Baan Rim Nam
Relax by the river
More on Ko Chang
Standing above the clear water of Coconut Canal, Baan Rim Nam is a great place to watch the boats slide by, take out a kayak or toss a ball with the resident golden retriever. This is homestay-style accommodation, done well.
Travelfish says:
Approaching from land rather than water, visitors first pass through an old-style Thai gate before stepping down a long wooden walkway perched on stilts above mangrove forest dotted with orchids. You then come to the single-floor wooden house itself, which reaches out to a wide wooden terrace set directly above the water. Tables, loungers and hammocks sit beneath a high thatched roof, within easy reach of the kayaks.
Rooms are simply furnished but spacious and tastefully done with bamboo features, wood-and-glass concertina doors and comfortable beds. Each comes with hot-water shower and free WiFi, and all but the lone “budget room” bags you a deck with river view—those are in addition to the shared deck right by the water. There’s also a good-value family suite featuring two bedrooms and a sofa.
The Thai/British owners do a terrific job of making guests feel at home. They’re also a goldmine of useful information about Ko Chang, as evidenced by the associated website: Iamkohchang.com. While much of their knowledge is found on the site, there’s no substitute for staying at Baan Rim Nam and getting to know them in person a bit.
Though it’s located slap bang at the centre of Chang’s west coast, Baan Rim Nam feels secluded thanks to its location near the end of a sandy lane within a five-minute walk of the beach. Fireflies often flicker in the mangroves during Khlong Prao’s reliably quiet nights.
The owners also handle bookings for two private houses located elsewhere on the estuary: Baan Zen and Baan Moon. Fetching around 6,000 baht per night in high season, both appear to be worthy options for groups and families.
Baan Rim Nam is one of several small guesthouses found along this pretty stretch of the waterway. Set a little further up the canal but accessed by boat on the opposite bank, Watercolours is a Dutch-run boutique-style place that shows promise after opening for 2018. On the other side of the canal, Moley’s is a friendly British-run budget haunt, while the easily overlooked Baan Talay offers ocean-themed rooms attached to Phu Talay Seafood Restaurant.
(Disclosure: We know the owners of Baan Rim Nam.)
Contact details for Baan Rim Nam
Address: Central Khlong Prao (south bank of the river), Ko Chang
T: (087) 005 8575;
Email: ian@iamkohchang.com
Web: https://iamkohchang.com/accommodation/klong-prao-beach-hotels/kohchang-guest-house.html
Coordinates (for GPS): 102º17'32.69" E, 12º3'18.88" N
See position in Apple or Google Maps: Apple Maps | Google Maps
Room rates: 600B to 1,500B
Room rates
What we were quoted as a walk-in.
| Standard double room “Budget room” | 700 baht | 1,000 baht |
| Superior double room “Original room” | 900 baht | 1,400 baht |
| Family room | 1,300 baht | 1,900 baht |
Reviewed by
David Luekens
David Luekens first came to Thailand in 2005 when Thai friends from his former home of Burlington, Vermont led him on a life-changing trip. Based in Thailand since 2011, he spends much of his time eating in Bangkok street markets and island hopping the Andaman Sea.