the beach — snorkelling, diving, and canoeing all bookable at the tour desk — while cooking classes introduce southern Thai techniques not replicated at the chain resorts further north on White Sand Beach.

Kai Bae sits on Chang's quieter southwest coast, roughly two hours by ferry and road from Trat Airport; the hotel's shuttle handles both legs.