Yes, for the right kind of holiday. April is hot and mostly dry, with a warm, calm sea, but the waterfalls are low and the afternoons belong to the pool and the hammock.
Yes, for most people. April on Koh Chang is hot and mostly dry, the west coast sea is warm and calm, and it is still inside the best months for snorkelling. The trade-offs are the heat, air that goes still in the afternoon, and waterfalls that have slowed down.
If you want beach days, boat trips and long evenings on the deck, April works well. If you want jungle waterfalls at full strength, another month will suit you better. Here is the detail, so you can decide.
How hot it gets
March to May is the hot season on the island. The heat builds through March, and by April the air goes still. We will not pretend otherwise: it is a month for slowing down whether you planned to or not.
Mornings are the best part of the day. The light is lovely, the sea is quiet and it is comfortable to be out and about. Afternoons are made for the pool, a shaded sala and a hammock. Plan anything active for the morning and leave the middle of the day empty.
It is also worth thinking about where you sleep. At Paradise Cottage, our 8 Front Sea View bungalows have air conditioning, while our 10 Garden Bungalows have a fan. In a hot month, that difference matters, so choose with the weather in mind.
The sea and snorkelling
This is where April does well. The sea is warm and calm, and the dry season, roughly November to April, is when the water is calmest and clearest. April sits at the tail end of that window, so boat trips are usually dependable.
Koh Rang, a protected marine park south of Koh Chang, is the place to go. Day trips usually leave Bang Bao or Kai Bae around 09:00 to 09:30 and take 30 to 60 minutes to reach the reefs. The marine park fee of ฿200 is normally paid on top of the trip price, and fins rent for around ฿100 if they are not included. There are more details in our guide to snorkelling Koh Rang.
Swimming at Lonely Beach is also at its easiest. In the dry season the sea off the main beach is usually calm. The shore directly in front of our resort is rocky, so it is better for sunsets than for paddling. The sandy part of Lonely Beach is a 10 to 15 minute walk, and our pool on the deck above the sea is always there when it is too hot to walk.
What happens to the waterfalls
Waterfalls follow the rain, and April is the end of a long dry stretch. By March and April some falls slow to a trickle. They are fullest during and just after the rainy season, roughly July to November.
That does not make a visit pointless. A forest walk is cooler than the beach, and the early hours are the best time to go. Klong Plu opens at 08:00 and Than Mayom at 09:00, both closing at 16:30. One national park ticket for foreign visitors (฿200) covers both on the same day. Just do not expect the roar you would hear in the autumn. Our waterfall guide covers each fall and what to expect from it.
Come in the months after the rains, roughly July to November. If the sea matters more, April is better.
Crowds and rates
The busiest weeks on Koh Chang are around Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year. March and April are steadier rather than packed. May is quiet, with the first storms on the way. In April you are not fighting for a sala, but the island is not empty either.
Our rates follow the seasons. High season runs from October to May, so April is a high season month. The figures below are estimates per bungalow per night, with 7% VAT included. The actual price depends on your dates and how busy we are, so message the team on WhatsApp for a firm quote.
- Front Sea View bungalow, air conditioning: ฿1,500 to ฿2,500
- Garden Bungalow, fan: ฿1,000 to ฿1,800
For comparison, the green season from June to September is cheaper, but the sea is rougher on the west coast. You can see the full picture in our month-by-month weather guide.
How to spend an April day
The rhythm that suits the month is simple: do things early, then stop.
- Breakfast on the deck, with fresh coffee and bread baked in our own kitchen.
- A morning outing: a Koh Rang boat trip, a waterfall walk or a yoga class. BB Gym in Lonely Beach runs daily classes at 10:00 and 18:30, and Blue Lagoon in Klong Prao teaches until April with ฿300 drop-in classes. Timetables change, so check before you go.
- A long Thai lunch in the shade.
- Pool, hammock, book. This is the main event of the afternoon, not a fallback.
- A massage late in the day, then sunset from the deck with something cold.
Slow evenings are the point of the month. When it has cooled a little, Lonely Beach is a short walk away for dinner or live music, and the sea is the last thing you hear at night.
Who April suits
April suits you if you want warm water, calm days on the sea and a holiday built around the pool, the reef and the hammock. It suits you less if you are sensitive to heat, or if full waterfalls are the reason you are coming.
If you are on the fence, think about your sleeping arrangements first, then ask us about dates. We would rather tell you honestly what a week looks like than sell you the wrong month. You can look at the bungalows on our stay page.
Quick answers
Is April a good time to visit Koh Chang?
Yes, if you want warm, calm water and beach and boat days. April is hot and mostly dry, and it falls within the dry season, roughly November to April, when the sea is calmest and clearest. The trade-offs are the heat and waterfalls that have slowed down.
Is April hot on Koh Chang?
Yes. March to May is the hot season, the heat builds through March and the air goes still. Mornings are the best time for activity, and afternoons are best spent by the pool.
Can you snorkel on Koh Chang in April?
Yes. The dry season, roughly November to April, has the calmest and clearest water, so April is still a good month for the reefs at Koh Rang. Trips usually leave around 09:00 to 09:30, and the marine park fee is usually ฿200 on top of the trip price.
Are the waterfalls worth visiting in April?
They are less impressive. By March and April some waterfalls slow to a trickle, because they are fullest from roughly July to November. A shaded forest walk in the morning is still pleasant.
