A rare new riverfront residence brings contemporary island living to one of Thailand’s most naturally beautiful destinations
There is a particular moment on the journey to Koh Chang when mainland life begins to feel pleasantly distant. The ferry pulls away from Trat, the forested mountains of the island rise from the Gulf of Thailand, and the pace of travel becomes noticeably slower.
It is an arrival that still feels like an arrival.
Unlike destinations where airports, highways and high-rise developments have gradually erased the romance of getting there, Koh Chang retains a sense of discovery. It is close enough to Bangkok for a long weekend, yet sufficiently removed to feel like a genuine island escape.
This balance accessibility without overdevelopment, comfort without losing character lies at the heart of Marina Shores Condominium, Siam Royal View’s new boutique riverfront residence at Blue Haven Bay in Klong Son.
Positioned between a tropical river, a marina and one of the island’s most attractive stretches of coastline, Marina Shores introduces a type of property still relatively rare on Koh Chang: a thoughtfully designed, low-rise condominium offering modern residential convenience within an established resort community.
Its promise is confidently simple: The Best Address on Koh Chang.
Thailand’s Island in the Green
Thailand has no shortage of celebrated islands, but Koh Chang occupies a category of its own.
The country’s second-largest island remains defined by its geography. Mountainous rainforest dominates the interior, while waterfalls, quiet bays, fishing communities and beaches are scattered around its coastline. Much of the wider archipelago forms part of Mu Ko Chang National Park, giving the destination a raw, naturally cinematic quality.
This is not an island manufactured around tourism. It is an island where tourism has had to find its place among the mountains, forest and sea.
That difference is immediately visible. Roads curve around densely wooded hillsides. Hornbills occasionally pass overhead. Fishing boats share the water with sailing yachts and speedboats. Even during the busier months, it remains possible to find a quiet beach, a near-empty viewpoint or a table beside the sea where lunch lasts considerably longer than planned.
For travellers, Koh Chang offers the luxury of variety. Mornings can begin with a swim or paddleboard session and end with dinner beside the beach. Days can be spent visiting waterfalls, exploring neighbouring islands, diving, sailing or simply doing very little at all.
For homeowners, the appeal runs deeper. The island offers a more relaxed and spacious alternative to Thailand’s established urban and resort markets, but it remains within practical reach of Bangkok. Trat Airport is located on the mainland, private road transfers can be arranged from Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi, and the crossing from the ferry terminal provides a natural transition into island life.
Marina Shores is located just five minutes from the Koh Chang ferry, meaning that once residents arrive on the island, home is reassuringly close.
A Different Side of Koh Chang
Klong Son, at the island’s northern end, is one of Koh Chang’s most intriguing locations. Sheltered by green mountains and set around a broad bay, it feels peaceful and established while remaining exceptionally convenient for arrivals and departures.
Within Klong Son, Blue Haven Bay has developed into a self-contained coastal community, incorporating beachfront resorts, private villas, restaurants, leisure facilities and a 63-berth marina.
Marina Shores sits at the centre of this environment, directly beside the river and between the marina and beach. Residents are approximately 200 metres from the marina and a short walk from the sand, beachfront dining and the wider resort facilities.
Yet the setting is not conventionally beachfront and that is part of its charm.
From the residences, the view unfolds across calm water towards the marina and densely forested mountains. Boats pass quietly along the river, reflections change with the light, and the landscape feels close enough to become part of the interior.
“Most people initially come to Koh Chang because of the beaches, but they often fall in love with the mountains, the greenery and the feeling of space,” says Paul Johnson, Siam Royal View representative.
“Marina Shores brings all of those elements together. You have the river in front of you, the marina nearby, the mountains beyond and the beach just a few minutes’ walk away. It is an unusual combination, even by island standards.”
Boutique by Design
Marina Shores has been deliberately conceived as a low-density development.
The first four-storey building comprises just 22 private residences, with a choice of one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts. Rather than attempting to recreate the scale of a mainland condominium resort, the architecture remains low-rise and closely connected to its tropical surroundings.
Large windows and private balconies frame the river, garden, mountain and marina views, while open-plan living spaces encourage the easy movement between indoors and outdoors that suits island life.
The interiors follow a contemporary tropical direction, favouring natural textures, warm finishes and a relaxed palette rather than an overly formal aesthetic. Kitchens are integrated into the main living areas, creating sociable spaces suited to both permanent living and holiday use. Air-conditioning, built-in appliances, modern bathrooms, lift access, landscaped surroundings and allocated parking introduce the practical comforts expected from a contemporary residence.
The range of layouts broadens the project’s appeal. A compact one-bedroom residence can function as a private island base or easily managed holiday home. Larger two-bedroom units offer additional flexibility for families and guests, while the three-bedroom penthouse provides the scale and outlook of a substantial island residence without the upkeep associated with a standalone villa.
Foreign ownership quota is available, an important consideration for international purchasers seeking direct condominium ownership in Thailand.
“We wanted Marina Shores to feel intimate rather than imposing,” Johnson explains. “There are only 22 residences in the building, so owners are not becoming one of several hundred units in a large development. It feels personal, private and very much part of the surrounding community.”
More Than a Condominium
One of Marina Shores’ most significant advantages is that it does not exist in isolation.
Owners become part of the wider Blue Haven Bay lifestyle, with the beach, marina, restaurants and leisure facilities already around them. This gives the development an established sense of place from the outset something that cannot be created by architecture alone.
Nearby beachfront restaurants allow residents to walk to breakfast, lunch or dinner without leaving the community. The marina adds an appealing nautical dimension, whether owners keep a boat, enjoy sailing and fishing, or simply appreciate the atmosphere of life beside the water.
A new resort-style wellness clubhouse will add another important layer to the experience. Planned facilities include a substantial swimming pool, fitness centre, sauna, steam room, cold therapy and spaces for wellness and exercise classes. Marina Shores owners will receive privileged resident access and rates, providing the amenities of a larger resort while preserving the privacy of a boutique residential building.
The result is a lifestyle that can be as active or as unhurried as each owner chooses.
A morning might begin in the gym, followed by coffee overlooking the river. The afternoon could involve kayaking, golf, a boat trip or several hours beside the beach. In the evening, residents can dine within the community or explore the restaurants and bars found along Koh Chang’s west coast.
There is no need to schedule every day. That is precisely the point.
A Home, an Escape and a Long-Term Opportunity
Island property has traditionally involved compromise. Buyers may find a beautiful location but limited services, resort facilities without privacy, or an attractive holiday home that becomes complicated to maintain from overseas.
Marina Shores has been designed to address those concerns by combining private ownership with the support and infrastructure of an established destination.
For some purchasers, it will be a full-time home. For others, a seasonal residence used during Europe’s colder months or as a convenient retreat from Bangkok. There is also natural appeal for buyers considering managed holiday use, given Koh Chang’s position as one of eastern Thailand’s best-known leisure destinations and Blue Haven Bay’s existing hospitality environment.
Nevertheless, the project’s strongest attraction is less easily reduced to figures.
It is the prospect of owning somewhere that genuinely changes the rhythm of daily life.
“People are becoming much more selective about what luxury means to them,” says Johnson. “It is no longer only about size or decoration. Privacy, nature, wellness, views and the ability to slow down have become equally important.”
“Koh Chang delivers those qualities naturally. Marina Shores simply makes it easier to enjoy them in a comfortable, modern and secure way.”
An Address Worth Arriving At
As Thailand’s property market continues to evolve, buyers are increasingly looking beyond traditional condominium locations. They want destinations with identity, projects with limited supply and homes that offer an emotional connection as well as practical value.
Koh Chang possesses that identity in abundance.
It remains lush, mountainous and unmistakably tropical. It offers enough restaurants, activities and conveniences for comfortable living, yet it has not lost the sense of freedom that draws people to islands in the first place.
Marina Shores occupies a particularly privileged position within that landscape: riverfront rather than roadside, low-rise rather than crowded, connected to resort facilities but surrounded by nature.
From the balcony, the mountains appear almost close enough to touch. The marina rests around the corner. The beach is a short walk away. Bangkok feels suitably distant, but never impossibly far.
On an island where location is everything, Marina Shores may have found the balance that matters most.
A home beside the water. A private base within an established coastal community. A place to live, relax and invest and perhaps, quite simply, The Best Address on Koh Chang.
Marina Shores Condominium Koh Chang
Location: Blue Haven Bay, Klong Son, Koh Chang
Development: Boutique four-storey riverfront condominium
Residences: 22 private one-, two- and three-bedroom units
Setting: Between the marina and beach, approximately five minutes from the ferry
Highlights: River and mountain views, foreign ownership quota, lift access, allocated parking, private balconies and privileged access to the resort-style pool and wellness clubhouse
Contact:
Paul Johnson, Siam Royal View
Telephone: +66 96 229 4888
Email: [email protected]
