October 13, 2024, 6:49 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Koh Chang, the third-largest island in Thailand, is known for its picturesque beaches, lush green jungle, and year-round bathtub-warm, turquoise-blue sea. In addition to sun, sand, and partying, the island also offers a number of activities and sights. One of them is particularly bizarre: in the far south, on the edge of the jungle, a huge cruise ship is rotting away. TRAVELBOOK tells the story behind it.
Most vacationers flock to Koh Chang’s West Coast, where beautiful sandy beaches, fringed by coconut palms, string together like pearls. Though less frequented, the island’s remote South Coast around Klong Kloi Beach has seen a burgeoning of hotels and resorts over the past two decades. Nestled at the bay’s very end lies a sight that captivates ‘lost places’ enthusiasts: an abandoned cruise ship, also known as the ghost ship of Koh Chang.
According to the travel website “Explore Koh Chang“, the ship named “The Galaxy” was parked in a lagoon in the bay around 15 years ago to turn it into a floating hotel. Indeed, for a number of years, it served as a centerpiece for the opulent five-star Koh Chang Grand Lagoona Resort. The ship itself had 70 rooms on seven floors. There were also several floating houseboats and bungalows, as well as a large swimming pool.
Hotel ship was closed in 2016
While the resort remains operational today, it has been rebranded as Koh Chang Boat Chalets. Since 2016, overnight stays on the cruise ship have ceased, leaving it to decay as a ghostly relic. There is some speculation as to the reasons why the hotel ship was decommissioned. Some believe that a permit to operate the ship as a hotel was missing, as the online travel guide “The Thailand Sun” writes. According to “Explore Koh Chang”, it had to be closed after a drunken Russian fell overboard from the top floor and died. Others write that several people deliberately threw themselves to their deaths from the boat.
Curiously, despite the hotel ship being out of service for eight years and other resort areas succumbing to neglect, some houseboats continue to receive regular cleaning and maintenance. Moreover, staff can still be encountered at the reception desk. However, it is currently not possible to book accommodation online.
Where to find the ghost ship on Koh Chang
If you want to see the ghost ship on Koh Chang for yourself, you can find it at the eastern end of Klong Kloi Beach. Right next to the jungle. An entrance fee of 100 baht (approximately 2.60 euros) grants you access to explore the grounds at your leisure. And there’s even an open restaurant to enjoy. You can also use the resort’s beautiful beach.
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‘Like in a horror movie!’
A traveler from Germany, recounting his 2019 visit to Koh Chang’s ghost ship on Tripadvisor, noted, “The grounds clearly show their age, and we encountered no one but a lone hotel employee at reception. He didn’t speak any English and, unfortunately, couldn’t tell us anything more about the place. It was very lonely and deserted there. Many of the buildings were broken and damaged.” Nevertheless, he found the visit to be a rewarding experience. Another visitor likened the experience to “being in a horror movie!”
Incidentally, it is now strictly forbidden to enter the abandoned cruise ship. Several signs warn against this. Anyone who does so anyway risks a fine of 3,000 baht, the equivalent of just under 80 euros. Yet, even from the outside, the ghost ship of Koh Chang commands awe – its desolate state only adding to the intrigue.