On the north-west coast, Ao Suan Yai is a long crescent of pale sand with the best sunset view on the island and a direct outlook to Koh Chang rising green across the channel. The beach is wider and the water deeper than at Ao Kao, so it is the more popular spot for an evening swim.
A handful of resorts and a small pier punctuate the shore, but development stays well back behind the palms. The bay shelves gently, which makes it a safe stretch for kayaking; you can paddle along the coast or hop across to Koh Kham off the western tip.